Keeping Spending in Check on Vacation

**peanut** · 06-21-2011, 07:27 PM

Okay guys, I'm gonna need some "tough love" the next 3 weeks while we're traveling around on vacation. I find when I'm in a good mood I tend to let down my guard and spend money. Plus we're going to be around the kids. And I love to spend money on them! It's now or when I die. I choose now. The government doesn't take as much in taxes.

STILL...I really should be keeping that new kitchen in mind, and a new fence, and a new entry, and refinished floors, and a new garage...hmm...oh yeah, there's a new car in the next couple years too...

BUT...I am very forgetful.

Conveniently so. The problem is I get all excited and descend into 'spontaneous spending'. Soooo...what tricks or habits do you use that keeps spending in control on vacation?

My first habit will be checking in here at FV every day while I can. Hmmm...maybe I should post my expenses every day. That would sure keep me in check! Oh dear! I wonder if I could be honest that long...?

**zakity** · 06-21-2011, 08:02 PM

What about an imaginary "budget" amount that you are allowed to spend? You can spend x amount, but not over. That might help. That is what I do when we travel. We have so much that we can spend and that is it.

**lisaflex** · 06-21-2011, 08:04 PM

no budget here for vacation!

if i am frugal enough throughout the year, than we have plenty for a few vacations a year and we like to enjoy ourselves thoroughly when on vacation.

**Spirit Deer** · 06-21-2011, 08:09 PM

Use only cash for discretionary spending, like souvenirs. Once it's gone, that's it. Same for gifts for the kids and stuff like that.

Don't eat out more than necessary.

**peanut** · 06-21-2011, 08:36 PM

Hmm...a daily budget might be a good idea. I'll talk to DH about it...

**peanut** · 06-21-2011, 10:15 PM

Hrumph! DH said "Just put yourself on a budget".

Now to figure out what...! I'm not entirely happy I'm the only one going on a budget. But I know he's the exact opposite of me and won't spend a dime. So I don't have to worry about him too much. Just have a hard time accepting being "the problem".

Ok, let's think here...breakfast is free every place we stay. Lunch can be $15 for two from the grocery store or Tim Hortons...maybe even less. Their chili and bun is under $10 for two. If I take my water bottle I can save money on bottled water, my drink of choice, by filling it up in the hotel every morning.

Supper will be the killer. We're planning a few meals with company, where we're paying for everyone else. Three meals with four people. One meal with five. And another with six. Of those the three meals for four can be at a cheap joint - Tim Hortons or Mr. Sub or even grocery store eats on the beach...if it stops raining. The meals with five and six are going to be at restaurants. Or...hmm...maybe a BBQ on the beach! Wonder if Point Pleasant Park in Halifax has BBQ pits/stoves. Anyone know?

OK, I'm going for a food budget of under $30/day unless we have to feed other people. Then it will be raised by $15/person. I'll allow myself to carry over my food budget to other days. $30 x 30 days = $900. I can cope with that. Though the first week I'll be eating with relatives really, so it won't be that bad I hope.

As for entertainment...that's making me a bit nervous. We're attending a festival and I really have no idea how much it will cost. Depends what we plan to do, and knowing the people involved, that will be a very last minute decision. Still, I checked their website and the costs are pretty reasonable. As long as I don't buy anything at their artisan market we'll do fine! Though I have a little bit of my dividend money leftover to take with me for something special to bring home. Maybe I'll allot $100 for everything at the festival. We'll be there two days.

Next is gas to get places, and we're doing a lot of driving. What's the price of gas in the Maritimes right now? Anyone from down there? We should put about 2000 km on the rental car! We have 4200km. free. But we still pay gas... and we won't know how much that will be until we get the rental car and see how it drives. DH has asked for a compact. We'll see. Some of them can eat up gas pretty bad.

$900 + 120 (3 meals for 4) + 75 (1 meal for 5) + 90 (1 meal for 6) = $1185 for meals (ouch!) But this assumes all restaurant meals, which means lousy weather.

I think I will allow myself $300 max for shopping/souvenirs. I might be able to pay cash this trip... Sounds like a plan...

DH's pay will be coming the end of the month. We'll have $1800 cash to play with then.

$1500 accommodations (already on CC. Money in bank.)
$1400 airfare (already paid)
$900 car rental (already on CC. Money in bank.)
$300 souvenirs, shopping
$1200 meals (if bad weather)
$100 festival

That leaves $1600 in expenses for our $1800 cheque! Good, cuz when we get back we'll have to buy groceries right away! I did put the remains of a quiche, mango muffins, and soup in the freezer for the day after we get back though. That should help with the food bill a bit.

Plus DH gets paid two days after we get home. I think this might be doable.

Thanks everyone! Have I forgotten anything?

ETA: those restaurant meals look awful cheap. Are they reasonable prices for a place like Boston Pizza? or such...

**Libby** · 06-22-2011, 12:31 AM

Hmm...not sure what you eat when you go 'out' to places like Boston Pizza but 'dine in' establishments, I usually budget $25/person. Some people get carried away when eating out or figure they're on vacation and go all out - drinks, starter, entree, dessert - when they normally eat the entree and drink water at home - no starter, no dessert. Sounds high but I'd rather have extra $ leftover to bring back home or leave in the bank if you KWIM? Random thought: Rachel Ray did her travel show "$40/day" for eating out and that was for 3 meals & 1 snack. If she's budgeting $40/day and she's in the US, wouldn't that mean we'd have to budget more b/c our food seems to cost more? Just something to think about.

Can you grab an extra fruit and/or cookie (muffin) each am when you leave the hotel? (not sure if they allow nor if you're comfortable doing so) These snacks will come in handy later on throughout the day. My dad laughed at me when I packed a small box of dollar store sandwhich sized zipper bags in the car one road trip....he later found out why - I'm sorry but a muffin wrapped in a serviette is NOT going to sit in my purse all day 'in case' he wants to eat it later or needs it b/c his blood sugar has dropped.

The other question I had was if you really needed 'souvenirs'? I'm not sure if you're one for 'things' vs 'memories' but I'm starting to be one of those "Id rather have a pic of me doing something cool/fun' vs another mug/shot glass/knick knack with a name of where I was. To me, it will end up as more clutter to sort and purge later on.

Are you able to put a few extra 'easy to heat and serve' things into the freezer for when you get home - you may not be able to get to the store right away once home or may not want to go out shopping ASAP...just in case. Was thinking a few cans of soup/stew/chili and/or a frozen pizza. Something quick and easy.

Not exactly sure where in the Maritimes you're going but when I googled 'gas prices maritimes' I got this site (New Brunswick Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in New Brunswick) and it listed a range of places between $1.20/L-$1.25/L

**peanut** · 06-22-2011, 09:23 AM

Ugh, Libby, I was afraid of that. Everyone we've talked to so far has said they like the idea of BBQ on the beach if the weather is fine. So that's what we'll go with. Also, I'm going to ask my sister if I can borrow a small cooler from them. If not, I'll fork over and pay for one, and leave it at her place when we leave. Means we'll only have to be concerned about restaurant meals if it's inclement weather.

But yeah, hmm...$40US huh?

Food is much more expensive up here. Even though our dollar is better at the moment. ...Just asked DH. He says the per diem from his workplace is $15 for breakfast, $15 for lunch and $30 for supper...per person. So guess I should up the meals budget. So I'm raising my food budget to $50/day for both of us. DH says that should be per person, if we're eating in restaurants all the time. But I just told him I don't plan to. So...that would be $50 x 30 = $1500 (for us for meals) + $25 x 13 = $325 (assuming everyone else is $25/meal) =$1825 for meals. OUCH! Beach time! Still, we're talking 30 days here...

I feel comfortable grabbing a piece of fruit for the road from the breakfast buffet. Usually they have crappy apples, but the oranges are okay. DH grabs bananas.

Souvenirs...well, let's just say I don't buy the usual tourist stuff. I'm a rug hooker, spinner, and quilter. I buy rug hooking supplies and quilting fabric at dirt cheap prices when I'm visiting the Maritimes. Those things are very expensive and/or hard to find out west. And shipping costs are horrendous. You want to bet I'll be stopping at Deanne Fitzpatrick's rug hooking studio for the latest book and a look at her supplies, the Loop in Halifax, and at the Avonport Discount Fabric Barn or whatever it's called.

Though this time I am tempted to skip the Fabric Barn. I'm trying to empty out my sewing room, not add to it! But I so want to see the store, because I've never been, and we've been thinking of retiring in the area. And then there's fibre for spinning only available in N.S. Mostly souvenirs to me means one or two very special things. Three hundred dollars will be more than enough!

Got the meals thing covered. I have some healthy TV dinners in there for the first few days, plus what I froze yesterday. Should be good to go for two or three days. Good thing. DH just said he starts work the day after we get back!

Thanks Libby. Especially for the link to gas prices!

**frugalfoster** · 06-22-2011, 09:44 AM

When my dh and I travel around to the National Parks, I figure $50 a day for food for the both of us. It's usually more than enough. When the hotels serve breakfast, we can get by with a sub sandwich to eat at some beautiful spot in the park for lunch and then there is enough money to go out to dinner that night. We don't eat at a place that would cost us more than $40 for the two of us. For some people, going out to dinner is a major part of the vacation experience...for us it's just food.

**krbshappy71** · 06-22-2011, 09:49 AM

STILL...I really should be keeping that new kitchen in mind, and a new fence, and a new entry, and refinished floors, and a new garage...hmm...oh yeah, there's a new car in the next couple years too...

Sorry but none of those things would come before me having a fabulous vacation with my kids. Oh, did I mention I just came back from one? I did not use the credit card, I gave myself $100 cash and when it was done it was done.

I'm not saying to blow all those things out of the water and screw it all but honestly a fence?? I would totally wait on a new fence to have a good time with my kids, especially if I knew I wasn't going to see them for awhile.

How long since your last visit? How long until your next visit? I ask because my spending urges increase when I haven't seen the person for awhile and know it will be even longer for the next time.

On our vacation this is what we did:

Stopped at grocery store and picked up breakfast foods: cereal, milk, fruit and granola bars

These were perfect for waking up and having something immediately at our fingertips as if we were at home.

Went out for special lunches NOT suppers. We would spend out mornings out and about on activities and had a later lunch of, say, 1 p.m sometimes 2 p.m then had lunch at whatever nice place we had wanted to go to. I know not all places serve lunch but a ton of them do. Lunch prices are usually cheaper.

Supper was again from the grocery store. To "splurge" we picked up things like frozen pizza, tv dinners, or just snack items. This splurge was still cheaper than eating out.

Souvenirs:

I only allow myself 1 item per STATE. In this case we went to 4 different states but I already had an item from 3 of those so I allowed myself 1 item and it turned out to be a little pin for my backpack. The souvenir, if you are sucker for them, is nothing compared to photos. TAKE PHOTOS!

I hope this helps, personally since you know you have the weakness for the fabric shop, don't take your money to the one that you are just "checking out". Don't tempt yourself. If you are going to spend money, spend it on activities with the kids.

**VanVivCam** · 06-22-2011, 09:53 AM

Sounds like you are figuring things out for your vacation! Good for you! Hope you have a very nice time. I personally would be interested in seeing you post your spending on here if not daily then at least every two or three days..for one, it will help you stay accountable and on task... and two, I am just personally interested....we are going on a lengthy vaca in october and I wondering about the food budget and am thinking I could learn from your recent experience.

**peanut** · 06-22-2011, 07:37 PM

Well I can tell you my first sticker shock has been the price of food at airports! Today we left home...costs

$8.50 cab fare to airport
~$16.50 lunch (Calgary airport)
~$25.50 supper (Toronto airport)

That's a total of $50.80 spent today.

We ate supper at Beaches in TO. We drank water and I had an appetizer (quesadilla) which was cheaper, while DH had the cheapest hot meal on the menu...their hamburger. We only took the free food and drinks on the flights. We had lunch at some en cafe go or something like that in Calgary. I had a turkey wrap that tasted gross. Too much sauce of some kind in it, plus a white tortilla. Yuck! However it did have lots of lettuce and salady stuff in it. But I am sure I am over my 1500 calories for today.

Also, we brought books to read during the flight. So no cost for headphones, movies or TV. The only thing I'm missing is some paper. I should have tossed a journal or pad of paper in to write notes on, or do some brainstorming mindmaps on. We couldn't find blank paper of any kind - journal or otherwise in any of the airports.

krbshappy: thanks for the kick in the pants!

The fence is an issue because we live in town in an upscale neighborhood and the condition of ours is an embarassment to the neighborhood...it's falling down, boards popped off it, and propped up with a 2x4 at the moment! But you're right. It can wait. We see the kids once a year. Next year it's their turn to come visit us.

ETA: forgot to mention I have two very loaded bags...one rang in at 42 lbs. (the limit is 50) and the other at 14 (limit 22). However the 42 lb. one is about half the weight of gifts for people. The 14 lb. one is my carry on (way over my 10 lb. doctor imposed limit!), and is heavy because my laptop alone is 11 lbs. Add the digital SLR and a book, and voila, 14 lbs. Ouch! It's heavy! However I am under weight limits, which means no extra charges.

**frugalfoster** · 06-22-2011, 08:52 PM

this will be interesting...keep us in the loop on how you're doing..:-)

**Libby** · 06-22-2011, 09:09 PM

peanut - if you and DH can handle it, Subway has their $5 foot long subs. A select set of them are $5 and if you're lucky, you may encounter locations that offer a different sub/weekday as their daily special for $6 as well as those select $5 ones. DF and I could live off of Subway so we'd have no prob eating that for lunch daily. On days where we're hungry, we each get our own foot long and on days where we're not so hungry, we split a sub - just ask for different toppings for your half. We would bring our drinks from home (usually water) or buy at the groc store along with treats - granola bars, cookies etc.

HTH!

Also, while cleaning out receipts today, I came across one from Kelsey's where a group of us met up. With a soda, starter, entree & desssert - each persons bill incl tx came up to anywhere between $25-$30/per person. Higher if there was alcohol involved.

ETA: Just noticed you stopped in TO - did you google hobby shops from there that you could shop and find specific materials you're looking for? Yes, I know, promoting shopping = bad Libby

**peanut** · 06-23-2011, 01:01 AM

No time to shop in TO.

Just breezing through... So far so good. DSIS#1 has told me to raid her fridge for breakfast, and gave me $50 to buy her some groceries tomorrow while she's working. No sweat. We made a list. We babysit her kids (? - they're like 15 and 18!

) Actually she's just happy not to have to go grocery shopping.

She also offered up coolers and camping equipment! While we won't need most of the camping equipment, it would be nice to have maybe a stove or something, as well as a cooler.