How to implement your realistic travel budget planner

In one of my earlier posts I wrote about how you can create your realistic travel budget, well, in this post, I’m showing you how I actually IMPLEMENTED my travel budget planner on a staycation trip.

After a crazy year of lockdowns and face coverings, I decided to go on a well-deserved staycation, because I needed a break and a change of scenery!

Can you blame me!

Of course, times are hard at the moment and as always, I was on a travel budget.

Because, let’s face it… that’s what I know best!

Travel wouldn’t be travel for me if I wasn’t on a budget!

Anyway, I digress!

My budget planning method is simple and doesn’t involve a nasty spreadsheet!

If you just want a straight forward travel budget planner for your trips, then a spreadsheet is not the answer in my opinion, too much time and effort!

You want to spend your time packing and getting excited about your trip, not figuring out what costs go in which collum!

Leave that to the day job!

If you haven’t read my post about the 50:30:10:10 travel budget method, I’d suggest having a read so you can understand the idea behind the method- HERE

The post basically breaks down where you should distribute your spending to get the most out of your holiday budget whilst having an absolute ball!

In theory, it may seem like a good or interesting idea to you. But you may be thinking, in practice…is this really feasible?

Well…I have blogged the exact spending and budget planning that I did while following the 50:30:10:10 method while on my staycation! I took my own advice and here are the results…

Choose the perfect destination for your budget

Coming up with the perfect destination was easier than I thought.

If you’re planning a staycation and you’re not sure where to go because there are simply too many places on your list, then have a think about these points…

• What do YOU enjoy doing and what type of holiday do you want?

• Whether it’s a relaxing holiday like a spa break or a sightseeing city break, think about the PURPOSE of your trip.

I wanted an active outdoors holiday because in September 2020 indoor activities were restricted and places were having sudden local lockdowns.

Not to mention the fact that I really wanted an activity filled break because I’d been deprived of my usual travel adventures.

I knew I wanted to canoe, go for long walks, maybe do some cycling and all that good stuff!

So, I looked at canoeing companies because I knew that not everywhere has a river (durr) and a canoeing friendly river at that!

I came across Wye Adventures in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire and then looked at other activities that could be done in the area.

Working out the costs

The main way I decided HOW LONG I would go away for was based on how much it would cost to stay in Ross on Wye and how long it would take to get there.

Usually, deciding how long you go away for is dependent on when you can get flights and the cost of those flights…right?

At least it is for me!

My whole schedule is fit around flights.

Well, this time I didnt have to think about this because arriving there was more or less in my control, as I was driving.

Ah… the benefits of having a staycation!

If you need a little inspiration on why going on a staycation can save you money, have a read of my post –HERE.

Travel budget planner process- using the 50:30:10:10 method

Step 1: Work out how much your accommodation costs

So, I went on Airbnb and Booking.com to work out how much it would be to stay in the area.

As I would be driving down, I also looked at accommodation outside of Ross on Wye which might be cheaper. I figured that because I had a car, it wasn’t a big deal driving to places. 

I settled on a lovely cottage in Llangarron, it was out of the way, in the countryside and there were practically no people around!

PERFECT.

Once I worked out how much it would cost to stay for a certain number of nights, I thought about my budget.

It would be £355 for 5 nights for 2 people, which is £177.50 per person.

Main costs:

£177.50- Accommodation

£28- To fill a tank of petrol

Step 2: Work out how much you want to spend on the trip

Being honest, there wasn’t a great deal of planning that went into this figure, it was basically based on the amount that I could afford to spend for that month.

I did not want to be saving for months as it was a short break and there were no crazy fees involved like large flight bills.

I wanted it to be a fairly cheap and cheerful trip and with it being a staycation, all those extra costs were cut instantly!

If you’re wanting some extra helpful tips for saving money for travel, I have a post on this- HERE!

Considering my main expenses consisted of accommodation and petrol (gas), I worked out that I wanted to spend a grand TOTAL of £350 for the trip.

Step 3: How long you will go for?

Working out how long to go for is based on how much you’re willing to spend and what you want to do when you get there.

Although the average daily cost of living in the UK is £50 according to lonely planet, I knew that I would not be spending this much because I would not be eating out often!

I would be mainly cooking meals and the transport would be via car. The majority of the costs would be spent on activities during the trip.

Due to this, I was able to guess that I could go for longer than initially expected as my money would go further!

How exciting!

Breakdown of the costs

Recap of 50:30:10:10 method

So in my 50:30:10:10 blog post, I lay out these budgeting steps:

Main Costs + Budgeted allowance

Budgeted allowance:

50%= Necessities

30%= Must dos

10-15%= Wants

10%= Safety

Did it work in practice?

Step 1 – Main costs

£177.50 = accommodation for 5 nights

£28 = petrol

Total= £203

Ideal amount of money to spend on whole trip = £350

Amount able to spend for budget allowance = £147

Step 2: 50% of £147 for necessities= £73.50

(Necessities= Essential costs)

£30 = Food bought in the supermarket to use for cooking

£14 = Evening meal at local pub

£28.50 = Evening meal in Bath

Total = £72.50

(£1 under budget)

Step 3: 30% of £147 for must dos= £44.10

(Must-dos= Desired purchases)

£21 = Stonehenge advanced tickets

£12.50 = International Centre for Birds of Prey

£25 = 1 Day canoeing from Ross on Wye to Symonds Yat

Total= £58.50

(£14.40 over)

Step 4: 10% of £147 for wants = £14.70

£4 = Coffee + cake in Ross on Wye

£8.45 = Coffee + cake in Tewkesbury

Total = £12.45

(£2.25 under)

Step 5: 10 of £147 for safety net= £14.70

I decided not to go for the safety net as I was only 3 hours away from my home and a safety net is usually something I consider important for international travel.

I also spent extra in the “must-dos” allowance, so I didn’t see it relevant to have the safety net on this trip.

Total spends= £143.45

So I spent £2 under my budget! 

RESULT!

I think it’s safe to say, the 50:30:10:10 trick worked for me!

To conclude…

So, I managed to stay under my budget, which feels so fulfilling I must say!

It didn’t hinder me enjoying my trip at all, I still did EVERYTHING I set out to do AND more!

Usually cost of food racks up the total spends, but because I was cooking, it really saved a lot of money.

Doing free activities also really helped keep to the budget.

I honestly think this travel budget planner is a useful and easy way to quickly calculate how much you can spend in each area. It gives you the flexibility and freedom to actually enjoy your trip without you remembering that you’re on a budget.

Sometimes the idea of being on a budget can feel restricting and pressured, but I found when I implemented this budget planner, I wasn’t worried about money.

Try it out and please let me know how you get on!

If you would like to see more posts like this, let me know down below!

Yours,

Holly