Well, summer is here, and now everyone who complained about the cold in January and February can begin to complain about the heat. In the Jersey/Hoboken area, that means you may be making plans for a vacation away from the heat retaining concrete of the city.
Now that you know where you want to go, the main questions are: 1. How are you going to get there? (Are you going to fly or drive?) 2. Where will you stay? And, 3. How are you going to pay for it?
Flying is expensive and getting more so every day. However the cost of gas is rising, also. The variables that go into this decision are numerous, and range from the number of people in your party to the question of transportation once you get to your location. If only one or two people are traveling, it may be a close call whether to drive or fly and then rent a car once you get there. If you have several children, however, the flying costs increase exponentially. You also need more “stuff” when traveling with kids, so driving seems the better option.
Most people who travel stay in a hotel/motel establishment. You can find some creative alternatives, however. There are some websites, such as Airbnb, or VRBO, through which you can rent a house for your stay. This gives you other money saving options, like cooking some of your meals. Other people have access to time-share housing. Of course there is always the camping out option.
Paying for a vacation can be a headache, especially if you haven’t planned carefully. Some people save all year for a vacation. There are several ways to do this. You can start a fund into which you put extra little windfalls, like the money you receive as a bonus at work, or the receipts from something you sell on one of the sites out there. Some people start throwing any change they have in a jar or a box, and let that build up. You could start a fund that fines family members for infractions, say, a dime for swearing, or leaving clothes on the floor. The possibilities are endless!
What are your vacation plans this year?
Edward