The Reality Check
Posted on 04. May, 2010 by Kirsty in Blog, Saving
Last weekend Poi and I went on a day trip to Shrewsbury. It is a typically old English market town, sitting by the edge of the River Severn. A lot of the buildings were built in the medieval times and many of the streets are still set out as originally built in 14th Century. Living so close, I have been there a few times and I always marvel at how it’s a lot like Lincoln, just bigger!
Although Shrewsbury is officially meant to be smaller than Telford (where my parents live), it has a much larger town centre with a wider range of shops. Telford = 1 outdoor shop Shrewsbury = at least 3 independents and the usual chains. So we thought it would be a good place to go explore as well as pick up some bits we thought we needed for our RTW trip.
Shrewsbury Roof Tops
There are loads of things we think we still need, including a waterproof for me, a day pack, which sits away from you back ( like this one ), shirts, shorts, flip flops, Sandals, Hoody… and then the more practical things like universal travel adapters, sink plugs, compass, bottle opener, pen knife and of course Travel Insurance etc etc etc
The mission for the day was to find me a waterproof, Poi picked one up the first time we started looking for his in TK Maxx (Great place) about two months ago. Whereas I have probably looked at every coat under the sun and still couldn’t decide. Whilst in Shrewsbury we had a look around and found a good Patagonia coat in one of the independents. Downside though was it was a £150!
The Tudor Galleries
Around this time I decided it would a be a good idea to check out our balance in the backpacker account, only to find that we were about £1,000 short of where we are meant to be. No chance of getting the coat now. But it got me thinking, are we going a little overboard buying all this kit for travelling? Yes, going travelling is exciting, and preparing for the trip is all part of the fun. But have I started to overspend because it is the only things I allow myself to buy.
That night we decided that maybe we don’t need as much stuff as we originally thought, and we definitely shouldn’t be paying top dollar for any of kit because a) we don’t have the money and b) we don’t spend that much on normal clothes, so why spend it on travel clothes? I need a waterproof (although maybe not if you check out random traveller #4), but I definitely don’t need to shell out £150 for one, maybe £70 is a better price!
It also got us thinking about our packing lists, do we really need all the stuff I mentioned above? Will we actually use a sink plug that much, do I need another day pack when I have a perfectly good one at home?
Is there anything you regretted taking on your trip? Or things you definitely would not be able to live without? Maybe this will help us justify what we can spend money on and what we shouldn’t.
An English couple travelling China and South East Asia since August 2010. 
Adam
04. May, 2010
My main piece of advice is NOT to spend so much on clothing. Take what you would wear at home. There is just no need to spend so much on fancy “traveler’s clothing.” If you’ve been able to go your entire life without that type of clothing, then why is it necessary to change now? This was especially true for my wife. She ditched most of her “fancy traveler’s clothes” halfway through. I kept some of mine, but it was nice to have a pair of jeans and regular t-shirts. Good luck on the planning and preparing!!! It’s such an exciting time.
.-= Adam´s last blog ..New News =-.
Poi & Kirsty
05. May, 2010
I think that is what will be doing now, I amazed at how easy I have got sucked into all these new gadgets and gizmos you HAVE TO have, or else really that round the world trip – just won’t be right!
Now I am all for taking the clothes I have, and see what happens! (I think I just like spending money!)
Kirsty
Joel
04. May, 2010
I’ve bought a few things for my trip, but almost everything is stuff I already own.
I did make an exception on some of the dreaded nylon pants/shorts specifically to bring along on day trips on the bike so I could put them on before entering into businesses in my cycling gear.
Other than that, my clothes are from my existing wardrobe and my gear is pre-existing (one other exception – the HP Mini due to the very long battery life).
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Confessions of a Cultural Idiot – Pt 4: Talk =-.
Poi & Kirsty
05. May, 2010
I think I saw it as, welll…. it’s for travelling, I’m going to use it a lot (surely) so I can buy lots of lovely new things! I am the travel markets perfect customer!
Andi
05. May, 2010
I definitely think less is more! Maybe you can find cheaper stuff on Ebay or while on the road?
.-= Andi´s last blog ..imgp2629 =-.
Poi & Kirsty
05. May, 2010
Poi picked up a silk sleeping bag liner off ebay for a fraction of the price. I am not sure why but, I never seem to check e-bay for stuff these days! I think I’ll go put it in my favourites now!
Kirsty
Erin
04. May, 2010
There is such a big industry around backpacking that it’s easy to get sucked into buying all the gear. Most of it you really don’t need. I hated my expensive NF travel trousers on my last trip so this time I got some cotton cargo ones from M&S for £11!
Those sink plugs don’t really work either! Now we manage by sticking a sock in the plug hole. Not perfect but it’s fine. We don’t even bother with a pen knife anymore (as we have only hand luggage).
On our last trip we didn’t bother with a waterproof and survived, but this time we have super light weight ones from Montane – only costs about £30 and they’ve been great.
Our packing list is here if it helps: http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/what-do-you-pack-when-you-are-leaving-forever-our-packing-list/
Just remember there’s not much that you can’t get in other parts of the world. Good luck as I know it can be overwhelming deciding what to take!
Poi & Kirsty
05. May, 2010
Yeah, I have checked out your packing list. I’m not sure I can pack that light. My main bag is 55l and then my day bag is a further 20l and I thought that was being good.
But hey with my new found – i’m not going to buy any travel shiz – i probably will have room to spare!
Where did you find your Montane coats from? £30 sounds a lot better than £150!!
Kirsty
Kate
05. May, 2010
I definitely agree with the idea that travel companies are trying to sell us ‘stuff’ that we don’t really need.
Gap years have become an industry these days and some companies will have you believe you need every peg free washing line, sink plug, money belt out there. Really you could shove 3 days worth of clothes in your bag with your passport and lots of money in your bank and you’d be sorted!
(Though I have to admit that my own travel kit list has grown rather considerably *ahem*)
Poi & Kirsty
05. May, 2010
I agree, I think it’s probably best having much more money than a pegless washing line and universal sink plug! When I have finished my exams I think I am going to go through my list and see what I really do actually need, and stuff I think I need because shops tell me it is good.
Kirsty
Heather
05. May, 2010
Totally right there with you guys! Kirsty, I love the bag you mentioned a post or two back, but I’ve been wondering if I should just stick with my 1 piece of rolling luggage that’s just slightly bigger than carry-on size. Over the last few years friends and family have bought me nifty travel gadgets, but looking at them now, I don’t think they’ll fit or that they’re even necessary (like that sink plugger I’ve had and never used — will I really use it now, especially as I’m not going RTW and plan on packing a week’s worth of clothes and washing once a week?).
I’ll post my packing list soon. Can’t wait to hear what you two decide to do…plans and lists are always changing
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Welcome to Dublin =-.
Poi & Kirsty
06. May, 2010
Yeah, I think if I was only going to be in one place I would just go for a normal suitcase… I think I tried to get something as similar to that anyway!
I wrote a bit of packing list last night, with things I had already bought and things I had left to buy…. but I know it will certianly change over the next few months. Will try and get one up here soon and then people can see some of the revisions I keep making!
ayngelina
05. May, 2010
Being on the road a month now I can tell you that I didn’t get sucked into too much backpacker gear and it’s a good thing because I already want to buy clothes on the road! I feel like my backpacker clothes makes me stick out in the crowd too much.
Also, I didn’t buy a rain coat. I just bought a cheap $2 poncho so that if it rains it would also cover my backpack. You will not want to carry a raincoat for the 1 time in every 60 days you get caught in the rain.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..When you should get a tour guide =-.
Poi & Kirsty
06. May, 2010
Yeah, I think I am just going to take clothes from home and then replace them on the road.
I have a cheap kag in a bag that I have used at festivals the past few years, so will probably end up taking that. It’ll be much easier diching that than an expensive coat
Johno
07. May, 2010
Didn’t read the comments but you really don’t need half this stuff – sink plug? compass? Are you serious?!
Remember you have to carry all this stuff on your back!
x
Poi & Kirsty
07. May, 2010
It’s more that I got sucked into all this stuff the shops say you need!
Also technically I don’t need to carry it on my back! My backpack is a more of a suitcase that converts into a a backpack when needed!
Johno
07. May, 2010
It’s easy to get sucked into the massive lists and the cool (but generally useless) gadgets but it’s also easy to go the other way and end up lacking stuff you really could do with.
I suppose it’s just experience to figure out how much you’re comfortable with taking.
Martin
09. May, 2010
<3 Outdoor shops, def money suckers though.
Michael Churm
24. Feb, 2011
No way I’m from Telford!!! Small world!
Kirsty
24. Feb, 2011
That is just weird! How are you liking it!
Michael Churm
24. Feb, 2011
I’m in Cardiff now, I haven’t lived there now for about 4 years but I hated it to be honest!
Are you guys both from there?
Poi
24. Feb, 2011
Ner I’ve lived in Lincoln most my life and Kirsty only lived there for a year or so while finishing Uni as her dad got posted in Cosford , she also considers Lincoln home.
Poi
24. Feb, 2011
She went to Uni in birmingham and lived with her parents for the final year to save money for this trip.
(Telford is very boring – visiting her there wasn’t the most fun I’ve ever had)