Vacation Budget Planner

Figuring out how much to budget for vacation planning

Living on a budget and working to pay off debt doesn’t mean you have to skip things like vacations. Instead, you simply need to plan a vacation that works for your finances. That may mean putting off an extravagant trip in favor of one that’s more affordable. This infographic can help you understand the average cost of domestic and international travel. We also include some affordable alternatives to pricey dream vacation destinations.

Pre-vacation planning tips

Financing a vacation comes in two parts. The first step is to plan your vacation and set a travel budget for all your expenses before you arrive. Following these budget travel tips can help you avoid credit card debt. Even if you use a credit card to pay for certain expenses, such as plane tickets or the reservation for a hotel room, you want to have funds available to pay off the charges quickly.

Step 1: Figure out how much you need to save out of each paycheck

Once you have your vacation budget sheet prepared, you can start saving up for your trip. Use a calendar to count out the number of paychecks that you have between now and when you want to book your trip. Now total up how much the travel reservations cost using the budget sheet and divide that by your number of paychecks. Now you know how much you need to save before you book your flights and hotel room.

After you have the reservations covered, do the same thing to figure out how much you need to save for the rest of your trip. If you don’t have enough funds to cover the savings you need, review your regular household budget. Find expenses that you can cut back to increase the cash flow available for saving up for your vacation.

Step 2: Set up a vacation savings account

Saving money for your vacation budget in your primary checking account is a good way to ensure that money gets spent. Instead, move your vacation funds into a separate savings account. There are also money-saving apps that give you a separate account to save for a vacation. These keep the money out your easily accessible accounts, so you’re less likely to spend what you save.

Step 3: Find practical ways to save on travel and accommodations

Flights are expensive, so if you can drive to your destination, you can save some serious cash. If you have to fly, don’t book flights on the weekend since they’re more expensive. Hotels are also more expensive on weekends, so booking a trip for Monday-Friday may be more cost-effective.

There are other ways that you can cut the cost of a vacation if you’re willing to forego a luxury trip:

• Stay with friends or family
• Visit a National Park and camp out
• Take a volunteer vacation
• Consider a home exchange

Step 4: Study your destination

Once you choose a destination, study it thoroughly. Most cities offer coupon books to travelers for discounts on food, entertainment, and events. You may be able to find free local events, such as festivals, through community calendars. If you use apps like Living Social or Groupon, simply switch your location to search for discounts and special offers. This will help you plan activities that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Avoiding overspending once you arrive at your destination

Once you arrive at your destination, it can be easy to get swept up in having fun. Just don’t let your enthusiasm lead to overspending! Staying within your budget will be essential if you want to avoid bringing home credit card debt as a souvenir.

Step 1: Minimizing your vacation budget for food

After travel and accommodations, food is usually the next biggest vacation expense. Use these tips to avoid overspending that usually winds up on credit cards:

• Consider getting a room with a kitchenette so you can cook a few meals in your hotel room
• Hit up a convenience store to get drinks and snacks. Hotel vending machines are expensive!
• Don’t order room service, since that just adds charges
• If you’re driving, pack food for the trip instead of stopping along the way
• Avoid tourist-trap restaurants. Ask where the locals eat, since it will usually be less pricey.
• Find local food trucks and street vendors while you’re out and about to get inexpensive meals.

Step 2: Use public transit

If you fly to your destination, try to use hotel shuttles to get to and from where you’re staying. Rental cars are expensive, so it’s best to avoid them. You can also opt for airport shuttles to get to your departure airport to avoid expensive airport parking. Another idea is to find a friend or family member that’s willing to give you a ride.

Even if you drive to your destination, always to try to use public transit. This will help you avoid added costs for parking and filling up on gas. If you decide to drive a vehicle – either yours or a rental – use GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in that area.

Step 3: Find free things to do

Going back to the tip above from pre-planning, change your location on Living Social or Group to find discounts and coupons on local activities. If you’re staying at a hotel, ask the concierge if they have a coupon book for local attractions.

You may also be able to find museums, art galleries, music and cultural events that are either free or discounted.

Step 4: Gifts and souvenirs

Your vacation budget planner should allocate some money for gifts and souvenirs. Just make sure not to go overboard buying things for friends, family, and coworkers while you’re there. Keep gifts to a minimum and don’t waste money on cheap tourist trinkets. Also, avoid self-gifting. The vacation is your way of treating yourself and your family. You don’t need to bring home extras. Also, avoid going out shopping and buying clothes or other items at expensive shopping districts.

Step 5: Be smart with money on international travel

If you’re dropping a lot of cash on an international trip, know how to conduct transactions in your destination affordably.

• Check to see if you can use your debit card at ATMs. ATM fees will likely still be cheaper than exchange bureaus
• If you’re using a credit card, make sure it’s one that doesn’t charge extra foreign transaction fees.
• Look online for tipping rules or ask the concierge about customary tipping. Most countries tend to tip less than we do in the U.S.