The Travelling Fund; £10,000 in 10 months!!!

NinjaSavingKat

175 days until I leave, £8600 to find.

£49.14 a day or £1720 a month.

Eeeek!

Karmacat

Wow. First time I've been on in a week or so - so first of all, happy birthday! The amounts *sound* really high, but you've got really good strategies for achieving them, so I'm sure you'll do it. Very, very exciting

NinjaSavingKat

Thanks KarmaCat... I put away £1000 at the beginning of every month and live like a pauper for the rest of it. I think another £300-£500 can be gained each month through OT ( end of May at least ) as OT bidding is first come first served and a bit of anxiety nightmare for me...

Then the motorbike will land a hopeful £2000 into the pot as well... but yes it boils down to £1720 a month if I divide it equally...

NinjaSavingKat

Good Morning Diary Hunters...

So I have been wasting away at home for the last two days wallowing in my own self pity with a stinking cold/flu thing yet have dragged my sorry !!! from bed and come to work to spread the good cheer *cough* and earns some pennies...

Honestly though lemons, fruit and garlic have twarted what could have dragged on for days thus I don't feel so bad to be hear and making everyone else just as ill. Probably this grubby place that gave it too me in the first place...

HOWEVER I have just booked my flight from Belfast back to London on the 3rd November with a little B&B for that night as my onward flight to Bangkok leaves from the same airport the following day. Total cost - £88. Not bad for flight, baggage, a room with wifi and free airport transfer although £5 for breakfast - better than airport prices I guess!:T:T:T:T

I had contemplated staying with friends but that meant trekking across London for the evening and leaving really early in order to make my mid afternoon flight - this is not something I was wanting. By November I think I would be all systems go and ready to leave for good without faffing around. My friend would have two babies by then as well and I will be in need of some reflective time.

This way - should they decided they really want to see me I shall be happy to dine with them and another good friend but send them all on their merry way to allow me a good snooze, a quiet breakfast and a slow paced early rise to the terminal - you know me - rather three hours early to be on the safe side!

I have booked the two first days in Bangkok - but once you see a busy city after another busy city ( London ) the desire for soothing water, soft sands and relaxation is too big of a demand to ignore but I can't honestly decide on where I want to be for 10 days.

The per-requisites - I want to be on the Andaman coast, near some civilization but not clubs and pubs, I would like traditional guest house / hostel very near a beach if not on it, WiFi and air-con ( mozzies), have the choice of going trekking through the jungle or popping down the road to a cheap traditional restaurant - not to much to ask though right? :rotfl:

So the search continueth - then the idea of booking a Christmas venue has to be looked at - where on earth am I going to be on Christmas Day when my parentals are snowed in in cold Norn Iron....:(:(:(

NinjaSavingKat

Afternoon all......

It's been Malaria tablet research today, best price for 190 days = £253.75 from the 1st November until 2nd April whereby I will be in Japan by then and out of malarial danger..

Then there are another few bits and bobs I want to think about taking albeit I am being a little over cautious and I know when I calm down a bit on the road there will be nothing more medical in my bag that a bar of soap and a chapstick...

However for now I have a whopping great list that I will share with you soon - ok it's not that long but it's important I think.

It will be all meds and 6 bikinis in my rucksack by this rate...:rotfl:

The main thing on my mind is getting my stuff that I want to keep back to Ireland. I think the main worry is not yet knowing how much stuff I will have. I am tempted to start now and get rid of the items that I don't use and don't wear (clothing will be the bulk of the items) but there is a chance that being too ruthless will render me looking like a tramp for the last 5 months of my working life...

Anyho.. more importantly I have been researching the chance of getting a Chinese visa in Vietnam. Since they are produced and issued from Ho Chi Mhin City I will apply there and get it before transiting onwards to Hanoi at the top of Vietnam.

I want to spend a good few days there and not rush through as I think the excitement for Australia will be building by then. From Hanoi I need to make my way by bus/motorbike/taxi to Nanning where I can catch another bus or train to Guangzhou, from there it's about 21 hours to Shanghai and it would be silly not to stop for a few meagre days of living like a pauper in one of the most expensive cities just to rest after such a long trek.

Planning is vital as the ferries for Osaka leave on specific days... (the initial ferry to Nagasaki is still on the cards but look as though it's about $350.:eek: for a two day ride )........... To osaka it's cheaper.. but coming back to Kitakyushu to see the Wisteria Trees might cost as much as it is to just go to Nagasaki in the first place.... ho hum!...

Anyway - thats where my thoughts lie at the moment....

NinjaSavingKat

So I am having little heart palpitations about now.

I am reading Jodie Ettenburg's blog called The Legal Nomad. This crazy notion of giving up my work and traveling long term is all her fault and started about a year ago. If you ever read this Jodie - if you Google your name and come across my witterings you are to blame. I will throw olives at you...

And now I am breathing into a paper bag...

I hold no malice towards the soup loving intrepid explorer who is self-described as Vietnamese size and has been on the road for 6 years - she and her easy style of writing helped convince me it could be done.

But my money is not tallying up to what I need/want.

After payday next Wednesday I will have precisely £2600 to my name. I should have £5000. Where has it gone I hear you ask... well I have compiled a list but it still does not settle my beating heart.. or sooth my slightly sick stomach..

I need more money.

In my head I put £4000 in my Australian account / £7000 for the SEA leg. That's £10,000. I need another £8400.

So a break down of sorts...

• June - £1000
• July - £1000
• August - £1000
• September - £1000
• October - £1000

That's an easy £5000 right there.

So I need another £3400.

The motorbike I think will get me £1500 at least. I can't set my hopes any higher then that as I am still using it and I think tyres and brakes might be needed soon.

So I need another £1900.

The push bike "should" go for £250
House deposit being returned is another £350
My friend owes me £70 for the ferry to Ireland with me

So I need another £1230

However... on the 30th September when I travel home on the Ferry it will be payday. I won't be paying for travel - £290 - I won't be paying for rent - £350 - and I won't have a social life (:rotfl:) so I can save £16 from the cinema, I will change my phone to pay as you go by then - £48 - and won't be going anywhere to spend money....

So that's £526 I will have to find through OT which shouldn't be too hard considering I have at least £250 coming in next month (End of May)..

I think I just needed to write all this down. However I still have three more vaccinations to pay for - £255 - and all the accoutrements required.. med, a rucksack, some items of clothing etc...

Okay more research required....... sorry this is SO long!

Siouxsie32

Just checkin in to say Hi :hello: I've been totally absent for the last week and a bit (I'll drop you a PM with my shenanigans Kat when I get a second - I'm in the middle of a busy busy day and would like nothing more than a cup of tea and a chat, but I'll find a bit of time tonight!).

I just wanted to say that logging on and reading your posts made me feel like I'm home again...if that makes sense?! I love the craziness of it, and I love the posts - the longer the better!

Hi to everyone else...I promise I'll join in again soon (and try to wade my way through the April challenge thread as well )

killerpeaty

Hi Siouxsie! Good to hear from you.

Kat, we all know that you aim high and you even more ridiculously achieve your goals. I fully believe that you will be able to do this. Go go gadget girl.

jackieblack

NinjaSavingKat wrote: »

In my head I put £4000 in my Australian account / £7000 for the SEA leg. That's £10,000.

Erm, sorry about this........ but doesn't £4000 +£7000 = £11000? (not £10000)

allybee101

I am sure you can achieve this - you have shown such determination so far!