GET CAUGHT UP
Summarized stories to quickly stay informed
A Bankrate report ahead of the summer season found that 36 percent of vacation planners said they would take on debt to fund their travels, whether by putting the cost on a credit card they can’t pay off right away; using a buy now, pay later plan; borrowing from friends or family; or taking out a personal loan.
Millennials were even more inclined than older adults to use debt for their summer destination, according to the survey.
Before you pack your bags, consider these five tips to help you avoid busting your travel budget.
It’s okay if you don’t see the real Mona Lisa
During a semester I spent studying abroad, other students in my London journalism program kept talking about going to Paris and seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum.
I felt I had to follow their lead. What a disappointment.
Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece is displayed behind bulletproof glass. Of course, it’s for the protection of the painting, and I get that. However, between the glass and the hordes of tourists, I got a better view of Mona Lisa’s smile from the postcard I purchased outside the museum.
I had a better experience visiting smaller museums in Paris.
If you don’t have the money to see everything others insist is a must, be selective.
What about the location drew you to want to visit?
Was it the food scene, a particular beach, a historic monument or some lovely little jazz club?
If you’re traveling to India, you might be fine paying for a guided tour of the Taj Mahal. Checking off a popular tourist location might be on your bucket list.
Yet, it’s fine if you just want to chill. You don’t have to cram your vacation with tours and sights just because it’s what the masses do.
Your trip won’t be ruined if you skip an overrated tourist trap that may not be worth the money or your time.
Don’t be penny-wise, pound-foolish
If there is an attraction you want to visit or experience you’ve longed to have, don’t skip it because of the cost. Instead, save money by skimping on something else that doesn’t matter. (See the previous tip.)
I love the water, so I’ll build into my budget a nice boat cruise or snorkeling tour.
But I don’t need to eat out a lot on a holiday. If I stay at a place with a kitchen, I’ll cook most days.
Just be careful that your frugality doesn’t inadvertently cost you more money or a lovely time. Once, my husband and I thought we would save money on car rental and airfare by taking the Auto Train to Florida. We didn’t actually save as much as we thought, and it was a long, bumpy ride with three small children in cramped quarters. We only did that once.
Memories last a lifetime, tacky T-shirts, not so much.
One of the most financially liberating things you can do is let go of the guilt of having to buy everybody and your mama a souvenir.
Do your family and friends need another shot glass, refrigerator magnet or trinket they will tuck away in a drawer?
This is not to say that if you find something unique that your mom may treasure, you shouldn’t buy it. But resist the urge to splurge on gifts for folks back home.
You are on vacation, and that doesn’t have to come with an obligation to shower people with gifts from your trip.
Good parenting shouldn’t change on vacation
The kids know your financial defenses are down because you’re more relaxed. Stay alert.
My husband and I discussed our vacation spending before we hit the road. Our children knew there were limits to their demands. Nagging didn’t work at home and it won’t work poolside at the resort.
This can be a teaching moment about good money management. To have fun, you don’t have to unnecessarily indulge your children.
Even on vacation, live within your means
Get rid of this expression: “You only live once.”
This is the kind of thing you might say on vacation. But that’s often part of your brain, intoxicated with the pleasure of sunning on a Caribbean beach, trying to justify overspending.
You shouldn’t be accumulating credit-card debt to fund your fun. Credit-card interest rates are at record highs. As of June 4, the average rate was 24.8 percent, according to LendingTree. At the same time, a growing number of Americans are maxed out, with Gen Z leading the way, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
This is why you need a budget for your trip along with careful research to make sure you don’t get socked with stealthy fees and other hidden costs.
It’s okay to leave some wiggle room in your budget for an excursion or experience you may not have known about. But don’t leave most of your spending up to your vacation mood.
If you can afford a vacation, I want you to enjoy yourself. But don’t let your time away from home trump the financial fundamentals that serve you well during the rest of the year.