While away on vacation, you want to leave all of your worries and cares behind. This includes everything from responsibilities to tasks and annoying chores. One area that you’d also love a break from, but maybe should keep a loose eye on is your budget and spending habits. There will be plenty of places and opportunities to part you with your money while away from home, so it’s smart to keep your wits about you and know where to spend your money wisely. Keep these tricks and tips with you and you’ll be smooth sailing through your trip.
Vacation Priorities
Know what is most important to you and what creates lasting memories when you are on vacation. Is it once-in-a-lifetime experiences, thrilling shopping, legendary food, and or lively entertainment? What excites you the most about your destination? Having a good idea of what fulfills you the most on vacation and knowing what areas are worth splurging on versus when and where to hold back will help you define a budget. If you know what matters most to you, it will be easier to filter out the rest as filler and noise.
Document the Journey
Keeping track of your purchases and where you’ve spent money will keep you on budget and on target without disappointment later. While not the most fun thing to do, it’s important to see where you are on a daily basis. Then you’ll have a good idea of where and how you can choose to treat yourself. You could set a spending limit per day, or per week, however you want to do it, but keeping a log will make it a lot easier.
Plan Your Splurge
It’s important to treat yourself on vacation and there is definitely room for this in any budget. Choose something that you will remember for a long time from your trip. A cute purse or outfit you can only get from that destination will remind you of your trip for years to come. Maybe you want a romantic dinner on a rooftop that is unforgettable with your special someone. You can choose to splurge, just make it a rare occasion and plan and budget on doing it.
Budgeting Your Time
When you have limited time in a city or being away from home, budgeting your time is just as important as your money. You aren’t going to be able to do everything you want to do, so it’s important to prioritize and take in as much as you can without burnout. A small amount of planning ahead leaves little room for FOMO later.
Stick to Your Budget
Once you’ve decided on your budget or spending habits, stick to it. You can reward yourself by planning more trips in the future. If you blow your budget, it will be a lot harder to get away sooner and that’s no fun. Stay on course and you’ll feel refreshed and accomplished all in one.