During the summer no one wants to stay inside. To ensure that you will be able to enjoy your summer to the fullest, here are some tips to help plan ahead. These are important to make sure that you are not over spending on credit cards or getting behind on regular monthly bills.
Set a goal: First set a goal for yourself that will allow for summer fun within a budget. Then decide how much you can set aside out of each paycheck and how many weeks this goal will take to achieve. Sometimes this can accomplished without putting aside extra funds, but rather tightening up your current expenses. For example, cutting out one cup of coffee per week or bringing your lunch each day.
If you planning a vacation away from home, it’s important to plan for all of the possible expenses, such as plane fare, hotel costs, food, activities and for the unexpected expenses! Once you know how much you will need, you can set up a savings plan that will work for your budget.
If you are staying home for the summer, look for options that have little to no out of pocket expense, such as visiting a park, a beach or the zoo.
Discounts: Do not be afraid to ask about possible discounts at your destination or events, as you never know what will be available.