For many people, going on vacation without taking their credit cards is unthinkable. They are used to paying for everything with their credit cards, and breaking such a habit seems too difficult to them. While it is true that the transition will not be too easy, it is not going to be impossible either.
How to vacation without using credit
Use cash
Cash is a great way to control your spending at any given moment. By deciding to use cash on your vacation, you essentially make a conscious effort to spend only what you can afford. You will be able to know in advance which restaurants you can visit, how much money can you spend at the grocery store, which are the hotels you can stay at. You won’t be allowed to overspend only to come home to find huge credit card bills to pay. While that may not let you be as spontaneous as you would want to be during vacation, take comfort in the fact that at least you won’t have to worry over spending too much and getting into debt. For even better results, take with you a specific amount of money, enough to help you pay for basics and nothing more. That way you won’t be tempted to spend more money. Furthermore, you will have to look for even cheaper deals to make sure the money you have will be enough. Keep in mind that when using cash, you qualify for discounts, so take advantage of that to bargain and negotiate in general for the best price you can find.
Use a debit card
If you do not feel safe using only cash during your vacation, then you can opt for a debit card. With a debit card, you will be able to deduct money directly from a savings or a checking account, provided there is enough balance in there. This is a lot better than using a credit card, as you will be able to deduct only what is left in your account (unless overdraft is on option, where you will be able to deduct some more money). With a credit card, the temptation to overspend would be too big, knowing that only minimum payment would be required of you at the end of the month. If you are afraid that you won’t be able to resist the urge to deduct all the money at once, make sure that the money in your account is not much. That way, even if you finally give in, you will know that you haven’t spend too much.
Going on vacation without using credit is an attainable goal if you are willing and determined to think outside the box and can easily adjust to new spending habits.