Looking for the best way to save money for a vacation?
Summer vacation might feel like a distant dream, but before you know it, your kids will be out of school and on summer break!
If you’re daydreaming of laying on some remote beach, cutting a few of your expenses now could be a quick and easy way to help you cover the cost of your upcoming getaway.
Putting together a travel budget is stressful enough, but saving up for the vacation can be even more challenging.
That’s why I’ll share the best way to save money for a vacation so you can start dreaming and start saving!
Plus, when you learn these how to save money for vacation tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving without feeling like you are going without.
And, these vacation fund ideas will get those expenses down and that that vacation savings up!
Here are a few expenses to cut to save for summer vacation.
Go On A Spending Freeze
If you are looking for a quick way to add extra money to your vacation fund, what better expense to cut then all of them! It’s one of the best ways to save money for a vacation!
Put a jar somewhere prominent in your home, and every time you would have spent money on an item or for something, put it in the jar. This can be an excellent way for you to save money fast!
BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD
Create A Plan For Your Money
These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money (from the palm of your hand).
It’s these vacation fund ideas that will help you prioritize your spending.
Spending freezes can be as long or as short as you’d like them to be, so start small if the idea of a spending freeze intimidates you.
You could even start looking at your spending habits like your coffee habit!
Cut One Eating Out Meal Out A Week (Or Altogether)
If your family is eating out at least twice a week, you could be averaging $50 or more for each bill!
Assuming your family is eating on the frugal side at $50 each week. By cutting just one meal out per week, you could save $200 to put toward your vacation each month! If you are eating out twice a week, that could be an extra $400 a month!
Do you see how these how to save money for vacation tips can quickly add up? Just think that if you’re saving $400 dollars for one month, that could potentially add up to four $100 night stays at a hotel! Now you have almost saved for a week at the beach!
If you are looking for a quick way to get dinner on the table during these nights, consider checking out this Freezer to Slow Cooker Meal Plan. Use these handy FREE Freezer Meal Label printables to keep those meals organized.
If you keep your meals fun, your family won’t mind eating at home and you’ll be saving your money.
Don’t forget to check the amount you are spending on lunches out each week as well. If you are spending at least $10 per day, you could save another $50 per week. Prep your lunch meals in advance by using my favorite meal prep containers!
Now that’s some great savings and the best way to save money for a vacation!
Potential Savings: $400 per month!
Trim Your Entertainment Budget
You don’t have to live in a big city to enjoy plenty of free or cheap entertainment.
And just because you are trimming this area of your budget, doesn’t mean you have to give up this line item entirely. Trimming it down would allow you to save for your vacation even faster.
Date Night
Instead of spending money on your date nights, get creative, and have a date night at home. The Dating Divas has free or low-cost date night ideas for you to try, and they even include printables for your special night.
Here are over 100 Frugal Date Night Ideas to get you started!
A fancy dinner and a movie with your spouse could easily cost up to $130 or more. Get take out instead and watch a movie at home which could save you at least $80!
Family Night
Instead of going to the movies with your family each week, you can rent Redbox movies instead. Consider using a free code and putting those extra dollars in your vacation fund!
That means, that even if you get takeout pizza and use a free Redbox code, you could save upwards of $85 for a family of four!
Cutting down on your expenses is the best way to save money for a vacation. Plus, when you are still doing the things you love like watching movies with your family, you won’t feel like you are going without!
Find free or cheap events in your area to enjoy, and put the extra money you typically would have spent, toward your vacation. You can find more free entertainment ideas if you just start looking for them.
Potential Savings: $80 date night savings + $85 family movie night savings = $165 in savings!
Of course, this price could be higher if you go to the movies or date nights more than one time per month!
Install A Programmable Thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat will allow you to change the heating and cooling of your home while you’re sleeping or while you’re away.
This might seem like such a tiny thing to do but can pay off down the line. By having better control of your thermostat temperature, you can save a lot of money on your electric bill which equals more savings for your vacation.
Now you can see that this is the best way to save money for a vacation and so easy too!
Did you know that you can save an extra $40 per month on your electric bill? Just follow these tips to lower your wattage consumption!
Potential Savings: $40 per month!
Reduce Or Eliminate Paid Subscriptions Or Memberships
Some subscription services such as Netflix and Hulu will allow you to cancel temporarily, or pause, your membership so you won’t be billed for a few months. At the end of the period, as long as it’s under a year, you can quickly re-sign up and keep all of your favorites right there.
Look at the services you are currently paying for, and ask yourself if you need to keep it.
BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD
Create A Plan For Your Money
These FREE Budgeting Spreadsheets will help you keep a pulse on your money (from the palm of your hand).
You might realize after going a few months without it, that you didn’t need it in the first place.
If you haven’t cut your cable bill yet, see how much it can save you this year! These how to save money for vacation tips are really helpful in seeing what you are spending and what should be cut to save for a vacation!
Potential Savings: Netflix up to $15.99 per month or Hulu up to $60.99 per month!
Cut Out Name Brands
This goes far beyond your grocery budget and extends everywhere from prescriptions to home supplies.
While you’re shopping, look at the generic and store-brand products ingredients list. If they are close, consider getting the generic one instead of the name brand and save a ton of money!
Try it and see if you like it, if you do, then continue to buy it. If you don’t like it, go back to the name brand and wait for a sale when you’re done using it.
Check out how to stretch your food budget for more ways on how to save money on food.
Potential Savings: Up to $500 a year when you compare food prices!
Potential Yearly Savings:
Eating Out: $400 per month = $4,800
Entertainment: $165 per month = $1,980
Programmable Thermostat: $40 per month = $480
Paid Subscriptions: $15.99 per month = $191.88
Name Brand Switch: Up to $500 per year
Total Savings: $7,951.88!!
When it comes to saving up enough money for your vacation, you don’t always have to resort to earning more money.
These expenses can easily be cut from your budget so you can afford that summer getaway without having to take on a second job.
That’s why these tips are the best way to save money for a vacation so you can start dreaming and start saving!
Plus, when you learn these how to save money for vacation tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving without feeling like you are going without.
And, these vacation fund ideas will get those expenses down and that vacation savings up!
YOUR TURN: What is your best way to save money for a vacation? Let me know in the comments below!
