How We Saved $3K for a Summer Trip in 90 Days: A Couple's Savings Approach
When I first heard that my girlfriend hadn’t been on an international vacation before, the wheels began turning. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that we’d be going somewhere sunny, beautiful and with plenty of delicious food and beverage options — an all-inclusive experience in Jamaica eventually winning out.
But that vacation comes with a price tag, and we had to save — quickly. So how did we manage to save $3,000 (and more) over the course of just three months? Read on and see how we did it, and whether our savings plan could work for you and your better half.
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Boosting the Boring Ol’ Budget Is Key to Vacation Planning
It’s basic, and it’s boring, but it works. You need to sit down with your significant other and draft an honest, no-frills budget for the next 90 days — one which leaves at least $1,000 a month dedicated to filling your vacation jar.
But what if money is a bit tighter than usual? We borrowed a bit of advice from Ramsey Solutions — working in business and finance writing means you get exposed to the philosophies of many money experts — and set a minimum target of $1,000 per month in vacation savings.
You can help to ensure this room in the budget by kicking off a no-spend challenge. That means you cover your “four walls” (food, shelter, utilities, transportation) and stop wasting cash on dining out, fancy nice-to-haves and subscriptions figuratively collecting dust — the latter being a personal pet peeve of another favorite finance personality, Caleb Hammer.
Go Marie Kondo for a Bit and Sell Your Junk (or More Politely: Previously Loved Goods)
There’s something both exciting and anxiety-inducing about outlining and executing a massive sell-off of your previously loved (but now sitting unused) household items.
Our closets were filled with gently worn — yet not worn in months or years — articles of clothing, our bookshelves stacked full-to-bursting with old yarns that could probably enjoy a more appreciative audience in the hands of another die-hard reader. The basement contained a treasure trove of holiday ornaments — too many for one home to display all at once — and my collection of records, video games, Hot Wheels, and other nerd memorabilia could use a timely trimming.
Facebook Marketplace alone netted us thousands of dollars toward our dream vacation in Jamaica, after all was said and done. A yard sale planned in tandem with family friends was the perfect way to socialize, welcoming in autumn, while also getting rid of more difficult-to-sell pieces. If neither of these options appeal to you, consider eBay, Poshmark, Etsy or other online resale platforms.
If the items don’t sell within the first listing period, consider slashing prices until they eventually do. You’re on a timer, remember? To save time and money, make it clear in your post that buyers must pick up the items at your home (or at a safe public area nearby), unless you think you'd earn enough additional money delivering the purchases to be worth your time.
Pick Up a Side Hustle To Pay For a Vacation (or Work Overtime)
In our case, taking on a little extra work to further fatten the vacation purse was also an option. She worked overtime, I took on extra freelance work, both promising not to burn ourselves out in doing so — after all, the entire point of working toward a shared vacation down south hinged around the promise of rest and relaxation.
If neither overtime nor extra work options are readily at hand for you and your partner, consider picking up a temporary side hustle — delivery services and ride-hailing platforms being the most obvious candidates. The best part about these gigs is that you can pick them up when you feel like it and walk away without any further commitment when you’ve achieved your goals — having enough in the bank to book your vacation worry-free.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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