Daydreaming: you’re doing it right now. You know it and I know it. You’re sitting and thinking about that place again. The place with the softest sand you’ve ever felt and ocean air so plump with moisture that you can taste the salt on your lips. The cocktails, the seafood and the chance to snorkel in the clearest ocean ever – it’s the dream holiday. You had it once and you would do whatever you could to get back there again. The difference this time? You have to pay for it, and on a low income, that’s not easy. We all have times that are financially lean, but it’s those times that you need to find your way to saving for that dream. You learn to budget better and spend better when you do head out shopping. So, we’ve put together some ways that you can maximise the budget that you have to get the holiday that you want.
Housing Costs. Most of the time it’s the costs of rent or a mortgage that seriously get in the way of your savings. Where you can, you should try and keep your housing budget to about a quarter of your monthly income. It’s not always easy, but if you can do that you will have enough each month to save cash. Always look for a house that you can afford rather than a house you desperately want; paying out more than you need to just to enjoy crown mouldings is not worth it.
Consolidate. Owing money to other people isn’t the nicest feeling, but using a service like https://debtconsolidation.co/, you can manage your payments by consolidating every payment into just one, you can spare some cash each month. It’s something you shouldn’t bury your head in the sand about, so make a plan and get it sorted – the faster you do, the better off you’ll be.
Plan Shopping. Whatever it is you have to buy, from groceries to housewares, you should plan it all down to the penny. Make a list, take out the cash for it and stick to the list as closely as you can. Try not to spend just for the sake of spending: that dream holiday is worth waiting to buy the shoes for.
Shop Smart. When you do need to buy new furniture to replace a broken piece, don’t go for finance options or brand-new ones. Before you do anything, check out the Facebook selling sites and the public sites like Gumtree or Craigslist. You can often find nearly new furniture for less than half the price you’d have paid new from the stores.
The Nitty Gritty. To avoid spending cash that you don’t want to spend, start cutting out buying lunches and coffee in the week. Invest in a thermos and bring your own coffee out with you. Pack a lunch for work and you’ll spend a fraction of the cost.
Saving up for that dream holiday is a possibility – you just have to get creative with your cash and be strict. You can do it: the sandy beaches are depending on you!
Jessica Lippe 