Australia?

My first instinct was that I should go to Australia, the backpackers paradise sure it's a bit of a gap year cliché but that many people can't be wrong, right? I spent months getting excited, looking at pretty pictures, creating a kick ass itinerary and planning all the different things that I wanted to experience, skydiving, surfing and the cage of death to name but a few. I even bought the lonely planet guide, now that's a commitment!

 But then came the time to look at the practicalities.... Damn!!! How much was this all going to cost?! Turns out one the most popular travel destinations is also the one of the most expensive. I was naive enough to think that if I got a working visa and worked while I was there it would be enough to cover the majority of the costs but one look at the forums told me that that isn't the case. I would need £3000 start up money, bare minimum, in fact even that's pushing it. Maybe I could still go, if I worked for a good while before I went to save and then got a job straight away when I got there?.... When I spoke to my boyfriend about it, the conversation went something like this:

"Well, I'm not coming with you."
"What? Why not? I thought you wanted to travel after uni too and you know it's amazing, it's got everything you could want for travelling."
"Yeh but it's ridiculously expensive to do anything, why don't we go to somewhere like Thailand where you can get a meal for like less than £1. Also, I don't want to work in a bar for a year, what does that look like when I come back and want a proper job or a PhD? 'So I see you've been working a bar, sitting on a beach getting wasted and pissing about for year, that's great Mr Brown, very productive, nice professional development, you're hired!"

Hmmm maybe he had a point. I've worked in bars/restaurants/customer service before and during university, the thought of having to do it again for a year wasn't a pleasant one. Does it look lazy when I come back that I've gone to a country where I don't have to learn the language or the culture?

I definitely still want to go to Australia but as a super skint graduate maybe it's not the best option. Ok Australia, I'm popping a pin in you but don't worry I won't forget about you!