Do you budget for vacation?

I don't budget per se ... I just keep grinding hours and when the bank account gets fat enough, I'll take a month long vacation / road trip.

I feel ya on long stretches between vacations. My last significant road trip was December 2015, returning early Jan 2016. Last spring 2017 I did take a long weekend to haul up to Copper Harbor Michigan and back.

2018's not looking good for a road trip vacation. An ankle injury had me off my feet for most of Decemeber 2017, so that was my vacation I guess?

I try to at have or make a rough guess at costs, which somewhat qualifies for a budget. It's usually nothing as formal as a spreadsheet...more along the lines of x miles at $.35 per mile for gas, y nights at $xxx per night for campground, some for admissions or food, and so forth. Basically, it's a back of the envelope sort of computation, perhaps even involving the back of an actual envelope.

Yes. I budget.

I see that you could cut way down on entertainment and camp fees, if you need to do so.

Always, when I was camping and when I fly somewhere.

2gypsies wrote:
I see that you could cut way down on entertainment and camp fees, if you need to do so.

Ya, I get that and more than likely will. I always shoot long and if I come out long so be it. I never want to come up short.........

I will stay on the side of the road or Lowes or wherever for most of my time alone. When I meet the wife in Denver she likes to stay in a campground so you know how that goes.......:R

I'm waaay long on ent costs compared to other vacations. But this year we are going to go on and see lots of stuff so it can get expensive. State parks like Bryce and Zion are 25 bucks + now. :E Plus we are going on a few train rides and stuff like that. One train ride is like $225 bucks for my wife and me. :E


Gordon; I hope you get well soon and get on the road!

I budget for major vacations. Well in advance so I can have the money saved by the time I go. I always estimate fuel price high and mpg low. Better to over-budget than under-budget.

For basic camping trips, I have the costs accounted for in my regular budget - it's just part of my monthly expenses.

No, we practice living on substantially less than we make so we take a little of the surplus to vacation with.

Budgeting is essential no matter if you're retired or working I think. I budget in my daily life for all expenses. I know where I am at financially all the time week to week, month to month. I am retired and on a limited income so budgeting comes into play with me too.

Is camping a cheaper way to go over flying somewhere and staying in hotels? Last time I did that I swore never again. I love the freedom my RV gives me. Its MINE too. My bed, my toilet, my kitchen...MINE and I know its kept clean unlike some hotel rooms I have suffered through a sleepless night in.

I think your food budget is too low. You will have to do a lot of cooking cheap, instead of eating out or buying convenience foods, to hit that number. If I cook frugally for myself, and don't eat out, food is about $75/week. It's a rare person on vacation who can manage that.

Don't know what you have planned for entertainment, but that number looks high, unless you are buying several pricey tickets.