June 2011 Budget Roundup -$(818.66)

Just came back from 5 weeks in Asia

I had a pretty good trip overall. No bug bites for either of us until we hit Singapore, which is a miracle.

My favourite cities in order, and the ones in blue are the only ones I’d ever re-visit again.

1. Hong Kong — LOVED. IT. Perfect mix of a city. The only con, is the pollution is really horrible.
2. Macau — Felt like Portugal but with Chinese people everywhere!
3. Beijing — A great photo-journaling experience.
4. Singapore — Too westernized, 3x as expensive as it should be and not up to my expectations.
5. Shanghai — Seriously boring. If I went back, I’d leave Shanghai & visit surrounding areas.

INCOME = $0 (Am on a year-long vacation!)

I’m not working for the rest of the year.

Am going to enjoy some of my savings, estimating a spending of about $30,000 this year (am hoping to spend LESS).

• $15,000 towards traveling (5 weeks in Asia, 2 months in Europe, some small trips around the U.S.)
• $10,000 for “living”, like renting the hotel and so on.

I never include blogging or freelancing income because they’re small amounts, so I tend to donate it at the end of the year or as needed (like with Japan’s earthquake, which was too heartbreaking not to contribute t0).

EXPENSES:

The above is just my partly-May and June spending expenditures.

I spent about $1000 in Asia on shopping and such, but June was around $800 too because I am preparing for Europe.

5 weeks in Asia:

• Plane tickets: Pre-paid in May 2011 – $3276.28
• Hotels (my half): Pre-paid in May 2011 – $1686.98
• Food (my half): $1000
• Entertainment: $120
• Shopping (mostly gifts): $1028

For more information, see this post on what I spent for5 weeks in Asia with notes (there are pretty pictures too!)

2 months in Europe:

• Plane tickets: Pre-paid in May 2011
• Hotels (my half): Pre-paid in May 2011
• Food (my half): To be spent & paid in July 2011
• Entertainment: To be spent & paid in July 2011
• Shopping: To be spent & paid in July 2011

NET WORTH: $175,749.17 = -$(818.66) or a drop of 0.46%

Heh. Heh.

I expect this number to keep declining at a steady rate until I go back to work in 2012.

Until then, c’est la vie and I am trying to slow down its decline.

• Cash: $1768 — in CAD and EUR*
• Savings: $6452.46
• Emergency Savings: $110,641.58
• Retirement: $56,887.13

*I have more cash, but it’s in other currencies, and isn’t more than maybe $5 so I’m not counting it.

Best of May 2011 Posts

• Gifting and Society: The guilt and the cost
• Living within your means: What does it mean?
• If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it — why I feel like an outsider in my family
• Why I don’t talk about money with co-workers or friends

Best of June 2011 Posts

• 10 Most Stressful Jobs
• 10 Least Stressful Jobs
• When your actions define who you are
• Overspending is like a drug addiction
• Sockless in the City – How to prevent and treat foot odour
• Asia 2011: What my trip cost in Asia for 6 weeks
• Asia 2011: Shopping in Asia – What I bought
• Top 5 Stupid Things I Waste My Money On
• How to achieve lasting wealth

Plans for Summer 2011

Spending 2 months (the summer) in Europe.

Heading to Portugal (love!) and Spain (first trip!!) this time.

I’m hoping to spend a minimum in terms of buying clothing or accessories, but seeing as Spain is something special for me…. I’m not going to cheap out if I see something I really love.

When we get back from Europe, we’re heading to the U.S.

I’m thinking: New York City, San Francisco, Austin and Las Vegas.

Afterwards, it’s W-O-R-K! 🙂 I hope.