For most of us, it’s always a challenge to go on Vacations but we need to step away from the 9-5 crazyness and have quality time with the family, with friends and recharge your batteries. I have layout 6 ways to help you have the best vacations and not be worried about spending too much.
1. Save ahead of Time
How much money you should have in order to have a great Vacation? Where would you like to go? Is it better by car or by plane? How many of us are going on the trip ? Think also about the currency of the location,health protection when abroad in case of a bad situation…
Once you have answers most of those questions and lay it out on paper, you should have a clear idea of the amount of money you will need to spend on Vacations. At that point, you will calculate at least 6 months ahead of your travel date and divide that number by 6 but it is better by 12, so the amount to save will be smaller.
It’s easy to say, Vacation on the money but during those six months there is so much that could happen that we have to be ready ,that we have hit our goal or are a little bit behind but at the end, we are going on Vacations.
2. How to Track your expenses
To have all the chances in the world to succeed, we should have a plan. The best plan is to have some kind of a budget, on a excel spreadsheet, wallboard,cellphone, apps… As long there is some action regarding this option , it is perfect.
You will need to have all of your expenses in there so you have a clear picture of what your spending and what you have left at the end of the month. Maybe you will be shock by the result of knowing what are your real spending habits or really happy to know that you have the power to control your money.
The secret is to take action,one week at a time. But there is more to do, see more below…
3. Spending Habits reality Check
There is one easy way to find extra cash , it is to cut on our bad spending habits. I’m not saying you should not be spending money , it is more how do we spend our Money! We are constantly bombarded with publicity telling us buy this or buy that, most of us don’t take action on those commercials but after earing the same message over and over again it will happen!
This is what we call a bad spending habit and we need to be really careful, we should always ask ourself prior to make this impulsive purchase…”Do i really need to have this item, is it really positive for me to have it or i could wait?”. So easy to take mr. Plastic card and make the purchase on the spot but if we really want to go on that special vacation ,we need to have a reality check and be really hard on us because we are the one who will enjoy this vacation instead or being stress and not having a great time on Vacation.
4. Save Money
Where to Save money or where to find extra money?
We just have to look for it… When we go grocery shopping, we have the tendancy to go there and not be prepared, we don’t have a list. Try your best to have a list ready and to buy only what you have on your grocery list. Once you start buying extra items,you will end up with a crazy bill.
Try using also coupons or credit points from the store. Most of us, we don’t use any coupons! I think we want to look cool, “what am i going to save there 3$, thats not much”.You would be so surprise to know at the end of the month how much you have save by using the coupons from the store or even to use a credit card that gives you points that you could redeem to lower per example a flight ticket.
There is so many ways but the trick is ,to try any option you may think about that will help you save. See there is one great option that will simplify the process.
5. Automation
I think this topic is really important and i think this one, it will help you save hands down.
Money sometime could be our best friend but human in general are the worst when it comes to deal with money, we don’t have any discipline, we spend without counting but money is not infinite especially when it’s not your money (Credit Card, Credit Margin,personal loan and more).
We should take a look at automation technics to help us achieve our goal. You already have your numbers in hand, as a example,you need to have 1200$ for your vacations and your planning six months ahead.The amount you would need is 200$ a month for six months but to make it even better why not every two weeks for a amount of 100$.
You will automate those transfers from one bank to another bank account that should be lock until the date of your vacation arrive or a month ahead, if you need to pay any tickets or reservation. Is it easy to do? Of course not because this is money that you don’t have at the end of the month.
So rewarding to know that you will have some money for your Vacations without the use of mr.Credit Card.
6. Stay Home instead
Yes, i understand! Not all of us have the money or the kind of budget to go away on Vacations, we all have our situation and we have to make sure we respect that and doesn’t mean your a bad person for not bringing your family on Vacation.
Instead you could look around in the city and see what are the available activities that are affordable so you could have a good time. Go see a movie on a tuesday to save on the price of entrance or go early to save. Go in the mountain and spend the day there in the nature,could be so rewarding. Have a pizza night and play some social games, go take a bicycle ride, take your car and drive around in a different neiborhough and look to see if there is any activities to do there.
The point is: don’t stay home, go outside enjoy time with your family, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. As long you have your family around ,it’s all that matter. Don’t ever compare yourself with other peoples around you,there is so much going! It is easier for you to focus on your own thing and make the best out of it.
Take the time to reflect on the good thing you have even if you think it is bad. Always tell yourself, it could be worst.
Keep faith, enjoy Life!
