We have all said that one single word that almost always has
good intentions behind it, but most of the time it just falls flat; that one
word is, someday. Someday I’ll go here; someday I’ll go there, someday,
someday, someday…. Well, if you are tired of saying someday, why not make 2019
the year you say yes to making your travel dreams come true? But, now that
you’re going for it, how will you pay for it? Keep reading below to learn about
some savvy ways you can save up for your dream vacation.
Savvy travels, start with good safety. If your someday
vacation is a solo backpacking trip through Utah’s National Parks or even just
a simple sun-filled Florida beach stay, you need Life Alert Protection to help
ensure your trip doesn’t encounter any trouble. With Life Alert mobile with GPS
you immediately gain access to 24/7 personal protection anywhere in the U.S.
Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, push the button on your
mobile device and Life Alert’s dispatch team can locate you via GPS and send
you an emergency medical response fast. If you are going to the put the effort
in to save money for your someday vacation, why not put the effort in to save
your life too? Don’t travel without Life Alert Protection!
Turn that fantasy trip of yours into a reality, by starting
to grow your travel fund. How you may ask? Real Simple[1]
has all the tips below. Read on and get packing!
Set a Realistic
Goal
What you aim to save should be attainable, based on your
income and expenses. After all, if you're diligently stashing away some money
every month, but feel like you’re hardly making a dent in your savings goal,
you're more likely to give up saving all together. “So many times, people will
design their vacation and then attach dollars to it," says Jesse Mecham,
founder of You Need a Budget. "But it’s better to come up with a
reasonable number first, then whittle away at it when you start planning the
trip. The reality is that we have only so much money.” Once you have your goal
set, divide the total by how many months you have to save until your trip, then
add a separate line item to your budget for that amount.
Pay Yourself First
Once the bills start rolling in, it can be tough to find any
money leftover to put toward your vacation fund at the end of the month. Keep
the money out of reach by setting up automatic transfers to your savings
account every time you get paid. “It’s also a good idea to open a specific
account just for your vacation fund,” said Gaby Dunn, author of “Bad With
Money: The Imperfect Art of Getting Your Financial Sh*t Together." She
added that separating the money from your general savings makes it less likely
you’ll dip into it for another expense. Pay attention to where you’re putting
your money, as well. A number of online banks now offer around 2 percent
interest on savings accounts—a much higher rate than the national average of
.09 percent. That’s essentially free money you can use for, say, a fancy dinner
in Paris.
Save From Your
Smartphone
A number of apps can turn a smartphone into your best friend
when it comes to saving for something big. “I use a savings app called Digit,
which takes a small amount out of your account every day and puts it into a
savings accounts for specific goals,” says Dunn. “It texts you every morning
letting you know how close you are to your goal, and honestly, I completely
forget about the money until I need to use it.” A number of other apps also
offer really clever ways to save without thinking about it. Acorns and Qapital,
for example, can both round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and put the
difference into a savings account. It’s small, but it adds up throughout the
year.
Pick Up the Tab at
Dinner
Nothing ruins a great dinner with friends quite like trying
to split the check on a slew of credit cards. Offering to put the total on your
card not only makes for a more seamless dining experience—it can also help you
fund your vacation. “If you have a rewards credit card that gives you a bonus
at restaurants, volunteer to pick up the tab and get the points,” says personal
finance expert Nicole Lapin, author of Rich Bitch: A Simple 12-Step Plan for
Getting Your Financial Life Together... Finally. “Then, have your friend’s pay
you back instantly with a payment app.”
Resist Impulse
Buys
Everyone’s guilty of stealing a few minutes out of the work
day to scope out an awesome sale at their favorite online store. You don’t plan
to actually buy that handbag, but now you’re seeing ads for it everywhere—and
it’s getting impossible to resist such a great deal. “Go to your browser and
clear your cookies so you’re no longer tempted to make that impulse buy,” said
Lapin. “That way, you end the trail for retailers and avoid indulging when you
don’t want to.” When you successfully
resist an impulse purchase, reward yourself by putting a portion of what you
would have spent into your travel fund. Think of it like a little bonus to make
your trip that much more amazing.
Ask for Discounts
When’s the last time you asked for a discount on your cell
phone bill or car insurance rates? If it’s been a few years, it’s time to give
those companies a call. “If you tell them you’re thinking of switching, they’ll
almost always give you a better rate,” says Mecham. “This method works about
every six months.” Be kind, but firm when bargaining with the customer service
representatives. And don’t be afraid to call back another day if you’re not
happy with the current offer. Spending 20 minutes on the phone could help you
come up with another $20 per month to toss into your travel fund.
Master Meal
Planning
There are times we eat out to enjoy a chef-prepared meal and
the company of friends. Then, there are all those other times we grab take-out
after a long day at the office, a snack on the way to the gym, or that daily
morning coffee. Mindless spending makes it so much harder to save up for the
things you really want (like that escape to Miami in the dead of winter!).
“Anyone I’ve talked to who has saved up a lot of money or paid off a lot of
debt has cut back on eating out,” says Mecham. “Learning how to meal plan as
been the overarching approach that has worked.” It might take a little while to
break the habit of eating out all the time, but getting organized in the
kitchen and planning what you’ll eat throughout the week can save you big bucks
in the long run. And just think of all the once-in-a-lifetime meals you can
eventually savor on your getaway.
Plan a Housing
Swap
Hotel stays are often the most expensive part of taking a
vacation. Rather than shelling out big bucks for a room while your home sits
empty, consider arranging a housing swap that will help you save on travel
costs. “I have friends and employees who’ve done it, and it’s been a positive
experience," says Mecham. "It just takes some dedication to make sure
you’re finding the right people to swap with.”
Sites like Home Exchange and HomeLink can help you find a home to borrow
on your trip. You could also take things a step further by renting out your
apartment or house on Airbnb (and use that extra cash for your travel
expenses). Just make sure you’re following the terms of your lease and local
laws.
Put Your Skills to
Use
There are only so many cuts you can make to your expenses.
At some point, you need to focus on boosting your income if you’re trying to
grow your travel fund. Enter the side hustle. “If there’s something you’re
really good at in your day job, try moonlighting it for clients during nights
and weekends,” says Mecham. The gig economy has made it easier than ever to
earn some extra cash in your spare time. You could open up a store on Etsy,
drive for Uber or Lyft, walk dogs with Rover, or take care of chores for your
neighbors on TaskRabbit. “Don’t set lofty goals, just start small and try to
make a couple hundred dollars a month at first,” says Mecham. And while it
might feel like a drag taking on extra work, devoting your earnings exclusively
to your travel fund will help you hit your goal fast—and give you the money you
need to take a trip you’ll never forget.
Dreams written down become goals. Goals planned out become
plans. Plans become reality! Make your vacation dreams a reality, by setting
achievable financial goals and having a plan. Included in your financial dream
vacation plan, be sure to budget for great personal protection; especially if
you’re planning a solo trip. With Life Alert Mobile HELP with GPS, you can
travel anywhere in the U.S. with full 24/7 protection. Here’s how it works:
Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, push the button on your Life
Alert Mobile device and summon an emergency medical response fast. Plus, batteries
don't need charging and can last up to 10 years! Add a little personal
protection luxury to your next vacation by taking along Life Alert Protection. Call
1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.
Works Cited:
1.
Sweet, Joni. “9 Ways to Save for the Vacation
You Deserve in 2019.” Real Simple.
6 December 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/saving/how-to-save-money-for-vacation
>.
