Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
Our plan is to travel forever but we are chewing through our savings at a frightening rate of knots. We did everything right before we left. We researched the right rig, we calculated our fuel expenses based on the worst case scenario, and we thought long and hard about how cheaply we could eat and camp. The problem is not that our calculations were out, it’s just that we are more easily tempted than we thought. We enjoy free camping but still succumb to the ‘luxury’ of van parks, we don’t mind cooking in the van but still succumb to regular meals out, and – while we enjoy a nice bushwalk – reckon a boat trip or flight gives us a better insight into the Australian landscape. Trouble is our money will be long gone well before we are ready to stop.
Alison
I can’t stick to the budget It’s great you are having such a good time, Alison. It is only natural that you want to make the most of the experiences that are on offer while they are on offer. I think you will find your understandable enthusiasm to do everything and make every day perfect will slowly become more tempered. The most important first step is that you are acknowledging you have a ‘temptation problem’, and this means you are already on the way to righting the ship. Try negotiating with yourselves, Alison. If you are desperate to do that Kakadu cruise or Mitchell Falls flight, make a deal with yourselves to free camp for a whole week, or travel more slowly to save on fuel costs. You may find that the stricter you are with yourselves, the more you will enjoy the treats when you do have them.
Jaclyn
Well done. You accounted for everything except for the fact that you are ill-disciplined and stupid. Let me spell it out for you. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. If you make a budget for a reason and don’t stick to it, you will end up in the doo doo. Or put another way, if you spend all of your money now, you won’t have any money later. The tried and trusted cure to your sort of ill-disciplined, irresponsible spending is an empty bank account. It’s great your meals out and your helicopter flights are making you happy, Alison. I hope the memory of them will be enough to sustain you when you are living on baked beans and two-minute noodles in a few years. Your Big Lap is going to be short and sweet. Enjoy it while you can!
Heidi
