Budget Vacation/Travel Tips
Get away without breaking the bank!
Everyone deserves a vacation, but it’s not worth going into
debt for! Here are some tips and tricks to travel smarter so you can have the
vacation you deserve.
Save up! It’s
important to save up money prior to going on vacation. How much you need to
save depends on where you want to go. Do your research and figure out how much
to expect for travel expenses and lodging. Keep in mind that if you are able to
travel during the week, flights and accommodations will cost less.
Set a daily spending
limit. In addition to setting an
overall budget, it’s a good idea to stick to a daily spending limit, as well. Try
the Dave Ramsey cash envelope system for each vacation day to make it seem less
overwhelming. If you have extra one day, carry it over to another day.
Pay with cash or a debit
card. Research has shown that people spend more with a credit card than
they do when paying in cash. Paying with cash or a debit card will make you
more aware of how much money you can spend. Of course, in case of an emergency,
it’s always a good idea to have a credit card.
Cook some of your
meals. An easy way to cut back on expenses on vacation is to cook a few
meals. We know part of the fun in going on vacation may be to get away from the
kitchen, but a few easy meals in will allow you to spend money elsewhere.
Spend money on
experiences. Buying souvenirs can be tempting and will add up quickly, but
spending money on experiences will build memories to last a lifetime. Plan your
activities out ahead of time so you can enjoy your much-needed stress-free
vacation.
Book in advance. Typically
you can get a better deal the farther out you book. Just keep in mind, it’s a
good idea to look at the cancellation policy just in case something comes up.
Don’t go on vacation without first creating a budget and a
plan or you’ll feel the burn long after summer ends. Hopefully these tips and
tricks will allow you to plan your next vacation and you won’t have to worry
about any bills following you home.