While American attitudes to taking their owed vacation days are changing, the average person still only takes 17.2 days of vacation a year. A year. For many people, money plays a big role in whether they go away on vacation or not too.

As taking a vacation is so good for your health, it’s time we all started learning how to vacation more frugally. Going away is supposed to be relaxing, but debt is the opposite of stress-free. It is possible to enjoy your vacation without getting into debt though.

Would you like to have a guilt-free vacation without debt weighing on your mind? Keep reading to find out how.

Make a Budget

We live in a society that has made it acceptable to live off credit. Except, we all know deep down that it’s not. Debt isn’t always a bad thing, but it is if you can’t afford to be in debt.

When you’re planning your vacation, making a budget is critical to avoiding debt. Be absolutely realistic about your budget and don’t include money you can get on credit. You want to bury your toes in the sand, not your head.

Price up Your Vacation Ideas

Write a list of your vacation ideas. These are the ideas that you and your family want to do, not what Instagram says you should do.

Disregard vacation ideas that are obviously out of your budget right now. With the remaining ideas, price up your top one. Include everything from transport and food to accommodation and activities. Don’t leave anything out, those extras quickly add up.

If it’s out of your budget, price up your next option the same way until you have a clear idea of how much things cost.

Prioritize Wisely

Do you need to go away for seven days? Could you afford your favorite vacation if you switched to six days?

Think about what you care about the most for your vacation. Do you need all-inclusive or would self-catering be fine? Do you need a hotel with a pool? Could you take a metro instead of a taxi from the airport?

Big-ticket attractions might look fun but there are usually plenty of free things to do in vacation destinations too. Is going to a theme park really more important than staying out of debt?

Save Early

Saving early is one of the best ways to afford the vacations you want. By putting a little money away each week for months, when the time comes to book a vacation, you’ll have a stash of dollars. This way, paying for your vacation won’t feel so bad.

If you already have debt that you’re concerned about, it’s important to look into solutions for getting out of debt. By taking control of your debt, you’ll know much more about what you can afford to save.

Enjoy Your Vacation Instead of Worrying About Money

When you make a budget and focus on what’s important, you can enjoy your vacation and get all those health benefits. It’s easy to throw a vacation on the plastic and try to forget it, but it won’t be forgotten for long.

By getting a realistic picture of your financial situation, you can take these steps to plan for an affordable vacation. Relaxation doesn’t have to cost the earth.