Vacation or Weekend Getaway – Budgeting
Are you looking forward to a vacation? If so, it is time to work on your vacation budget! I really enjoy this type of planning, but even if you don’t, I recommend setting aside some time to do so. If you plan before you go, you can avoid the regret post-vacation when the bills are coming in the mail.
Where Should I Begin Budgeting?
I always like to start designing my vacations by asking myself questions. We also discuss these questions and answers as a family. Here are some of the questions we may ask to get started:
- How much time should we spend outdoors vs indoors?
- What activities are on my must-do list?
- How much will we be cooking vs eating out?
- What can I bring from home to minimize my costs?
- What is the least expensive way to get from point a to point b while there?
Answering these questions helps me put together my plans. Once I have my plans, I can easily chart out a daily budget!
How Will I Pay When I Am There?
For better or worse I use a credit card for the majority of my purchases. That being said, vacation is one of the only times I specifically take out cash for the purpose of trip. While I still may use my credit card here or there, I like to use my remaining cash as a guideline for how much I have left. I find that vacations or getaways can be easy times to splurge. Keeping my credit card tucked away and focusing on cash purchases keeps my budget in check.
Coupons, Codes or Discounts
I am a big fan of using coupons and deals for discounts on vacation. It is so easy to use apps to find area specific deals on dining, family activities and shows. I recommend both Groupon and TravelZoo to take the edge off of your spending, while still having a wonderful time!
