Vacations are a part of life and they are good for you. Allinahealth.org published this article that said we are more productive, have better physical health and improve mental health when we take intentional breaks through vacations.
How does this relate to our finances?
Too often we take vacation without a whole lot of planning. We say we “need it” so we go, put it all on a credit card, and ask questions later. That is obviously an unwise set of actions. Here is why:
Planning ahead prevents stress after the vacation is over.
When you come home from vacation, you want to return with memories, joy, pictures, souvenirs, stronger relationships and a renewed mind. You don’t want to take home debt. Again, one of the benefits to a vacation is better mental health. But coming home with debt from vacation will hurt your health more than help. Healthline.com says in this article that debt and mental health are closely related. Planning ahead of time and saving money for your vacation will prevent you from taking on any unnecessary debt, putting you in a better state of mind.
Planning ahead makes the vacation more fun.
Some of the best moments on a vacation happen when you’re fully relaxed and able to make decisions fancy free. When you’re racking up debt on a vacation you can’t really afford, there can be a level of guilt associated with your decisions, preventing you from being able to fully enjoy your time. If you have saved and planned ahead of time, you’ll be able to live out your vacation without second-guessing for financial stress. A vacation you can afford is a vacation that is easier to enjoy.
The good news is, saving doesn’t have to be hard. There are ways to automate saving as part of your plan. Check out our previous blog about that here.
Are you having a hard time with debt? Are you struggling to get money saved? You’re not alone. Many people struggle for success in this area. We can help! Schedule an appointment with a financial coach below.
Plan. Take action. Save for the future.
