Vacation season is upon us and it can be tempting to pull out the plastic. To enjoy a vacation that you are not paying for when the next vacation season rolls around, consider a plan that costs $1,000 or less and pay cash. You will no doubt enjoy your vacation more knowing that you will return home with only your memories and without credit card bills.
To save $1,000.00 in six months or three months you will need to save about $167.00 or $333.00 each month, respectively. If you are barely making ends meet savings $1,000.00 may seem impossible. It doesn't have to be; you can make it happen with a plan.
Start with your budget.
Write down all sources of income and every expense. You may be able to cut back on or eliminate spending outside of fixed expenses. For example, assuming you spend $2.00 each day on coffee you will save $40 each month if you bring it from home or about $120 if you bring your lunch to work each day.
Other suggestions for cutting back include
? Extra cable or telephone service
? Health club memberships
? Rent rather than buy movies or go to the theater
? Rent cd's from the library rather than buy them
? Invite friends over for a potluck meal instead of going out to dinner
? Consider a roommate if space allows
? Carpool to save on gas
? Wash your car instead of paying someone else to do it
You can also save money by cutting back on your food budget. The Sunday paper offers an average of $225.00 in savings coupons each week. Plan your weekly menus according to what is on sale and in season.
Dry cleaning bills may also be a source for savings. Consider a home dry cleaning kit or choose machine washable items while on your savings plan.
Make a plan
If you have reviewed your monthly budget are unable to find the needed $167 or $333 you can look for ways to bring in additional income. Ideas include:
? Garage sales
? Second jobs
? Online selling (eBay)
? Flea markets (either to sell your valuables or to buy items for resale on ebay)
Take inventory of your talents
? Do you have a marketable talent? (catering, organizing, landscaping, decorating)
? Do you have a skill that others will pay you to teach? (guitar lessons, cooking)
If you are planning a family vacation get the family involved. A family meeting is a great time to discuss vacation plans, including the budget. Children may earn spending money for vacation by performing small jobs for neighbors, or they may choose to save a small percentage of their allowance. The idea is to have a great time without maxing the plastic or spending too much money. Open a vacation savings account at a local credit union near by. Credit unions typically pay higher dividends. A directory of credit unions can be found at creditunionrate.com
Nicole Soltau is the President and Founder of creditunionrate.com - the leading Credit Union Directory - search, find, join...
car service from Midway Burlington .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWhether an established conglomerate or a fledgling company, a business... Read More
We talked recently about the wealth formula:Spend less than you... Read More
Is it hard to get rich? If you're young, not... Read More
Masters degree not required...just a little common sense, a $5.00... Read More
Key 1 Pay your self firstkey 2 Saving is not... Read More
Many people assume that the offshore world is accessible only... Read More
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6... Read More
How Much Money Will I Need to Earn to Retire?This... Read More
Loose change that is, if you want a easy way... Read More
To lose weight in the 80's, we went on low-calorie... Read More
Why not run a lucrative paper business? Paper businesses do... Read More
A surprising number of readers want to know "Can a... Read More
This is a true story about a homeless man from... Read More
"If you know how to spend less than you get,... Read More
"Any fool can rich, the wise get wealthy." Chris WidenerGetting... Read More
There is perhaps no more important decision than to take... Read More
What if I told you that reading a book would... Read More
"Money Doesn't Grow On Trees."Some of us even believe it.... Read More
The word 'diversity' is a unique one. It can represent... Read More
There are many wealth creation strategies and investment techniques available... Read More
Perhaps the primary message of Rich Dad, Poor Dad is... Read More
Not Enough Money?I believe that most people haven't got enough... Read More
If you don't have discipline then walk away from the... Read More
There is no questioning that the amount of unclaimed money... Read More
"Join our program and retire in 3 months..." yeah, right.We... Read More
Granger limo Chicago ..For most of us, the idea of retiring simply on... Read More
You have probably heard other people say that "Money isn't... Read More
This new way is catching on around the world. People... Read More
Do you like so many others feel, that even if... Read More
Imagine being able to steal untold millions of dollars in... Read More
We talked recently about the wealth formula:Spend less than you... Read More
In theory the idea of generating additional (and passive) business... Read More
Everyone dreams of early retirement. The idea of no longer... Read More
There are plenty of people who are in love with... Read More
Are you setting the right money goals?Most people believe having... Read More
Many people don't realize how much money they spend on... Read More
"It's the business of your life?and you're the CEO!" Gala... Read More
Financial freedom is the power to do what you will... Read More
Articles on 'How to make money' come a dime-a-dozen. How... Read More
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6... Read More
Feng shui coins can allow you, among other things, to... Read More
There is no questioning that the amount of unclaimed money... Read More
If you're wondering where to create passive income, then you... Read More
Have you stopped to realize that although you go... Read More
The cashflow board games, Cashflow 101, Cashflow 202, and Cashflow... Read More
While you need to have a lot of positive-thought and... Read More
Do you have financial problems? Then a budget is the... Read More
Have you seen a picture of the Parthenon in Athens,... Read More
It is sometimes pitful how many projects are never born... Read More
"Ooooooh," you may say, "I could NEVER be good at... Read More
Wealth Building |