[pct-l] is it always this EXPENSIVE?

[Paul Robison]

i don't know if it's kosher to talk about finances,  if it's not; please 
disregard...

... but do any of the other hikers worry about affording the whole thing?  what 
kind of budgets to people put aside?  how do to allot your money?

... last year i ran out of money real quick, got hit with some bad expenses.  
and learned the hard way that while your gear doesn't have to be... the trail 
itself is expensive !

how do you guys put the money aside?  Me i worked a lot of overtime and put it 
in a special PCT budget...  but i constantly worry if it'll be enough.

i was trying to figure X dollars for Food,  X dollars for gear replacement, X 
dollars for hotels, and X dollars to town splurges... oh and X dollars for 
shipping (not an unsubstantial sum!)... and XXXX dollars for maintaining home 
stuff while gone...

thoughts?  suggestions?

thanks,
~Paul