The Travel Savings Hack: How to Fund Your Dream Vacation Through Smart Banking

Most of us crave some time away from our regular routine to truly unwind and experience the finer things in life. Travel plans are always at the back of the mind but rarely come to fruition. If you find yourself in the same boat, planning your dream vacation is easier than you think.

A little planning goes a long way in easing the financial burden to fund your trip. And your handy tool is your savings account. Learn how you can leverage it to make your much-awaited travel plans a reality.

Role of savings account travel planning 

Building your travel fund with a savings account is a smart move, as it gives you a natural start with your monthly budgeting. You can:

• Begin without overthinking

You can start where you are and slowly build from there. Choose an account with a high savings account interest rate so that luxuries like travel can be accommodated with ease. You can select  banks like IDFC FIRST Bank offering interest rates of up to 6.50% p.a.%

• Grow funds steadily

Even if the returns on a savings account are minimal, your funds aren’t sitting idle. Surplus funds give you the confidence of travel-planning without pressure. You also have the option to enable the FD sweep-out facility, where funds are automatically transferred to an FD after reaching a specified limit in your savings account. 

• Simplify management

You get a robust banking app with a savings account that lets you track your savings, transfers, real-time account balance, and more. With this visibility, you can adjust your savings and make a monthly travel budget.

Tips for building a vacation fund with a savings account

You can fund your dream vacation with smart banking practices and make the most of your savings account. Here are some easy, actionable steps:

• Set an attainable goal

You need a goal before you start saving to keep you motivated. So, start with the planning stage. Put your vision on a paper and estimate the overall expense for tickets, accommodation, experiences, etc., you may incur on your trip. Once you have a ballpark figure, you can set a monthly budget against it.

• Arrive at a monthly breakup

When you set a ballpark for your trip cost, break it down month-wise to know how much you need to contribute month-wise. Accordingly, get a monthly estimate of all the essential expenses to know non-negotiables. This way, you clearly know where your money goes each month.

• Automate savings

Consciously reminding yourself to save each month is not as practical because of the various day-to-day tasks you tackle. So, it helps to set up an automatic transfer from your salary account right after you open savings account online to grow funds effortlessly.

• Skip avoidable expenses

You don’t want to go off track and dig into your savings for avoidable expenses. For example, resist the urge to shop, dine out, or make big-ticket purchases driven by impulses.

• Cash-in on bank offers

Most banks, including IDFC FIRST Bank, have exclusive offers on the debit card offered with the account. Some common travel benefits include accident cover, deals on travel bookings, limited period offers on accommodation, and more to ease your trip cost.

• Save first, spend later  

It’s a golden rule of saving to set aside funds as soon as your income hits the account. Doing this first reduces the risk of overspending elsewhere. It also creates a natural separation from the disposable income.

• Review and adjust

Travel costs inflate, and as time goes by, your requirements for the vacation may also evolve. So, periodically reviewing helps you adjust your contributions accordingly. It also helps you track your progress.

Final words

Your “someday” travel plans no longer have to keep you pondering over what could be. You can take control of your funds with steady efforts, with a handy tool at your disposal: your savings account. Designed exclusively for disciplined savings and convenient management, a savings account serves as a good base to grow your funds. You can also link it to other investment instruments like FD or mutual fund SIPs for lucrative returns. Regardless of your approach, consistent and intentional contributions each month make a difference.