If you have Php 5,000 in your pocket, how will you spend it?

Some will buy signatured shoes and clothes or the latest gadget. Others will satisfy their palates with succulent dishes. As for me, I buy experience: I travel.

It all started with booking Cebu Pacific Air’s Piso Fare last February. My roundtrip ticket to Naga City was only Php 155.00 (My cheapest airfare as of to date).   And then I started encouraging friends to travel with me. We started with six (6) people in the group and ended with four (4) in the actual trip. It was my goal to create a budget with comfortable/ decent accommodation for this Camsur trip.

Ideally, with 6 people, the budget should only be Php 3,000 with airfare, accommodation, food, and island hopping. But since we’re down with two people to share the cost, I stretched out our budget to Php 5,000/person (maximum).

I know some travel blogger friends who cut down the cost of their trips through their accommodations (sleeping on a tent/ hammock/free accommodation through locals (?)). But I think that would only be applicable for hardcore adventurers. But since I’m traveling with first-time travelers, it didn’t apply for this trip.

For 4 days, 3 Nights, I can say that our DIY trip to Camsur was a success! The total expenses for everything was Php 4,505.25. But if  the amount for the souvenirs (optional) is deducted and if we have cut down our food cost, the total would have been somewhere between Php 3,500 to Php 4,ooo.  Package tours to Caramoan alone would cost you around Php 3,500-Php 4,000 for 3 days/2nights.

Here’s the detailed breakdown of the expenses for your reference.

Indeed, it is still cheaper to plan and execute your own trip. Yes, there were hassles but that helped us learn what to do next. For future trips, we learned that we should assign a treasurer who would hold the funds so as not to confuse with who paid what. The downside of  a DIY trip like this was the accounting of expenses. There were some instances that one person shouldered the expense for transportation and food. So checking the payables and receivables also ate our time.

It’s really up to you on how you cut your cost. The key is to research and plan. But others who love spontaneity might disagree. Spontaneity gives more fun and adventure but that would only be applicable to people who have the luxury of time. As for me, I plan to save time and expenses.

Budget is not an excuse anymore.  Traveling can be done without hurting your pocket. Just remember, whenever you travel, you’re helping the community and contributing to the tourism industry. Hence, you’re helping your country progress.

Live life to the fullest! Enrich your life and the lives of the people you meet Travel. 

 You can also check commuting 101: The cheaper way to get to and from NAIA Terminal 3.