Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Save money now, enjoy your vacation later

Week's Top AP Photos: Jan. 3, 2013

Carolyn Kaster / AP

A paddle boarder looks out over the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets off Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.

Everyone needs something to look forward to, and what better than a vacation?

Time away can mean different things to different people, of course. For some, it’s sun and sand. For others, train tickets and backpacks. For more still, canoes and tents.

Whatever your idea of a fabulous vacation, it never hurts to start saving. The more pennies you can tuck away, the more dates on your calendar you can star and circle.

Here are a few tips:

Stash your cash

Pick one day each week to look in your wallet. If there’s green in there, thin it out and stash some away. It can be all of your $1 bills, a $20 each time, half of whatever you find, or any other amount you’d like. Put it in an envelope and pretend you never had it.

Once your vacation plans take shape, dive into your secret cash stash and see where you stand. The total might not be enough for airfare, but it could buy a few dinners out on the town.

Create a vacation-only savings account

So many employers offer direct deposit nowadays, it’s easy to divert your paycheck any number of ways. Open a vacation-only savings account and send a little dough its way each week. You’ll be amazed how quickly it grows.

Research your credit cards

A little homework could pay off big. Credit card companies are competitive, which is a good thing for consumers. Apply for a card that offers airline miles or hotel, cruise or resort points.

If you’re disciplined enough to pay the balance, pay a few bills with the card each month. You’ll earn points for things you already buy — that’s called free money.

Definitely read the fine print, though. Many cards with good perks have annual fees and/or high interest rates, so it’s important to know what you’re signing up for.

Sell your stuff

Take an inventory of items you might be able to sell for some easy cash. Make a “sell” pile and plan a garage sale. Take advantage of Craigslist, eBay or similar websites. Facebook also is quite crowded with garage sale groups that sell everything from furniture to handbags to children’s toys.

Make a trade

Look at your weekly budget to see how you’re spending your money. Can you make a trade?

Brew your own coffee instead of buying designer lattes. Visit Redbox or sign up for Netflix instead of seeing new movies. Pack your lunch more often to save eating-out cash.

Then, set the money you saved aside each week for your vacation fund. You’re used to spending it anyway, so you won’t miss it. Just picture beaches while you’re eating your PB&J.

Clear the pantry

When’s the last time you saw the bottom of your freezer or the back of your kitchen cabinet?

Do your best to eat what you have for a week or two. Sure, you’ll have to head to the grocery store for basic staples and produce, but you’d be amazed at how long you can eat on what you already have.

Mash-up meals can save you as much as $100 every few months by minimizing big trips to the grocery store. And who knows? Maybe you’ll stumble on a new favorite recipe.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy