If you’ve taken a lot of really sweet trips, but that one big dream vacation has always seemed to elude you, mostly due to the cost, the time to stop procrastinating is now. If the last year has taught us anything, it should be that being at home sucks and that dream destination needs to happen ASAP. Affording the trip of a lifetime is doable if you stop thinking it’s out of reach and start planning for it.
Estimate
Look at the type of vacation you want to take and get a ballpark figure on your transportation and lodging expenses. You won’t need a more exact amount until later, we’re just estimating right now. Over at Budget Your Trip this calculator tool can help you figure out how much your dream holiday will cost per person per day. According to the tool, a midrange trip to Tokyo would be around $146 a day plus airfare, while an excursion to France is $213 plus airfare. All-inclusive packages are also a good thing to look into if you’re hoping to know the exact amount before you go any further in your planning.
Save The Date
Once you know how much money you’re going to need, you can set a tentative date for when you think you’ll be able to make your goal. Think about how many vacation days you’ll need to have saved up at work in addition to the general range of money you think you’ll need. These things can help you decide how far out to push your trip. Spring 2022? Fall 2021? This will give you plenty of time to google every fun thing possible to do at your dream destination.
Save The Dollars
Now to the nitty gritty. If it’s money that has been holding you back from backpacking your way across Europe all these years, it’s time to start letting that cash accumulate. There are a few ways you can make this happen. First off, look at last month’s bank statement and see where you can trim away some spending. Start limiting your trips to coffee joints and restaurants. Stop any recurring membership fees that you don’t really use. Cut back on your ultra expensive Fabergé egg addiction. You’d be surprised at how quickly what feels like a few dollars a day can add up into your bank account. Put that extra money into a vacation savings account at the end of the month. Also, set an amount you can put into savings every week when you get paid.
Work Gigs
Technology has made moonlighting accessible and convenient to virtually anyone with a few hours to spare. You can make extra cash by shopping for other people, delivering their food, or walking their dogs, all through apps. These side gigs allow you to work as much or as little as your lifestyle allows. You can throw any extra cash you earn into your vacation savings account.
“One day” can happen sooner than you think if you go ahead and get the ball rolling on planning for the vacation of a lifetime.