I’m pretty lucky, Erin asks for nothing more than the odd biscuit or grape at the moment. In a few years, it will be a completely different story, “mum, can I have” will be the war cry. The summer holidays will be yet another financial event to be budgeted for.
In the past (dim, and very distant)when we’ve gone abroad I’ve tended to budget by the day. For example I work out a daily budget, multiply it by the amount of days and I know that’s how much spending money to take. Each day I will ‘pay’ myself the daily amount, leftovers are carried over to the following day. Money remaining at the end of the holiday is spent on a special treat, souvenirs for family and ourselves.
I think if I had a few kids of spending age I would be inclined to use a similar system, perhaps worked on a weekly basis instead. With teenagers you could give them the budget and let them learn to budget themselves.
Do you budget for summer? If so, what system do you use?
Photo by flickr user Rafa from Brazil
4 Responses to “Budgeting for Summer Break”
Hi there!
Thank you for choosing my photo to your blog.
Rafael
I admire how you plan your budget. We haven’t even decided about going away this year. I’m worried we’ll spend lots of money then not enjoy it - even when you’re on holiday you’re working if you have to look after a young child. Maybe I’m being defeatist.
I don’t think I would go abroad at this stage, we have holidayed in the UK, max. 4 hour drive we find is plenty. The effort to enjoyment needs to be at least 50/50.
My budgeting system is “No you can’t go to the gift shop, I spent enough on getting into this place” - interspersed with free days out at the park, at National Trust places (we’re members) and at the beach.
Although the beach always entails at least an ice cream and parking fees.