Don’t Pack the Stress: 9 Tips for Saving Money on a Summer Vacation

Nonprofit credit counseling agency helps families curb expenses
during the high-cost travel season

PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–It’s that time of year when Americans pack their bags, beckoned
by the beach, the mountains or a visit with loved ones. And while summer
is the most popular time to travel, relatively few people abide by a
budget and proactively seek out money-saving options.

“Summer is the time to relax and have fun, but it’s hard to enjoy
yourself when money concerns are nagging you,” said Mike Sullivan,
spokesperson for Take Charge America, a national
nonprofit credit counseling and debt management agency
.
“Fortunately, there are countless ways to save money and still have the
time of your life.”

Sullivan offers consumers nine tips for vacationing on a budget:

  1. Establish a vacation fund: Don’t rob your emergency savings for
    a trip. You’ll regret it when the unexpected occurs, and potentially
    fall further into debt. Do consider setting up a separate savings
    account just for vacations if you have the budget to accommodate it.
  2. Sell your stuff: If you’ve been meaning to sell that barely
    used treadmill or guitar, now’s the time. Earmark that cash for your
    vacation fund.
  3. Pack two in one: If you’re unsure where you want to go,
    consider starting your vacation in a jump-off city with access to two
    destinations. For example, travel to San Francisco and take a day trip
    to wine country.
  4. Scour group deal sites: Once you’ve selected your destination,
    sign up for Groupon, Living Social, and other deal sites within that
    geography to save on meals and activities.
  5. Be flexible: Most people travel on Fridays and Saturdays, but
    you can snag cheaper flights and hotel rates on weekdays.
  6. Fly cheap: You can also save money by choosing a regional
    airport. It may require extra time to drive to your final destination,
    but it could save significant dollars.
  7. Be smart with room and board: By-owner rentals and sites like
    Airbnb may offer cheaper rates than hotels. Moreover, renting a home
    gives you access to a kitchen where you can cook your meals and save
    money on dining. If you must stay in a hotel, pick one that offers
    complimentary breakfast or includes a kitchenette for preparing meals.
  8. Skip the car rental: Unless you really need a car, use Uber or
    an hourly rental service to get around – especially if you’re staying
    in a hotel with a daily parking fee or are traveling to a city with a
    good mass transit system.
  9. Dine out for lunch: Even the most frugal vacationers like to
    eat out every once in a while. Dine out for lunch instead of dinner to
    save money. You’re also less likely to splurge on expensive cocktails
    and wine.

For more financial tips, visit Take
Charge America
.

About Take Charge America, Inc.

Founded in 1987, Take Charge America, Inc. is a nonprofit agency
offering financial education and counseling services, including credit
counseling, debt management, student loan counseling, housing counseling
and bankruptcy counseling. It has helped more than 1.6 million consumers
nationwide manage their personal finances and debts. To learn more,
visit www.takechargeamerica.org
or call (888) 822-9193.

Contacts

Aker Ink
Andrea Aker, 602-339-7339
andrea.aker@akerink.com

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