Ask Brianna is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college
Q: I want to travel this spring but I don’t have a lot of extra cash. How can I make it happen?
A: Spring Break doesn’t just belong to college folks tired of pulling pre-midterm all-nighters in the library. Everyone needs an excuse to indulge, whether or not you’re in school.
But jetting off for spring break like you might have in college is pricey (and seems exhausting after age 22). I searched the travel comparison website Kayak for weeklong all-inclusive resort vacations in Cancún, Mexico, booked one month in advance. For a trip in late March, the average cost was about $1,600 per person, which included flights, a hotel room and meals.
That is a tonne of money for someone who doesn’t have any extra cash.
Bottom line: You have no “extra cash” if you have no emergency savings. You have no “extra cash” if you’re wondering whether you have enough room on your credit card. But with some planning and forethought, you can have an emergency cushion and a vacation, too.
Try this plan: Do something small, cheap and slightly less extravagant; save a little for emergencies; and then plan a guilt-free trip next year with money that’s actually in your bank account — the very definition of “extra cash.”
PROTECT YOUR FUTURE FIRST
Proactively saving money for emergencies you can’t predict is more important than a big vacation. Find the money by cutting a subscription service you don’t use or getting rid of extras on your cellphone plan you don’t need. You don’t have to sit at home watching HGTV until you have three to six months of expenses saved, though.
Save $500 first, then reward yourself with a meal out. Get to $2,000, and take a day trip somewhere. After that, you’ll be in a better position to spend on things you want simply because you want them. Add up your basic expenses each month, and keep saving until you can cover three months’ worth, then six months.’
TREAT YOURSELF CLOSER TO HOME
While saving up, you’re still allowed to do cool stuff. The trick is to pay for that stuff in cash so you’re not building credit card debt at the same time. Here are some ideas for local escapes:
•A massage or spa service: A one-hour massage costs $73 on average, though prices vary depending on where you live. Search for a massage therapist through the Massage Therapists’ Association of Nova Scotia website.
•A pasta-making class: I found options that cost $35 for a 1.5-hour class, $79 for a two-hour class or $140 per couple for a 2.5-hour class.
•Go on a hike: Spend a day at the closest park to you; pack a lunch and pay only for gas to get there.
Once your emergency fund is up and running consider signing up for a rewards credit card, which can get you cash back to spend, or points for flights or hotel stays when you’re ready to go away. Many come with sign-up bonuses that can subsidize part of a future trip — but make sure to pay off the balance each month to avoid paying interest.
PLAN WAY AHEAD
People who successfully save for vacation do it all year long. Just like you put a specific amount each month toward that emergency fund, and ideally also for retirement, do the same for travel, says Shurdonna Joseph, a certified financial planner in Philadelphia.
Danny Kofke, a special education teacher in the Atlanta area and author of The Wealthy Teacher, generally goes on one big summer trip with his wife and two kids. He saves $1,000 to $1,500 for it in what he calls a travel escrow account over the course of the year.
This strategy requires researching far in advance where you want to go and how much it costs. So try it for the next vacation you take. If that all-inclusive resort sounded appealing, set up an automatic transfer to your savings account for $133 a month, and you’ll have $1,600 for next year. Many online banks let you set up and name several accounts or subaccounts, so make one specifically for “Fun,” “Travel,” or “Seeing the Sun Again.” You might even save more than you thought you could.
