Travel Budgeting
Dylan and I decided to save up for eighteen months to backpack South America for eight months. We traveled to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, and learned so much about creating a savings plan, managing our finances and tracking our budget along the way.
We’ve learned that traveling doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s best to budget realistically based on your lifestyle and interests to fully enjoy your trip. Here are some of our resources below on things like what we spent full-time traveling by month, city, and how to stretch your money on your trips!
My Travel Budget: Backpacking Ecuador for 2 Months in 2024
3+ Months Backpacking in Peru: My Travel Budget
Income & Expense Reports
Since starting our journey to travel full-time, we’ve wanted to be open about our finances. Many people wonder what it really costs to live on the road, and we’re committed to sharing exactly how much we’re spending in each country. By being transparent about our expenses, we hope to provide useful insights for those who dream of full-time travel and are curious about the budget required to make it happen.
We also want to share how we’re making money along the way. Our income comes from various sources, including our blog, Patreon, YouTube, affiliate links, and contributions from generous supporters on platforms like Buy Me a Coffee. With this monthly breakdown, you’ll get a clear picture of our expenses and earnings, giving you a realistic view of what it takes to fund this lifestyle.
Our expense reports will cover:
- Accommodations: How we manage our “rent” while moving from place to place.
- Food & Snacks: The cost of eating out or cooking as we travel.
- Transportation: How we navigate between cities and within each new location.
- Activities & Attractions: What we spend on exploring, sightseeing, and experiencing each destination.
- Toiletries & Personal Expenses: Everyday necessities like toiletries, vaccines, and any miscellaneous items.
- Bills: Essential monthly costs like travel insurance, student loans, and phone plans.
- Extras: A bit of everything else, from souvenirs to tips.
Our goal is to inspire, inform, and show that with careful budgeting and a bit of creativity, travel can be more affordable than you might think. We hope this monthly breakdown helps you better understand the financial side of full-time travel!
Travel Expense Report: October 2024
Travel Expense Report: November 2024
Travel Expense Report: December 2024
I Tracked Every Dollar While Backpacking South America…
…then built the planner I wish I had on Day 1. Whether you’re already on your trip or figuring out what to save, this planner helps you stay on track, plan ahead, and avoid those “oh crap, I’m broke” moments. The planner includes:
- Travel Budget-Style Quiz, to understand how you like to spend your money on trips
- Destination Costs Worksheet, so you can get a feel for what things will cost in your destination
- An Easy Savings Formula & Tracker to create a savings goal and make sure you’re staying on track
- Daily & Weekly Templates to track your expenses on the road
- Customizable Google Sheets to keep track of your monthly spending
… and so much more!
> Get The PDF Version Straight To Your Email! <
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Not yet ready to commit?
My Mini Travel Budget Planner helps you set realistic savings goals and track your progress—so you can travel stress-free. Grab your FREE savings workbook below and start planning today!
Our Cost-Saving Favorites:
Here are the companies/websites we use to book travel while trying to find the best deals!
Some ways to save money on the road is by bringing…