It’s hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. If you’re anything like my family, you’ve been counting down the days to your summer vacation especially because this past winter was one of the worst and coldest that anyone has had to endure in quite some time!
Of course, like any vacation, it’s always best to save money ahead of time both for your wallet and for your sanity. Planning a vacation goes much smoother and easier when you have a budget in place and don’t overspend. Trust me, I haven’t always made a budget for vacations ahead of time, and once I did, it was so nice not to have surprise credit card bills when I got home.
So, my very first tip for saving money on your summer vacation is to:
Plan, Plan, Plan
While it’s easy to think of a summer vacation as something casual and easy, the truth is that it deserves just as much planning as an extensive European vacation.
The reason planning is so important is because you can set a budget for each day of your trip. Take out an excel spreadsheet and write in projected costs for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Then factor in touristy activities and shopping activities. You might even find that your vacation was more than you thought at this step, which gives you time to cut out a day or alter your activities to fit within your financial comfort level.
Then, once you are on your trip, quickly jot down what you spent at the end of each day so you know whether or not you went over budget. That way, you know how much you can comfortably spend the next day. This allows you to save money because you’ll be aware of your spending and if you overspend one day, you’re less likely to do it again the next day.
I know it doesn’t sound like much fun to add up your expenses at the end of the day when you’re supposed to be enjoying your time off, but it only takes a second and really makes you aware of your habits.
Rent a House or Apartment
One of the biggest expenses when it comes to vacations is the hotel. Plus, when you stay in a hotel, you have to eat out every meal. So, one great way to save money on your vacation is to rent a small house or apartment. That way, you can buy a few groceries and make inexpensive sandwiches for lunch, which will save you a lot of cash and time. Of course, you can always go out to eat a nice dinner once or twice but making all your smaller meals yourself is a great way to stay on budget.
Some other ways you can save money are to take a road trip instead of flying or to go and see friends and family who you haven’t visited with in a while. All of these are great ways to enjoy your summer vacation without breaking the bank.
What’s your favorite summer vacation spot? How do you save money when you go?