Marc - totally agree - I think we are making the same point!
As you said, NZ is way more expensive than Laos. So if you have set yourself a daily or weekly budget and you start your trip in Laos spending way below your budget, you might think "gee, everything is so cheap here, I can do more tours and live in much better accommodation and still stay within mu budget". Then you get to NZ and realise that it is way above your budget and, taken the argument to the extreme, find yourself sleeping on the beach to save on dorm beds.
So, what I was trying to say: There is little point in sticking to a budget as prizes in different countries differs so much. You just have to take each country as it comes and try to keep costs down, so that in the end the money lasts for the duration of your trip...Worrying like crazy because you happen to be in an expensive place for a few weeks gets you nowhere but only destroys the whole experience.
Reply to this I usually set my self a trip limit if I feel am going to run out prematurely then I begin to moderate my spending further.
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