Think about the last time you traveled – do you remember how much you spent? Did you set a budget? Did you go over that budget? Or did stay diligent in your prepping and managed to enjoy your trip while staying on track?
Years before I worked in the financial world, I traveled to Cabo San Lucas for two weeks. I wanted to have fun and treat myself to whatever I wanted. I literally was in the "Life's Too Short" mindset. Needless to say, I went over my budget paying for spas, restaurants, shopping, and more. It was an amazing trip, but I’ll be honest, my pockets were crying for help by the time I returned home.
Based on that trip alone, I learned my lesson and created some budgeting tips so I never overspend while traveling again. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes as I did so I’m going to share some budgeting tips and savings options you can take advantage of. Ultimately you’ll be able to develop some budgeting habits so you can plan for a fun vacation without breaking the bank.
Psst... These tips can be used for any type of vacation – even a staycation right here in the Carolinas!
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This seems like a given, right?!? Obviously, you're going to research where you want to travel, but you should also research WHEN you want to travel.
If you know you can only travel at a specific time (like summer or over the holidays), check this one off your list. But – if you have the flexibility – research what time of year you'll be able to get the best deals. You may be able to travel somewhere at the beginning or tail end of their peak season, which can drive down some prices.
QUICK TIP: Be sure to do more research on the types of activities and excursions you want to experience on your vacation so you have a good idea of how much it would cost, helping you know how much you should be saving for your trip. |
I'm sure you know flight prices are unpredictable. They are changing daily but if you notice, flights are cheapest during certain times of the year if you book early enough. According to Expedia® the cheapest day of the week to book a flight is Sunday, not Friday. The savings are around 5% for domestic travelers, and close to 10% for international travelers. Read the full article here.
I'm also a huge proponent of Google Flights, which compares every major airline (except Southwest) and even sends you price drop alerts if you want to wait it out a bit. I'll talk more about flight plans and deals in Step 5.
Take a look at the checking and savings accounts you have and think about which account you touch the least. (Hopefully, you have one for Emergency Savings already, so don’t include that one in your list. If you don’t, make sure to also read up on How to Create an Emergency Savings Account.)
Don’t have an account that could work for this? Easy fix! You can always check with your financial institution about opening another account you can dedicate to saving for your trip (or another specific purchase) But here’s the kicker – make sure you look for accounts that are free to open and don’t have any maintenance fees. The last thing you want is to get charged to save!
(Psst… a lot of credit unions, like Skyla, have free checking accounts and savings accounts without any pesky fees.)
QUICK TIP: If you have a bit of time to save, look into opening an account that will earn money for you. For example, Money Markets have higher returns on savings and will earn you higher interest on the money you have in your account compared to standard savings account. However, accounts like a Money Market, typically have minimum deposits you should look out for before opening. |
If you prefer not to open an account (or use an account you already have) and would rather deal with cash - it's cool. Do it the old fashion way with a piggy bank to stash the extra cash you have. (Psst... don't forget, having your savings in cash won't earn you any interest like keeping that money in a savings account would.)
Whichever method you choose, make sure to treat this savings like a bill that needs to be paid. This way you're forcing yourself to save for future goals.
Skyla offers simple, straightforward savings solutions where there's no monthly fee and you’ll earn a little bit of interest as long as your balance is over $5. Yep! I'm talking about Primary Savings. Plus, you have a whole network of CO-OP Shared Branching, so you can truly bank wherever you need.
You can also take this Savings Style Quiz to determine your style and what product would be best for your specific needs.
Many financial institutions offer reward points when using their rewards credit card. If you're in the market for a credit card, do some research on which card would be the best fit for your needs. Some credit cards offer cash back, discounts, or rewards points that can be redeemed.
QUICK TIP: Have a card that offers cash back? Save up that “free money” to put towards your credit card statement after your trip to cover some of the transactions you made along your trip! |
In my experience, especially in my grad school days when I was on a tighter budget, I was able to find last-minute deals when traveling to New York, Nebraska, and Chicago to visit family and friends. Here's what I used back then (and what I still use today)
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Of course, you want to enjoy your entire vacation and see the sights, eat the food, and do the things you’re excited to do. However, you don’t always have to pay an arm-and-a-leg just to do that:
For example, don't always splurge on the expensive hotel. Look for places to stay for a discount or Airbnb's that are within your budget. You'll find rooms, full apartments, and hotels listed on websites like Airbnb that can cost half as much as a hotel.
QUICK TIP: If you’re going somewhere that’s walkable or that has easy-to-use public transportation, make sure to look at Google Maps to see where the location of the hotel is compared to the things you want to do. It might make more sense to spend a little more on a hotel within walking distance to places, rather than staying a bit farther out and needing to rent a car or Ubering places. |
When you travel, you typically eat out for every meal (which is fine!) but those meals can add up. Remember – dinner doesn’t need to be a Michelin Star restaurant to be good. You can try to eat relatively cheaply by going to smaller, more casual places and selecting small plates to share. This is also beneficial because you could order multiple small dishes to try out more of the local cuisine!
I know I just harped on staying within your budget and said don't do what I did by overspending. But the #1 rule you should follow is to have fun! If that means spending a lot of money on a silly souvenir, buying last-minute tickets to an excursion, or whatever else you feel would make your vacation that much more memorable, go for it! You know yourself way better than I do, so just remember to save a little extra if you plan to spend big.
In my experience the number one thing I noticed when I started traveling on a budget is, paying attention to where and what my money is being spent on. You'll become aware of your spending habits. If you're having a hard time building a budget, then let's take a step back and cover everything under the sun about creating a budget.
To help you on your journey to tackle budgeting, download the Smart Budgeting Guide to start reaching those financial goals. Enjoy!