Don’t Let Rising Costs Limit Your Travels

Don’t Let Rising Costs Limit Your Travels

MILWAUKEE, May 2, 2012 - American families take an average of 4.5 trips every year. This year, it might be harder to do that, since the most recent Travel Price Index rose 3.6 percent year over year. This is primarily a result of rising gas prices, but lodging is getting more expensive, as well.

“Summer road trips and holiday flights home to see family are part of the fabric of this country,” said Kara Kaiser, Regional President, M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group. “With a little advance planning and budgeting, families might not have to forgo their vacation traditions even though travel is more expensive.”

Kaiser offers a few ways to make saving for vacation a little easier and more organized.

  — Have a plan in mind. If you know where you’re vacationing, when you want
      to go, and what types of activities you’ll participate in, then you’ll
      have a better idea of the trip’s cost, and you’ll be able to budget more
      effectively.
  — Be realistic about the funds you’ll need. When you arrive at the
      destination, will you be eating out at nice restaurants? Seeing shows or
      attending sporting events? And don’t forget to account for the souvenirs
      you’ll want to pick up. Once you have a set budget, stick to it and
      avoid overspending while vacationing.
  — Set a monthly savings goal. Based on your trip budget and the amount of
      time before the vacation, determine how much you’ll need to save every
      month to build up your trip fund. If you’re travelling abroad or going
      somewhere with high food and lodging costs, this figure might be pretty
      high. If it’s so high that saving is unrealistic, consider rescheduling
      the trip for a later date.
  — Use your planning as a teaching opportunity and talk to your kids about
      saving, budgeting and spending. If your kids are old enough, engage them
      in the process and set a goal for them to save a small amount to
      contribute to the experience.
  — Start saving. It’s never too early to start saving for travel -
      especially if you make frequent trips or travel far. Some people prefer
      a big jar on the kitchen counter, while others will open a new savings
      account, or utilize short-term investment channels. Either way, pick a
      method that works for you. And don’t be embarrassed to ask for help -
      family or friends might have creative ideas to help, and financial and
      banking professionals can advise you on how to meet your goals.

“Vacations and spending time with family and friends create life-long memories. Planning, control and consistency are key, whether the goal is a vacation or a new car,” added Kaiser.

About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 650 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank’s commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank(SM) and M&I(®) are trade names used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

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