Going to another country to unwind and reflect is expensive. You need to have more than a thousand dollars at least if you want to travel leisurely. However, getting a vacation to go on an LDS trip should not burden you.
The truth is that there are smart ways you can save money for your tour. To help you get started, here are a few tips for managing your finances, just in time for your next trip.
Allocate a budget
Before you even plan your next trip, you first need to allocate enough budget for your vacation. Create a realistic goal that you should stick to but leave enough room for any unforeseen emergency.
You do not need to have an accurate amount to have a firm budget. It should be a well-calculated estimate based on how your tour will go. It is best to do your research so you can get an idea of what to expect, such as your daily expenditures as well as your meals.
Travel at the right time
It is always best to time your travel when there are not many tourists in the area. One tip that Forbes suggests is to travel at the start of the school year. However, it can be a bit of a problem especially if you have kids.
So, ensure that you plan things, so you will not encounter any issues as soon as the tour draws near. Traveling at times when there are fewer tourists will give you a chance to get better deals.
Identify possible splurges
You need to identify any potential splurges months before you go on a tour. Remember that even the most frugal travelers can still loosen their belts once they see something that they genuinely like.
So, if you still have enough time to save few more, then it is okay to allocate a small portion of your budget on any possible splurges. It can be as simple as having a spa or eating at a fine-dining restaurant.
Identifying all likely splurges ahead of time will give you a better chance of saving enough budget for it so that it will not cause any problem for the rest of your vacation. You should set up different savings for it and slowly build it until you are ready to add it to your primary travel account.
Set up an individual savings account
Ideally, you need to have an individual saving account meant for your vacation fund. You should not mix your travel fund with your other accounts so that you will not be tempted to use any of it. To make it much easier, make it a point to set up an automatic debit regularly so you will not forget to pay it.
Traveling overseas can be expensive. However, you can turn your travel goals into reality if you know how to manage your finances well. Just spend on things that you think are necessary so you can reach your target. You can also come up with other ways to help you save money on your own.
