How to Plan Your Summer Vacation on a Budget
Rebecca Guardiola, Community President , Oak Creek–27th Street
How can I enjoy my summer vacation without coming home to a drained savings account?
Summer travel should be about making memories, not worrying about overspending. Whether you’re planning a road trip, a family vacation, or a weekend getaway, a little preparation can help your travel budget go further.
Here are a few ways to keep spending in check
Don’t skip the details
When you’re planning, list potential costs, big and small: airfare is an obvious expense, but the gifts you want to bring home can pile up fast. Tracking these in our digital banking app helps you stay on course in real-time.
Watch the price at the pump
Fuel costs add up quickly on road trips. Use gas-tracking apps, like Gas Buddy, to find the best local prices and consider credit cards that offer rewards for fuel purchases.
Stay in control while you travel
Before your trip, use our Card Suite Lite app to manage your debit card anywhere. Get instant purchase alerts, set spending limits, and enable location-based controls to help protect your card and avoid unexpected interruptions while you’re away.
Of course, a vacation budget starts before you leave home. Setting money aside in advance can help you travel with confidence. Our Life Moments Savings Account is a high-yield account designed precisely for this. Opening it as a companion to your checking account lets you automate regular transfers to reach short-term savings goals—like a summer trip with the family—without mixing those funds with your emergency reserves.
For those planning further ahead, the WaterStone Bank Purpose CD is an excellent tool for disciplined saving. With just $100 to open, it offers online banking access to track your balance and a guaranteed, fixed return for a 12-month term, ensuring your travel fund will grow steadily and won’t be touched until you’re ready to book your trip.
With the right budgeting and saving tools, you can focus less on your finances and more on enjoying your adventure.
Safe travels!
