How Cheap is Cheap Backpacking?

As soon as I got back from my six month backpacking trip, the first question that I got from my family was, how much did it cost you?

Cost will always be relative. It depends on what you can compromise and what you cannot. It also depends on what your perception of cheap is. If you’re a western traveller or a local executive who’s earning more than $3000 a month then budget won’t be an issue.

But if you’re just a regular Filipino guy whose monthly income is barely $400, then everything seem to be expensive.

I left Manila with only $600 in my pocket and travelled for six months in eight Asian countries.
Here’s how I did it.

Five dollars was my ceiling or approximately around P250. Yes, it’s not a typographical error that’s only how much I could spend and if you do the math I wouldn’t really be able to afford it if I pay $5 for every single day I was on the road.

6 Months X 30 Days X $5 = $900 (I wouldn’t be able to afford this!!!)

Now, how the hell did I survive?

Looking at the numbers, I wouldn’t be able to afford to stay for six months. Check out my previous articles, ‘’How to Find Free Accommodation” and “How to Find Cheap Accommodation” for the details. I did everything that I mentioned in the articles except for camping and Wwofing (I almost did this but I was prompted to go home during that time- check out “Convince me to go to India” for the story behind the decision.)

This is the easiest to adjust. My budget for a meal was only $1 and I even went cheaper in some days. I know this is not a very practical and sane thing to do but I had to do it. There were even days when I only ate two meals a day. I also didn’t keep on buying bottled water. I always kept the old one and I went to a water refilling station and had it refilled.

This is not something that I recommend anyone to do. It can be hazardous to anyone’s health.

I also took advantage of eating as much as I could whenever someone treats me for a free lunch or dinner to compliment the nutrition that I lost in some days.

This is something that is a little beyond your control. We don’t dictate the airfares, cab fares, etc. But there are ways on how to save money for the transportation. Check out my previous article about saving on airfares, "How to Find the Cheapest Airfare". And also, do not be shy to ask your fellow traveller if they would like to share a cab, tuktuk or whatever with you. Chances are they will say yes. Everyone’s eager to save a dollar on everything.
Work along the Way

If you’re in for a long trip and you don’t have enough bucks for it, ask around for a possible short employment. I did this for three months in one of the countries that I went to just to get free food and accommodation. By the way, before you engage in any kind of short term employment, make sure you stay informed with your rights and other stuff like that.
A lot of backpackers are doing this. There're a lot of odd jobs out there. I met a Singaporean in China who worked as a baker in Sapa, Vietnam for a few months just to get free accommodation and free food. There were some backpackers from UK, USA and other native English speaking countries who did some short stint in Southeast Asia and China as part time English teachers and tutors.

There were some backpacking artists busking (practice of performing in public places for tips) all over the world trying to earn some cents for their next meal.

There were also a lot of volunteering opportunities that offer free accommodation and sometimes free food.

The newest (not really so new) is earning from blogging about your travels and doing other online money making activities.

You could also submit your articles and pictures to some travel magazines back home to earn some bucks.

Doing part time job or volunteering enables you to travel slower on a certain place and thus gives you more opportunity to immense yourself in the local culture. It also becomes your break from your usual country hopping spree.

Backpacking is tougher when you really don’t have the money just like me when I did it last year. But more than the money, it’s your determination and passion that would make this possible for you.

by cdsessums.(flickr creative commons attribution)


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