Spring Break is coming up and whether you’re going home, to a sunny beach, or anywhere else in the world you’re probably looking forward to this much needed respite from school. That being said, spring break does come with its own stress: money. All the costs of this week of fun tend to add up. However, you can avoid that stress if you plan ahead and follow these tips for a more budget conscious spring break:
1. Give yourself a (realistic) daily or weekly budget.
Plan ahead and think about what you’ll definitely need to spend money on versus what you only want to spend money on. Compare those costs with the money you have available to spend and allocate accordingly. Be realistic though and don’t expect yourself to buy only the bare essentials when you’re on break (especially if you’re in a fun new city) and put some money in your daily/weekly budget to spend on extra stuff if you can.
2. If you want fun outfits, buy the cheaper versions.
Let’s be honest, you’re only going to wear that one-piece swimsuit that says ‘Rosé All Day’ or ‘Bae Watch’ a few times. So Instead of splurging on an expensive suit, take the time to shop around and find the cheaper knockoff. This applies to all other fun but unnecessary clothing. If you won’t wear it more than 2-3 times it’s probably not worth spending too much money on.
3. Use a budgeting app.
Nowadays there’s an app for everything, including budgeting! Having a place that’s easily accessible to make sure you’re on track with your budget will help you from overspending. There’s plenty of app options so shop around and see what works best for you. I personally recommend Mint because it’s easy to use and free to download.
4. Bring your student ID.
You never know if a store, local or chain, has a student discount and if they do you should definitely utilize it. Even if it’s just 10% off of a 4-dollar smoothie, it adds up and your wallet will thank you.
5. Plan, Plan, Plan.
This is mainly for the people who are traveling; Give your trip a rough outline of things you want to do before you go. Buy tickets for events and attractions ahead of time to avoid last-minute price hikes and last-minute stress. If you can, utilize discount sites like Groupon to get better deals on the things you were already planning to do.
As easy as it is to overspend this break, it’s just as easy to save if you plan ahead! Being conscious of your spending and finding deals ahead of time saves you from any last minute money stress and frees you up for a relaxing, fun-filled spring break.
Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, and read our latest Tweets!