£10,000 Challenge

ms_london

Hi there.

As you all know, I am finally going travelling on the 3rd August 2006. Yippee!!! I have booked my flight (one way) and paid for my visa, but there are SO many other things to buy/before for before I actually leave.

I have already started saving and have £3,000 in my travel fund (minus recent travel costs), and it is my aim to leave the country with:

£10,000 :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

in pure, hard, cash!! (well in my bank account, im not silly!!)

Uh-oh!! So let the fun begin!! :0)

Here is what I can save:

End Feb - £900
End Mar - £900
End Apr - £900
End May - £900
End June - £900
End July - £900

TOTAL (with savings already) - £8400

So there is a shortfall of £1600 and more that I need to make up before 3rd August.

I can do this!! I really really really dont want to have to do a 2nd job again, but if I have to I WILL. I WILL leave this country with £10,000.

I know that I have:

* Flat deposit of £280
* Tax refund
* Travel card refund
* Hopefully money of £200 from ebay scammer if bailiffs ever catch him - grr!!

on its way to me, but this will probably arrive after I've left, so will see this as additional money (perhaps for my flight home - must remember to save money for that, doh!!).

I am going to make MSE.com proud & hunt out the best deals, both before I go and whilst I'm away - and see and do as much as I can, as cheaply as I can. Obviously I wont be quite as strict as I have been whilst living here, but if I save on the obvious things (travel, accommodation etc) then I can splurge on the things that I want to do.

However, it is going to be a struggle, as I also have a friends wedding in April which wont be cheap, and the general day to day living costs, plus I'll want to have a life in the meantime.

Although I am not challenging myself to pay off debt, I hope that you dont mind me posting here, as I will be using the same budgeting principles. I promise not to rub it in, although I cant guarantee that a "How many days until I go travelling..." countdown wont be put on my signature soon :0)

If anyone has any hints/tips, things to see, places to go, or even websites for cheap travel gear, or recommendations of which backpack to take - please PM me.

Let the fun (??!!) begin.

Ms_London

xx

MrsMW

Good luck with your savings, I'm sure you'll do it. I wish I had gone travelling when I was young.

JAMIEDODGER

hi ms-london,

well what an amazing target (knowing what youved managed already im sure you will do it!)

where are you planning on going? i would love to travel but with 4 littlies its not going to be possible for YEARS yet!

ms_london

JAMIEDODGER wrote:

hi ms-london,

well what an amazing target (knowing what youved managed already im sure you will do it!)

where are you planning on going? i would love to travel but with 4 littlies its not going to be possible for YEARS yet!

Going to Oz initially, have a Working Holiday Visa, so will be there for 12 months, planning on being in Sydney for a few months, travelling around Oz (no idea where yet), then back in Sydney in Dec to work (depending on funds), then possibly 23 months on a WHV is NZ - we'll see how things go. My parents think I'm going for 12 months, probably wont tell them its more likely to be 3 years - ooops!!

JAMIEDODGER

wow! sounds fantastic and you sure deserve it hun xx

fairylights_2

Now THAT's a challenge! :T

It sounds like that trip is enough to keep you motivated. I know watching you numbers going down last year kept our nose to the grindstone somewhat, so here's hoping the numbers go up make us keep going!

craigo_2

You'l have an amazing time... I went to Aus last year. In three months I saw Perth and some of the west coast, Adelaide and the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne. Then travelled up the east coast with greyhound. Make sure you do Fraser Island, whitsundays, and the open water scuba diving course & white water rafting in Cairns! I also went to Darwin to visit Kakadu National park. Incredible.

£10,000 is an incredible amount of money to take, especially if you're planning on working! Youth hostels in Aus are typically ~$20 per night. £8 - £10. Expect shared rooms of 4 - 8.

If you have time, Id recommend stopping in SE Asia on the way / way back. Depends who youre flying with. I was with Malaysia airlines, who stopped in Kuala Lumpur.... I spent another 3 months travelling Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Borneo & Singapore. In some ways I preffered it to Aus. Amazing place. Things are *very* cheap out there... 1 - 2 quid a night (private room, own bathroom)... 60p a meal, ~£5 for a 14hr night train covering 800miles...

In the 6 months I was away I spent £2500, but did come home with 2 cashmere suits, a coat, & 5 shirts, all tailored in Bangkok... and a second backpack full of clothes, gadgets & dvds!

Get yourself registered on the thorn tree forum at https://www.lonelyplanet.com if you havent already. Lots of advice and ideas over there.

And remember, travel light!

If you've any questions, feel free to PM.

lottie26_2

Hi, I think you can do it I have heard you paid 10,000 off debt in a year,we have always wanted to go to australia.
I'm sure we will when the chidren are older that is one thing to add to my list when i'm debt free.
You will have a lovely time and you won't need to worry while you are out there for money especially as you have a working visa, and 10,000 in the bank i'm sure you can do it.
Good luck xx

taplady

If anyone can do it YOU can ! :A
I'm sure you'll make your target and I hope you have a brilliant time travelling! :beer:

madfrenchgirl

good luck miss london#

and when you come back can you create a log so we can be inspired too?

dinkylou

Go girl, you can do this.

Just dont cripple yourself with stress/overwork before you go.

What about things to sell which you wont need?