Trip Planner & Travel Budget
Budget in any currency, how much to save each paycheck, a day-by-day itinerary, bookings and packing in one Google Sheet.
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Keep the whole trip in one sheet
The Trip Planner does this math in Google Sheets, converts every cost from the currency it was quoted in, logs what you've saved and holds your itinerary and bookings.
Travel Planner Bundle (all 3)
Trip Planner, Family Travel with Kids and the Scotland Trip Planner. $38 bought separately.
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How to budget for a trip (the short version)
- Price the two big things first. Flights and where you sleep are usually most of the bill, and they're the costs that move most with dates. Get real quotes for both before guessing anything else.
- Food per person per day. Count every day you're away, including travel days, so 7 nights is 8 days of eating. Kids often eat less, but snacks and treats on the road add up; one number for everyone keeps it simple.
- Everything else as one total each: tickets and tours, the rental car or train passes, and the small stuff (travel insurance, an eSIM, parking at the airport, souvenirs).
- Add a buffer. Something always costs more than planned. 10% is a reasonable start; go higher if you haven't booked the big things yet.
Turning the total into a paycheck amount
A trip total feels big. A per-paycheck number feels doable. The calculator counts the paydays between your next one and the day before you leave, takes off what you've already saved and divides the rest, rounding up so you don't fall a few dollars short. Set that amount to move into a separate savings account automatically on payday and it's one less thing to remember.
If the number is too high, the levers are the same ones travel planners always mention: travel outside school holidays, fly midweek, stay somewhere with a kitchen for breakfasts, or push the trip back a few paydays.
Related
Questions
How much should I budget for a family vacation?
There's no single number: flights and where you sleep usually make up most of it, and both depend on dates and how far ahead you book. Price those two first with real quotes, then add food per person per day, activities and getting around. The calculator adds a buffer (10% is a sensible start) for the things you forget.
How do I work out how much to save per paycheck for a trip?
Take what you still need (trip total minus what you've already saved) and divide it by the number of paydays left before you leave. The calculator counts your actual paydays (weekly, every 2 weeks, twice a month or monthly) up to the day before departure and rounds up so you reach the goal.
Does a payday on the day I leave count?
No. Money that arrives the morning you fly is too late to pay for anything booked ahead, so the calculator only counts paydays up to the day before departure.
Can I use it for a trip abroad?
Yes. Pick the currency symbol you want to see, enter every cost in that currency, and convert local prices first with today's rate. If you'd like each cost in the currency it was quoted in, the Trip Planner & Travel Budget spreadsheet converts each line for you.
Is my information saved anywhere?
No. The math runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.