Budgeting!

[threepointrest]

Money is a scary thing

I'm a high school senior, and I'm planning an AT thru-hike for after graduation- Hoping to start in Feb 2015

After doing a bit of research, I've come up with a rough budget.

Budget:
The AT is ~2200 miles long. I'm hoping to average 12 miles/day (accounting for break days, etc), so it should take about 183 days total.

$10/day for food = 183 x 10 = 1830
20% of food budget for trail expenses (fuel, etc.) = 1830 x 1.2 = 2196
$100 per night, allowing for a night in town every 2 weeks = 2196 + (183 / 14 x 100) = 2966
$1000 for gear = 2966 + 1000 = 3966
$300 for emergency/medical = 3966 + 300 = 4266

Total: $4266

Obviously as a high school student, I don't have to worry about making up for money not earned during the trip, nor do I have to worry about getting taxes in on time or other aspects of the "grown up world."

Based on your experience, is this accurate? Realistic?
Also, any tips on coming up with that money would be greatly appreciated... I currently have a little less than $200 saved up, which is hardly a drop in the bucket. I'm applying for summer jobs now, but would like to get as much of the funds as I can before then.

Thank you!

[Hill Ape]

not including gear, on trail costs average a little above $1000 per month, puely unscientific number, like all internet stats. plenty of people have made an art form of dirtbagging, and the people for whom money isn't a concern (trust fund types) can easily spend more

money is hands down the number one reason people drop off

[perrymk]

Also, any tips on coming up with that money would be greatly appreciated... I currently have a little less than $200 saved up, which is hardly a drop in the bucket. I'm applying for summer jobs now, but would like to get as much of the funds as I can before then.

Can you work in the evening or weekends now? bag groceries, mow lawns, babysit, pet sit, deliver pizzas, work for a local moving company, wash cars for a large used car lot, etc.

[Coffee]

In high school, I made around $600/month delivering about 200 newspapers each morning. That was very good money back in the late 1980s. Unfortunately I'm not sure that type of job exists anymore. Between papers and a minimum wage job I was pulling down about $12K/year in junior and senior years and I was able to save most of it.

[threepointrest]

Can you work in the evening or weekends now? bag groceries, mow lawns, babysit, pet sit, deliver pizzas, work for a local moving company, wash cars for a large used car lot, etc.

I wish... But I'm stuck at boarding school in NH. Not many job opportunities here :/

[perrymk]

I know just about nothing about boarding school. Do they offer on-campus jobs?

[4eyedbuzzard]

Money is a scary thing ...
Obviously as a high school student, I don't have to worry about making up for money not earned during the trip, nor do I have to worry about getting taxes in on time or other aspects of the "grown up world."

If you get that summer job, your employer will likely withhold federal and state income taxes unless you elect to have none withheld on your W-4 form(s) when you start working.
As you are still a dependent in 2014 while in HS, you will likely have to file both federal and NC state income tax returns as the earning thresholds for dependents are quite low (if you earn enough to fund your hike, you will likely exceed them). See http://www.irs.gov/publications/p929/ar02.html , and http://www.dornc.com/taxes/individual/filing.html Also don't forget about filing your FAFSA if you are going to attend college in 2014 and/or 2015.

You should have plenty of time between the end of January and starting your hike to accomplish these "grown up world" responsibilities Welcome to the world of death and taxes.

[Tom Murphy]

You start NOW by locating a full time job you can start the day after HS graduation AND/OR multiple part time jobs that have compatible schedules.

An April 1st 2015 start will save you a lot of money on gear over a February start. That gives you 28 weeks before Baxter SP changes over to winter rules in mid October. But your goal should be to finish in late Auguest / early Sept. The longer you are out there, the more money you will spend. So your goal needs to be 5 months, not 6.

From June 1st 2013 to March 21st 2015, you have the opportunity for 42 weekly pay checks.

If you are living at home and don't have a gf or bf, you should be able to save most of your paycheck. Oh yeah, no vacations or social life from now until the start of your hike, until then you are eating, sleeping, working, or walking. Walking to/from work for a year would really help with the 5 month thru hike goal.

Gear = $1,000.
Trail Expenses = $1k/month * 5 months = $5,000.
Transport to/from trail = $500.

$6500/42 = ~ $155.

You need to bank $155. every week from June 1, 2104 until March 21, 2015.

Godd Luck.

[ChinMusic]

Based on your experience, is this accurate? Realistic?

Your numbers are a good outline. As a parent I am impressed with the thought you have put into this. That by itself tells me that you will wait to hit the trail until you are funded, and will have the ability to adjust once on the trail.

[Malto]

I believe that $/month is a great way to look at this. An option to cut cost may be to do a faster hiker, ie 4-5 months. Less time may even cut the expenses more because longer hikes generally will have significantly more town time which will kill a budget. I also doubt there are many that could hike your set of assumptions. 12 miles per day is a crawl if you only are spending 1 night in town every two weeks. This few nights in town is more consistent with a 4-5 month hike than a six month hike.

[ChinMusic]

Malto is right. A youngster should easily be able to do better than 12/day. You guys flew by me as I "crawled".......

[Marta]

If you have next summer off, you might be able to locate a summer job in a resort area, killing two birds with one stone--you can earn money, and you can hike and build outdoor experience. coolworks.com is a good resource for summer jobs. A good waiter can expect to earn $6000-$10,000 in a summer. You could go into your hike with a comfortable cushion of cash, and have the satisfaction of having earned it yourself.

Your budget seems as posted seems doable.

The other part of the equation is doling out the cash to yourself as you proceed up the trail. Most people who get off because of money problems either started with too little or, at least as often, did't control their spending as they went along. It's very easy to get dragged into a hard-partying lifestyle where the money gets flushed down the drain at an amazing rate. This is also true when you are in college...

[ocasey3]

If you have next summer off, you might be able to locate a summer job in a resort area, killing two birds with one stone--you can earn money, and you can hike and build outdoor experience. coolworks.com is a good resource for summer jobs. A good waiter can expect to earn $6000-$10,000 in a summer. You could go into your hike with a comfortable cushion of cash, and have the satisfaction of having earned it yourself.

I live in Bar Harbor, Maine and there are always plenty of summer jobs to be had here, some with available housing at a very low cost. A server here can make quite a bit of money in a season. Best part is that we are located right next door to Acadia National Park which has a lot of really great trails. Baxter State Park is only about three hours away, but there a plenty of other places to day hike or even overnight close by.

[jdc5294]

There have been numerous debates recently about this subject, and for some reason it can get really heated, but I can tell you from personal experience and observations of others that doing a thru hike in the 21st century is completely doable on $1500-$2000. I've found a lot of people talking about $4000-$5000 are planning for things that while nice aren't anywhere approaching necessary (a hotel every time you stop in town, really?). Just my two cents.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Malto is right. A youngster should easily be able to do better than 12/day. You guys flew by me as I "crawled".......

This is a youngster with serious medical issues....12 miles a day may be pushing it based on what was posted in his other thread. Taking it slowly would be wise....but I'd bump up that hostelling amount in case the recuperation time is needed.

[garlic08]

Your numbers are a good outline. As a parent I am impressed with the thought you have put into this. That by itself tells me that you will wait to hit the trail until you are funded, and will have the ability to adjust once on the trail.

Ditto this. Nice job on the budget.

[Slo-go'en]

This is a youngster with serious medical issues....12 miles a day may be pushing it based on what was posted in his other thread. Taking it slowly would be wise....but I'd bump up that hostelling amount in case the recuperation time is needed.

His condition may also seriously impact the type of work he can do to earn that money. It's sad to say, but I don't see a thru hike in the unfortunate boy's future.

[rocketsocks]

not including gear, on trail costs average a little above $1000 per month, puely unscientific number, like all internet stats. plenty of people have made an art form of dirtbagging, and the people for whom money isn't a concern (trust fund types) can easily spend more

money is hands down the number one reason people drop off

Now Hill Ape, I gotta disagree there. It would seem the number one reason a hiker bails is.......

for the answer go here;
http://www.thetrailshow.com/

[ChinMusic]

Money is an important reason that folks drop but there is no way it is #1.

[rocketsocks]

Now Hill Ape, I gotta disagree there. It would seem the number one reason a hiker bails is.......

for the answer go here;
http://www.thetrailshow.com/

this is my attempt at a philanthropic pitch...