Ok. I did some mental accounts today.
The total amount spent, on rent, food, travelling for 30 days.
$3000 - rent. (till end of May)
$400 - food. (Till end of May)
$1400 - travel for 30 days.
Total,
$4800.

That is shit amazing.

NUS estimate: Rent + food = $1700/month.
5 Months = $8500.

My food + rent for 5 months = $3400.
I saved - $5100. Shit Amazing. Shit Shit amazing.
That's for all the efforts.

I know of a group of Singaporeans, from a friend of mine. Who said that they spent $15,000 travelling. And, so far, I have travelled for 30 days (I suppose the same as them? since I have not met anyone who pon sch for 2 months like me) already. And I spent $1400.

I tell you. All the investment books I read, always have this advice at the end "to be wise with money, is to spend wisely, and learn to get good deals."

Im not too proud. Cos I have not reached that stage.
After every travel, I would feel upset when I realise I could have spent less, with cheaper hostel/transport tickets/food. Hence, it is utterly possible to spend lesser than that $1400. And I am all the more proud, because I research everything myself, (with God by my side of cos), hence, I spend so much more time and stress and couldnt possibly delegate "this city to friend A and this city to friend B" to plan.
But then, Im glad that I spent lesser than other Sgreans who travel in groups (its suppose to be cheaper to travel in grps!! cos you can get cheaper deals as a group).

Then again, if my ex-Japanese neighbour who lived here for 1 year was right, Singaporeans in Europe have a bad reputation of being unwise with their travelling expenses, at least based on her personal experience.

Yes, I lived in the most expensive country in the world, Norway, and the capital of Norway, the most expensive city in the world, with an expenditure way lesser than everyone other Sgrean in other parts of US & Europe. IT IS POSSIBLE DEAR FRIENDS.

I remember telling a Taiwanese, 60 year old (approx) traveller. (whom I met in Florence and was travelling alone, hence we travelled tgt for 2 days). When she was shock at how little I spent in Italy, I told her "one of my objective travelling on a budget, is to prove to friends that it can be done. I know some close friends, who arent so rich, who haven seen the world much, because they have not so much money. But this would show myself, and show them, that they still can see the world, without much money. And my main objective, is to learn to be responsible with my money and expenditure. To learn." All in all, I was inspired, by people on tv and on newspapers who said they managed to travel Europe in very little money, citing the amount they spent.

Oh hell yeah! With my maximum budget of $17,000 (compared to $25,000 of other sgreans) I have only spent $4800. The other Sgreans expenditure is already nearing 10,000 I suppose. And so far, I have been travelling so much more than any Singaporean in SEP in Europe. :))

While showering, I comforted myself that I could ease a little and spend abit more for my UK + Ireland trip. Then, I caught myself and realise how dangerous this thought can be. Its like what they say "if you give sin an inch, it would take you a mile". Well, this thought isnt sinful, but the effects are the same. Im tempted to ease myself a little really.

Well, budget for UK in 16 days - $1000. I wonder if this is possible, esp since I am covering a few countries, and more cities, than the Italy trip. And UK is more pricey than Italy.

I have already set another budget for my June trip around Europe - $3000. If all things go well, I should keep it below $2000 (if I get to live with those pple I plan to live with in the countries and cities, hence saving me ALOT on accomodation). And because I probably have a buddy for France and Spain and wherever (old Japanese neighbour, Mayuko), I would ease myself a little for 1/3 of my round Europe trip. Since, I dont expect anyone else to be crazily budget conscious like me. Living with her for 1 month, I learnt that she got fed up with budgets, so for the travel partnership sake, and to make my time more enjoyable (as my dad says), I will spend, if she spends. After France, she'll leave for Japan, her hometown.

So eventually, my SEP would conclude at $8800, maximum.
SHIT AMAZING. I proved NUS's calculation of $25,000 wrong. Saving myself $16,000.
I am $16,000 RICHER, because Jesus is my God, and I put in effort to cut, cut, cut costs, and maximize utility.
I hope, this experience would pave the way, for me to be wiser with money, and reinforce the desire, to do my investment wisely, carefully, in the future.