July was a wonderful month of friends, good food, and saying a long goodbye to the United Kingdom. From a spending perspective we were helped tremendously by the kindness of great friends and people who trusted us to watch their homes while they were away. As a result, we did not spend anything on accomodations for the month. The biggest expenses we had were for intercity travel (rail travel is NOT cheap), food, and our beloved real ale.
While the UK was extremely expensive, we managed to do quite well over the 3 months we were there. July was the best so far as we finished the month at almost half our monthly budget. In addition to the opportunity to house-sit and stay with friends we stayed in smaller towns & villages which are considerably cheaper than London. For the 1 day we went to London we ended up spending almost $200 for the train to get there and a couple meals. It is easy to realize how that city could be hard on the budget long term.
Let’s Get to the Numbers
- Total spending to date through July 2011: $19,312
- Total spending for July 2011: $1,526
- Daily average for July 2011: $49.23
- Overall daily average (10 months on the road): $63.74
Expense Breakdown:
Lessons Learned:
- House sitting - this is an excellent opportunity to save a bit of money and see a place more like a “local”. Plus, since you are likely to have access to your own kitchen you can dust off your cooking skills and find a new passion.
- Buy groceries daily - In Lima we found that we saved money by shopping more frequently. In July we have started to buy food daily for our meals by walking to the local markets. The benefit is you avoid wasting food (and money) as you buy what you will need for that day.
- Eat out at lunch - we love to eat out in cities but this can be a huge drain on your pocketbook. Instead, of dining out for a meal at dinner we have started to explore a city’s restaurants during lunch. Typically you can find meals at half the price and still get the opportunity to enjoy some wonderful delicacies.
Given the popularity of this series of posts we have started a new website - RTW Expenses. This site is focused on providing more details on how much it costs to travel around the world. We provide more detailed reports, charts, and information on our spending to date. In addition we continue to provide articles with tips and information to help anyone looking to save a bit of money or take a trip of their own. We hope you enjoy and look forward to your thoughts and comments.
About Warren
Hey guys I meant to ask what happened to camping in the Lake District?
Rob, great question. We had planned to head out there the first half of July, but we ended up spending more time with our friends enjoying the comforts of their home. Between the Lake District, walking Hadrian’s Wall, and spending time walking and camping in the highlands we have a long list of reasons why we will be returning. That is the great thing is that our list of things we want to do just keeps growing so we have to just keep on traveling.
Well, you two are absolutely amazing when it comes to travelling with a budget. Well done. Four years to go before we pull the trigger. We are the type who must have a place to call home so all we need to do is find a reliable renter to take on the house while we’re on the road and we’ll be off. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. I’m learning a lot as you make your way through this wonderful journey. Enjoy Belgium, it’s an undiscovered gem.
Grant, thank you for the kind words. We are just happy that you are finding the information useful in your 4 year preparation to follow your own dream. Please let us know if there is additional information you would like to see and we can certainly put it up on the site. Also, we’re always here for any questions you may have as you gear up for the adventure.
We’re off to try a few more delicacies of this wonderful country.