How To Take a Weekend Getaway Without Breaking the Bank
Often our lives get so hectic that we realize that we could really use a little time out of our daily routine in order to reboot and reenergize for the coming week. One tried and true method of accomplishing this recharge is the weekend mini-vacation. There are however, many financial drawbacks to these types of vacations, mainly because they are often booked at the last second. Here are a few tips to help reduce the cost of your mental health weekend:
• Check the internet for deals. Simply typing in the destination name on Google or a similar search engine can yield coupons and discounts you would probably have never known about. When you find rates, do not assume that the price quoted is the best deal. Often, booking through the lodging company will result in lower rates because you can see if they will provide a better deal. For example, if you are traveling with multiple people, ask if there is some deal that includes lodging and free breakfast. There are also packages that include other activities as well.
• Travel to off-season locations. Going to the beach at the end of summer rather than smack in the middle can result in much lower prices. Remember to be flexible…the much hyped locations are the most expensive. Take the opportunity to travel somewhere a little more off the beaten path.
• When considering your accommodations, look at the cost of renting a condo in the area for a short time. While the condo may be more expensive on paper, taking the cost of eating out every meal in a hotel versus being able to cook in the condo may make a big difference in the money you spend daily.
• Be conscious of local events in your destination area. If there is a big event going on lodging may automatically be more expensive. If the event holds no interest for you, consider rescheduling to another time.
• Plan with a budget. Look at how much money you will need to spend everyday (including lodging) and add 10% for unexpected expenses. If the total is a figure that you can pay from savings without adding to your debt, then its affordable. If it’s too expensive, consider holding off until you can build enough savings to cover it.
• Getaway weekends are great, but remember, lodging, meals and activities may cost more on the weekend. Turning your weekend retreat into a mid-week mini-vacation can end up saving you some serious money.
• To estimate fuel cost for the trip, check out www.fuelcostcalculator.com or www.costtodrive.com .
• There are often perks involved with being a member of certain “clubs.” For instance, more than 100 museums, zoos and science centers offer free admission on the first weekend of every month to people who have a Bank of America ATM, credit or check card. Check out what you may have to help you hold onto your cash.
• Join a bed and breakfast club. You can end up paying only $10-$20 for a room with breakfast, in the homes of other travelers. In return you offer your spare room to people on the road.
• Pack a cooler. If you drive during a trip this will save you a considerable amount of money.
• Consider traveling to visit family and friends. This will drastically cut down on your daily expenses since relatives generally let you stay for free. Just limit your stay to three days or less.
• Plan for picnic lunch or dinner. Stopping at a grocery store to pick up picnic fare for a family is much cheaper than feeding that same family at a restaurant…and its much more fun! Find a nice spot and dine while you enjoy some local natural beauty.
Ultimately, taking a vacation, however small, is always taxing on finances. But planning smart and saving the money to go beforehand can render your last minute mini-vacation stress free and much more enjoyable for everyone!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mid-Year Financial Check Up
At this point in the year there are a few very simple steps to check that you are progressing along your financial path in a way to achieve and even exceed your expectations.
• If you do not have a financial plan in place, this is a great time to begin! There are many ways planning pays dividends. One thing to remember is that people make moment to moment decisions with their emotional brain, while long term decisions are made with their analytical brain. Some refer to it as the old brain and the new brain. Regardless of what you call it, it is a fact of how we make decisions. Without a plan, we simply move moment to moment, making decisions with our emotional brain. We later justify these decisions with logic in an attempt to convince ourselves that we were acting with our analytical brain. When you establish a financial plan you engage your analytical brain, the one that deals with the future. This brain is logical, linear and uses language. This financial plan is a great way to keep our emotional brains in check, creating accountability. For example, your financial plan calls for saving $2000 a month, but you decide to go on an impromptu vacation that lowers your savings to $500. Without a plan there is no accountability. With a plan, we can look into the mirror and say “Well, I said I wanted to be financially independent and that requires $2000 per month. I saved $500 last month, so I either need to change my plan or hold myself more closely to it.” The feedback loop between your everyday action and the plan is what makes the greatest impact on behavior. Everyone who has wealth or wants to have wealth needs a plan. Sadly, many people believe that plans are only useful for those who have already achieved wealth and this is not the case.
• Review your asset allocation. Determine whether you are comfortable with your risk/return profile.
• If you already have a financial plan, call your planner and communicate with them about any updates or changes that need to be made. Keeping your plan up-to-date and current to your life is a way to ensure accountability.
• Talk to your partner about money. Over 50% of divorce is due to money issues. Find out how your partner thinks about wealth. If you are in a partnership (married or not) that means both partners consistently require that their needs are met to the highest degree possible. That means that you need to come together and communicate about how you each see money and what you individually need. After this meeting of the minds you can then begin the compromise phase and eventually joint goals can be developed. Without this sort of clear and conscious communication, the relationship can become riddled with conflict, resentment and passive aggressive behavior, all of which are destructive not only to your wealth, but your relationship in general.
• Lastly, learn something new. Find an area of wealth that you desire to gain knowledge in. Take a class, read a book, sit in on an online seminar, find a friend who has knowledge to share, spend time researching points of interest on the internet, and so on. Make yourself a more educated buyer and you will take the knowledge gained with you on your life journey.
• If you do not have a financial plan in place, this is a great time to begin! There are many ways planning pays dividends. One thing to remember is that people make moment to moment decisions with their emotional brain, while long term decisions are made with their analytical brain. Some refer to it as the old brain and the new brain. Regardless of what you call it, it is a fact of how we make decisions. Without a plan, we simply move moment to moment, making decisions with our emotional brain. We later justify these decisions with logic in an attempt to convince ourselves that we were acting with our analytical brain. When you establish a financial plan you engage your analytical brain, the one that deals with the future. This brain is logical, linear and uses language. This financial plan is a great way to keep our emotional brains in check, creating accountability. For example, your financial plan calls for saving $2000 a month, but you decide to go on an impromptu vacation that lowers your savings to $500. Without a plan there is no accountability. With a plan, we can look into the mirror and say “Well, I said I wanted to be financially independent and that requires $2000 per month. I saved $500 last month, so I either need to change my plan or hold myself more closely to it.” The feedback loop between your everyday action and the plan is what makes the greatest impact on behavior. Everyone who has wealth or wants to have wealth needs a plan. Sadly, many people believe that plans are only useful for those who have already achieved wealth and this is not the case.
• Review your asset allocation. Determine whether you are comfortable with your risk/return profile.
• If you already have a financial plan, call your planner and communicate with them about any updates or changes that need to be made. Keeping your plan up-to-date and current to your life is a way to ensure accountability.
• Talk to your partner about money. Over 50% of divorce is due to money issues. Find out how your partner thinks about wealth. If you are in a partnership (married or not) that means both partners consistently require that their needs are met to the highest degree possible. That means that you need to come together and communicate about how you each see money and what you individually need. After this meeting of the minds you can then begin the compromise phase and eventually joint goals can be developed. Without this sort of clear and conscious communication, the relationship can become riddled with conflict, resentment and passive aggressive behavior, all of which are destructive not only to your wealth, but your relationship in general.
• Lastly, learn something new. Find an area of wealth that you desire to gain knowledge in. Take a class, read a book, sit in on an online seminar, find a friend who has knowledge to share, spend time researching points of interest on the internet, and so on. Make yourself a more educated buyer and you will take the knowledge gained with you on your life journey.
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