1. Set a Budget

The easiest way to approach planning a trip is to set a budget from the very beginning. Travel expenses can add up very quickly. Before you know it, you’re spending thousands of dollars on immediate you don’t actually need and won’t even use. Planning with a budget in mind, from the beginning, will help guide you through the process and keep you on track.

Regardless of your travel destination, it’s important to identify your priorities. Do you want to stay at a luxury hotel? Will you need transportation? How much will you spend on food? Do you plan on shopping? Make a list of what are the most important things that you NEED on your vacation. Once you budget out your top picks, then you can find ways to save money on your less important necessities while you travel. If you’re unsure about what to prioritize then here are our top 3 tips to look for: location, quality, and accessibility!

Vacations are expensive. So it’s time to limit your spending at least 4 months before you plan on traveling. Find different ways to cut spending and limit your expenses. That might include canceling subscriptions and shopping online a lot less. This tip isn’t as fun, but it is important if you need to save money.

If you can’t limit your shopping habits then use Chirpyest. With Chirpyest, you can earn up to 30% cash back from over 1000 of your favorite brands. That cash back will accumulate over the months of shopping. You can use your cash back and put it towards your vacation. That’s hundreds to thousands of dollars (depending on the amount you shop) that can be used for yourself while you’re living your best life on vacay.

Saving up for a trip can be overwhelming. It’s important to add to your savings when you can. No matter how big or small the amount it adds up over time. And try not to take money out of the account. It will get tempting at times because your trip is months away, but once you start it will be harder to stop.

Another pro travel tip is to open a new credit card for when they travel. Tourists are at a high risk of getting robbed (depending on where you go) so having a card that can freeze when needed will be beneficial. Your personal funds can’t be accessed and the card can easily be replaced.

Traveling at the end of the summer is less crowded, which means more time to spend at popular attractions. Take the time to plan a trip. It can be a weekend getaway or a two-week escape because of the fall season. Summer goes by way too quickly for you not to take some extra time for yourself.