Budget-Friendly Summer Vacation Tips

It's unofficially the start of summer, and if you're like many people, your mind is already dreaming of road trips, beach days, and backyard cookouts. But, before the fun starts, it's worth taking a few minutes to make a financial plan. Preparing now can mean less stress come September.

Here's how to make the most of summer without letting your spending get out of hand.

1. Create a Smart Summer Spending Strategy

The first and best thing you can do to ensure your finances stay on track is to map out what you want to do and what it will cost. Think beyond big vacations and factor in day trips, weekend getaways, parties, events, and even the increase in groceries and gas spending that comes with the season.

Once you have a rough budget, work backward to create a savings plan. Consider how much you can set aside from each paycheck between now and the end of summer. If you’re starting from scratch, a Vacation Club account makes it easy and convenient to save consistently. You can set up automatic transfers, so the money is saved before you have a chance to spend it – helping you cover late-summer plans or get a head start on next year’s vacation.

2. Vacation Without the Headache

Every once in a while, a larger trip may feel worth the cost – a special anniversary, a graduation trip, a big family vacation. If you already have a more costly vacation scheduled for this summer, planning for how you’ll fund it is essential. There’s nothing fun about coming home from a great trip to a credit card bill you’re not sure how to pay.

If you don’t have the full amount set aside in savings, borrowing through a Personal Loan may be worth exploring. Personal loan rates are typically much lower than credit cards, and they often come in a variety of terms. Of course, borrowing should always come with a clear plan to pay it back, not as a blank check for spending.

3. Save with a Summer Staycation

Not every great summer memory needs a plane ticket or hotel reservations. Staycations have serious advantages, including no travel delays, no packing, and lower costs. Whether you choose a few days or take an entire week to enjoy, the key is making your staycation personal and intentional, so it feels like a true vacation and creates lasting memories.

Here are a few ideas to make your staycation special:

• Take a day to visit a local city that you've been wanting to explore and enjoy the shops, restaurants, museums, and other sights.
• Consider a theme for your staycation, like "outdoor fun," where you spend an entire day engaging in outdoor sports and picnicking at a local park or lake, or "thrills and chills," where you visit a local amusement park and finish the day with the best ice cream you can find. Themes can make the day exciting—and easy for your family to get on board with.

• Look into your region's free and low-cost summer events. Most communities offer outdoor concerts, festivals, and activities that make for a wonderful vacation day without the expense.

The best part besides the memories you’ll make: the money that you save on a staycation can go straight into your Vacation Club account for a bigger trip in the future!

4. Smart Ways to Use Credit Cards for Vacations

Credit cards aren’t all bad – it’s how you use them that matters. Used strategically, a rewards credit card can help you pay for your vacation and get more out of your summer spending. Set ground rules to ensure you don’t rack up a bill you can’t afford:

• Choose a card that benefits your plan based on your goals—travel rewards, hotel points, grocery discounts, etc.
• Pay the balance in full each month to avoid high-interest debt that outweighs the benefits.

• Set a ceiling. Decide how much you will charge monthly and treat that as a firm limit.

With American Heritage’s Cash Reward Mastercard, you’ll be rewarded with cash back up to 3%¹ for your summer spending! You’ll earn up to 3% Cash Back¹ on essentials like gas and groceries, 2% Cash Back¹ on travel and dining, and 1% Cash Back¹ on everything else. This cash back is a nice incentive that rewards you for your summer travel and plans.

5. Extra Tips to Handle Summer Vacation Like a Pro

 Here are a few additional tips you can follow to ensure you’re smart and conscientious when it comes to your summer plans:

• If you'll be traveling anywhere by airplane, be flexible with travel dates. Flights during the middle of the week, such as Tuesday-Thursday, are often cheaper. Avoid any peak holidays as well, such as Independence Day.
• Look for an affordable accommodation, such as an Airbnb rental, as opposed to a fancy hotel or resort.

• Save on food by purchasing snacks and simple meal options from a local grocery store. This helps you avoid needing to dine out each day for multiple meals.

6. Member Benefits with American Heritage Credit Union

 Don’t forget about member benefits and discounts you can tap into as an American Heritage member! These benefits include:

• Rental car discounts with services like Enterprise Rent-a-Car®, Alamo®, and National Car Rental®.
• Discounts to local attractions like the Philadelphia Zoo, Arden Theatre Company, and Morey's Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey.

• Access to Credit Union Travel, where you can enjoy member-only rates on 1.2 million brand-name hotels worldwide, as well as 5% back when you book your reservation with an American Heritage debit or credit card.

You can view a full list of member benefits and discounts with American Heritage here.

¹How to earn Cash Back: Purchases made through third-party technologies such as P2P or mobile wallets may not receive higher reward depending upon how the technology platform is configured to process the purchase. American Heritage is not responsible for codes used by merchants. Essential merchants defined as gasoline, grocery stores, home improvement, pharmacies, dairy, or meat locker. Travel merchants defined as restaurants, cafes, fast food chains, airlines, ride sharing and hotels. See American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward Program Terms and Conditions for more information about your rewards. We reserve the right to cancel, modify or extend this offer at any time without notice. Click here to see account Terms and Conditions for information on fees. Not a member? Join today. Equal Opportunity Lender.