Summer is now in full swing! As are family vacations and weekend getaways, spending time at a beach somewhere or maybe somewhere cooler to escape from the heat.
As fun as these trips are, they can be expensive. We have provided these tips to help you budget for your next vacation.
Pack Light
If you are planning a vacation that you need to book flights for, it can be helpful and cheaper to pack light. Try to pack just the necessities, like a carry-on and personal item to avoid paying to check a bag.
If you will be somewhere for a while, consider looking into having access to a washer and dryer.
Buy Groceries
Food is a large cost with travel, if you eat out for each meal of the day for your whole trip it can add. Save money by buying groceries before or after your trip, especially if you are driving.
This way, you can save more money to spend on other experiences, activities, or hotel accommodations.
Book During the Off Season
Hotel and house rental prices are usually lower during the off season when there are fewer tourists.
You can usually get great deals and skip all the crowds, leading to better experiences.
Research Your Destination to Budget Accordingly
Before you decide on somewhere to go for vacation, research where you are going. You need to know the costs of the list down below to prepare a budget.
- Food. Whether you plan to eat out or buy groceries, you need to research the prices of the meals you plan to have.
- Accommodations. Look up what price the hotels and house rentals in the area are for the dates you are traveling.
- Activities. Look into the cost of different activities to budget accordingly.
- Travel Costs. If you are driving or flying, check to see how much gas you will need or compare plane ticket prices.
- Souvenirs. Set aside money for whatever shirts or knick knacks you decide to bring back.
- Just in Case Fund. You will want to bring some extra money to pad your budget just in case you find yourself overspending in certain areas.
Open a Savings Account for Travel
If you want to go on a vacation. Opening a savings account can help you build the budget for your trip.
You can set aside money every month leading up to your trip and let it gain interest. This will also provide you with an account you can continue to use to fund all your future vacations.
Check out our savings account options to start building towards your next trip.