How do I manage my budget abroad for a prolonged period?

- Chris

---

Sticking to a budget is annoying, but absolutely essential. If you don't manage your money you could end up having to come home early or miss out on some of the dream things you've always wanted to see. Equally, if you're too strict on your spending you won't get to enjoy everything you've traveled so far to see! So here are the top ways to easily manage your money so you can have the best trip possible.

1. Plan ahead - if you know you have a lump sum of cash, do some research for flights, accommodation, food costs etc. so you can get a general idea of how much you'll be spending per month or week on living costs and attractions. It's also important to look at the particular countries you're going to visit, as 1 month in Thailand is likely to be far cheaper than 1 month in the USA.

2. Give yourself a strict allowance - if you know your trip will cost £1000 a month don't spend more than this. It seems simple, but it is easy to get carried away when you're abroad and having a great time. Just remember, anything you overspend will take money away from your future destinations so think carefully. If you're happy to spend more in 1 area and less in another then that's fine, but just think about it first.

3. Use international debit cards - These cards are so useful and I whole-heartedly recommend them. I used a Revolut card abroad, which didn't charge me currency exchange fees and it was connected to my phone so I could see my online banking and what money I had spent on what. This makes it really easy to monitor your spending and keep an eye on your money. In some countries having cash is better, but you can withdraw cash in different currencies from a Revolut card so I would recommend getting one regardless of whether you want to use cash only. It's also a lot safer to carry a debit card in your pocket than a big sum of cash in my opinion.

4. Remember to treat yourself - At the end of the day, you've worked hard to save and plan for your travels so enjoy it! The beauty of budgeting is that it gives you the opportunity to spend a bit more money on something special from money saved elsewhere. We decided to treat ourselves to an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and I am so glad that we did. We knew that this was one place in particular that we wanted to be really special, so we budgeted more heavily in China so that we could splash out and have a bit of luxury in Ha Long Bay.

Sticking to a budget is important, making sure you don't OVER or UNDER spend will ensure you have the best experience possible!