While it’s great to get away for some fun in the sun, it’s important to stick to a budget, even when on vacation. This year, enjoy your vacation with a financial plan that you can actually keep by following these tips…

Rethink your vacation. Everyone needs a time-out from the daily grind, but for those who are struggling just to get through the month and don’t have any money saved up for vacation, it may be a good idea to consider an alternative to a conventional getaway that can provide an escape from real life without the prohibitive price tag. This might include camping, staying with friends, or traveling regionally. 

Review your savings. If you have been steadily saving up for this vacation, you will know how much you have to spend. If you haven’t saved up for this purpose, consider taking out a personal loan through SeaComm and/or saving up for your vacation by trimming your discretionary spending.

Prioritize what’s important to you. Before you begin assigning dollar amounts to every vacation category, identify what is most important to you during your getaway. Would you rather pay more for an exotic location or splurge on fine dining at a vacation destination closer to home? List your priorities in order of most to least important for reference.

Choose your destination wisely. You can look for inexpensive locations or a rental through your Benefits Plus® membership with SeaComm! A Benefits Plus® checking account provides you with a full-suite of travel savings, including discounted hotel stays, condominium rentals, savings on airfare, entertainment and more. Click here for more information, or stop by your local SeaComm branch to upgrade your checking account today.

For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.

Consider miscellaneous expenses. You should now have your remaining budget, along with a list of the remaining vacation priorities you haven’t yet covered. Simply assign a realistic dollar amount to your remaining categories. Make sure to include food, entertainment, gifts and souvenirs, and transportation needs. Factor in some “miscellaneous” money as well for unplanned expenses.

Stick to your budget while on vacation. Now comes the hard part: sticking to a budget while on your getaway. Fortunately, with careful planning and willpower, this is not as difficult as it sounds. Be sure to utilize NetTeller™ and the SeaComm Mobile app to help monitor your spending from the convenience of your computer or mobile device!