Camera, sunscreen, golf clubs, a good book; when it comes to vacation necessities, do not forget to bring along your wise spending habits! They will not take up any room in your suitcase and even better, they might just result in a richer yet less expensive vacation experience. According to experts from the Financial Planning Association in Denver, Colo., making the effort to stretch your vacation dollar may give you more options on your trip to relax while seeing and doing more.
You may even be able to stretch your vacation a little longer than originally planned. All you really need is a nose for finding deals (access to the Internet helps, but is not essential). Here are some tips for uncovering the best deals:
- Hunt online. Sites such as Groupon, Living Social, entertainment.com, halfoffdeals.com and restaurant.com can save you money on meals, activities, services, sightseeing and amusements specific to the area you are visiting, said Amy Hoffman, CFP® at Advisors Financial, Inc., in Falls Church, Va.
- Scour kiosks and displays. Visitor’s bureaus, tourist information centers, even hotels and restaurants, have racks full of discount flyers, coupons and info on special deals.
- Take advantage of the eat-in option. You can run up quite a tab eating out three times a day. So if you are staying in a rental property with a kitchen, or a hotel/motel with an in-room fridge, microwave or kitchenette, make a point of preparing at least some simple meals.
- Pounce on meal deals. Many hotels/motels offer free breakfast. Also look for 2-for-1 and kids-eat-free deals at local restaurants.
- Pick up a discount card from a local grocery store. Whether for meals or just for snacks, buying groceries with a discount card can provide significant savings.
- Use the discount grocery card to buy supplies for a picnic you pack for your day’s destination, whether it is a beach, park, or local attraction.
- Use public transportation instead of renting a car. Vehicle rental and parking can be really pricey, especially in cities and during high vacation season. Check with the transit authority in the area you are staying to see about short-term passes that provide unlimited transit ridership.
- If you are traveling by air, check in early by computer and prepay the baggage fee for the return flight. It can be cheaper that way.
Financial Planning Association (FPA)© 2022