Lesson 49: Lesson 49: Holiday Travel
Hello Revolutionists,
We are coming into the busiest time of year for travel in Australia. Christmas, New Year and summer holidays often mean driving or travelling long distances and this week we are going to discover some ways to save on holiday travel, including holidaying at home.
Our roads and highways are very busy from about now until after Australia Day, so if you do have to drive any distance be sure the car gets serviced a week or so before you travel. At the very least check the oils and water, and the tyre pressures. Make sure your auto club membership is up to date; it will prove invaluable in case of a breakdown and you need roadside assistance.
If you are travelling with children, make sure you have (healthy) snacks and plenty of water and books or games to keep them entertained. The happier they are the less likely you are to hear the melodious chant from the back seat "are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
If you're planning on travelling by train (which is a wonderful way to travel) or plan, then you should have already booked your tickets. If you haven't, hop to it. Seats are selling fast and you don't want to be stranded come the holidays. If you collect points on your credit card, see if you can't use some of them to book your tickets or pay for accommodation or even entertainment while you're away.
Your Travel Budget
If you've included your holiday travel in your Christmas budget, you'll need to deduct the expenses from the total. If you have a separate holiday travel category in your Spending Plan, remember to deduct from there.
Here are some items to keep in mind when you create your holiday travel budget:
Airline or train tickets
Airport parking
Transportation when you get to your destination (buses, taxis, hire car)
Fuel (if you are driving)
Car servicing
Hotel
Meals
Sightseeing
Pet sitter
Travel entertainment for the kids (a new book, or if you have a portable DVD player you might get them a new DVD etc)
Finding Travel Deals
There have been some incredible travel deals lately. If you don't normally subscribe to airline and travel industry newsletters, now is the time to do so. You can always unsubscribe once you've booked your tickets. They are all offering great prices and special bundles and there is sure to be one to suit you and your travel budget. If you're a member of an auto club you can also get great travel, accommodation and entertainment deals through them.
All airlines off email alerts about specials so don't hesitate to sign up. Many of them also offer newsletters, where they announce special sale prices before they are released to the general public. Be sure you know and understand the baggage requirements for your airline.
Here's a trick I used when I'm flying. I pack all my clothes into a "green bag". If it doesn’t fit in the green bag it doesn't come with me. Then I transfer them to a small suitcase I have that fits in the overhead locker. I use a small overnight bag as my handbag (I put my handbag inside it) as my second piece of luggage (it holds toiletries, extra shoes etc.) and I don't have to check any luggage, ever. I can travel for weeks (as long as I can wash some clothes) with just these two pieces of luggage. Best of all I'm off the plane and out of the airport, no waiting around at the luggage carousel. This may not work for you if you are travelling for a long time or have a large family, but for short trips, business trips or even short holidays it really is easy.
Do your research and you'll save. Find out about the city you're visiting, you may be able to book your trip in the off-season and save around 40% on accommodation and car rentals. And investigate the cheapest day to fly - traditionally Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday and you'll save on your airfare too. You'll also save if you're prepared to fly between times - early in the morning, mid-day and late at night.
Another way to save is to investigate local options. For example you want to visit China, but the organized trips are running close to $4,000. Find a locally published Chinese newspaper and check the travel deals. The travel agencies advertising in the paper will cater to Australian Chinese community and you could have a bundle.
Price breaks are always available, you just have to do your research.
Have a Staycation
I love staying home on holiday. For starters we don't lose any time travelling. And I get to sleep in my own bed, with my own pillows. And there are no additional accommodation charges.
The trick here though is to actually "go on holiday". That means no extra cleaning or gardening, no home maintenance or work. The holiday has to be a holiday, a time of rest and relaxation.
If you choose to staycation, you can choose to tell people you are at home or not. If your phone and doorbell ring constantly, perhaps telling people you are going on holiday will stop that for a while.
Get online and find out what's on in your town. Pretend to be a tourist, and you'll see your city through new eyes. Look for local events, visit the botanic gardens or the zoo, go to some concerts, get on a train and ride to the end of the line, then ride home again. Visit all the local tourist spots and take lots of photos.
Get out there and explore! Even if you live in a small country town I bet there are local sights you've never been to and others you haven't visited in years
You don't need to be busy every day. You can stay in bed until lunchtime, soak in a hot bath, take a book and read in the sun.
What matters is that you relax and do something outside your normal day-to-day routine.
Lesson 49 Challenge: December sets off a time of family togetherness that's priceless. But it requires careful planning and consideration to remain priceless and not become a financial burden. Having a Christmas plan doesn't have to rob the season of it's joy, in fact it's just the opposite. If you have a thoughtfully planned Christmas you'll enjoy the season stress-free, without incurring any additional debt. This week go back over your Christmas plans and make sure you are on track. Check your budget, run over your lists and make any adjustments necessary to stay in budget. Then get ready to eat, drink and be merry!
We are coming into the busiest time of year for travel in Australia. Christmas, New Year and summer holidays often mean driving or travelling long distances and this week we are going to discover some ways to save on holiday travel, including holidaying at home.
Our roads and highways are very busy from about now until after Australia Day, so if you do have to drive any distance be sure the car gets serviced a week or so before you travel. At the very least check the oils and water, and the tyre pressures. Make sure your auto club membership is up to date; it will prove invaluable in case of a breakdown and you need roadside assistance.
If you are travelling with children, make sure you have (healthy) snacks and plenty of water and books or games to keep them entertained. The happier they are the less likely you are to hear the melodious chant from the back seat "are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
If you're planning on travelling by train (which is a wonderful way to travel) or plan, then you should have already booked your tickets. If you haven't, hop to it. Seats are selling fast and you don't want to be stranded come the holidays. If you collect points on your credit card, see if you can't use some of them to book your tickets or pay for accommodation or even entertainment while you're away.
Your Travel Budget
If you've included your holiday travel in your Christmas budget, you'll need to deduct the expenses from the total. If you have a separate holiday travel category in your Spending Plan, remember to deduct from there.
Here are some items to keep in mind when you create your holiday travel budget:
Airline or train tickets
Airport parking
Transportation when you get to your destination (buses, taxis, hire car)
Fuel (if you are driving)
Car servicing
Hotel
Meals
Sightseeing
Pet sitter
Travel entertainment for the kids (a new book, or if you have a portable DVD player you might get them a new DVD etc)
Finding Travel Deals
There have been some incredible travel deals lately. If you don't normally subscribe to airline and travel industry newsletters, now is the time to do so. You can always unsubscribe once you've booked your tickets. They are all offering great prices and special bundles and there is sure to be one to suit you and your travel budget. If you're a member of an auto club you can also get great travel, accommodation and entertainment deals through them.
All airlines off email alerts about specials so don't hesitate to sign up. Many of them also offer newsletters, where they announce special sale prices before they are released to the general public. Be sure you know and understand the baggage requirements for your airline.
Here's a trick I used when I'm flying. I pack all my clothes into a "green bag". If it doesn’t fit in the green bag it doesn't come with me. Then I transfer them to a small suitcase I have that fits in the overhead locker. I use a small overnight bag as my handbag (I put my handbag inside it) as my second piece of luggage (it holds toiletries, extra shoes etc.) and I don't have to check any luggage, ever. I can travel for weeks (as long as I can wash some clothes) with just these two pieces of luggage. Best of all I'm off the plane and out of the airport, no waiting around at the luggage carousel. This may not work for you if you are travelling for a long time or have a large family, but for short trips, business trips or even short holidays it really is easy.
Do your research and you'll save. Find out about the city you're visiting, you may be able to book your trip in the off-season and save around 40% on accommodation and car rentals. And investigate the cheapest day to fly - traditionally Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday and you'll save on your airfare too. You'll also save if you're prepared to fly between times - early in the morning, mid-day and late at night.
Another way to save is to investigate local options. For example you want to visit China, but the organized trips are running close to $4,000. Find a locally published Chinese newspaper and check the travel deals. The travel agencies advertising in the paper will cater to Australian Chinese community and you could have a bundle.
Price breaks are always available, you just have to do your research.
Have a Staycation
I love staying home on holiday. For starters we don't lose any time travelling. And I get to sleep in my own bed, with my own pillows. And there are no additional accommodation charges.
The trick here though is to actually "go on holiday". That means no extra cleaning or gardening, no home maintenance or work. The holiday has to be a holiday, a time of rest and relaxation.
If you choose to staycation, you can choose to tell people you are at home or not. If your phone and doorbell ring constantly, perhaps telling people you are going on holiday will stop that for a while.
Get online and find out what's on in your town. Pretend to be a tourist, and you'll see your city through new eyes. Look for local events, visit the botanic gardens or the zoo, go to some concerts, get on a train and ride to the end of the line, then ride home again. Visit all the local tourist spots and take lots of photos.
Get out there and explore! Even if you live in a small country town I bet there are local sights you've never been to and others you haven't visited in years
You don't need to be busy every day. You can stay in bed until lunchtime, soak in a hot bath, take a book and read in the sun.
What matters is that you relax and do something outside your normal day-to-day routine.
Lesson 49 Challenge: December sets off a time of family togetherness that's priceless. But it requires careful planning and consideration to remain priceless and not become a financial burden. Having a Christmas plan doesn't have to rob the season of it's joy, in fact it's just the opposite. If you have a thoughtfully planned Christmas you'll enjoy the season stress-free, without incurring any additional debt. This week go back over your Christmas plans and make sure you are on track. Check your budget, run over your lists and make any adjustments necessary to stay in budget. Then get ready to eat, drink and be merry!