Kat’s Money Corner: Spring break prep
For New Year’s, we’re all supposed to set a resolution (or two), but in my experience, it’s much easier to makes these promises and much harder to keep them. The trick, or so I’ve been told, is to make sure your resolution is within reach. With that in mind, I’m focusing on planning for my next vacation and sharing my tips for budgeting for spring beak.
Spring in Your Step
Start thinking about what the spring will bring and set your financial expectations before you book any rooms or plane tickets. A week on the beach may sound ideal but a road trip to a neighboring city or state may be more manageable for you and your family. http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/missouri/kansas-city-missouri/3-weekend-getaways-near-kansas-city/
Ask friends and co-workers for travel suggestions. You never know, a co-worker may have a family cabin in the woods they’d be willing to open up to you for a few days. Or, maybe you can share a hotel room with friends to cut down on costs. The experienced travelers in your life can also provide some clever travel tips for locations they’ve visited in the past and help you avoid expensive tourist traps.
Go Big (and go on a vacation!)
Once you have a general idea of where you want to go and what it might cost, start brainstorming what you and your family are willing to do to save for this trip. Some ideas to consider are hitting up the RedBox instead of going to the movie theater and ordering pizza versus an evening out (including babysitting expenses). Come up with a plan that works for you and put the money you’re saving into a separate account. You can track your savings and watch the account grow. http://www.familytravelmagazine.com/saving-money-vacation/#_a5y_p=2360963
At home, try creating a visual goal board that has the goal listed (with pictures) and a thermometer that you fill in as your continue to save. This will help the entire family see how the choices they make financially help everyone achieve travel goals. This is especially helpful if your kids have a special vacation activity in mind, like horse riding or a day on the bunny slopes learning how to snowboard.
Whether the mountains are calling, you need some sand between your toes or you’re ready for adventure somewhere in between, saving up for an journey is as easy as putting away a few dollars a day. Start off the New Year with new habits and before you know it, you’ll be taking in a new view.
I’ll be taking on an adventure of my own soon – a second baby! Jack is so excited about being promoted to big brother next month. While I’m on maternity leave, Savin’ Maven Tina Mapes will be filling in for me. Here’s wishing you a wonderful New Year and happy trails until we meet again.
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Kat Hnatyshyn, when not blogging or caring for her little one, is a manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens.
This story was originally published December 30, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Kat’s Money Corner: Spring break prep."