DOLLARS AND SENSE
MONEY. It’s the topic most people want to know about but don’t want to ask. However, it is one of the most fundamental aspects of travel life, and obviously travel is not possible without some amount of money. We always maintain that no matter your budget, you can have the most amazing time. It is not about what you own or don’t own, it’s about getting out there and spending quality time exploring this incredible country.
On our first big trip in 2020, we were much more budget-conscious and established a dedicated bank account for travel. This way we could deposit a certain amount of money in the account and budget for that amount to last a certain period of time, as a way of controlling our spending. Using a single account was also a good way of keeping track of where our money was going. However, in 2021, we got a bit lazy with budgeting and the budget blew out a fair bit with increased travel distances, more remote locations and doing a few more big-ticket tourist activities. For both 2020 and 2021, we just saved hard in the preceding years and Nikita took some paid leave from work.
People often say to us, “How can you afford all this?” and we proudly tell them we paid every cent for what we own, and we worked and saved hard for our travels. We also lived on the road, so our van and car were our home and our biggest assets, as is the case for many travelling families we have met along the way.
We have found fellow travellers all do it differently when it comes to their homes and vans. Some, like us, make their van their home and put furniture in storage; some people lock up their homes; while some rent out their homes or use house-sitters – no one way is the best way, as everyone’s circumstances are different in that regard.
One of the biggest killers of our savings is fuel. Especially driving a V8, we spent a majority of the budget on diesel. As well as this, the more remote you go, the more expensive it gets, with $3.30 a litre the most we have paid for fuel. However, in the current climate, this is almost a regular price at most bowsers! You can be thrifty and save money at the bowser with fuel apps on your phone, planning ahead for areas where fuel is more expensive and carrying fuel with you (weight permitting) if needed.
The second biggest cost on our trip is food! Nikita admitted to always overshopping when it comes to groceries, and travelling did teach us how to curb this, as we simply did not have as much fridge and pantry space. As time went on, we got better at only buying what we needed and learning which meals and foods were better to cook when living out of a caravan. When travelling along the coast, catching our dinner and eating fresh produce also helped both the bank balance and our waistlines.
We also made a point of trying not to eat out or get
takeaway more than once a week. Initially, it is tempting to live like you are on holidays and eat out at pubs and restaurants all the time, but this gets very draining financially; plus we often weren’t near a grocery store let alone a restaurant. Again, if you put a bit of time and effort in to budgeting and planning, you can spend less on food on your travels. It’s all about reaping nature’s rewards (legally, of course) and being a savvy and organised grocery shopper.
Another place our money goes is doing touristy things and activities and, as many of us know, the more children you have and the older they are, the more expensive it is. We may suffer from FOMO but we didn’t want to miss the big-ticket items such as diving with the whale sharks, Horizontal Falls and sailing the Whitsundays – and while none of these things or any of the tourist experiences are cheap, they are worth it.
I guess it’s all about prioritising which things are bucket-list items and which things you can leave for another day, and then getting the most out of those things you do pick. However, some of the best times we had on our travels were watching western sunsets at free beach camps with mates, and this is absolutely free and priceless.
Camping and caravan park fees are another consideration with budgeting, and many government bodies in each state have started charging fees for previously free campgrounds. Obviously, free camps are the cheapest and best option, and we reiterate that if you are using a free camp please respect the property and look after it – leave only footprints and take only memories. Again, it’s all about planning ahead to book in low-cost camping, occasionally splurging on amenities and a swimming pool, and realising that you won’t stay in a five-star campground all the time. There will be nights on the side of the road and, as mentioned, some of the best camps we’ve been to are free or cheap.
Unfortunately, travellers also have to keep in mind that some weekly or monthly payments don’t stop, just because you are travelling. Things such
WE ALWAYS SAY, “JUST LIKE HAVING CHILDREN, THERE IS NO RIGHT TIME TO TRAVEL. JUST DO IT!”
as insurance premiums, rates for home owners, healthcare costs, phone bills and registrations need to be budgeted.
Another thing, which we have talked about in a previous article, are vehicle repairs and potential breakdown costs for both your vehicle and your van. Accidents and breakdowns happen and are not always covered by insurance, so it’s good to have a kitty stashed away for emergencies.
You don’t need to be absolutely loaded to travel Australia, but it is good to consider money and finances and have a bit of plan. We always say, “Just like having children, there is no right time to travel. Just do it!”
It doesn’t matter how much you have in the bank or how you get around, it’s all about getting out there and living the dream. We need to make the most of this safe, free and naturally spectacular country we call home while we can. So, get out there and start spending – spend the kid’s inheritance, spend that rainy day fund and, most of all, spend precious time with your loved ones.