A Very Unsettled Budget: The Choices That Built My Life of Travel
The snapshots of a life I built one budget at a time.
People ask me all the time — friends, family, strangers in hostels, even fellow travellers on buses —
“How do you afford to travel so much?”
And the funny thing is, I never had some big secret or trust fund or magic trick.
What I had were choices.
When I first started travelling, I was young and definitely not financially savvy. Travel was cheaper back then, but I still had my student loan — $300 a month until I begged to get it lowered to $100. I didn’t own a house or a car, and I wasn’t juggling bills. It was just me, a backpack, and whatever I could save.
But the truth is:
I didn’t learn how to budget because I was disciplined.
I learned because I wanted to see the world more than I wanted anything else.
Where it all began — broke, determined, and absolutely convinced that seeing the world was worth every sacrifice.
The First Budget Rule I Ever Made
Sometimes I’d stand in a store holding something I thought I wanted and ask myself:
“Do I need this… or would I rather save for a plane ticket?”
The plane ticket always won.
Same with nights out. I’d look at a beer in Canada and think,
“Would I rather drink this one here… or try a brand-new beer in a brand-new country?”
A new country always won.
That’s how travel starts — not with a huge budget, but with small choices that stack up.
One beer in a new country always felt worth saving for.
How I Planned My Early Trips
Whenever I picked a destination, I’d open a notebook and write down absolutely everything:
what I wanted to see
how much it cost
the tours I dreamed of
the expensive transportation options (because you never know)
I always budgeted $20 per meal per day. I always added an extra $200 cushion. And if I hadn’t saved enough yet, I cut things from the list until the numbers made sense.
I wasn’t wealthy.
I wasn’t lucky.
I was just determined.
This is what my budgeting actually looked like — every cost, every day, every detail written down.
Saving While Living Abroad
Whenever I lived overseas, I followed one rule that changed everything:
Save half of my paycheck — no excuses.
If I made $1,000, I put away $500.
I chose jobs that included accommodation.
I cooked instead of eating out.
I got the cheapest phone plan.
I walked when I could.
And I wrote down every expense, even the annoying small ones. Watching my account grow — even slowly — felt better than anything I could buy.
I wasn’t earning a fortune — I was just intentional. Saving half my paycheck abroad became my safety net and my travel fund.
My Hardest Lesson: The $7 Moment
There was one moment that shaped my budgeting forever:
I checked my bank account in Carnarvon, Western Australia, and saw $7.
It was terrifying.
It was humbling.
It was the moment I learned that everyone — traveller or not — needs an emergency fund.
Luckily, I found a job quickly, but that lesson stayed with me. From then on, I always kept extra savings tucked away.
I didn’t have much money, but moments like this reminded me why I kept going.
The Freedom of Paying Things Upfront
One habit that changed everything:
I started paying for absolutely everything before my trip — flights, accommodation, tours, anything possible.
By the time I arrived, the heavy expenses were gone.
All I needed money for was:
food
drinks
local transport
souvenirs
And when I came home, there was no giant bill waiting for me. Just memories and leftover spending money.
Paid for. Packed. Peace of mind.
Traveling After COVID
Prices everywhere went up. Flights jumped. Accommodation skyrocketed. Food costs doubled in some places.
But budgeting still worked.
In Central America, I aimed for $1,000/month. I mostly stayed within it. Costa Rica, of course, laughed at me and cost $2,500 for six weeks — plus birthday presents.
But then Japan, Shanghai, and New York surprised me. I prepaid everything, brought $1,000 for the week, and only spent half.
Budgeting didn’t limit me.
It opened the door.
This is what budgeting buys: freedom, adventure, and the ability to say yes to the world.
What Budgeting Really Meant for Me
People hear “budget” and think restriction, sacrifice, saying no.
But for me?
Budgeting is exactly what allowed me to say yes:
yes to volcanoes in Central America
yes to temples in Thailand
yes to gelato in Italy
yes to Greece for under $5,000
yes to the life I dreamed about
Saving wasn’t glamorous.
Skipping purchases wasn’t always fun.
But every small choice — every beer I DIDN’T buy in Canada, every pair of shoes I DIDN’T need — became another stamp in my passport.
Budgeting didn’t take anything away.
It gave me the world.
These are the experiences my budget paid for — not things, but moments.
