Tips For Trips

"Let's take a trip..."

With the summer fast approaching and warm weather already settling in, it's hard not to think about going on vacation.  Our minds may wander to the comfort of the beach and it's rolling waves, or to the cool breezes on a hiking trip in the mountains.  In any case, our Insiders' minds aren't wandering — they're focused!  Trips present their own set of challenges when it comes to organizing, planning, and money management.  As such, we met up and had a great discussion about what we can do to prepare in the best way possible for a vacation to... well, wherever!

"Don't forget your swimsuit!"

Our Insiders came up with some great advice for anyone when it comes to packing and planning for a trip.  Following these tips will get you ready for that trip out of town.  And of course, being fully prepared means you don't have to spend time going to the store to get items when you could be reclining in the cool shade next to the pool.  Check out what they had to say:

• The earlier you can pack and plan for a trip, the better.  If you're packing at the last moment, there's a good chance that you'll forget something, so plan ahead!
• Consider asking someone else to look over what you've packed.  If you're focusing too much on not forgetting a bathing suit or your toothbrush, someone else may point out that you're missing your sandals for the beach!
• Packing requires some balance — you don't want to pack too much or too little!  One tip was to count the number of days you plan on being gone and then pack for that many days + 1.  So, if you're planning for a three-day trip to the beach, make sure you get enough clothes for four days instead.  This way, you have a backup set of clothes in case something happens.  Note: if you're planning on doing some outdoor activities (going to the beach or hiking), you should pack exclusively for these events.  This should be separate from the clothes you want to wear for dinner or during a trip to the city.
• Save some space in your packing for souvenirs.  People almost always come back from a trip with more than what they left with!
• If you're going to the beach or someplace where you're bound to get dirty, consider keeping a towel in the car for the trip back to where you're staying.  This keeps you from having to clean the vehicle out once everything's said and done.
• Pack some plastic bags (both small sandwich bags and larger grocery bags) for general use.  If your clothes get dirty and you don't have the time to find a place to wash them, you can use a bag in place of a hamper.
• If you have any medications or special needs, always be sure to include these in the plan as well by creating alerts for yourself or having a friend remind you about them.  In all of the excitement that goes with being on vacation, it's easy to forget about these very important matters!

"So now that we're here, what do you want to do?"

Once the packing is all done, there's still some planning left to do.  Here are some general tips for making the trip go as smoothly as possible:

•   Double-check any reservations and make sure to have them printed out on paper.  If any complications occur, things can get sorted out much easier when you can show the staff a copy of your order.
• If your idea of a vacation involves going places and doing stuff, consider making a checklist.  Checklists are good for any venture, but having something planned helps you answer that inevitable question — "What should we do?"
• If your idea of a vacation involves relaxing and not doing anything, still consider making a checklist.  This one isn't for you though, it's for anybody else accompanying you on your trip.  Otherwise, you might find yourself flooded by family members or friends asking that same question — "What should we do?" Note: this is especially important if you have children.
   

 "I have 100 dollars for the trip until Sunday, so can I spend 90 dollars now?"

A vacation can be a getaway for you, but you want to make sure that your money doesn't get away either!  The Insiders had a lot to say about managing money when it comes to going on a trip.  The last thing you want to do is find yourself out of money only halfway through the trip!  Here are some tips to make sure that doesn't happen:

• Budget your money according to your adventure!  Budgeting can seem complicated, but it feels good to know where your money’s going, and having control over your money encourages responsibility.
• Think of the word “budget” as a synonym for “separation,” because that’s what you’re doing when you create a budget, you separate your money and see where it’s all going.  Consider creating a spreadsheet just for your trip and take a look at how much money you have and how much you'll need for everything.  You can take this a step further and get cash from the ATM to be separated into separate envelopes — one for spending money, one for the hotel, and so on.
• Even on vacation you can make smarter choices with your money.  If you're more concerned about getting out and doing things, consider getting food from a nearby grocery store rather than eating out.  Or, if eating out is your thing, budget accordingly.
• In many cases, going on vacation can be a reward you give yourself and/or your family for hard work and proper money management.  If you're not used to saving money as a general principle, consider doing so for a trip somewhere next year.  The more time and effort you put into a trip, the more meaningful they tend to be.

IF YOU HAVE ANY GENERAL ADVICE FOR VACATIONERS, SHARE IT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.  WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!