We all want to go on vacation, but how often have you said out loud that you just don’t have the money? Well, instead of moping about your lack of cash, why not make it happen? Additionally, these holiday saving tips will hopefully help people find a way to save money effectively, which will then go towards their dream holiday.
- Set up an online bank account specifically for your next vacation. A great example of this is ING Direct. You can have money withdrawn every week or every month and it will automatically get deposited into your ING savings account. When the time comes to make a payment toward your vacation, simply make a transfer into your checking account and make your payment. If you’ve found your dream holiday but still can’t afford the cost, there are other options, such as getting a loan. There are lots of different types of loans such as these Zebra payday loans, so do your research and try and find the best loan for your needs.
- Cut back on dining out a few times a week. That includes buying a coffee and bagel on the way to work or lunch at the drive thru. If you save $10 a day, that’s $40 a month or $480 a year just by not buying a breakfast or lunch at work.
- Cut down on the Starbucks habit. Yes, it’s true that most of us have the habit, but when one beverage costs about $5 a pop, that habit is expensive and can cost far more when you look at what you spend a week, month, or year. We bought a Keurig coffee maker and although the initial cost was way more than a regular coffee maker, the amount of money we now save by making our own coffee and tea is remarkable. We even took the time to research our coffee habits and find out how much caffeine we were consuming via sites like https://greatcoffeebrewers.com/how-much-caffeine-is-in-a-cup-of-coffee/, and it really helped us to find the best coffee for us at the most affordable price.
- Cut coupons! Yes, I said coupons. Most people are phobic of coupons and think that it says something about them if they use it. Yes, it says that you are smart. By using coupons and sites like The Grocery Game, you will find more money in your pocket, which will translate to more vacations.
- Sell all the extra stuff piling up around your house. Take your clothes to a consignment store or sell them on Ebay. Take that money and put it aside for your next vacation. If you don’t want to be bothered selling the items, bring them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army and get a receipt for your tax deductible donation.
- Pick up a part-time job. Doesn’t sound glamorous or fun, but you can take all of the money you earn from your part-time job and deposit it in an account for travel. With the holiday season upon us, consider a holiday or seasonal job for a few extra bucks.
- Participate in focus groups. If you live in a metropolitan area, you might have heard of these. If not, focus groups are conducted by market research companies who will pay you for your opinion. You sit in on a group about a specific topic and at the end you are rewarded with cash. Nice!
- Participate in medical research. Definitely not for everyone, but if you are near a teaching hospital, most will have flyers up regarding their need for research subjects. Some are non-invasive, such as studies where you are asked questions or asked to complete a test on a computer while others are medically invasive, such as vaccine studies, drug trials, or exams.
Although not an all-inclusive list, this is a great starting point to help you take that vacation you deserve. Stop making excuses and with a little effort, you can go on that dream vacation you have always wanted!
