The jungles of Bora Bora, the beaches of Barcelona, the casinos in Vegas… We would all love to take some time off and travel. However, the reality of it is that not all Americans can afford to take time off and go on a trip in the summer months. Work pressures at times are responsible for this and often also combined with the issue of financing a getaway. But costs should not keep one from travelling and seeing the world. To make your dreams a reality, you just need a little bit of preparation and forethought!
Here are 4 tips to help you save for your vacation:
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Save separately
Without proper planning, you might end up spending the vacation money for day to day activities. To avoid this pattern, you need to start saving for your trip separately. Travel funds should be kept separately from the money that you use in your daily activities by enabling automatic transfers from one bank account to another.
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Do not skip time off
“More work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Even if you do not have much money to spend away from town, take the time off from your work schedule because you deserve a break! Don’t check your work emails as this is the time that you should be visiting the museum and other spots of your choice. Just stop running regular chores and errands and reward yourself. A “staycation” is a vacation too – be a tourist in your own city!
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Set a realistic budget
Pick a vacation destination that is in your budget, and pick your flights and hotels accordingly, too. This will involve a significant amount of research, but you can easily find good deals on flights online, and coupons or travel packages to help you save money while hitting all of your destinations and popular tourist attractions.
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Expect the “gotchas”
A complete budget includes extra, miscellaneous cost at the end because every avid traveller knows, there are always additional and unexpected costs that pop up from time to time. Ensure that your budget covers everythingand more to avoid being stressed about your finances when you really should just be focusing on having the time of your life!
Pro tip: don’t forget travel insurance
Most importantly, by the time you set off for the vacation, you should ensure that you have travel insurance. Depending on the length of your vacation, you can subscribe to a long term or a short term travel insurance. Do research and ask around about different types of travel insurance and the top travel insurance agents. You want to be able to truly enjoy your vacation without having to worry about what might happen. Travel insurance is a great precautionary measure that will give you a peace of mind and allow you to focus on what’s important.
Happy travels!
Featured Image Source: Thinkstock/podfoto
Posted on May 5, 2023