Around 2015, I started with Couchsurfing just accepting guests. I met travelers and I heard many interesting and weird and crazy travel stories. At that time, I just sigh and and say,  “I wish I could travel too.” When they ask me why not, I tell them I don’t have money.

And I realized I am being pitiful.

So I reset my mindset. I told myself I will not just sigh and say those awful words. I believed that I can do it, I can travel, and I will. Money is not an issue.

But it is, honestly. I remembered when I was in Ho Chi Minh and a local asked my friend how was I able to travel if I’m a nurse? I learned from my friend that nurses in Vietnam have the same problem with Filipino nurses: low income.

I’m not saying I’m good at budgeting. The truth is, I had debts. I’m still paying my credit card for my expenses in Hong Kong way back two years ago, the first time I traveled outside of the Philippines. My 10-day Northern Philippines tour last year wouldn’t be possible if my mother didn’t lend me P5,000.

I’m constantly learning, so I decided this time, I’ll travel within my budget, no debts, no credit cards, no borrowing.

How did I decide with the amount? That’s my 1/2 month salary after deducting tax, SSS and those stuff, and some things that need money’s attention.

I’ll discuss by dividing the topics like how I make an estimate budget for a trip. So what I do is plan on four areas: food, accommodation, transportation and miscellaneous. I’ll talk particularly about surviving Boracay.

FOOD

Basically, eat where the locals eat. If there are residential areas nearby, surely there’ll be carinderias. Below were few restaurants I frequent, and affordable food that I usually buy.

Restaurants along the length of the White Beach are known to be expensive but there are certain ones which serve a decent meal at P80-P120. There’s 7/11 and a few other convenience stores too. There’s shawarma at around P70-P80. Just a few minutes walk into some alleys and you’ll find eateries.

Goto and tokwa’t baboy for P45 at a stall along the road not far from D’mall. A glass of water is free. This was an early morning snack right after the crawl and before we go home at around 3 AM with Captain Ella of Coachella Travelista.

Kolai Mangyan was one of my favorites because there are many options. I come back again and again to try their different dishes.

I noticed tour guides usually bring their Chinese or Korean guests here. Food was great but I just had an unpleasant experience the first time I went there. I had to wait for 30 minutes or something for my food. Maybe because it’s their busy hour. Not really complaining because they serve soup and a pitcher of water to every customer while waiting for their food.

Jollibee just opened their 998th store. I can eat Jollibee in Iloilo so I skipped it. There’s also McDonald’s but I saw that their value meals at P59 at Iloilo skyrockets to P110 in their Boracay branch. So I skipped it too.

Then Jasper ’s… I love the cheeseburger here, it’s just P38!

I also ate at Andok’s at D’mall, set meals at P80+ with drinks, or a banana con yielo takeaway at P25.

Then also,  Julie’s Bakeshop, Master Siomai (P48), Mang Inasal.

Boracay Ramen is located at an alley I pass by everyday going to the bar where we set up the booth. Even the foreigners agree it’s good and affordable Japanese food. Katsudon @ P80 and ramen is around P120-150.

Moring’s eatery at Bulabog is just near where I’m staying so here’s where I go to, too, or just any other carinderia I can find. Along the streets, you have options like fried chicken at P10 per piece or siomai at 3 for P20.

If you’re not choosy, you can definitely survive. You can just reward yourself with an expensive meal once in a while. In my case, I treat myself with fruit tea or milk tea.

ACCOMMODATION

Since this is what usually eats up most of a travel budget, I planned ahead and asked for accommodation in exchange for my volunteer work. It’s perfect because I had the room all to myself and there’s aircon.

Probably you know about prices varying if it’s peak season or finding good accommodation deals  ahead online. You can see deals as low as P270 per night.

You don’t exactly need to stay at an accommodation within the White Beach stretch. Mostly, they were quite pricey especially for solo travelers. There are plenty of hostels within Bulabog area which is simply a 5-10 minute walk to the White Beach. I stayed at an apartment in Bulabog and it wasn’t a hassle at all, even going home early in the morning.

You can also save money on food if your accommodation comes with free breakfast. Also, some accommodation can help you arrange tours, island hopping, or van transfers.

TRANSPORTATION

One thing I learned is to make sure you’re a regular passenger and you’re not taking a special trip. To Puka from D’mall was around P20-25, regular fare for short distances is P7-P10.

I remembered on my last day, when I rode the trike to the Cagban port from D’mall, I asked how much is the fare, just to be sure and he told me P50. I thought it was P20, I said, and he just nodded, no more extra stories. Probably, it’s because I was with a foreigner girl.

When we went to Ilig-Iligan, we paid P200 for the trike for the five of us. The driver said it’s because there’s an uphill way and it’s true.

Single motorcycle may charge P25-50. We rode the single motorcycle from Ilig-Iligan back to Station 2 because there are no trikes by 3-5 PM unless you walk to the main road.

And to save, I walk a lot. Like how I did the last time when I walked from Mad Monkey Hostel to Puka Beach just for fun.

MISCELLANEOUS

These things are just optional so you can cut cost on these things.

You can bargain with water activities, or join other groups, or just take a land tour instead. The first friends I made there asked me to join their land tour for P500 which includes going to the Ati Village and trekking at Mt. Luho. Know your alternatives.

Haggle, not that I’m as good as my mother at it. Once, I negotiated for just 30 minutes of stand up paddleboarding for P150 because I know I wouldn’t really be doing it for an hour.

For souvenirs, buy at talipapa, buy in bulk or something. White souvenir T-shirts can be as low as 2 for P150.

Or join Boracay Pubcrawl to get your money’s worth of partying, not only are you having fun and drinking but you also #turnstrangersintofriends. Promotion. Haha! But honestly, I realized it’s a super deal if you calculate entrance fees of clubs, the experience you’ll get, the freebies… will definitely be your #bestnightever!

Included in this category are your other expenses like for your load (or local sim if you’re out of the country), for partying, for entrance or environmental fees.

Judgment Day

In the end, my total expense overall, including my bus fare, terminal fees and environmental fees, everything, as in:

P 4,092

So I will not show you my breakdown because it basically looks like this:

April 10

Load 78 + Food 65 + Ice candy 20 + Ice cream 16 + Food 90 + Food 100 = 369

April 11

Tinapay 40 + Food 117 + Halohalo 30 + Food 62 = 249

I’m a bit ashamed to admit that in 4 areas, I think Food pretty much occupied 85-90% of my budget.

Well, my average daily expenditure (charot!) is around P200-P300.

I treated myself with carbonara before heading home as my reward which I had been craving for days. Yey!

If there’s a will, and if your will is strong enough, there’s certainly a way… or you pave the way for it.