Planning a Vacation After Deployment
Planning a Vacation After Deployment
We try to take a couples vacation every year to help us reset and spend some alone time together. We usually save toward our vacations throughout the year and try to go during off-peak times to help save more. We usually book on a card which helps us collect rewards and agree to pay a certain amount on it each month, but make sure it is paid off a month or so before vacation.
After my husband’s first deployment, we both agreed that we needed a vacation alone together. He asked that I request the time off and planned a surprise trip, a month after returning home. He had saved enough money from his special pay and was able to plan a two-week trip to Greece for under $3,000. It was a much-needed vacation for us both and the best one we ever took!
MilSpouse Money
Mission Response:
Way to go on saving for your trip to Greece! What a beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Vacations are a wonderful way to connect with your family and many milspouses can relate to taking a vacation after a deployment. Like Joderle, plan ahead to ensure your next vacation is not a strain on your finances. Avoid using a credit card or other high interest debt to fund your vacation. Instead, set a SMART goal to fund your trip and set aside money each pay period until you reach it. SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It is important to know how your goal fits into your overall spending plan, so if you don’t have a plan in place now would be a great time to get started. Check out Money Ready 101: Create a Budget and our spending plan worksheet for more information.
Credit cards may offer incentives like travel rewards or low introductory interest rates but proceed with caution! The incentives may come with additional requirements and interest rates can increase dramatically following a low introductory period. Make sure you understand the terms of your credit card and how your actions impact your credit reputation. Our Money Ready 101 resources, Understand Credit and Manage Debt, can help you learn more!
