We’ve all been there. Looking out the window of our office building wishing we were on an island instead. Whether it’s the mountains, the beaches or the hills of Ireland that are calling you, traveling is something that we all want to make time for! Unfortunately, it’s often our bank account that brings us back to reality and reminds us why we’re in that office building in the first place.
Even though a spur of the moment trip might not be something that you can make happen, with proper budgeting and saving, everyone has the chance to travel! If you’ve been wanting to schedule a trip but you’ve struggled with budgeting and saving, today’s blog is for you. We are going to touch on a few tips that can help you financially plan for a vacation that you’ve wanted to take.
Start Planning Earlier
One of the only ways that you can really build up savings is by giving yourself time. Saving doesn’t happen overnight, and when you really want to go all out and enjoy yourself on your trip, it can take even longer. That being said, the sooner that you start to plan, the more time you have to build up your savings.
Aside from getting a head start with your saving, planning earlier allows for you to get a better feel of your trip and what you’re going to be doing while you’re vacationing. The more that you know about your vacation and what you’re going to be doing, the better you can plan to finance your trip. It’s truly a win-win all around.
Build a Budget
Once you’ve determined a general amount that you should have for your vacation, it’s time to create a budget. Aside from focusing on the trip itself, you’re going to want to take your daily spending into account so that you can find the areas where you can afford to save some money. By spending some time to create a budget and determine what is a necessity in regards to your spending, and what is a luxury, you can better create a budget that allows for you to save.
In terms of your vacation, you want to create a budget that goes hand-in-hand with your planning. Setting a realistic budget for the time that you have set aside to save is a must, but you also need to make sure that you aren’t going beyond your mean s when planning your vacation. That’s why setting a budget early on is so incredibly important — you have a better idea of what you can and cannot do while on your trip.
Save Money Where You Can
There are certain aspects of traveling that get pretty expensive, and that’s inevitable. Things like the flight and the hotels that you’re going to stay at are things that you need to prepared to dish some money out for. While that is the case, there are plenty of other areas in your travels that you can spare some money in.
For starters, when you’re visiting a new location on vacation you don’t have to be eating at the best restaurants in town. Whether you put a few restaurants on your radar in advance, opt for the places that the locals dine at, or you stay at a place where you can prepare your own meals, the choices you make in terms of your meals is one of the many ways that you can save some money.
Another area to look into is your primary mode of transportation. While taking a cab or an Uber might be convenient while traveling, you may want to consider renting a car, getting a bus pass or purchasing a train ticket. A majority of these travel modes are more affordable than paying for each individual trip that you make and could help you save some money while traveling.
Avoid Unnecessary Spending
When you’re finally on your trip, it can be easy to really settle into the vacation mentality. You’re not going to work daily, you’re not staying in the house where you either pay rent or a mortgage, and you’re not focusing on the bills and budgeting that you have on a routine basis at home. That being said, one of the most expensive parts of a vacation can be the unnecessary spending that happens.
Whether it’s on souvenirs, gifts for friends and family, or you’re simply overspending while you’re on your trip, unnecessary spending is easily the fastest way for you to wind up in a tough spot with your finances. In order to stick to the budget that you initially made you need to either incorporate this extra spending money into your budget or avoid it altogether.
Take Advantage of Affordable Options
After you’ve spent months planning and budgeting, it can get really annoying to have to focus on every aspect of the trip. The one area that you can quickly forget about will be the journey too and from the airport. Driving yourself to the airport is one of the most affordable options, but there is a common misconception that leaving your car at the airport is expensive.
ParkDIA has made it affordable and easy for you to leave your car at the airport while you travel. Simply select uncovered or covered parking and select the number of days that you’ll be staying. It’s as simple as that! Browse the selection of airport parking services that we offer in the Denver area and reach out to our team if you need any additional information or assistance.
