Talk Tuesday - My kids want a vacation!!!

This year I want to change how we do things in our household. This is going to be a huge change, but one that the entire family will benefit from. Going forward I am not going to focus on buying gifts for our children for the holidays or their birthdays. I have something in mind that will enrich their minds for the rest of lives.

Going forward I want use to take family vacations to different countries and different cities. Having 2 children and 2 adults to pay for can get expensive, but this will have a more lasting impression than any material item they ask for can have. I believe when you expose children to different places, people, and things, it allows them to be compassionate to others.  It also opens their eyes to a different way of life. Traveling to different countries can be the best teacher a child has. And if other countries aren't in your budget right now, try going to a major city in the US. We did that this summer with my son when we stayed in Houston a few days. He had a great time.  It's about exposing the children to something different and new.

Now I know your probably thinking...."I don't have thousand of dollars laying around to pay for a family vacation". And guess what, you don't have to. Here are a few simple steps to get you planning for your 1st or 100th family vacation.

1. Open a separate checking account that earns interest to save for your vacation.  This way you know that money is not being tapped into for other spending. I also advise not having a debit card for this account until you absolutely need one. That way your not tempted to use it.

2. Invest in a short term CD (Certificate of Deposit) that earns a higher interest rate than your checking account. What's great about a CD is that you can't touch the money until the term is over. 

3. Get a part time job.  Companies are always looking to hire seasonal employees. So if you know you want to take a summer vacation, I suggest working during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays to make some extra cash.

4. Have a yard sale or sale your items to a consignment shop. If you were going to donate them anyway, try selling them before you donate them. This allows you to put some extra money into you vacation fund.

5. Cut back on unnecessary spending. This tip work for everyday life as well.

The world is a huge place and everyone should be able to see a piece of it. No matter your budget, if you plan accordingly you can travel just like the everyone else. Next week for Talk Tuesday I will share more tips on how to plan for a vacation. Please leave in the comments below some your tips on how you save for a vacation.  Until next time... Stay Fabulous!!!