3 Tips To Save For Vacation Without Touching Your Savings

With this weather, it’s normal to find yourself occasionally daydreaming of sandy beaches and drinks with little umbrellas. It’s time to start today to make that dream a reality, without digging in to your existing savings. Follow these tips below and soon you’ll be digging your toes in the sand relaxing your cares away.

Form a Budget

If you’ve already decided where you’d like to go on vacation, when you will go, and for how long, establishing a budget is easy. You can go about forming your budget in two ways: First, research via the internet to find the best flight fares, hotel packages, transportation, restaurants and other expenses. Then plug those numbers into a vacation budget planning form that will help organize and calculate your expenses. Second, form a budget by outlining your vacation destination, travel dates and the estimated amount you’ll have to spend. Then, have a travel agent find you the best deals based on the vacation packages they have available.

Look for Ways to Save

We’re all familiar with the traditional ways of saving money for vacation, such as having a change jar or piggy bank, or opening a savings account with a local bank. Those ideas still work and may be useful in helping you save for your vacation. But in today’s world there are even better means of helping you reach your savings goal. First among the modern savings tools you can use to help you are the many smartphone apps that automatically transfer a set dollar amount – at pre-determined times – from your checking account into an account for your vacation. In addition to saving money from your paycheck each month, you can create sources of additional income by selling household items and collectibles online on sites such as eBay or Etsy or Amazon.

Also, consider what you can give up to go toward the expenses. Making coffee at home can save $20-$50 per week. Packing lunch instead of eating out during the workday can save $50-$100 per week. It won’t be easy at first, but these funds can easily make up the difference between a basic vacation and a luxury vacation.

Make Your Goal Tangible

While your spring or summer vacation may only seem like a dream until you actually leave for the trip, there are things you can do to make it tangible now. Print off some color pictures of your vacation destination and hang them up where you’ll see them daily. Additionally, you may consider purchasing a few small items that you will need for your trip, such as sandals or a bathing suit. Put these items out where you’ll see them regularly to remind you of why you’re saving.

The professionals at Donohoo Accounting Services have even more ways to help you save. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation or call 513-528-3982. And don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for our latest updates!