I simply obtained an electronic mail from BicycleTouringPro.com reader, John Herr. Here’s what he stated:
I’ll have already requested you this, however how do you determine the price to your journeys. All people talks about every little thing having to do with a bicycle journey, besides how to determine how a lot the journey the need value. Thanks.
– John –
This can be a actually good query and one thing I need to cowl in additional element later, however within the meantime I assumed I might use my present journey to Aruba for example and present you the way I deliberate out a funds for this brief 10 day journey.
The lengthy model is simply that – lengthy. However the brief model is that this:
I’ve an envelope at residence labeled “Play Account” and I take advantage of the cash in that envelope to do issues that I take into account to be enjoyable. My “Play” cash is used for issues like going out to the flicks, going bowling with buddies, and taking bicycle journeys.
The key to my “Play Account” envelope is that I can solely use the cash within the envelope for issues I take into account to be enjoyable. When the cash runs out, I can’t do any of those enjoyable actions till I get more cash within the envelope.
After buying my airline ticket to Aruba and my new Bike Friday folding bike, I solely had $180 left in my “Play Account” envelope, in order that was my funds for the journey to Aruba.
The best way I plan my bike journeys, I merely check out how a lot cash I’ve after which attempt to determine a method to plan a visit round that quantity.
As a substitute of claiming, “This journey goes to value me $1,000” I merely take a look at how a lot cash I’ve and the way lengthy I plan to be out on the highway after which determine my day by day funds allowance primarily based on that quantity.
For this journey to Aruba, I had $180 in my “Play Account” envelope and my journey was going to be 10 days lengthy, so I had a day by day funds allowance of $18.00.
One other instance is my first bike journey down the coast of California. I used to be seventeen years previous and straight out of highschool on the time. I solely had a pair hundred {dollars} within the financial institution, in order that was my funds for the journey. It wasn’t some huge cash, however I found out a method to make it work.
If I had waited round and stated to myself, “This journey goes to value me $800, however I didn’t have $800 within the financial institution, the journey would have by no means occurred and I’d have missed out on an unimaginable alternative.
So I at all times work with what I’ve. I attempt to get a way of what I’ll want earlier than I go away, however in the long run, my funds is often decided by what I’ve and never by what I want.
In case you’ve toured prior to now, how did you intend out the funds to your tour? And when you’ve got not but toured by bike, what are you greatest questions on budgeting? That is one thing I need to cowl in additional element sooner or later, so I’d actually like your suggestions.