It is the kind of trip we all dream of, a chance to give up work and spend a year travelling the world.

But backpacking tours don’t come cheap, and it is likely most people wanting to get away from it all will never quite get around to planning that dream trip.

But globetrotter Shannon O’Donnell, based in LA, has revealed the secret to a budget-friendly world trip after circumnavigating the world in 11 months, without spending a penny more than $17,985.34 (£11,604.76).

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The struggling actress decided to pack up everything and travel the world after a conversation with her dad prompted her to book her first ticket, despite very few savings.

Her journey over 328 days (11 months), took in 15 countries including Australia, India, Laos, Italy and Czech Republic.

And her in depth spreadsheet reveals just what she spent her money on and which destinations were the priciest.

Her daily costs soared in Italy, Slovenia and Ireland, with a budget of just under $90 a day Italy. But the cheapest countries were India, Laos and Thailand, where Shannon could budget as little as $18.20 a day.

By far the priciest nation to visit, when all costs were taken into account, was Australia, eating up $3,513 for 64 days in the country, including all flights.

A similar-length stay – 49 days in Nepal – cost $1,357 because Shannon opted to take part in a volunteer project in the country.

The intrepid explorer was working in marketing and doing SEO roles when she decided to take the plunge after her father pointed out she could work online wherever she was in the world.

So the Floridian decided to book her first ticket for five months in the future and managed to save $7,000 (£4,500) by selling her car and possessions she no longer needed, cut her spending, worked as much as she could and stayed focused on her goal.

‘There were so many reasons in my mind why I shouldn’t take the trip. Selling the car was a big commitment for me, as I didn’t know what I would do when I came back,’ Shannon said.

‘Instead I focused on the reasons on the cans instead of the can’ts and stayed positive, the money came in.’

The intrepid explorer worked and travelled for 11 months, in 2008-2009, using her SEO freelance skills, sometimes exchanging a small hostel’s website design for a week of free accommodation.

She advises slowing down in your trip can help to keep costs low and allows you to properly discover a location.

‘You connect with a place differently when you live there longer, than several trips to the same place.’

For freelancers looking to work as they travel, with marketable skills such as writing, website design or graphics, Shannon recommended they should look online at websites such as Craigslist, Elance and Problogger job board for advertised jobs, and have a list of contacts or upcoming roles they know they can earn from.

Shannon stated that she never had to ask her parents for money during her year-long trip and she now speaks at American universities, encouraging students to save for their own inexpensive trip.