Vacations are supposed to be relaxing! Sometimes though, we are so stressed out by the cost of this “relaxing vacation” that we spend the entire time worrying about money. That is no way to spend a vacation!
So how do you plan a stress free vacation?
Start with figuring out what you really want out of your vacation. Ask your family for input so that you can all plan a vacation that you all enjoy. You will also need to plan a vacation budget. The better you plan your budget, the better your vacation will be. I found a great family vacation budgeting form to use. Again, be sure to include the family in this. It will all go more smoothly if everyone is on board. You could set a daily target per day of what can be spent on each activity.
Once you know what you plan to spend, start a vacation savings fund. Add to this weekly or at each paycheck. Even if you empty your pocket change each night, I promise it all adds up!
Look for discounts offered by any membership clubs you belong too. AAA, Costco Travel Club and Sam’s Travel Club can sometimes save you money on hotels, car rentals and complete vacations. Another way to save is to travel when others are not! If you choose off season destinations you will most likely get an awesome deal on the trip and it will be significantly less crowded (a huge plus in my book).
When looking for a place to stay, search online for discounts. Also, call the hotel or resort directly to ask about current promotions and discounts. Look for accommodations that provide a kitchen. This way you can save a lot of money by not eating out. You could also look into a home swap. A home swap is where a family stays in your home while you stay in theirs.
I personally found a lot of great information on budget vacations while searching out info on debt consolidation. Consolidatedcredit.org offers a lot of information on saving money and budgets. They also offer services such as credit card debt help, credit counseling, debt management and financial education. The financial education section is full of helpful information on budgeting.
I promise you, with planning you can have a relaxing, enjoyable family vacation without overspending!
Do you have any tips on saving while vacationing? I would love to hear them!
We took our kids to the dump last week and told them we went to New Jersey. They totally believed us. Talk about vacationing on a freakin’ budget! (If you read this and live in NJ, sorry….you know it’s true though)