Tina AnimThe Village Financial Resource Center

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Q: Money is tight, but we’d still like to take a family vacation. Any advice?A: Going on a vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little planning and thriftiness, you can have fun, make some lasting memories and not be financially worse off in the end.

The first thing to consider is how much you can afford without having to depend on credit cards. Unless you plan to pay it off right away, it is not a good idea to put vacation expenses on a credit card.

1. Deal websitesCheck out daily deal websites, such as Groupon

and LivingSocial, which offer discounts on everything from fine dining and live entertainment to spa treatments and discounted vacation packages.

2. Discounted movie ticketsLook for special movie showings at your local

theater. Also, check out AAA for discounted tickets if you are a member.

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Keeping in touch

“Keeping in Touch” is a monthly publication for employees covered by The Village Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through their employer’s benefit package. If you have questions about your EAP benefit, or if you would like to access services, call 1-800-627-8220.

how to have moresummer fun

f o r l e s s m o n e yBy Allison Martin | MoneyTalksNews

We’re often encouraged to live life to the fullest, as tomorrow

is not promised. But what happens when our wallets say otherwise? The good news is

that there are many ways to be entertained without

breaking the bank.

June 2019

And don’t forget about the matinees. They’re not as cheap as watching movies at home from Redbox or Netflix, but you can definitely save a nice chunk of change.

3. Fine dining for lessInstead of a dinner date with the family,

try heading out during the lunch hour to take advantage of the midday specials. Also, peruse the restaurant’s website for coupons and sign up for the mailing list to receive promotional offers.

If you prefer to kick back and relax with an adult beverage, happy hour is always waiting for you.

4. Live entertainmentCheck local listings in the newspaper

or online to find out what free events are taking place in your local area or community. The library and local churches may also advertise these types of events.

5. Less expensive sporting eventsThere’s nothing better than a day or

evening out with the family at a sporting event, and tickets to minor league or semi-pro games cost much less than their professional counterparts.

And remember: At amateur sporting events, the parking’s a lot closer and the hot dogs are way cheaper.

6. Public libraryThe books and DVDs are always

available to be borrowed for free. You can often take advantage of free courses or reading groups.

7. Lending a helping handIt never hurts to do some good in the

community and meet new friends in the process. Volunteer work is very fulfilling and a great source of entertainment. To find opportunities in your area, contact local shelters, food banks, other nonprofits, and the parks and recreation department.

8. Exploring the great outdoorsWhy not head to a local or state park to

picnic and enjoy a scenic view? You can also visit national parks at little or no cost to you. And if you don’t want to pay the admission price that applies to 133 of the 401 national parks, you can always visit on a free entrance day.

9. Family fun nightSpend quality time together over a

boardgame, deck of cards, or a movie on the couch.

10. The local zooGeneral admission to the zoo can be a

bit pricey, so check around for a schedule of discounted or free admission days throughout the year.

11. Local college eventsIf you live near a college or university,

you may be able to attend sporting and arts events for little to no cost to you and your family. Visit the online calendar to learn more about the festivities on campus that are open to the public.

12. Camping outNo need to head to a campground,

unless you insist upon doing so. Grab the marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate and heat them up in the microwave to make s’mores. And to top things off, grab a tent and set it up in the backyard, and you’re good to go.

13. Letting the creative juices flowPut your creative talents to use, and

get the entire family on board for a do-it-yourself project. Great ideas include gardening, painting, and building household furnishings and fixtures. After all, team work makes the dream work, and your vision to get things done around the house may just become a reality.

14. Taking a staycationBeen looking to get away? Try a

staycation instead. You can still relax, take in local sites and save a ton of cash that would otherwise be spent on travel arrangements.Reprinted with permission from https://www.moneytalksnews.com

Fun, from Page 1

Start by itemizing your costs. Some of the things to consider are: • Where to go, when and mode of

transportation• Accommodations and how to get

around• Cost of food and souvenirs

Once you have a dollar amount, start saving towards your trip and come up with ways to cut down on some of the vacation costs.

One of the easiest ways to cut cost is to travel to your vacation spot during off season. Traveling even a week or two outside of peak season can translate into huge savings. Some of the perks that come with traveling off season are low airfare, lower hotel

rates, less cost for tours, leisure activities and souvenirs. And as an added bonus you do not have to deal with huge crowds or waiting in long lines for attractions.

Accommodation usually makes up a huge chunk of vacation costs. Consider using Airbnb or VRBO to rent a house instead of patronizing traditional hotels. These are usually less expensive and you have the added benefit of having easy access to more space and basic amenities like a stove, microwave and fridge. This will lead to further savings on another big vacation cost – food. You can plan to take snacks along for the trip or grocery shop at your destination for staples such as cereal or granola, fruit, crackers and milk. With this in mind, plan to eat out just once or twice daily. You can then take care of other meals with the supply you have stocked up.

Save on transportation cost by using

an app like GasBuddy to help find the lowest prices on fuel, if you will be renting a car or driving. If you happen to vacation in a congested city such as New York, it will actually be cheaper, faster and more exciting to explore by walking instead of driving. Plus you get to increase your step count in the process! Another option will be to borrow or rent a bike which is common in very big cities.

Finally, if money is extremely tight have a staycation. You will be amazed at the number of fun things and tourist attractions right at your “doorstep” that you take for granted. Set aside a few days and some dollars and dedicate it to being a tourist in your town or city. You might end up discovering a new park or travel spot that you never knew existed.

The whole point of a vacation is to take a break away from our hectic lifestyles. Have fun exploring!

counselor column cont.

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