Stu's Rusty Bucket

Monday, December 01, 2003

Budgets

well.. Ive worked out my budgets! (I have an elaborate spreadsheet, conditional formatting etc). At first i was very worried, it was very grim reading.. but Ive worked it so it now balances just fine!

(It takes into acount a range of 10 USD/GBP exchange rates and 10 GBP/AUD rates)..

but… well its a big but… I had to factor lots of things in. My original budget only covered 6 months of car payments, but then I realised, I need to cover them for when I return to the UK, and take into account I wont have a job immediatly opon returning etc.. ack!

So some refactorisation was in order. Reduction of monthly expenditures, etc. Thankfully I already own all my gear and have no major purchases. Plane tickets were factored in ages ago so thats already taken care of. I should be in a good position to have a budget of 2500USD for my hike. Since I dont plan on staying in every town I go through, my expenses should be only food, maybe a gear breakage or two. Some town stopovers will be a nescesity, so thats ok. I have enough GBP behind me for when I finish the hike, that an unexpected town stay should be ok...... and since I dont drink or smoke, there is none of that to worry my expenses.

I should be able to afford to eat when I return to the UK.

If the pound looses to the dollar (if it drops < 1.6) I am well screwed! But you get into the predicament of, do you transfer a large chunk at a set rate, or leave it dynamic and hope that 2 months into the hike that britain does not hit a majour recession and sterling v dollar drops to 1.1 or something…

So much at risk, so much is left to the vagaries of the world market.

Also my last pay cheque arrives the day I start the trail… So… should there be any inconcistency in my pay.. I am well beyond screwed and into haemoraghing status.