T<\/span>here\u2019s nothing quite like a vacation. It\u2019s a time to take a break from reality and explore another world.<\/p>\n Even though many people travel to alleviate stress, planning and organizing a vacation can actually cause stress.<\/p>\n The most common type of \u201ctravel stress\u201d is financial. Seventy four percent of people say they\u2019ve gone into debt to pay for a vacation, to the tune of $1,108 on average, according to the 2017 LearnVest Money Habits and Confessions<\/a> survey.<\/p>\n The good news is that with proper planning and preparation, you can manage the financial stress caused from vacation.<\/p>\n Developing a budget and sticking to it is one of the best ways to manage financial stress. Spend time researching lodging, dining, transportation, and entertainment costs in the area and build from there. The biggest mistake when developing a travel budget is not allotting for unexpected costs.<\/p>\n A strong budget will allow you to enjoy your vacation without worry about money. And returning from vacation knowing you stuck to your budget will be a relief.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning to travel throughout the year, open an additional savings account and put money into it each week, or keep a spare change jar in your home or office.<\/p>\n Planning in advance is key. Bearing the brunt of expensive plane tickets weeks or months in advance will give your bank account time to recover before spending again. Keep an eye out for deals in the weeks leading up to the vacation for activities you\u2019d like to do. Capitalize on anything that goes on sale, even if it\u2019s just $5 off admission to a museum or park. Little savings add up on your budget\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n Sightseeing is of the cheapest vacation activities.<\/p>\n Consider planning a self-guided tour of an historical neighborhood or finding a scenic trail to hike. Plan a day at the beach or enjoy some time using the amenities provided in the place you\u2019re staying, such as the pool or hot tub.<\/p>\n Though five-star hotels are appealing, check if alternative lodging options are available.<\/p>\n Options can range from staying with a family friend, which is great if you\u2019re traveling solo, or renting a vacation home, which is great if you\u2019re traveling with a group or staying for a long period of time. Rentals can be much more affordable than hotels, especially if you split the cost with a group.<\/p>\n If hotel life is more your speed, research all-inclusive resorts. These resorts help you save money on extra fees for things like drinks and meals, along with other daily expenses.<\/p>\n Though many believe that a timeshare is a pathway to easy and cost-efficient vacations, these purchases tend to create more financial stress. Most prospective timeshare owners aren\u2019t aware of the additional fees that increase each year and the multitude of challenges faced when trying to rid yourself of ownership.<\/p>\n Another downside of many timeshares is you may have to vacation in the spot each year unless you choose to pay more money to trade your timeshare for another location. Not only does this limit your travels, you will also have to be flexible in your scheduling as multiple people can share ownership.<\/p>\n The best way to avoid timeshare ownership is to avoid the pitch. Timeshare salespeople are trained to be persistent and not take \u201cno\u201d for an answer. Instead of attending a timeshare meeting, explore the new city!<\/p>\n Take the money you\u2019d be putting into owning a timeshare and use it to save up for a vacation you can take at any place of your choosing instead.<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing more frustrating than paying for something you don\u2019t use or can no longer use. Countless timeshare owners report not having used their timeshare for years, commonly due to failing health or the inability to book a trip. But they\u2019re still stuck paying the ever-rising maintenance fees. This is the opposite of what timeshare ownership was intended to be, in that this causes stress as opposed to the joy of vacationing.<\/p>\n Sadly, it\u2019s not easy to get rid of a timeshare on your own because they do not hold value and because the resale market is flooded. Few timeshare owners factor in the cost of getting rid of their timeshares. But those who successfully get out of their contracts using a trusted exit company say it\u2019s money well spent and it gives them control over vacation spending again.<\/p>\n When seeking out a timeshare exit company, search for one with a solid reputation because there are many scams artists out there seeking to prey on desperate timeshare owners. Look for a minimum five-year track record of success, and research the company\u2019s credentials through resources such as the Better Business Bureau or the state\u2019s attorney general. And download a free copy of the Consumer\u2019s Guide to Timeshare Exit, which is a great resource to help you navigate through this process.<\/p>\n We work hard for our money, and we should be able to see the benefits of it. When you notice negative thoughts creeping into your mind surrounding your vacation time, remind yourself of this: It\u2019s okay to spend the money that you worked hard to earn\u2014you deserve time to relax!<\/p>\n Ideas for how to travel without stress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8542,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[104,106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2019","category-winter-2019-columns"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8452"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8668,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8452\/revisions\/8668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Give Yourself a Reasonable Budget<\/h4>\n
Start Saving and Planning in Advance<\/h4>\n
Incorporate Low-Cost or Free Activities<\/h4>\n
Look for All-Inclusive or Alternative Lodging<\/h4>\n
Why Timeshares Might Not Be Right for You<\/h4>\n
Exit Your Timeshare<\/h4>\n
Remind Yourself That Vacation Is Possible Because of Your Hard Work<\/h4>\n
Gordon Newton is president of Newton Group Transfers<\/a>, a national timeshare exit company based in Arizona.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"