Vacations are the best when you know you have money to spare, indulge and afford life’s little luxuries even for just a few days. On the flip side, you don’t want to have a vacation when all that it does to you is force you to live in a dingy hotel, eat cheap food, and make do with public transport in a city where public transportation options are the worst. You can get an ISA if you live in the UK and kick-start your savings for a vacation and then go about planning it carefully. Here’s how.
The secret to the best vacation is the commitment to make ends meet for a while so you can save enough to pull off the most memorable trip ever. This is true for the many of us who are earning just enough to save a little after all the bills are paid. But you need to think about it in more deliberate terms than just leaving your vacation plans to chance and live with the result.
First, decide plan out your vacation ahead. Where do you want to go? What do you plan to do when you get there? What type of hotel are you planning to stay in? How is the food? What views and destinations require entrance fees? How are the transportation arrangements? From here, you should be able to get an idea of how much money you need to pull off the trip. When you have a number, add a 30% contingency just to be sure.
Now, you have a target amount for your vacation. Go back to your monthly budget to see which expenses you can cut so you can save up on a trip. Lay down the plan: I will save x dollars in x months so I can hit my target. Always keep that goal in mind. Think about it when you have the urge to splurge on the newest bag or pair of shoes. Remember your plans for a kick-ass vacation and stick to your savings plan.
Often, it won’t be easy but a plan can help make it a reality. And whatever you do: try to not borrow money for a vacation. You don’t want to have the best time of your life during a week or two and then come home to massive debts. Save up and enjoy; don’t enjoy and then suffer through afterwards when you start thinking about making payments.
