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How to Budget for Your
Future Travel Plans
Special to The
Truth
Your budget may not have allowed
you to take the vacation you wanted in the past, but don’t
let the same reason hinder your wanderlust indefinitely. A
few changes to your routine can help you reach your vacation
goal.
Here are a few quick tips to
consider:
• Contribute to a vacation
savings account: Big travel purchases, like airfare and
hotel accommodations, are hefty withdrawals if you don’t set
aside money specifically for a vacation. Earmark a portion
of each paycheck to send straight to a dedicated vacation
savings account. Once it’s there, don’t touch it until it’s
time to pay for your trip.
• Create a budget: A budget is
the only way to track your spending and ensure you have more
coming in than going out. Make your budgeting as seamless as
possible with Casio’s new CLASSWIZ fx-991EX scientific
calculator. Typically a function reserved for graphing
calculators, the fx-991EX features a high-resolution screen
and a basic spreadsheet function that enables users to
create spreadsheets of up to five columns and 45 rows for a
maximum of 170 data items for all their expenses.
• Budget your time: Before
making any travel plans, check your job’s vacation policy so
you can budget your days off from work accordingly. If you
don’t get paid time off from work, the pay cut is also an
important item to consider in your financial budget.
• Temporarily skip extras: Which
of your daily expenses are necessary and which are optional?
Consider packing your lunch for a month or using the company
coffeemaker instead of indulging in a daily latte at the
café around the block. At the end of the month, calculate
the savings and “pay yourself” by directing this money to
your vacation fund.
• Consider coupons: Vacation
packages found on daily deal sites can be just the ticket
you need to get the vacation you want for less. Other travel
sites often offer special rates if you bundle purchases.
Investigate these options before resigning yourself to an
expensive a la carte plan.
• Be on time: A missed flight or
train could cost you a pretty penny you did not account for
when drawing up your vacation budget. Invest in a watch that
will help you stay true to your itinerary, such as Casio’s
line of EDIFICE timepieces. These watches automatically
adjust to the time zone and come with daily alarm settings
and countdown timer settings.
You don’t need to defer your
vacation again this year. A few tips can keep you on track
for a memorable vacation.
Courtesy StatePoint
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