"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings." Hodding Carter

Since the round the world trip we have gained the reputation for being rich. If only it were true!!!

When people ask me about the trip, where we went, how long we went for, why we went and I can also see lurking there the big question, 'How much did it cost?' but before they actually blurt it out good manners tend to step in.

In the interests of being helpful to you I will tell you that our Gap Year, which lasted around five months cost roughly £11'000 pounds and it took me two years to save this.

Our tickets, bought from Trailfinders, UK were the standard round the world tickets and covered Manchester, Johannesburg, Manchester, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, Raratonga, Tahiti, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Heathrow.

For the three of us this cost around £4000. I allowed an extra £2000 for car hire, motor van hire, bus and taxi and coach. Insurance (Premium package) cost £400 This left £4600 to cover our accommodation, food and fun.

Looking back I should have allowed an extra £1000 for the car hire and got a motorhome instead of the campervan.

I should have saved a further £2000 to spend on activities.

All in all, if I had had £15'000 the extra allowance would have allowed either an extra months travel or an elevated comfort level. Frankly I would have preferred both!

I am endlessly grateful that I saved for the trip rather than borrowed. I would hate what was an amazing experience to become blighted by monthly bills coming through the door after I returned. Particularly as while I was away I resigned my job (with enormous relief).

Had I been returning to debt I would never have been able to do this.

Home

I also left my home empty back in England. I have to make sure I had enough money to service the mortgage while I was away (Although the bank said they would give me a mortgage holiday if I needed one) and I had to pay all the bills, water, insurance, tax etc.