It’s the last month of summer! While the heat can be suffocating in the city, it’s also the ideal time to go somewhere and cool off. Although it’s the peak season for travel, a good number of people still choose to forgo their paid vacation leaves thinking that a break like this is a luxury they cannot afford. It’s better to save, right?
Actually, going on vacation could help you earn and save more. How’s that, you ask? Read on to know the benefits of going on a holiday – and how you can still enjoy one while on a budget!
Yes, you deserve a vacation!
One of the reasons why some people avoid vacations is that they don’t feel like they deserve one. It could be that they haven’t reached their savings goal or are currently paying back debt or a big purchase. Maybe they feel like they’re not working hard enough because they’re not earning as much as their peers. If this is you, let me tell you – if you do regular work, doing it to the best of your abilities, and have felt tired because of it, then yes, you deserve a break.
A vacation is an excellent time to replenish your productivity.
Being passionate about work and diligently saving is a good thing, but you could burn out if you keep on running without stopping. Even race cars take fuel breaks. Even dieters have cheat days. According to Psychology Today, if you’ve been feeling stressed, always tired, hopeless, getting sick a lot, or questioning the point of doing work or anything at all in the first place, then you’re exhibiting signs of burnout.
Getting burned out can not only harm your productivity – when left unchecked, it could ruin your career and even your relationships. Burnout creeps onto you so you might not notice the signs until it’s almost set in. Don’t wait to hit that stage – take a holiday break!
It’s like paying yourself a performance bonus.
When you do well at work, you get a performance bonus. So why don’t you also give yourself one for being a responsible adult? You’ve been working hard, doing your best to save, contributing to society. Just like how a performance bonus is both a “thank you” for your excellent work, and a means to motivate you to continue that way, going on vacation could work the same way.
A gentle reminder that we work to live, not the other way around.
While we all have to live with different circumstances, some of which may call for more stringent saving, at the end of the day, we’re working to make a living, to create a good life for our families and ourselves. Going on a vacation is an excellent opportunity to bond with loved ones or get to know oneself outside of the ordinary, which would create lasting memories and maybe even give way to life-changing epiphanies.
An anonymous quote goes, “Take vacations. Go as many places as you can. You can always make money. You can’t always make memories.” Take that time off and make happy memories you can look back on when you’re feeling down!
Know what to splurge on and where to save.
A simple trick to going on a solo, friendly, or family vacation is to be smart about where you spend your money. Being on holiday doesn’t mean your good money sense should also be put on a break! Here are a few tips on how to maximize your leave without shelling out big bucks.
Plan ahead.
We tend to overspend when we make unplanned purchases. This also holds true about vacations. When you don’t know what the going prices are for things, what’s expensive and what’s a good deal, it’s easy to overpay. That’s why it’s better to plan ahead.
Read about people’s trips, research current prices, and try to go during off-peak seasons. Set a budget, but make sure you have enough wiggle room for surprises and some indulgences. You never know what could happen on a trip!
If you plan on going somewhere far, keep your eyes out for seat sales. They’re usually for flights a few months later, and they’re announced a week or so ahead. Take this time to file your leave and arrange for who’ll cover your tasks.
Think local.
Another misconception that people have about vacations is that they’re expensive. This is likely due to a mindset propagated by social media that holiday trips have to be abroad or somewhere exclusive and luxurious.
No, you don’t need a plane ride or a 5-star hotel to sit back and relax. Staycations at a nearby hotel via Airbnb or a road trip to Pampanga to explore all the local delicacies are as much a vacation as a long weekend spent in Hong Kong.
Think about nearby places you haven’t been to. In my case, I realize that I haven’t been to the new National Library, or any of the museums within or outside Metro Manila (except when I was still in school during class trips). A vacation could be going on a food trip or renting a place via Airbnb and quietly reading a book by the pool for a weekend. As long as your mind is relaxed and not caught up with work thoughts, then that’s a worthwhile vacation.
It’s about the experience, not the destination.
If you have kids, this will help you put your money towards the right things. Creating a memorable experience is more important than going to all the “must see” kiddie places. You may see your friends bringing their kids to Disneyland this summer. If you can’t afford to do that without sacrificing much of your savings, recreate the same atmosphere at a local amusement park. You could use the money you’d spend on airfare to visit different parks or arcades. Either way, your kids will remember how much fun they had with you, no matter what brand that amusement park is.
This also holds true for singles. If your current income doesn’t allow you to chase the Northern Lights or go Seoul-searching in South Korea, you can as effectively refresh your mind and body in the Philippines. Breathe in the fresh air in Batanes, eat your weight in juicy mangoes in Guimaras, or hike the plateaus in Bukidnon. All of these you can do at only a fraction of the price than when you go international.
Say yes to things that make you happy.
At the end of the day, our goal is to live a happy life, isn’t it? Not going on more trips is one of people’s most significant life regrets, according to Forbes. Don’t let it be yours. So, what do you want to do on your next vacation?
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