Planning and Budgeting for Your Next Trip

I have always been big on travel. Robert can attest that travel is my love language. You can see how my love for it started here. Even beyond those annual trips to the beach, I have always looked for ways to get out and see the world. When I was younger, and my parents paid my expenses, I didn't have to think too far ahead. But as an adult, planning ahead is the only way it can work. So how do real people in the real world make it work? Just like with everything: planning, discipline, and focus. That doesn't sound too much like vacation, I know, but it does guarantee smooth sailing for that next adventure.

For example, before our Europe 2022 trip, we started saving 18 months in advance. And thanks to Covid, we pretty much just remained focused on that goal since there weren't many travel options. Our goal for Europe 2022 was to also save enough money to pay the trip AND for the daily expenses during the trip.

Another thing we did to prepare for that trip was we opened a Chase Sapphire card. The travel points are fabulous. All expenses for the trip went on that card. Money for the trip was tucked away in savings, so no balance carry-over happened but a tone of travel points were earned! (I am constantly trying to figure out the best way to use our points.) Today, we use that card for most all family expenses in order to continue growing those travel point balances.

For this next year, however, I have some big plans. The biggest challenge is figuring out how to get everyone together for travel. For the most part, since the kids aren't otherwise occupied with their own families yet, I want to include them in our travel plans. For Campbell, time is quickly approaching where he won't be able to take multiple vacations because he will be a college graduate and have a job with actual vacation time allotted. Then Elaine has told us over break that she wants to study abroad this summer. (Yay!) So balancing money, availability, and timing is hard stuff. This year will not be any different.

Since our big Europe trip of 2022, we have not really traveled at all. We traveled with the Bauers to the mountains during Fall Break, and have had a few weekend trips in KY, so spending has slowed down considerably. Now, in this new year, I am ready to go again.

Over this past week, Robert and I sat down to plan for the next year in December. We still have a travel fun account that we use to save money for travel expenses only. Some times we are consistent with adding to it. Other times, it sits dormant for a while. So for this year, we are looking for trips that suit our wants and fit into our budget.

Here are some things I am working on for just my family.

1. Girls Trip for my 50th birthday! Maybe a long weekend at the beach or a spa resort.

2. Family trip for Christmas. I always want to see places at Christmas. On the list is France, London, or the Florida Keys. (I will write my post about New York City at Christmas at some point.)

3. If Elaine were to go abroad, I might need to visit. Mother/Son trip in the making? Maybe.

4. On the horizon beyond this year, 5 year anniversary trip!

So what do these possibilities mean? It means I am planning. I am taking notes. I am investigating costs. I am tracking flights.

Did you know the second week of January is notorious for dropping prices for travel? Hotels in cold climates offer discounts and airfare is cheaper. I have my destinations in mind to check airfare again during that week.

What's on the horizon for my clients?

1. Iceland!

2. Washington D.C.!

3. Denver!

4. Beaches!

I would love to add your destination to the list. Contact me today! If you haven't subscribed to my page, you can do that below.