It may still be too early to pack away our winter coats or snow boots. However, it is always nice to plan ahead. Summer will be here in no time and that means you are about to put your vacation budget to work! If you do not have a plan in place, you may accrue unnecessary consumer debt along the way. So how do you budget your vacation?
Prevent credit card debt by budgeting for your vacation.
How Do You Budget Your Vacation?
The easy way out of vacation budgeting is to just go with the flow and let your credit card take care of the expenses. However, by the end of all the excitement, you’ll be left with the hassle of settling credit card debt. This is a backward approach towards all principles of budgeting.
So, first thing’s first on how you budget your vacation is to take a look at your finances. Realistically what can you afford to set aside for a vacation? More often than not, people struggle with reducing credit card debt. Therefore, a detailed vacation budget will help you in the long run with your financial management.
When we say “vacation budget”, make sure you include every little detail so all expenses are accounted for. Tickets and accommodation are the big-ticket items, but smaller expenses like meals and new vacation clothes should be budgeted for in advance, too! Remember that anything and everything you need for a vacation are important.
The next step of planning to budget your vacation is how you will handle each of these expenses. What would you pay out of pocket? How much are you willing to put on your credit cards? Along with your vacation plan, you also need to have a debt management plan in place. Increased debt could add a lot more stress to your life as it lessens your financial stability.
Last but not least, don’t forget the little things. Packing your own food, cheaper accommodation options such as AirBnB, Coupons, discounted holiday packages etc. all add up to your vacation savings. Focus on the memories and not the expenses! You will have a great vacation!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC is here to help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
