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Budget for your working holiday
It would be quite easy, and reasonably foolish, for us to brush over the subject of budgeting for your Working Holiday in Australia. The fact is, for most people, it requires a complete overhaul of their spending habits. It takes months (sometimes years) of advanced planning to plump up your savings and catapult you to the other side of the world!
We've already covered the basic items for your trip, in our Working Holiday Checklist. Take a look, print it out, scribble down some notes and make sure you maximise your budget.The best weapon against a leaking budget, is planning. Planning is what took James Cook there. Planning is what brought Harold Bishop back.
Lay down the things which are likely to cost you the most, for example your flights to Australia, travel insurance, and accommodation. Then make a guesstimate about the cost of everyday living; how much is a beer? Are you a big eater? Can you cook, or will you eat out? Now fill in the gaps further still; do you have other outgoings? For example, a mobile phone contract, or a fee for using your bank account?
Now, if your budget seems an ill-fit for your outgoings, let's see what can be scrubbed. What services will you be paying for, which you can pause or cancel? What can you cut down on?
One of the best ways to save money, is to increase the number of people you're travelling with. That's the roundabout way of saying; make the most of your friends! More people means lower costs for things like food, accommodation, and travelling costs including car hire and fuel. Australia is one of the easiest places in the world for travellers to befriend each other. There's always something social going on; check hostel notice boards, or tap up our Facebook community for more hints and tips. You will find that many of Australia's city hostels go out of their way to help travellers meet each other.
Of course, it's not all about the outgoings; consider the income you'll be earning from your job. If you've secured a job before you leave the UK, you should have a pretty good idea about the level of income you can expect to earn.
Our Starter Packs are a popular way for travellers to make big savings, and grab an income quicker. They set you up with all the things you need to settle into Australia quickly; plus they give you everything you need to land a job, saving you time and money!If you're planning on staying in one spot for a while, then you'll probably be looking towards a house share. It's worth having a look online for typical costs; and asking around for people who are looking for a similar solution. You'll be amazed how many people are in Australia, who are friends of friends. It's good to be quite vocal about your plans on social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter.
The more people who know your plans, the more people can add to them!
