Inside this newsletter👉
- Why there's no magic number when it comes to travel budgets
- What costs to cut (and what's coming with you)
- Fuel, accommodation, food — what to expect
- How other Aussie families actually fund their trip
- Join our Skool community!
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Hello!
We've been busy this week with lots of very exciting things! The biggest thing we've done is launch our Skool community. If you haven't had a chance yet, jump into Skool (it's free) and you'll be able to see what we've been up to.
If you're thinking of doing the big lap, or are just curious as to how it would work, check out the 7 day challenge 'Dream to Driveway'. It's a 7 day course that covers all the basic things, but packing up a house, working out what to tow, working out the budget and more can get hectic. Hopefully, this will help sort a few things out!
With the world going a bit AI nuts, we figured it would be good to have a platform where we can actually meet in person, well, Zoom, have all our guides and be able to respond more easily to chats.
Apart from that, this week's been hectic in other ways - I'm not sure from what, but just life with 2 energetic kids!
Anyway, let's get into the good stuff:
The number one question I get: how much does it actually cost?
I wish I could say "it'll cost you exactly $X a week" — how easy would that be! But it doesn't work that way. Every family is different. There is no right or wrong answer. It's just about knowing where your money goes.
Start with what you spend now
Before you can work out your road budget, you need to know your current weekly spend at home. From there, work out what you won't be paying on the road — gym memberships, subscriptions, maybe your mortgage depending on what you do with the house.
Then there are the costs that come with you — insurance (which can actually go up, especially for long-distance towing cover), phone plans, health insurance, ambulance cover. Please check your ambulance cover is Australia-wide, not just your home state.
The gap between what drops off and what stays? That's your starting point.
BTW, we have a budget planner spreadsheet if you would like to check it out, it covers everything you need to work out before you go - and tracks it while you're away :)
Holiday or lifestyle — this changes everything
Have a sit-down with your travel partner and decide: is this a full-on holiday where you see everything and eat out wherever you want? Or is it a lifestyle change — slow travel, home cooking, free camps?
Neither is wrong. But agree on it before you leave. Two people with different expectations on the road is a recipe for stress.
The big costs to plan for
Fuel is usually the biggest one — travel slow and it's manageable, cover big distances every day and it'll blow out fast.
Accommodation can range from completely free (bush camping is brilliant) to $100+ a night at the big resort-style parks. We do about a week free camping, then pop into a caravan park midweek for a good shower and a bounce on the bouncy castle. Works for us!
Food gets more expensive the more remote you are — stock up in big towns when you can.
And don't forget the sneaky ones. Coffees, ice creams, hot chips at roadhouses (guilty), laundry. They add up faster than you think.
How do people actually fund their trip?
Savings is the most common. Some people use holiday pay or long service leave (Tim took his at half pay on one of our big trips — highly recommend). Others rent their house, do remote work, or pick up work along the way — pubs, caravan parks, farm work.
Most people end up using a mix. The main thing is — it is doable.
We're on Skool!
For the 7-day challenge, come and join Plan. Save. Go! community on Skool. I've also included my freelancing courses, if you would like to see if freelancing could be one way to fund your trip. (If you didn't know, I'm a freelance writer by trade - so I keep working while travelling!)
Top blogs this week:
Have a great week,
Tim & Margie
PS — If you would like Tim's maintenance schedule, click here to find out more.
Come and join us: Plan.Save.Travel! on Skool 🚐
