ACCC offers these easy tips to plan a fun, budget-friendly getaway everyone will love.
Boston, MA – May 29, 2015
With summer rapidly approaching, many families struggle to afford that all-important summer vacation or trip together without breaking the bank. Travel is one of those luxuries everyone wants to afford but may not be able to fit into their budget. Luckily, national financial education nonprofit American Consumer Credit Counseling has announced five ways families can enjoy a budget-friendly summer vacation.
The cost of travel has impacted consumers’ desire to go away on vacation. According to a 2014 Skift survey, 32 percent of Americans said they could not afford to take a summer vacation.
“You don’t have to stay at a five-star resort or go to the obvious expensive destinations to make your family happy and have a good time,” said Steve Trumble, President and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling. “Setting and sticking to a reasonable budget will make it easier to afford and enjoy a trip this summer.”
By following these five money saving ideas consumers can enjoy a guilt-free summer vacation.
- Plan in Advance: To save big, plan ahead by packing lunches, snacks, and drinks. Instead of filling your cooler full of ice that will melt, freeze water bottles to cool your food down. When they melt, hand them to your kids for drinks. With a picnic lunch, you can avoid inflated amusement park prices and allot more money to other vacation activities. If you are staying in a hotel or flying, make sure to book your ticket in advance before prices skyrocket.
- Drive Rather than Fly: Instead of flying (and getting tricked into high ticket prices and extra baggage costs), take advantage of the falling gas prices by setting out on a road trip. Compared to last year, fuel cost is estimated to be a dollar less per gallon in the United States. Make the most out of your outing. Get your kids involved by using Google Maps to plot your destinations along the way. Bring fun trivia and car games to transform what could be a boring car-trip into an exciting adventure.
- Research Budget Activities and Special Deals: Do your research ahead of time to find out about special offers. Since it is summer and the economy is slow, many businesses and towns are offering special ‘free’ events and incredible deals on discount websites such as Groupon.com. Instead of taking a pricey walking tour, print your own map out online, and create a do-it-yourself version. Visit free concerts and museums. If you find a free deal a few states away, use it as your choice for an expedition. While on your trip, pass up the over-priced souvenirs and use your smart phones to capture photos. When your trip is over, compile your pictures into a colorful scrap book or calendar as a memento or great gift idea for a family member in the future.
- Find Off-Season Destinations: If you can take off week days, plan to travel Monday through Thursday so that you beat the crowds and weekend prices. Consider winter-destinations, like the Caribbean, as you will enjoy their off-season prices during the summer.
- Rethink Your Lodging. Avoid staying in the most-popular locations. If you are planning a trip to a major tourist city, like Boston or Philadelphia for instance, consider staying in a city close by. When choosing where to stay, take into account the variety of options besides expensive hotels. Camping is not only affordable, but a clever way to un-plug from your busy routine and get your children away from the television screen and enjoy the outdoors. If camping is not for you, consider a quaint bed and breakfast where you can finally enjoy a sit-down breakfast with your family.
ACCC is a 501(c)3 organization, that provides free credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and housing counseling to consumers nationwide in need of financial literacy education and money management. For more information, contact ACCC:
- For credit counseling call 800-769-3571
- For bankruptcy counseling. call 866-826-6924
- For housing counseling, call 866-826-7180
- Or visit us online at ConsumerCredit.com
About American Consumer Credit Counseling
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial management and debt relief through education, credit counseling, and debt management solutions. ACCC provides individuals with practical debt solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC’s certified credit advisors work with consumers to help them determine the best plan of action to get out of debt and regain financial stability. ACCC holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies. For more information or to access free financial education resources, log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit TalkingCentsBlog.com.
