Whether you’re seeing the world or just getting out of town for the weekend, the amount of money you have access to has a big impact on your travel plans. I’m always amazed at the number of people for which there is never enough capital to meet their outrageous desires and can blow through what would last me months in a few short days. Budget, people!
But what if you don’t have enough to take a trip – should that deter you from lighting out for the territory if you are burnt out and really need a getaway? It ultimately depends on the person and the situation, so take a long and honest look at your own and decide if you need a little extra before you try to find the best unsecured loans from your closest bank or generous relative.
Some things to keep in mind are:
Will you be able to pay it back?
This is the huge one and one not to be taken lightly. Everyone deludes themselves into thinking they will have the money at a later date, but if you already have heaps of personal debt from everyday life and past vacations, maybe a loan isn’t the best option for you. On the other hand, if your line of work is something seasonal or you’ll be coming into a great deal of money later but don’t have access to it now, a personal loan might be a great idea to take advantage of.
What will you spend it on?
If your reason for taking out a loan is to pay for flights and have a little extra breathing room when you’re travelling, it’s a smart idea. Some people are notorious for spending every last bit they have on everything they see, so any amount they have access to, borrowed or not, could be gone before they know it. Be honest with yourself and spend this money responsibly.
Do you really need the vacation?
We all have friends who always seem to be going away somewhere, whether it’s an all inclusive resort, backpacking across a continent or the notorious snow birds. They convince themselves that they have to go away because it’s what you do at “insert time of year here”. Holidays are great, there’s no denying that, and in the end you’re the one in charge of deciding what you need, but travel can be very addictive and a terrible pursuit for compulsives. Really give it some thought – could you deal with staying home this spring and just save the money? If figuring out how to pay back the money is going to cause you stress, it might be best just to skip the holiday!
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