With spring break coming up, people all over the nation are trying to scrape together enough money to go on a trip as the winter ends. Many people will head somewhere tropical like Florida or even somewhere out of the country like Cancun or the Bahamas; some people take a trip ‘across the pond’ to Europe; and some people spend the beginning of spring donating their time to alternative spring breaks. But what is the one thing that all of these trips have in common?
You need to start saving now!
Luckily, there are some things that you can do now that will save you money in the near future. For example—
Have a plan
By having a plan going in, you can save a lot of money. Are you going to need a hotel room? Are you flying? Renting a car? How many beds will you need for you and your friends? If you start planning now, flight prices are much lower—and sometimes, on websites like Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, you can “bundle” a hotel and flight, saving you money on both.
Know what your money is worth. In Mexico, the Peso is worth less than the Dollar.
But elsewhere, not knowing the conversion rate could really hurt your bottom line.
Know what your money is worth
This is two-fold. If you’re staying in the States, knowing what your money is worth can be as simple as making sure not to indulge in a $20 cocktail—especially when you could buy all of the necessary ingredients to make said cocktail for much less. But if you’re going overseas, this means you literally need to know what your money is worth by being aware of conversion rates. If you’re headed south to Mexico, you’re in good shape, as the American dollar is worth more than the peso; however, you lose money on the conversion rates in Europe. Be aware of this and plan accordingly.
Alert your bank that you’re leaving town
You might know where you’re going months in advance, but the bank doesn’t know your plans. One easy way to find yourself in an unfamiliar town with no money and no hope of getting any is to use your debit or credit card when you’re out of town without telling your bank first. Often, banks have automatic alerts that show ‘suspicious use’ on debit and credit cards—and if they don’t know you’re supposed to be in Panama City, they’ll shut down access to your account.
Share
I know, we all learned this principle in kindergarten, but over spring break it’s more applicable than ever. By sharing a car, you can split gas prices—the more passengers you have, the smaller the amount you have to pay. In fact, if one of your friends drives a gas-efficient car like a Prius, you can cut gas prices even more by taking their car—a sure-fire way to cut costs (and stress). By sharing a hotel room, you can also split that cost. But perhaps the least obvious (and easiest) way to share is to share dinner. Most restaurants serve portions that are more than big enough for two people; by sharing a meal, you leave a little extra money for dessert.
Bon voyage, and have a good spring break!
