tRAVELING ON A BUDGET

GUEST BLOGGER: EMMA PARKHURST

​Have you ever scrolled through social media and find yourself admiring pictures and posts of others traveling around the world and wonder to yourself, “how on earth can they afford that?!” I’ll be the first one to admit that this thought used to cross my mind quite frequently. That was until I interrogated a good friend that booked a trip to Oslo, Norway and did so without breaking the bank. Her secrets are now my secrets that I’d like to share with you to become YOUR secrets! Below are some tips I learned from her, as well as others from financial experts:

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1. Keep an Eye Out for Cheap Flights: did you know there are people out there that search for inexpensive flights for a living? That’s how my good friend went to Norway, and how my husband and I are going to Scotland for 2 weeks! Note: beware of scams – financial expert Dave Ramsey recommends confirming everything by phone to avoid expensive surprises.
2. Plan and Book Early: speaking of Dave Ramsey, he also suggests starting on the details and booking process early. Prices are often higher and availability is lower if you try to make reservations right before you leave on your vacation. This can also eliminate a lot of stress related to planning a trip at the last minute.
3. The Step-Down Principle: Utah Money Moms Blog editor, Amanda Christensen, has a great strategy to save now for future getaways – the Step-Down Principle. Imagine you’re standing on a staircase and envision where you are on your day-to-day spending. Think of ways you can step down a step or two to avoid overspending and enable you to have a bit more money to stash away for your trip. Some examples of when you go out to eat include not ordering drinks or desserts, splitting a meal with a friend or partner, or going out to eat one less time a week. Check out this short clip to learn about Amanda’s 2 other saving tips for getaways.
4. Take Time to Plan: not only will taking time to plan a vacation give you more time to save up money, it will also help you avoid getting carried away by the excitement of a trip. By calming down and planning ahead, you’ll likely avoid paying for things that aren’t necessary.
5. Airbnb and VRBO vs. Hotels: before you decide to book a hotel, try searching for less expensive options like an Airbnb or VRBO. This is one technique my husband and I are using for our trip to Scotland in October. We want to experience Scotland like a local, so we decided to book rentals that happen to be more affordable than the hotels. Note: beware of cleaning fees on these types of rentals and be sure to read the reviews from past guests!