MCC Daily Tribune

Saving for Vacation

By Dawn Kellogg, Public Relations and Community Engagement Specialist for The Summit Federal Credit Union

The school year is coming to an end, and you may be starting to formulate summer travel plans.

Hopefully, you have been able to save up to finance your getaway, but what to do if you haven’t been able to save as much as you would like for your summer vacation?

Set a budget.

It’s so easy to go overboard when you are planning for, or are on, a vacation, but it’s important to live within your means, wherever you are. Create a trip that fits your budget. Pin down the costs of airfare, hotels, and other expenses, and identify potential splurges ahead of time so that you are prepared. There are so many ways to save when you travel, especially on lodging. Options like VRBO, Airbnb, and others give you more choice and flexibility beyond hotel walls.

Divide your projected vacation budget by the number of months you have until your vacation.

Maybe summer travel isn’t your thing, and you prefer to travel off-season. You can realistically break your vacation expenditure down so that you can save what you need. Say you are travelling to California in November and the cost of airfare and hotel with spending money is going to be about $3,000. If there are 6 months between now and when you plan to leave, you can set aside $500 each month to cover the costs of your trip.

Set up a special savings account.

Setting up a special vacation savings account is a great way to plan financially. You can even have money automatically deposited into this account on a weekly or monthly basis.

Cut back on some of your everyday expenses.

It’s tempting to want to go and grab a coffee every morning, or eat out regularly, but lattes and late-night Door Dash deliveries can add up to dollars that can be put toward your vacation. The price of everything seems to be rising these days. Consider using shopping portals or cash-back apps to make the most of your regular budget.

Look for ways to earn more $$ in the run up to your vacation.

This could mean taking a part-time job or grabbing some more hours at a job you currently have. There are so many businesses looking for workers. Now is a great time to take on a fun, part time job and save for that epic vacation!

Happy travels!

Kyle French
Athletics
05/19/2025