Just thought I'd try and get a really helpful topic going in regards to expenses that might not come to mind to some people when budgeting for a trip. Of course everyone usually has their flights and a good idea about accomadations figured but theres always so many little ones that can end up screwing you up...visas, insurance...etc. If you have any expenses that you think some might know of, or that have happened to you in the past.....lets hear them!

Taxes! they are everywhere and in everything! Also amounts people don't really think about how much they spend when it's something small but over the time if you buy 'em on a constant rate, well they come out pretty expensive, Let's say for example; I buy everyday 1 liter of Oragnic soy milk (2.50$) and Bran muffins (1.80$) for breakfast, that comes to a total of around 4.30$ but if you multiply it by 30, it gives us 129$ a month, aha! This is something essential for me so I have to keep on buying it but I'm just giving you an example. Cig's, Coffee, Medicine, blah blah blah. Any outcome is harsh on your base when you sum it up to the grand loss.

Totally agree with the breakfast thing...I've got the tea and scone's down to only mondays and fridays because it's over $5 a day...and like you said it adds up so fast. Another bad one is a girlfirend.....taking a girl out for dinner and drinks......it's basically like paying for sex.

Beggers! They always pop up out of nowhere and I can't help but give them something especially when they have a good story.

On the taxes thing in Europe remember to always keep your recepts and you'll get the tax back before leaving the country. Tax is included in the price of everything in Europe which is much better I always felt hard done by when I saw a price in America then got the tax lumped on when paying at the counter.

Hostel extras:

Internet usage
towel rent
sheets rent
lockers rent

"getting lost"

cab fares
bus fares
subway fares
phone calls
...basically money you use if you get lost and try to find your way.

Lost items...if you lose/forget/get robbed you have to replace. That costs money

ATM FEES and bank charges - most people get blindsided by this.

Delays - having to stay longer because of transport problems

I am sure I will come up with more later...

Foo

:cheers:

Cinemas! they are the worse money outlet ever! How much a 2 tickets for a movie? 20$ popcorn & drinks & whatever else you like getting? 15$ total 35$ gone to the shithole for 2 hours of a movie you don't even have a clue you will like, my solution. Befriend someone that works at the iFC Cinema, get in for free & get the stuff you'll eat in the back pack!

Cause everything in the theaters are overpriced! Besides you can always drink liqour instead of crappy sodas. :sly:

I never budget for things like airports or train stations. I take water and rations with me when I travel, but sometimes I need a new book to read, or I just want a huge cup of fresh coffee, or a newspaper, or a hot meal. And those things cost. Also, I'm a coca-cola and nicotine addict and for some reason I never factor that in, either. So if there's something that you regularly partake of, try to give yourself some funds for that. I had a friend who decided to quit smoking on her trip, she didnt have the money to support it and she wanted to quit anyway. That was the worst idea ever, when you travel a smoke is sort of comforting and nicotine withdrawls are worse under the semi-stressful conditions that surround travelling.

I digress..

Travel insurance kinda gave me a spanking. It was something that i left until the last minute to get and thought i'd only have to pay around $100 - $200.....$800 later and i was ready to go :blink2:

Also, booze money, damn that adds up quickly! If you hit the piss every other night you will end up spending a small fortune. This is especially true for countries with a stronger dollar than your own.

Decent pair of shoes. I didn't have any and had to buy some before leaving - $200.

Random articles of clothing - warm jacket, rain coat, good pants, etc, etc. This can rack up the dollars too if you go overboard.

A major unexpected expense comes from food. You can tell yourself before you leave that you'll be fine eating bread and cheese from the supermarket everyday, but that wont last long. For me personally, I find that I cant really feel satisfied until I eat something that inevitably costs a decent amount of money. If you can minimize the aount of snacks and drinks you buy during the day, then you wont feel so bad spending money for meals.

books, internet, train reservations, public bathrooms, metros, city busses, and....... stuff

I'd go with:

Internet
Train reservations
"Free" bread when you try and treat yourself to a nice meal...anybody know what I'm talking about?
Drinks (alcoholic, that is. Maybe not hidden, but after a couple you end up spending more!)
Misc. transportation

Haha I know of this "free" bread! I traveled with a really cheap girl with an eating disorder once, and every time someone dared to set a bread basket down in front of us, she damn near chopped their heads off! So I've never really experienced it first hand...

Food never does me in though - vacations are like the best way ever to loosen my clothes (haha, in the drop a few pounds way, not in the "hey, traveler, think two can fit in your hostel bed?" way!). Gifts do me in. I pretty much take care of every gift-giving holiday including birthdays for the next 12 months whenever I travel. Then you're like...uhh if I get for this person, I should probably just get another for her roommate, and then I should really just get one extra because when I land, I'll inevitably have forgotten someone crucial!!

Batteries
Toiletries (forgetting them at the last hostel)
Clothes replacement (longer trips)
Lost Luggage (The insurance is never enough to replace it all)
Doctor Visits (Broken glasses, Bronchidis, etc)

Foo

:cheers:

if you in the habbit of burning pics to a cd while away this is costly.. me, I just bring 2 memory cards. Yeah, I kick ass! :aikido: