These 5 Apps Make Vacation-Saving Fun!
For many of us, saving money is an important part of turning our dream vacation into a reality. But when I hear the S-word, my first reaction is dread. I don’t want to skip Date Nights, fix endless rice-and-bean dinners, or spend my free time sweating over a spreadsheet that I never seem to fully understand.
Fortunately, there are plenty of easier—and more fun—ways to save for your next adventure that don’t involve beans or developing a migraine. To prove it, I want to share 5 creative and budget-friendly apps that will help you make saving an enjoyable part of your daily life!
Tip Yourself allows you to build good habits and build travel savings at the same time. Just like you’d tip someone else for excellent service, now you can tip yourself for a job well done. Went to the gym? Tip yourself! Did all your chores (on chore day, no less)? Tip yourself! Bonus: this app also connects you with a community of fellow tippers who will cheer you on as you go!
Simple helps you set both spending and savings goals, helping you understand what’s “Safe-to-Spend” every day. This way, you can focus on making good daily choices while Simple does the hard work for you—automatically tucking the extra away into a separate, high-yield savings account. (Check out how Johnny used Simple to save for his trip to Europe!)
Trim evaluates your regular spending habits and helps you find “extra” money in your budget that you didn’t know you had. By finding you better deals on regular services like internet and cable and by cancelling unused subscriptions, Trim helps you lower your regular expenses and increase your travel fund without you even noticing.
Qapital turns saving into a game! Set your Goals and Rules according to your personality and preferences, and Qapital will keep you engaged in the process, make saving money fun. Pick how you want to play—er, I mean save—and you’ll fund your next trip in no time.
Honey makes your online shopping sprees cheaper. Just install this free extension on your computer and/or your phone’s web browser, and then any time you’re looking for new digs (or a replacement for the X that your kids broke), Honey will automatically check for coupons and deals! Now, keep in mind: while this app does save you money, it won’t do anything with what you saved. To really get serious, I’d recommend manually moving the difference to a special savings account each time you spend less than expected on a purchase.
Just remember, no matter what tool you choose to stay on track, saving for anything requires sacrifice. You might not think skipping your daily Caramel Macchiato to save a meager $5 is worth it right now. But once you’re gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, down into the Grand Canyon, or standing in awe of the Northern Lights, you’ll realize the experience is that much sweeter because you earned it.
When you’re ready to start saving for your next adventure, I’ll help you pick the perfect destination, find fantastic accommodations, and set a savings goal that fits your budget.
Can’t wait to hear from you!
