| Planning a family vacation takes work. Knowing what | | | | camping trailer. |
| kind of budget you have to work with makes this job | | | | If you are leaving your pet at home then try to find just |
| easier. | | | | one person or family to care for your pet, your home, |
| If you plan for each of the following budget categories | | | | your yard, etc. |
| you should avoid unexpected financial surprises on | | | | Home Care |
| your trip. | | | | Unless you can rely on a neighbor, a friend, or a |
| Lodging | | | | relative to check on your home and make sure your |
| This category has a lot of room for flexibility. You can | | | | yard is cared for and everything is safe and secure |
| stay anywhere from a spare bedroom at a friend's or | | | | you may need to hire someone to do this task. Young, |
| relatives home, to a tent, to a low or high budget hotel, | | | | single people are great for this job as their lives are |
| to a five star resort. | | | | usually flexible. Ask around to see if someone you |
| Unless your accommodations are the main part of | | | | know can recommend someone for this job. |
| your trip, i.e. a cruise, avoid making this a large part of | | | | A possible way to save money if you live near a |
| your travel expenses. Be sure to budget for the nights | | | | college or university is to plan your trip just before the |
| you may stay overnight while you are traveling to your | | | | semester begins or ends. There may be student who |
| destination. | | | | has to arrive early or stay late due to transportation or |
| Transportation | | | | job issues and they would gladly watch your home, |
| This category may be dictated by your destination. | | | | possibly for free, to avoid the expense of staying in a |
| You cannot drive across the entire country during a | | | | hotel. If you find a possibility be sure to check them out, |
| one week vacation nor can you take a bus from the | | | | including checking references, and interview them |
| United States to France. | | | | before you give them the keys to your home. |
| But there are several transportation choices to choose | | | | Gifts for Friends, Relatives, and People Who Host You |
| from and some of them, like a train or a cruise ship | | | | in Their Homes |
| can make the travel time an adventure by itself and | | | | These are common expenses, but are completely |
| can add fun and excitement to your trip while not | | | | optional. It is nice to give a gift in these situations, |
| stretching your budget. | | | | especially if you haven't seen the person in a while, but |
| Food | | | | if money is tight either skip the gift and write a nice |
| If you are on a limited budget you can plan to cook | | | | card instead or take several pictures of you and the |
| some of your meals in your hotel room. You can also | | | | person(s) together. When you get home make a print |
| pack your own snacks and take advantage of the | | | | of one or several pictures, purchase a nice frame for |
| continental breakfast if your hotel offers one. | | | | them and then mail it with a note thanking them for |
| If you are visiting a region that is known for a certain | | | | your visit. |
| kind of food be sure to budget for enough money to | | | | If you purchase gifts before you depart on your trip be |
| enjoy the local cuisine. | | | | sure to allow room in your luggage and your vehicle to |
| Entertainment | | | | transport them. |
| This may be the category that your trip revolves | | | | Spending Money & Souvenirs |
| around. If your reason for visiting Southern California is | | | | This expense can be a huge budget buster if you |
| to take in one or more of that area's many theme | | | | aren't careful. To cut down on some of your spending |
| parks then add that expense to your budget. | | | | money expense purchase snacks and drinks to keep |
| You may want to balance the major expense with | | | | in a small cooler in your car and your hotel room. This |
| several other low cost or free activities like visiting the | | | | will help you to avoid expensive convenience store |
| Tide Pools and Point Loma in San Diego or spending a | | | | and vending machine expenses. |
| day at the beach. | | | | Emergency Fund |
| Many museums offer free days. Do some research to | | | | This doesn't have to be an actual cash amount, but it is |
| see if you can find this offer in the area where you will | | | | a good idea to have at least some funds available on |
| be vacationing. | | | | a credit card just in case. You never know when you |
| Tipping | | | | may have an unexpected medical expense or need to |
| Just about every service you receive on your trip will | | | | pay for a car repair. |
| expect some kind of tip. You can avoid some of these | | | | While you can't necessarily compare prices in an |
| by not using valet parking and using a luggage cart to | | | | actual emergency, having extra funds available will |
| transport your luggage at the airport and your hotel. | | | | prevent you from reaching into your already planned |
| I know that most service employees rely on their tips | | | | expenses if necessary. |
| for their wage, but if you find yourself short of funds | | | | Insurance |
| toward the end of your trip due to miscalculating your | | | | Make sure that you car insurance is adequate and that |
| expenses or an unexpected emergency expense, | | | | it is good where you will be traveling. You may also |
| tipping is one area where you can cut back. | | | | consider purchasing travel insurance to cover |
| Avoid incurring this expense if possible, but if | | | | unexpected emergencies and a medical insurance |
| necessary do what you can and offer a sincere thank | | | | policy if you are traveling out of the country. |
| you along with the tip. | | | | Research rate quotes for these kinds of insurances to |
| Pet Care | | | | get the best coverage for the lowest rates. |
| If you are a pet owner you will either need to plan for | | | | Take some time to consider how you will spend your |
| pet expenses on your trip or plan to have your animal | | | | travel budget before you leave home and you will be |
| cared for while you are away. One way to save | | | | able to avoid unnecessary expenses and get the best |
| money on this expense is to choose lodging options | | | | prices on everything you do. |
| where pets are easily accommodated like a tent or a | | | | |