Three Sage Tips to Banish Financial Stress From Your Holiday
“Holiday” and “Stress” should be an oxymoron, right? When you’re planning a holiday abroad, you’re probably daydreaming about leaving the stress of daily life behind for a while. The last thing you need intruding on your reveries is money worries.
Financial concerns are one of the most common sources of anxiety while on holiday. These tips will help you fully account for your holiday expenses in advance, so you spend your time enjoying yourself.
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Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Haggling for roadside souvenirs in a strange language—not to mention a foreign currency—may or may not be in line with your concept of holiday fun. Many travelers would rather not object to inflated touristy prices and are happy paying the going rate in the local town, rather than haggling over a pound or two here and there. When you think about it, why fuss over a few pounds for that beach hat when you may have spent thousands of pounds on your flights to get to your destination? Sometimes getting hung up on what you’re spending on holiday is something you’ll regret when you get home. If you plan well in advance, you can relax and forget about money along with the stress of work and real-world responsibility.
Shop Around
Grabbing the lowest possible prices for your big-ticket costs that are usually paid for in advance means you can stop counting pennies during your actual holiday. Whether you’re booking flights, hotels or any planned activities like your long-awaited surf camp or Thai cooking class, it helps to do your research and find the best deal for your budget. The time you invest in scouring the web for reputable services at reasonable prices will pay off once you’re sat on a beach somewhere ordering your fourth Pina-Colada without looking at the price on the menu. Booking well ahead of time is the key to getting early deals. Being flexible when it comes to travel dates means you’re more likely to spot a deal. Newsletters such as Jack’s Flight club are a great help, as they do much of the work for you.
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Set a Realistic Budget
Whether you’re jetting off to New York or going salmon fishing in the Scottish Highlands, nothing gets in the way of relaxation like feeling as though you’ve been ripped off. While the feeling is real and unpleasant, the source of that experience is often merely your unrealistic expectations about the cost of living and traveling in that country. When you’re setting your holiday budget, don’t base your numbers on what your friend told you things cost in that place when they were visiting several years ago. Do your homework before you start booking your trip ensure you’re up to date with real costs such as top local restaurants, accommodation and local transport.
Heading off on holiday should be an exciting time, but financial worries can put a damper on things. These tips will help you cut out the stress and enjoy the experience from the moment your plane lifts off.
*This is a collaborative post*
