It might feel like the holidays have only just passed, but there’s already another break on the horizon. In the middle of March, school age children and educational workers everywhere will get to enjoy a slightly mild-weathered pause in their regular schedule with the March break.
Even college students are starting to look ahead to the upcoming spring break and the opportunity for fun. With fewer social obligations than the holidays and (hopefully) better weather, the spring holidays are a great time for many to get away and enjoy themselves.
So many individuals live with student loans and credit card debt that it’s become the norm among Canadians. As a whole, we are becoming more and more dependent on credit to make purchases and important financial decisions. If you’re planning a spring getaway this March break, do you really want to go into debt in the process? You can make smart choices for planning your spring getaway with the following helpful tips to keep on track these holidays.
Use Your Savings Wisely
It’s so important to have an emergency fund year-round to get you through any unexpected, sudden costs. A lot of the time those of us who are stretched thin could find it difficult to cover emergency costs should they arise. In fact, a large number of Canadians live paycheque to paycheque with 47 percent of individuals self-identifying as such according to a 2017 poll.
Payday loans from a reliable online short-term loan provider like GoDay can support those who need help bridging the gap between paycheques. If you’re planning a spring getaway — whether that be a full-blown trip to somewhere tropical or a day trip somewhere in the GTA — be smart about the amount of your savings that you use. Payday loans can always help you when you need a quick source of cash, but you don’t want to deplete your funds on entertainment only to rely on easy payday loans when there’s an emergency.
Use Travel Cards and Rewards
If you’re booking any travel expenses like car rentals, hotels, flights, or gas and you have a credit card with a good rewards system for those expenses, plan your spending out so that you can make the most of those purchases. Allocate your spending so that you can get the most rewards and points on these types of purchases for the best cash back. Who knows, you can even start saving towards your next trip!
Save on Food
If you’ve hit the road and you’re a family of four, you can expect to spend upwards of $100 a day just on fast food if you’re stopping to buy your meals. You know your family best so why not plan ahead with the foods they want to eat that you know will keep them satisfied?
Cut down on takeout with a cooler full of sandwiches and snacks like apples, bananas, carrots, hummus, yogurt, crackers, and other low-maintenance, tasty foods. You can take pit stops as an opportunity for an impromptu picnic, which is a great way to make memories and enjoy each other’s company without a high price tag. With these tips in mind, hopefully you’ll enjoy a relaxing and debt-free March break.