Whether you’re sailing to the Portuguese islands, planning a luxury bush experience, making your way to Mauritius, or exploring the Garden Route, there’s nothing quite like planning your year-end holiday. But with December fast approaching, have you considered if you’re able to comfortably cover the cost of your dream getaway?
The beach, bush or mountains are calling, but their cries may be drowning out your awareness of the costs that a trip to visit them demands. Sadly, planning a year-end holiday, involves more than just scouring out stunning locations. It’s hardly a thrilling prospect but by taking some proactive steps to budget, you’ll be able to plan and enjoy your holiday without the threat of an impending financial crisis upon your return.
Start saving
We’re so busy juggling everything from deadlines to domesticity, we often leave things like holiday planning until the last minute. But, unless you have unlimited funds, booking a holiday just weeks, days or even hours before you depart is not advisable.
Rather decide in advance where you’d like to go and determine the costs of flights, fuel, or car hire, accommodation and general holiday spending including meals, excursions and any extras. Based on this, allocate a certain amount to holidays in your budget and ensure you set aside enough money each month to reach your target in time to make your bookings.
You may want to deposit these monthly holiday savings into a tax-free savings account or, for more lavish trips, a long-term investment vehicle. This could be solely dedicated to raising the required funds with the benefit of earning potentially considerable interest, taking your travels to another level.
Make a deal
As financially savvy women, we know that good deal never goes out of style. From bank reward programmes to retail cards with benefits, it pays to be aware of what travel perks you may qualify for. Investigate the offerings from any programmes you’re a part of and maximise any discounts.
Get scrolling and familiarise yourself with accommodation and flight trends. If you’re not locked into peak travel dates, you’re almost certain to pay less than you would otherwise. Even going away in early December or late January could be far less brutal on your bank balance than over the festive season. Look out for specials and join social media pages that offer getaway deals.
Rather than breaking the bank, ensure you can finance the break you deserve.
