When Should You Start Saving for a Summer Vacation, and Do You Even Need to Save for It?

First, ask yourself: why do you even need to go somewhere to relax? If you don’t like being at home, the issue might be with either you or your home. Maybe it just seems better where you’re not? You always bring yourself along on a trip. Personally, I have no desire to leave home—in fact, I always enjoy coming back and find it refreshing.

On the other hand, maybe your husband should go alone? That way, you get a break from him, and he gets a break from you. Or maybe it’s not your home you’re avoiding, but your mother-in-law place?

If your home feels uncomfortable or messy—so much so that a random hotel seems like a better option—then maybe your money should go toward fixing that instead of a vacation!

But if you truly enjoy traveling and it’s not just about running away, here’s some advice. First, the best part of a trip is the memories and experiences. A fun weekend road trip with friends to a nearby city will be far more memorable—and enjoyable—than a week of doing nothing on a beach in Turkey. Plus, it’ll cost five times less.

Second, never spend your last savings on a vacation. Nothing is worse than coming back broke and realizing work starts tomorrow. That kind of exhaustion will hit you harder than if you never took a break at all. Buy tickets well in advance—it stretches out the excitement. Choose your hotel carefully, check what’s nearby, and plan your walks ahead of time. Planning is part of the fun. Book a few tours too—and pay for them upfront! That way, you won’t waste money on impulse buys, and you won’t skip activities out of laziness. Sure, lying around is easier than exploring, but new experiences are worth the effort.

Another tip: you won’t remember how long your vacation lasted. In five years, you won’t recall if you spent three days or thirteen in Dubai. But the cost difference is huge! I haven’t taken a trip longer than three days in ages, and I don’t plan to start now.

And by the way, why take a break at all? I’m not tired. If you’re constantly exhausted, maybe the problem isn’t a lack of vacations but the job itself.