Do most Americans take vacation each year? Not just take vacation days from work, but an actual vacation. Seems like it’s important to most people. I get that, life these days is demanding and fast paced. Work stress is higher than it’s ever been and the cost of some of our necessities, like insurance, food and taxes has certainly gone up. Yet a vacation is something most people put on their must have list.
According to Forbes. 40% of Americans plan to travel in 2024. 40% of Americans Plan to Travel More In 2024 Vs. 2023 – Forbes Advisor. The younger generation will travel more than others. Is that a good thing? Probably… It’s a catch 22. Travel more when your young and healthy. Or older when it might not be as easy to travel? Maybe it’s something we just need to balance better. Balance as in the time and the cost. Real vacations build memories, and great experiences. It’s a way to spend time with family or friends and experience new things, or just unplug and relax with no schedule.
The average American will spend about $4.000 in 2024 on vacations. Maybe that’s one trip or two small trips. But its important to take some time away from the day to day grind and get away.
Maybe you drive to your destination vs fly, whatever works for you….
So where do we get the money for a vacation? Maybe we plan ahead and squirrel some money into the savings account over a few months to get a chunk of the money set aside BEFORE you book the trip. The scary part is IF you put it all on a credit card and you do not ALLREADY have the money to pay that card off ASAP. Booking a vacation usually requires you to pay with a credit card and that starts to add up quickly! It’s like doing all your Christmas shopping with a credit card. Then you wake up when you get home from that trip stressed, when you see your statement! According to JD Powell, 51% of Americans carry a credit card balance. Survey: Many Americans aren’t paying their credit cards in full (yahoo.com)
So, while a vacation is well needed by most and let’s face it life is short, so lets do fun things and work that into our lives! We also need to work it into our budgets. So, we make some cuts here and there or pick up extra hours with a side hustle, or something. Let’s find some extra coin in the budget to do fun things! But let’s book it when we know we have the cash to pay for it with no regrets!
two chicks talking money. 