So it’s time to book for that holiday you always wanted but you’re unsure how to manage your finances for it. This is the perfect opportunity to start saving some money on the side so you can pay for the trip, not to mention all the expenses you would spend, whether it’s shopping, accommodation, dining out, and many other possible things you can spend your money on.
It’s essential to have all the money you need for this trip to happen and go smoothly, so take a look below at some of the smart ways to save some cash to fund your holiday.
Set a budget first
Before you start saving, you should think about how much money are you willing to spend and how much the airfare and hotel would cost. Write down everything to get a better view of your possible expenses on the trip, and you should take into consideration any gifts or souvenirs that you might bring back with you. If your holiday is in 3 months, try your best not to spend anything on any luxuries. It’s best if you save that to the luxuries there on the trip, and would be totally worth it.
Start recycling
Believe it or not, some platforms offer excellent programs for recycling and reusing old electronics. So you can get all your old phones, stereos, CD players, anything that you don’t use and give them away to these places. You won’t exactly get money out of doing this, but you will get cool gift cards and discount coupons that you can use in many different places. Whether it’s for clothes, food, or any other thing you used to spend money on usually. So now you saved money by not paying full price for stuff, and you helped save the environment, so it’s a win-win situation.
Be smart with gifts
During that three or four month waiting period for that holiday, you will probably pass by different birthdays and special occasions that could require you to buy a gift for someone. One idea is to give a standard gift and buy the same thing for everyone. For example, everyone loves sunglasses, so you can invest in a sunglass wholesale deal where you get multiple ones for a cheaper price. It would be much more convenient than getting them individually, and you saved money doing so when it comes to buying gifts for your loved ones. So people won’t feel bad if you didn’t get them anything because you got them covered with some sweet shades; you can have different ones with various colors and designs that suit everyone’s style.
Show love and appreciation without paying
There are ways where you could give people gifts without paying for anything; you can offer them services based on your expertise or what they want. You might offer to help clean their garage or basement; you could offer to babysit their kids or walk their dogs. And if you’re good with fixing things, then you could offer to fix anything from door knobs to kitchen cabinets. Showing that you care doesn’t have to cost you a dime; your friends and family would still appreciate your effort and help. If you think about it, this priceless gift will be one to remember because you actually exerted effort in making their life a little easier.
Utilize your credit card reward points
If you have a good history with your credit card payments; then you should have racked up a decent amount of reward points. These points aren’t great for cash rewards, but they are perfect for discount coupons. You can use it for anything you need; check which places your credit card can give you coupons for, and then use it to buy what you want. So you didn’t hold back on the shopping, and you’ve saved money because you bought stuff at a much lower price. So call up your bank’s customer service hotline, and see if you can redeem your points for gift or discount coupons. And remember that it doesn’t have to be all in one place.
Sell your old clothes
This is the perfect opportunity to make some extra money if you’re lucky. Find anything in your home or closet that you don’t use and can live without, whether it’s old clothes, shoes, hats, anything that doesn’t fit anymore, there will be someone out there that could need it more than you do. See if online can be your best ticket to sell them; it’s the best place where thousands can browse your stuff, there should be someone interested eventually. If online platforms were a bust, you could try some local thrift shops where they can take on your old stuff. It might not be much, but it’s better than nothing, and you’d get some extra cash for your trip later.
Hold back on everything except the essentials
This requires a lot of will and determination because it’s extremely difficult not to spend on stuff for one month, let alone three or four months! But you need to ask yourself, how badly do you need that vacation? Are you willing to do the necessary, saving spree to enjoy yourself later? If your answer is yes, then it’s time to go cold turkey and stop spending on everything. The only things you should be spending money on would be your food, drinks, rent, and public transportation. Try to fight the urge and don’t buy anything you don’t need; just think of how awesome it would be enjoying the warm sandy beaches with those coconut cocktail cups with little straw hats!
Holidays can be the best time for you to relax and leave all your worries behind, but sometimes they can get very expensive as well. That’s why you need to be smart with your finances when your time off is just around the corner; try your best to hold back on indulging yourself until you get there. Soon you will be sipping cocktails on the beach with your feet on the sand and a good book in your hand overlooking the amazing view.
