Budgeting
how to budget for your trip
The first step to budgeting is knowing what you’re budgeting for.
Which programme have you chosen? Where are you going? What are you going to be doing?
Get to know your programme so you know exactly what you’re going to need to spend money on.
WHAT’S INCLUDEd in your fee
SUPPORT BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
✔︎ Tailored placements to match your interests, career development goals or university subject
✔︎ Pre-departure help with paperwork (health/safety, bursaries/grants, research/briefs, placement structure, sponsorship)
✔︎ Support with flights
✔︎ Insurance advice
✔︎ Visa advice
✔︎ Unlimited telephone and email support
✔︎ Packing lists
✔︎ Tips on local culture and language
✔︎ Fundraising guides
✔︎ Flexible booking and start dates
SUPPORT IN-COUNTRY
✔︎ Transportation – Airport drop off and collection. Plus all placement related transport (to and from partner NGOs)
✔︎ Accommodation – You will stay in a fit for purpose, shared volunteer cottage or homestay.
✔︎ Meals – You will have breakfast, lunch, dinner prepared daily for you (*breakfast & dinner South Africa)
✔︎ Weekly laundry and housekeeping
✔︎ In-country dedicated volunteer coordinator available 24/7 to you
✔︎ 30 + hours of interactive cross-cultural training and practice
✔︎ Personal Development Training & Professional Programme Support
✔︎ 24/7 international support
✔︎ Weekends off for travel opportunities
what’s not included
✗ Flights – Our team can help to guide you with booking flights. However, for a rough idea, flight comparison sites are always a good place to start to see what sort of range you’re looking at.
✗ Tourist Visa – It is really important to get your visa sorted in advance for budgeting purposes and smooth entry into your chosen country! Depending on where you are from will depend on your visa requirements. Our team are pretty well versed with what you may need, but it is always a good idea to check https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice (or your country’s equivalent) entry requirements for your chosen country.
✗ Travel Insurance – Comparison sites are the way to go! Generally, travel insurance shouldn’t be too expensive, but it is essential you have some to make sure you’re covered. Again, ask our team if you have any questions.
✗ Spending Money – Will really depend on your kind of style! It is always safe to over budget just in case, but this one is really a personal preference. Don’t forget you will have spare time and weekends off to travel and see the country you’re in, so be sure to research what you might like to do and count this in your budget.
✗ Vaccines – We want to make sure your trip is safe and stress-free, so vaccines are very important. Some countries will not grant you entry without having certain vaccinations. The cost of these will depend on what you need and where you get them. Some GPs hold certain travel vaccinations, others do not. Have a look at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/ to see what you may need, and check out your area for your nearest travel clinics and pharmacies.
✗ Fundraising Activities – It may sound strange, but depending on the fundraising activities you choose to do, you may need to spend a little money to make a lot back! Check out our Events and Ideas page for more information on this one.
✗ Packing List – Check out our blog post here for an idea of what you might need to bring. You can be resourceful and borrow from seasoned travellers you already know to keep the price down or shop second-hand for a more sustainable approach. If not, be sure to do some comparing before buying your items to get the best bang for your buck.
Always remember that we are here for you – if you have any questions or want to know what others have done in the past do not hesitate to get in touch.
keeping track of your budget
Phew…. so now that you know what you need to budget for, it’s time to think about how you’re going to track it.
Spreadsheet software has loads of functions that do the maths for you, or you could draw up your own table.
You can use our Arms Around the Child fundraising platform on Enthuse (no fees) that can display your targets and where you’re up to while keeping your sponsors up to date. (Enthuse does not charge a fee but some platforms do, so double-check before you set up your page).
Remember to take into account your other expenses and commitments so as to not run yourself into the ground. It’s also a good idea to spread out your expenses. For example, buy a few pieces from the packing list one month, then book your flight the next. Don’t forget your fee isn’t due until 60 days before you set off, so you’ve got time – and you don’t have to pay it all in one hit. You can pay us in instalments, so you can spread that cost too.
Be realistic with your raising – for example, people tend to slow down with spending in January, so be ready for a bit of a dip.
Now that you’ve got your numbers, don’t worry if you feel a little overwhelmed. We’re here to help you plan how we’re going to get this money together!
Next, you need to tell the world what you’re up to. Move on to our Story Page to get started.
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