Savings Tips For an Affordable Spring Break Trip

The sun stays up longer, flowers are blooming and the temperature is rising — that can only mean one thing: spring has sprung. Finally, we can put down the TV remote, shake off the cobwebs, and safely remove the heated blanket. And what better way to celebrate the spring season than with a well-earned week off?

Spring break isn’t just a rite of passage but is in fact an inalienable American right (its absence from the Bill of Rights is a major oversight on the part of the framers of the Constitution).

But, with great party power comes great rationing responsibility. Afterall, a week of fun doesn’t come cheap. So, while planning a spring break budget is far from the most exciting aspect of your time off, it could be considered one of the most important.

Pack your sunscreen, load up the hatchback, and sync your watches to island time. Spring break is here, and guess what? It’s not going to be cheap. But, we’ve got you covered — follow these budgeting tips to make the most of your vacation without (spring) breaking the bank.

Pick the right destination

According to CBS News, Palm Beach, Florida ranks as one of the most expensive spring break destinations and can cost twice as much as an average vacation. This is due, in part, to exorbitant hotel costs. A two-person hotel in Palm Beach starts at $350 a night. To put it in a metric that makes sense for spring breakers: that’s the cost of 70 beers! That’s a lot of wasted money on a hotel which, in all honesty, is only there as somewhere to recharge before the next spring break party.

A great way to ensure you don’t break the bank during spring break is to pick the right destination from the outset. Set yourself up for success and be responsponsible with your vacation locations.

This will require a little creativity. Beach-centric, destinations are going to be expensive no matter what, so it’s time to think outside of the box — uncover savings by taking the road less traveled. Consider fun, albeit not classically “spring break,” spots such as the Pacific Northwest. Locations like Washington or Oregon offer unique and affordable attractions for tourists that don’t want to face bankruptcy for a week of fun.

Explore lodging alternatives

Lodging is one of the priciest spring break expenses. Due to extreme tourist influx during the spring break season, lodging prices skyrocket. To save a buck or two, you might want to consider some alternatives.

It has never been easier to save on lodging thanks to services such as Airbnb and hostels. What these economic options lack in luxury they make up in affordability and character. As a spring breaker, your hotel will likely collect dust aside from sleeping and storage, so there’s no point in overspending on this amenity.

Buy groceries

Food on vacation is tricky: on one hand you want to indulge in local wares, but on the other you’re not made of money. Everyone knows eating on vacation is expensive, but it’s just a reality, right? Well, not necessarily.

During a multi-day vacation such as spring break, think about buying some basic groceries for the hotel. This could include anything from quick snacks to full-fledged meals. Fixings for quick meals such as bread, peanut butter, fruit, frozen pizzas, etc. will not only help sustain you during the lulls between activities, but also significantly cut down your food cost. Snacks, breakfast (if it’s not included with lodging), and lunch can easily be fixed up makeshift in a hotel rather than defaulting to expensive, not to mention unhealthy, fast food.

Budget ahead of time

A half-baked plan is one of the greatest threats to your bank account. With inhibitions fogged by the excitement of vacation, it’s easy to swipe your card indiscrimentally and rack up debt. Even though planning and saving isn’t the most exciting aspect of spring break, it’s a necessary evil.

The best way to combat overspending is to establish a budget, well in advance of your trip, and do your best to stick to it. Based off your savings, allot a percentage to travel, lodging, activities, food/drink, etc. Let these predetermined percentage guidelines inform your spending, and avoid impulsive spending.

Get help when you need it

So, despite your best effort, you swiped your credit card a little too much. Mixed up in the excitement of your week in the sun, you incurred a lot of debt. And, now it’s time to pay the piper — or rather, pay the credit card company.

We aren’t made of money, and many people charge a good time to borrowed money. In fact, Forbes reported that nearly a third of college students tapped into their student loans in order to fund spring break indulgences. If this is you, or you were just a little swipe-happy with the credit card, it might be time to come back to reality and reassess your personal finances.

Start with your credit score — a numeric assessment of your capability as a borrower. The effects of a poor credit score can permeate into many areas of life. Your FICO score has direct influence on many different personal finance factors such as loan approval, interest rates, and more. It might be time to get credit help.

Don’t let a week of fun negatively affect your finances for years — seek out credit repair, and get your finances back on track. CreditRepair.com offers a free personalized credit consultation and audit of all of your credit accounts. With access to industry-leading repair services, CreditRepair.com members typically see a 40-point score improvement in the first four months of their subscription.

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