Travelling South Asia on a low budget: how I manage my money – CHECK OUT my detailed expenses on a t

"How do you finance your travels?" "How can you afford to travel so much?" These are by far the most frequently asked questions on my Instagram DM. In India, the culture around travelling in general, but especially backpacking and "wanderlusting" is quite undeveloped, still in its baby hiking shoes. It's easy to understand how people might think it's extremely costly, no matter the travel style. But the question pops up as much in chats with my Finnish friends as here in India. So many people seem to think that hotels, restaurants, transportation, etc. are expensive and to be a traveller you must have bottomless pockets. Well, I do wish I could say I’ve won in the lottery, but…

Hey, don't get me wrong. I used to think travelling was only for well off people too! When I lived in Finland and only dreamed of travelling the world, I firmly believed that it would if not bankrupt me then at least leave me counting pennies for food when I got back home. I thought that I first needed to have tons of savings and I didn't even know where to start. Maybe I didn't know where my money was and would be going, I didn't quite understand pricing in different countries or the value of money and purchases. Even when I got over my fear of insufficient funds, made the decision to travel and bought my first plane ticket to India, I was so sure the flight would've cost me twice as much as it actually did. During that first trip I did using just my own money, I was so anxious about running out of money that I basically didn't use any other than for the necessities before the last couple of days when I already knew I could pay my way back home.

Based on a questionnaire I just did in my Instagram stories there are tons of you who think the same way I used to do. I asked my followers to guess how much my recent trip to Sri Lanka cost in total (I'm sharing my detailed expenses at the end of this post!) and most of them thought it was double of the actual price, or even more. I'm more concerned about those who think you can make a 9-day trip with flights, trains, hostels, food, surfing lessons etc. for less than 10.000 rupees/130 euros though. I think it's better to believe things cost more because that might lead to more cautious spending, but we all should have a clear picture of pricing and value of things, and of course our personal finances.

People seem to think I'm made of money (not true, but I do have savings these days!) and that they need a lot of money too to be able to travel at least somewhat comfortably, which is why I'm writing this article. I also used to tell myself my wallet was too light and I wish someone had concretely showed me how I can afford travelling too, with details and concrete examples! So I want to share my best tips on saving and easy budget travelling to let you know that it’s not that hard and demanding.

Let's start with saving money for your travels, when you're still at home! It boils down to prioritisation really. For me and my boyfriend both, exploring as many new places and experiences as possible is right on top of the list after the expenses on food and living, so we make simple choices in everyday life that enable us to follow those priorities.

• Keep track of your expenses! At home, we have a list on our fridge door where we note down even the smallest of our expenses. At the end of each month we sum it up and see where the money goes and if adjustments need to be made. Honestly, I'm terrible with money and don't like to think about it to the extent that I avoid my online bank account, but this I feel is a very simple reminder of sensible spending in everyday life.

• Rather than eating out, cook your meals at home with fresh, local ingredients. Having a mostly vegetarian diet is a lot cheaper too. If you sometimes want to splurge and go to a restaurant, know the real value of your meal. For example, I think over 200 rupees for dal is ridiculous, when most likely I make better dal at home.

• Going out often even for the cheapest things such as chai or coffee makes a pretty big sum in the longer run, so you can save a quite a lot of money by just enjoying your chai at home.

• I don't smoke and very rarely drink alcohol. Going out and partying on a regular basis is a huge expense and I think this is the biggest reason why I was never able to save money when I lived in Finland.

• Only shop out of necessity and don't pay high prices for such things as brand or status. Prioritise practical value, quality of material and ethics of the price.

• Walk everywhere you can.

• Minimise the number of paid memberships and subscriptions. I mean like, if you're in the middle of binging a 10-season series from Amazon, do you really need your Netflix subscription running in the background?

That reminds me, I guess I should finally cancel my Spotify... I'm not perfect here. The secret is looking at the bigger picture rather than every little detail anyways. It’s the same people, who spend several lakhs and take loans for fancy, impractical cars for example, who wonder why someone with enough money to splurge decides to buy an average, affordable car – and then in the same breath ask how it is possible to travel so much.

Deciding the priorities, making sensible, practical choices accordingly and knowing where the money goes helps you a long way. I make it my business to roughly know the real prices of things everywhere I go, so I don't get scammed or end up overpaying when there would be more affordable options too. We don’t plan everything in detail and well ahead of time, or even spend too much time looking for the cheapest options and special offers, but doing the things I just mentioned really helps in easily finding the options suitable for you! As much as we want to be economical with time and money, we also want to arrange our life to be as easy and stress-free as possible both at home and on the road. So maybe sometimes I don't get the best, cheapest deal, but it's the right option for me in other ways!

Like I said earlier, I think one of the biggest issues for people who dream of a life of travelling is that they often have no idea about the price of things or low-budget options. And because I really want to encourage you to explore the world and finding YOUR style in travelling, I thought that it would really help to share my detailed list of expenses from my recent trip to Sri Lanka. I learn best by concrete examples too ;) This list is also the best example I could give, because Sri Lanka was actually the most expensive trip I've made! Usually I go hiking which is often free, stay in monasteries or have my boyfriend with me which also cuts the cost quite nicely. Even this trip to Sri Lanka could've been made a bit more economically, but because the whole point was to detox and relax, I didn't want to stress about the money too much. I did end up staying below the limit I had set for my budget, so it was a financial success anyways!

Most of my followers on Instagram thought that I paid 50.000 rupees = 615 euros for a 9-day trip to Sri Lanka with flights, trains, accommodation, food, surfing etc. but they were quite far off with their guesses! Here's the list of the expenses with my comments. Check it out and see how much I actually spent on my trip!

8800rs flights Chennai - Colombo - Chennai

I bought the tickets well in advance in October, as I needed to have a ticket out of India for my Indian visa. You might be able to get roundtrip tickets slightly cheaper, but my travel dates weren't very flexible and for the peak season in January, this was pretty much as cheap as it gets. Usually you find cheaper rates when you book early, but if there are empty seats left closer to the travel dates there can be great deals available again! It helps if your dates are flexible and I like searching for flights to different locations all year round just for fun, because then I get a good idea about the pricing and know when prices go up or down. If you spend a lot of time on flight search engines, remember to clear the browser history often, because the sites keep hiking the prices if they recognise you as a regular!

4700rs 6 nights in a mix dorm at the best hostel (Colours Hostel) in Mirissa

I would've been able to find a cheaper accommodation too, but it was important for me to get to socialise and make new friends on my trip and there was really no price tag I could've put on that! Colours Hostel had amazing reviews especially for the family-like community vibe and definitely gave a different kind of value to the money spent. Also, a hearty breakfast and free coffee/tea all day long were included in the price, which saved me quite a lot of money elsewhere. If I stay in a hostel on my solo trips, I prefer booking well in advance (on roadtrips and trips with my bf , we just show up at the reception or book a place a couple of hours before arriving, as the rates can go really low for last minute deals!). But my initial plan for Sri Lanka was to go to Ella, which I cancelled a few days before the trip and booked my stay in Mirissa instead – I'm not sure if I had been able to get a better rate as an early bird and I didn't want to wait for the last minute, as the hostel is the most popular one in Mirissa. I only booked 3 nights in advance online on hostelworld.com and extended the stay at the hostel and got a better rate for the last 3 nights. Hostelworld does give the same rates as the hostel does though (unlike most other booking sites!!), but rates can change daily. For the best deal for Colours Hostel, you can contact them directly on Instagram and get a free beer for your booking! ;)

DAY 1 - from Visakhapatnam to Colombo, via Chennai (prices in Indian rupees)

150rs Ola cab from home to the Vizag railway station

1000rs train to Chennai 490rs Ola cab from Chennai railway station to the airport 60rs ORS drinks from the airport pharmacy 240rs dinner at the airport, dosa+water bottle

I saved money by cooking at home and packing it with me to eat in the train. From my experience, Ola is a more trustworthy and affordable option for longer drives than a normal cab. I could've saved a bit by getting an auto rather than Ola for the drive from home to the Vizag railway, but my train was early in the morning when it's difficult finding autos, so I think it was a fair deal. Eating at the airport is always way too expensive, but I was sick and in no condition to start searching for dinner at the Chennai railway station carrying all my luggage around, so I headed straight to the airport and paid for the convenience of it.

DAY 2 - from Colombo to Mirissa (prices in Sri Lankan rupees, inr is a bit less than a half of it)

100rs water bottle at the airport 300rs bus from the airport to Colombo Fort 170rs train from Colombo to Weligama 400rs auto from Weligama to Mirissa 775rs lunch at Shady Lane, smoothie bowl+king coconut 265rs hand sanitiser+water bottle 850rs fresh fruits+medicine 1000rs yoga class at JJ's hostel 470rs dinner buffet at Dhana's Curry Pot

The airport bus in Colombo apparently charges all traveller's a double fee for bigger luggage, which I think is ridiculous considering it's an AIRPORT BUS and only a 45-min drive. Haven't come across a rip-off like this anywhere in India or Nepal. I think it was still cheaper than a cab, though you might like to check local taxi apps for rates, especially with a group or a friend. I didn't as I didn't get a mobile connection for Sri Lanka. The bus was a pretty safe and reliable option to reach Colombo Fort in time for the morning train though. I could've also saved more money by not having those trendy and fancy smoothie bowls during my stay. In my opinion the smoothie bowls and other western style options are ridiculously overpriced, but I didn't feel like having full meals in the light hours in the Sri Lankan heat and humidity and with my food restrictions (gluten-free and mostly vegan) these were the easiest option to get some days. I prefer local cuisine and smaller, not tourist-targeted joints when I'm travelling – lighter on the wallet. Dhana's Curry Pot with its all you can eat pure veg buffet of traditional Sri Lankan dishes that were also healthy (and not lathered with oil and spices like restaurant food usually in India) was a real find! The food was some of the best I've ever had. I'd especially recommend the pumpkin curry. Worth every rupee and even more! I do like trying out new places to eat too, but Dhana's Curry Pot was just such a perfect option both for my wallet and taste buds that I kept going back there every night.

DAY 3

70rs water 500rs non-alcoholic pina colada 400rs late lunch/early dinner buffet at Dhana's Curry Pot 450rs watermelon juice+king coconut at some beach joint

In order to cut down expenses, I'd avoid ordering drinks and such, especially at beach restaurants where they can often overcharge you. However, I spent the afternoon out with my mates and they had drinks at the happy hour, and I felt it was nice to get at least a non-alcoholic drink too.

DAY 4

100rs auto to Weligama 2500rs surf lesson with an instructor from Freedom Surf School 500rs kombucha 700rs vegan nice cream at Cruising Smoothly 100rs auto back to Mirissa from Weligama 100rs king coconut 200rs auto to The Doctor's House 3500rs a moonstone/silver ring from The Doctor's House design market 150rs a small plate of dhal and coconut sambal 600rs for gluten-free, vegan energy balls 200rs for auto

As far as I know there were a couple of places in Weligama where I might have gotten the surf lesson a bit cheaper, but as a first-timer who also was quite scared of surfing, I wanted to get my lessons at Freedom Surf School where my friends were renting their boards too and had also been recommended to me before my trip! I was on such a high after the lesson that I splurged on a bottle of kombucha, wanting to try it for the first time too. The Doctor's House is famous for its Saturday Night parties and market, but is quite more expensive than most places in the area. However, my choice of drink water was free of charge and I didn't feel like eating much. The ring I bought there was a pretty big expense, but it was exactly like my dream ring I had been searching for a few years for my wedding ring, so I just had to buy it! In the end, I also think it probably was cheaper to get it there than having it especially made for me or buying it somewhere else.

DAY 5

460rs fresh mangos 50rs water 25rs bus to Weligama 700rs vegan nice cream at Cruising Smoothly 20rs bus back to Mirissa from Weligama 300rs rent for snorkeling mask 250rs custom meal at Yellow Cafe/Colours Hostel 500rs buffet at Dhana's Curry Pot

Buying local fruits especially from the streetside vendors is a money saver, rather than getting fruit salads etc. at a restaurant. Our hostel had a shared kitchen, so it was easy to whip up your own snacks and meals. You could even carry your own cutlery with you. I also always carry my own coffee/tea, though here it wasn't needed because the hostel offered those for free.

DAY 6

450rs king coconut+iced coffee at Shady Lane 350rs coffee at some beach joint 300rs pineapple juice at Yellow Cafe/Colours Hostel 500rs buffet at Dhana's Curry Pot 450rs fresh mangos

Special coffee drinks are a bit of a waste of money, but I went for a brunch with my friends and wanted to order something too, even though I had already had a hearty breakfast. Not to say that my vegan iced coffee wasn't super delicious and addictive, but in the future I won't really be ordering all these coffee drinks and smoothie bowls. No matter how cute they look on an Instagram feed, lol! I just don't think they're anything special or value to my money. It was really nice to try them for once though!

DAY 7

100rs auto to Weligama 650rs iced coffee+king coconut at Hangtime Hostel 2500 surf lesson with an instructor from Freedom Surf School 550rs smoothie at Hangtime Hostel 40rs bus back to Mirissa, from Weligama 810rs snacks (nuts, chocolate) for journey back home 400rs buffet at Dhana's Curry Pot 290rs herbal tea for tummy issues

The rooftop cafe at Hangtime Hostel was really expensive, but it was again the quick and easy option both before and after my surf lesson. And to be fair, the smoothie I had there was possibly the best one I've had in my entire life (if you don't count the ones I make myself haha ;))! I always keep snacks like nuts, energy bars, dark chocolate, fruits with me whenever I travel, which is a really easy way to cut down the cafe/restaurant expenses. Due to some health restrictions, wheat-based snacks that are usually the cheapest too are off limits to me and the snacks that I can have in cafes are overpriced. However in Mirissa, nuts were much more expensive than in India so I feel a bit like wasting money there, even though it was a necessary purchase for the trip back home!

DAY 8 - from Mirissa to Colombo

750rs iced coffee+two bamboo straws from Shady Lane 500rs smoothie at Aloha Coffee Gallery 50rs bus from Mirissa to Matara 580rs AC bus from Matara to Colombo Fort 1950rs dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Dutch Hospital, Colombo 300rs bus from Colombo Fort to the airport 3.50usd/250inr big bag of coconut chips at the airport

Last day of my iced coffee and smoothie splurging spree, thank gods! Got sustainable bamboo straws for souvenirs and I think Shady Lane gave a good deal for them with 200rs per straw. A lifetime investment I hope! The smoothie I had at Aloha Coffee Gallery was a complete waste of money. I had to wait for my order over 30min and it was the worst smoothie I've ever had. I probably wouldn't have taken the bus back to Colombo had I realised a 2-hour drive in an AC bus could be this much more expensive than a train. But I didn't want to take the morning train and spend too much time with my bags in Colombo, so all in all it might have still been a cheaper option than having all my meals in the big city. Because boy was Colombo a rip-off! I had a hard time finding a place for dinner, because I didn't want to try any small, shady joints before a flight and a long train ride and it seemed impossible to find local food and affordable prices in Dutch Hospital. I decided to try a Chinese place that seemed to be at least somewhat close to my criteria and had a size selection on the menu. But the waiter convinced me to order much more than I needed, so I ended up paying almost double of what I really needed. I doggybagged everything for the next day's train ride though, so at least the food and money didn't completely go to waste. The collector on the bus to the airport tried to scam me and charge 1.000 (A THOUSAND!!) rupees for the drive. Had I been the naive, insecure girl I was at the start of my "travelling career", I would've fallen for that or felt too shy to argue back. But I knew the real rates, so I firmly told him I was only giving the same amount I had paid earlier.

DAY 9 - from Colombo to Visakhapatnam, via Chennai (prices in Indian rupees)

400rs Ola cab from Chennai airport to the railway station 150rs breakfast at the New Central Hotel, masala dosa+vada sambar+two filter coffees 30rs two filter coffees at the railway station 400rs travel magazines from a book store at the railway station

Had my excess food from previous night's dinner for lunch on the train, so didn't have to get a new meal. I try my best to avoid train meals. Coffee in Chennai is really good and cheap, so I guess I kind of overdid it with the number of cups I had. They're really small though and I wouldn't have been able to get coffee without sugar on the train. I didn't absolutely need the travel magazines, but wanted some entertainment for the ride that was going to take all day. I also felt like they served as an educational tool, because one of my biggest goals for this year would be to get featured in a big travel magazine. Investment, okay?

I feel like by really thinking and putting effort into finding most economical options, I would've been able to save at least 5.000rs from the expenses. But other than for the ridiculous number of smoothie bowls and iced coffee mugs, I feel like I'm at least able to "justify" my spending with the value the things added to the money. Soooo... What was the total sum for this luxurious (in my style), relaxed getaway to Sri Lanka?

TOTAL 28.700inr = 354eur (+ 2.500inr/30eur on Sri Lankan visa I forgot to add on the list)

Pretty cool AND CHEAP, right?! And apparently for someone who is so anxious about even thinking about money, I still have loads to write about it haha. I might have forgotten to mention a lot of things, so feel free to ask me anything about travelling and money in the comments! I'm also gonna do a quick general round up about sensible spending on the road and will be posting it in a few days. Hope this helps!