This is what dreams are made of: Living a life that allows you to pack up and head out on a trip whenever you choose. Sounds idyllic, right? This is often the perception of retirement. It’s what so many of us have worked so hard for years in order to achieve. But now that you’ve reached retirement and you’re ready to make those dreams a reality, how do you go about it? Here are a few important tips to keep in mind so you can travel more without wrecking your carefully balanced budget:
Plan For Travel Before Retirement
If you’re still in the “how do I get there?” stage, now’s the time to do some serious financial planning. We’re sure you’ve already got a plan in place for your financial future, but it’s important to capitalize on all of the savings options you can, including any catch-up contributions to your IRAs and 401(k)s. Also, be sure to pay off as much debt as possible so you don’t have to worry about those financial responsibilities when you’re no longer drawing regular paychecks.
Stick to Your Budget
When planning a trip, it can be easy to make a few alterations, decide there’s an experience you just can’t live without, and find that you’ve blown right past your budget. Don’t do this! Stick to your budget, no matter how much you want to fudge it a bit. Remember, the more you go past your budget now, the fewer trips you’ll be able to enjoy later.
Travel During Off-Season
It’s certainly appealing to take a trip during the height of summer, when the weather is at its best and many destinations have extra festivals and attractions. But if budget is a concern, the peak season for any location will be a lot more expensive because that’s when everyone with school-aged kids is also traveling. Timing your trip for even a week before or after peak season can help you save a lot on travel and lodging costs.
Take It Slow
The big benefit of retirement is that you have more time on your hands. If you can travel without hard-and-fast dates in mind, this gives you more opportunities to find the best fares. In many cases, staying longer also means reduced rates at vacation rentals. You’ll also have more time to step off the beaten track to find where the locals dine and relax — a great way to save money.
Skip International Phone Plans
When you’re abroad, especially if you’ll be gone for a while, it’s important to keep in touch with everyone back home. But the international plan offered by your cell service provider could be the most costly expense of traveling abroad. Grabbing a SIM card once you reach your destination is better, but it can get expensive quickly if you use a lot of data — say, for video calling everyone back home or constantly running a map app. Instead, grab a Sapphire international WiFi device so you can get all the data you need and pay like a local wherever you go.
Learn more about our global travel WiFi device and shop Sapphire online to make sure you have secure, affordable international WiFi wherever your travels take you.