I know this is a very difficult question to answer because it really does depend on spending habits. However, my question is how much money will I need to backpack western europe for 7 months from July 2011 to Feb 2012? Ill do the usual things like go to standard hostels, go out drinking (but drink beforehand), go to all the museums..

I am hoping someone would be able to give me a rough estimate of how many euro's I would need per day? Obviously spending more some days and some days less.

It be nice to get more current recommendations than already do exist on other forums.

Assuming you are not European and do not hold a EU passport - you will need to plan your 7 months so that you spend only 90 out of a rolling 180 days in the Schengen countries (and you may need a visa or have other limits depending where you are from to do that). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

Which means a significant part of your trip will need to include UK, Ireland and other non-Schengen countries.

Before you worry about money make sure you understand the laws regarding entry to Western Europe!

For me a hostel dorm bed cheap food xport figure 35 euro per da

Eurocheapo.com

Bakcpackeurope.com

Bootsnall.com

Good info for research

Traveling around Europe for 7mo sounds like great fun. I'd throw out a number for you but I'n no longer in the hostel & backpacking set, and I'd venture a guess most of the crowd here on fodors is the same.

You might get a more relevant answers someplace like lonelyplanet.com, which is more geared to the younger hosteling crowd.

Now much money depends on travel methods too.
I see you have a big gap in the counties between Belgium and Spain. Are you going to fly that part?

The post about the 90 days in Schengen zone territory is correct, but this will only likely come up if you try and work in a particular Schengen country....which you probably cannot because you will not hold the proper working papers.

Short of the story, stay as long as you want until your money dries up. The "Schengen Police" will not be chasing you around if you stay more than 90 days. Trust me.

You can figure this out better than anyone else. All we know about your personal habits is that you tend to drink quite a bit. But you know whether you drink cheap or Trappist brew, which cities you plan to visit (everything in Rome and London will generally cost a lot more than in Cracow, for example,) which hostels you'll stay in (they vary A LOT in price from place to place,) how you'll get from place to place, whether you can mostly feed yourself out of a grocery bag or must rely mostly on hostel cafeterias, restaurants and snack stands, etc., etc. Most prices are easy to find online - you just need to do the math. Add it up, figure in a 25% cushion to cover little emergencies and currency rate dings you may experience, and divide by 210 for the daily amount you'll need.

But we can certainly give you some general tips. If you're on a shoestring, save Italy and southern Europe for the cooler months so that you aren't downing carbonated beverages nonstop and aren't tempted to spring for a hotel room with a/c. Also, look at comments on hostels closely and pencil in the ones that offer the heartiest breakfast, a meal that if properly taken advantage of can keep you going well past noon and reduce your overall food expenses. If you plan to cook for yourself, be aware as you choose accommodations that guest cooking facilities aren't available in all or even most hostels. Spend more time in smaller cities and towns, less in places like Venice and Paris. Look into multi-day transport passes when you plan to be in a city for several days. And if that's too much, plan some efficient walking routes. Rideshare organizations may be useful for getting around too:

http://www.rideshare.co.uk/

Transportation is free in Germany's Black Forest region:

http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/konus

Go to Rick Steve's Travel website and read his son's blog on traveling Europe on a tight budget. It sounds like he saw a lot, did a lot, and was on a tight budget.

Check out the Thorn Tree section of the Lonely Planet site - great for student or other super budget travelers.

And you can;t stay for 7 months unless most is outside of Schengen.

And keep in mind that while lcaal beer or wine is usually cheap - any sort of hard liquor or mixed drink is generally sky high (due to local taxes).