
If you are focused on paying off the debt that you have accrued in years gone by, it is easy to think that you can?t spend even a single dollar on everything else. While getting out of debt is a great goal, you have to continue living at the same time. That means striking a nice balance between paying off your debt and saving up money for fun times with family and friends. Of course, one of the best ways to have some fun is to take a hard-earned vacation.
At this point, you are probably thinking that a vacation is a luxury you can?t afford at this time. You have been working hard to pay down debt, and a vacation would only serve to reverse the progress. However, there is a way to accomplish both goals at the same time. If you are smart in your planning, you can keep paying off debt while simultaneously going on a fun vacation. In fact, you might even be able to use travel as motivation to be careful with your money.
Stay Close to Home
It is the travel expense that leads to many vacations costing thousands of dollars. If you decide to vacation several states away from home, you will likely need to purchase costly airline tickets ? or at least put many gallons of gas into your car. By staying closer to home, you can greatly reduce that travel cost while still getting away from the daily grind.
Fortunately, there is a great chance that you will be able to find a suitable destination for a vacation within just a short drive of your house. You can check out Expedia for great rates?for places close to home that will save you money on your trip.
Mid-Week Travel
The lodging rates that you will find at hotels and other resorts tend to be dramatically lower during the week than they are on the weekends. If it is possible with your schedule, try to plan your trip during the middle of the week to cut down your overall cost for the trip. Another way to achieve the same effect is to travel during off times of year.
If you are willing to go when the weather might not be as nice, for example, you could get a great deal while still having fun. Again, you can use Expedia?to find hotels that have lower mid-week rates.
Affordable Activities
One of the most important elements of planning a vacation from a budget standpoint is making sure that your activities are going to be affordable. Taking a trip to a theme park, for instance, is not a good idea as the tickets alone will take a huge bite out of your budget.
On the other hand, going to ?natural? destinations like parks, beaches, trails, and more, will keep things under control financially. In the end, you might decide to have a blend of natural activities and more ?touristy? experiences to wind up with a well-rounded vacation that is fun for everyone. You would hate to get out on a vacation only to find that you can?t really afford to take part in many of the activities that are being offered in the area, so do your research in advance and come up with a detailed itinerary that is both enjoyable and budget-friendly.
Are you planning to travel while still paying off debt? How will you save on your vacation?
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