1. PERSONAL FINANCE

10 Money-Saving Vacation Hacks

10 Money-Saving Vacation Hacks
BY Aimee Bennett
 Updated 
Feb 1, 2025
Key Takeaways:
  • You'll enjoy your vacation more if you don't go into debt for it.
  • Earn money for a trip by renting out a spare room or getting a side job.
  • Open a vacation account and make automatic deposits to it.

You work really hard, so it’s important to stop every once and a while to relax and recharge on a vacation with family or friends. But if you are also trying to pay off debt, taking a trip can bring up feelings of guilt about spending money. Plus, while you’re on vacation, it can be hard to relax because you’re worried about the credit card bills that will arrive after you get back.

To help with that, here are tips on how to save for vacation as well as how to save money on vacation. The goal is to help you get the vacation relaxation you deserve without any guilt!

Save Money for Travel

  1. Rent Out a Room: More and more people rent out a spare room to traveling guests via AirBnB. If you have the space, you could earn a bit of extra cash while you meet new people from all corners of the world.

  2. Get a Side Job: From using your car to do some driving for Lyft or Uber to finding a seasonal job such as working weekends at the farmer’s market, a few hours of extra work each week could make a big difference. And since some of this work will keep you busy, you’ll have less time to spend money! If the cost of child-care is holding you back from getting more work, there are other options. Check out opportunities for call center and data entry work that you can do online, from home.

  3. Open a Vacation Account: Open a savings account you’ll only use for vacation funds. Set up automatic deposits each week or month—whatever you choose—to help save effortlessly. A few regularly deposited dollars will add up faster than you may think. Use an online bank, and you’ll make it harder for yourself to access (and spend) the funds before it’s vacation time.

Plan Smart

  1. Set Up Flight Alerts: It’s easy to create a price alert to your dream destination and by doing so, you’ll be able to snag a flight when it’s at a great price and save money for travel.

  2. Consider Off the Beaten Path: Whether it’s going during the shoulder season or heading to second-tier locales, there’s ways to find a relaxing destination that may be less popular if you look around or time it right. For example, if you are a beach person, consider traveling to the Caribbean in June instead of January or select one of the lesser-known islands. The costs may be significantly less, plus there could be fewer tourists.

  3. Get a House, Not a Hotel: When planning for the family, it can often be cheaper to stay at a house via AirBnB or VRBO. It may feel less luxurious, but you’ll be able to save on the nightly accommodation fee and hotel tax. And, instead of paying for restaurant meals plus tips, you can stock up on groceries and prepare less expensive meals and sandwiches to take with you as you explore.

Vacation Like a Local

  1. Eat Street Food: If you eat every meal at a sit-down restaurant, your expenses will add up quickly. In many cities, food trucks are popular gourmet alternatives that feature everything from Korean tacos to New England lobster rolls. And while sometimes you might have to literally sit on the curb, some food trucks supply a small seating or standing area, which might be a bit easier if you’re feeding a family. Try to stick to street food for two of the meals each day—you’ll be eating authentic local culture, while also saving lots of dollars.

  2. Snap Photos: Often people get swept up in the moment of wanting to hold on to the memory by buying souvenirs. But it’s unlikely you will love and treasure the overpriced refrigerator magnet or t-shirt just because they feature the location’s name. It’s better to take photos of the great place you’re visiting rather than spend money on stuff that might eventually end up on the back of a shelf or in a donation pile.

  3. Find Free Entertainment: During the summer, many cities offer free evening events such as opera in the park or live jazz at the museum plaza. These places are perfect for an evening picnic that you can create from a great local cheese shop or premium deli.

Additionally, there are often free tours at some state and national buildings and parks—and these locations might be in cities as well, such as Will Rogers State Park in Los Angeles or the gorgeous state capital building in Harrisburg.

10. The Ultimate Stress Reliever

If you’re struggling with a lot of debt, figuring out how to save money for a trip can add even more stress to your life—stress that no vacation, no matter how affordable it is, can relieve. A more effective way to deal with this stress could be to start exploring debt solutions that could help you get out of debt once and for all, so that planning a vacation becomes fun instead of stress. Click here to learn about how to get out of debt.

Give one of our friendly Certified Debt Consultants a call at 800-230-1553 to learn more about the options you’re interested in most. They will be happy to answer your questions about those options (not just the debt settlement program Freedom Debt Relief offers). No single solution is right for everyone, so our goal is to provide clarity and help you find the best debt solution for you.

In the meantime, check out our How to Manage Debt Guide. This free download goes over several debt options in detail, and it’s a great starting point for figuring out how to tackle your debt. Start dealing with your debt now, and the next vacation you plan could be more “dream” and less “budget”!

Debt relief by the numbers

We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during November 2024. This data reveals the diversity of individuals seeking help and provides insights into some of their key characteristics.

FICO scores and enrolled debt

Curious about the credit scores of those in debt relief? In November 2024, the average FICO score for people enrolling in a debt settlement program was 586, with an average enrolled debt of $25,411. For different age groups, the FICO scores varied. For instance, those aged 51-65 had an average FICO score of 587 and an enrolled debt of $26,912. The 18-25 age group had an average FICO score of 550 and an enrolled debt of $14,146. No matter your age or debt level, it's reassuring to know you're not alone. Taking the step to seek help can lead you towards a brighter financial future.

Student loan debt  – average debt by selected states.

According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) the average student debt for those with a balance was $46,980. The percentage of families with student debt was 22%. (Note: It used 2022 data).

Student loan debt among those seeking debt relief is prevalent. In November 2024, 27% of the debt relief seekers had student debt. The average student debt balance (for those with student debt) was $48,703.

Here is a quick look at the top five states by average student debt balance.

StatePercent with student loansAverage Balance for those with student loansAverage monthly payment
District of Columbia34$71,987$203
Georgia29$59,907$183
Mississippi28$55,347$145
Alaska22$54,555$104
Maryland31$54,495$142

The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a student loan balance over $0.

Student debt is an important part of many households' financial picture. When you examine your finances, consider your total debt and your monthly payments.

Manage Your Finances Better

Understanding your debt situation is crucial. It could be high credit use, many tradelines, or a low FICO score. The right debt relief can help you manage your money. Begin your journey to financial stability by taking the first step.

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