AS WE’RE SCROLLING THROUGH OUR INSTAGRAM FEED, IT APPEARS AS IF EVERYONE IS ON VACATION. ALL THE PICTURES OF DREAMY, WHITE BEACHES, EXOTIC WATERFALLS, LIT-UP SKYLINES AND POWDERY SLOPES ARE SURELY MAKING US WANT TO START PLANNING FOR OUR NEXT TRIP AS WELL. HOWEVER, VACATIONS CAN BE EXPENSIVE, AND THEY USUALLY REQUIRE SOME PLANNING AND BUDGETING. BELOW, WE’VE PUT TOGETHER SOME GREAT BUDGET TIPS FROM SOME OF OUR PRO TRAVELERS.
PICK A DESTINATION AND A THEME
First of all, sit down with whomever you’re traveling with and figure out what kind of trip you’re in the mood for. Maybe an adventurous one, a relaxing one, a beach one or a sporty one? When you know what you want and where you want to go, you can more easily get a grip of how much money you’ll need to save.
CREATE A BUDGET…
Congratulations! You have decided on a destination and now the fun begins. It’s time to make your monthly budget. The most important thing when making a budget is to make sure it’s realistic, otherwise, it’s neither gonna be easy nor fun to stick to it and follow through. Create different categories and include “unexpected expenses,” such as a one-time bill or a parking ticket, etc. It’s also recommended to use actual numbers, and not percentage.
If your budget seems tight, it’s time to prioritize. Maybe you don’t need all those streaming subscriptions, Starbucks coffees and dinners our?
… AND MAKE SURE TO STICK TO IT
It’s easier to follow your budget if you visualize the goal. Create a folder on your phone or computer with pictures of your destination and a list of things you want to do when you’re there. If you’re unsure whether you need those new shoes or not, look at the pictures and imagine yourself there.
Another advice is to set up a bank account specifically for vacation savings. As soon as your paycheck comes in and the bills are paid, send over the vacation money to the vacation account and prevent spending it on other stuff “by accident.” If it’s not there, it can’t be spent.
MAKE SMART DECISIONS WHEN BOOKING YOUR TRIP
There are many ways in which you can make a trip more affordable. First of all, check the lowfare calendar before picking a date. Usually, leaving on weekdays versus weekends will save you money. Also, by avoiding big holiday weekends, tickets tend to be cheaper.
Second, consider booking a cool Airbnb instead of a hotel. This will not only save you money, it’ll also allow you to live like a local with the locals.
Third, sign up for activities in advance. Many times, booking activities, day trips and adventures for your trip will be cheaper if you book them in advance versus signing up on the spot.
