Plan a Vacation You Can Afford

Everyone deserves a summer vacation! But can everyone afford to take one? "Consumers should thoroughly review their finances before they put those airline tickets and hotel rooms on their credit cards," said Kim Womack, director of education, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of South Texas (CCCS).

Many Americans are already deep in credit card debt and may want to scale back those vacation plans after taking that look. The typical household with at least one credit card already owes $8,500, according to Cardweb.com, a payment card information network, and pays about $1,000 in credit card interest annually.

Before you get too far along in your vacation planning, CCCS recommends that you answer the five questions:

Don't despair if you answered "no" to any or most of these questions. There are still many inexpensive vacation options from which to choose. You can also get help to develop an expense plan or budget that is best for you by contacting CCCS. If you answered yes to all or most of the questions above, you should still exercise fiscal responsibility on your vacation.

Here are vacation tips from CCCS of South Texas: ''' Create a vacation budget.''' Decide how much money you can afford for a summer vacation. This includes existing money plus any money you can save before your vacation. This is your vacation budget or the money you can afford to spend on travel, lodging and amusement. If low on cash, opt for a cheaper vacation this summer and save up for a better one next year.

Get input from the entire family. Now that you know how much money you can afford to spend, decide on the best way to use it. Ask family members where they want to go and what they want to do when they arrive. Consider visiting nearby tourist attractions or even vacationing at home if you have a limited budget.

Research your vacation options. Use the Internet to get information on sightseeing, tourism attractions and discount travel and lodging. Ask travel agents for news on seasonal discounts. Read the latest travel guides. Get advice from friends and relatives. Watch out for discount coupon books sometimes issued by visitor and tourism associations.

Plan your vacation activities thoroughly. Smart vacationers plan out their stops and activities well in advance. They know where they are going and how much it will cost. Unplanned stops can be the death of a vacation budget.

Have a credit plan. Credit cards can come in handy on the road. They're safer than cash because they can be replaced if lost. That's the good news. The bad news is that it is easy to overspend with credit cards. If you are going to use credit cards, be sure to record your charges in a ledger and to limit your charges to budgeted expenses. When you get home, pay off your charges in full as quickly as possible. Remember, these charges amount to a short-term loan.

Consider professional advice. If you are having difficulty raising the money necessary for a summer vacation or are still paying off last year's trip, you may have budgeting or money management issues. Credit counselors at CCCS would be happy to analyze your situation and make recommendations. To schedule a confidential appointment, call 854-4357 or 800-333-4357. You can also visit www.cccsstx.com.

"Follow these tips and you can have a great summer vacation without breaking the bank," said Womack. She also encouraged consumers to contact CCCS for educational materials that can help them save money and cut costs.

CCCS of South Texas is a nonprofit, United Way agency and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. CCCS has been providing free counseling and educational services in the South Texas area since 1969. The agency also offers a Debt Solver Plan to those with severe financial difficulties. This repayment plan is an alternative to bankruptcy. CCCS has numerous offices in the Crossroads, Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley.