Sun, Sea, And Savings
Budgeting for a family can be a big stretch. When the purse strings are tight, you probably aren’t even considering the possibility of a family vacation. There just isn’t enough money. Vacations are a huge expense, and although you would love to get away from it all for a week or two, you just can’t afford it can you? Maybe you can. It will take some sacrifice, but for most people, a vacation isn’t completely out of reach. If you want to treat the whole family to a wonderful week away, here are a few ways that you can save up the money to do it.
Spend Nothing For A Month
I don’t mean literally nothing, of course. There are some expenses that simply can’t be avoided, but most of them can. Draw up a budget of your outgoings, and highlight the ones that you can’t do without. Rent, utilities, food, and gas, should be the only things left on your list. If you do this for one or two months every year, you could save enough for a vacation just like that. January and February are the best months to pick. Chances are, you’ve been overspending during the Christmas period, so cutting back afterward is always a good idea anyway. All of your friends are likely to be doing the same, so you won’t be tempted by expensive social activities.
Slash Spending
If cutting out all of your spending for a month seems a bit drastic, there are plenty of ways to slash your everyday spending and put that money towards a vacation. You can drastically cut the price of you grocery shop in just a few easy steps. The first thing to do is to avoid brand name goods. You might think that they are better than the supermarket brands, but in reality, the only difference is the price tag. You should also use websites like DontPayFull.com to find coupons. Use any coupon you can find, and your grocery bill will shrink before your eyes. All of this extra money can go straight into savings to pay for your vacation.
You should also look at any other outgoings that might not be entirely necessary. Expensive cell phone bills are another thing you can easily cut. Change to a cheaper tariff, you probably don’t need the expensive one you’re paying for anyway.
Have A Dedicated Savings Account
Having a savings account set aside specifically for vacations is always a good idea. If you add the money to the rest of your savings, you are more likely to dip into it. Having a dedicated one means that you can easily see how much is in there, and how close you are to your goal, making it easier to motivate yourself. Any expendable income you have, after slashing your budget, should go straight in there. Once you have worked out how much surplus you are going to have every month, set up a direct payment, so it goes in without you having to worry about it.
Shop Around
When it comes to booking the vacation itself, make sure to shop around. Last minute holiday websites offer package deals at massively discounted prices. You won’t have as much notice, but it is worth it as you will make excellent savings. There are plenty of great vacation deals out there, you just have to search for them.
