Are you dreaming of a summer vacation? Me too!
Doesn’t a break from your daily schedule to get away and spend quality time with your family sound amazing? YES!
Is the cost holding you back? Keep reading!
Vacations can be costly, but my husband and I are firm believers that everyone needs to recharge by getting away from work, and/or school. Every summer we take a week to focus on our girls, fitness, good food and spending time with our extended family that we vacation with.
Time away can really clear your mind. My husband and I even use the drive time to our destination as time to talk through any goals, issues or other plans. We actually look forward to our 8 hour drive almost as much as our week long vacation.
But the reality is that the funds aren’t always so readily available. Hopefully these ideas will give you the inspiration you need to find the cash for your summer vacation.
10 Ways to Find Cash for Your Summer Vacation
1. Teach or Tutor your Skills & Hobbies
Do you play an instrument? Are you really good at a particular sport? Are you fluent in a second language? If you have a skill that others can learn from, teach it to make some extra cash.
- My husband teaches private swimming lessons.
- A friend makes extra money teaching piano.
- Another friend is a retired teacher and tutors students.
- You get the idea!
2. Sell Your Crafts/Baked Good
Are you a knitter, painter, or baker? Do you crochet or decoupage? Monetize your talents.
- A friend makes and sells cookies and candies.
- My mother makes and sells raggedy Ann & Andy dolls.
- Are you good at decorating cakes? Decorate and sell cakes for birthdays, baby showers, graduation, etc.
- Are you a skilled photographer? Offer your services for senior or family portraits.
3. House-Sit
When people get away over the summer, many would gladly pay for someone to watch over their home. You don’t even have to stay at the home, you could just check in daily to collect the mail, water the plants and garden, feed the goldfish, open/close blinds, etc.
4. Pet Sitting, Dog Walking and/or “Pick Up”
If you’re a pet lover, offer pet sitting for owners while they are on vacation or at work. Services could also include dog walking, and/or poop pick up.
We got our dog, Ruby, last summer and we didn’t want to put her in a kennel so soon after we brought her home. During our vacation, we hired a college kid (whom we trusted) to stay at our house, collect the mail, water our vegetable garden, and take care of the dog. That included feeding, walking, and picking up her poop. We paid her $20 a day.
5. Yard/Lawn Maintenance and/or Snow Removal
If you have a green thumb, offer yard and lawn services: mow lawns, pull weeds, water gardens, plant flowers, power-wash driveways or decks are just a few ideas.
Also, if you’re capable, find work shoveling snow and ice off driveways, sidewalks, and cars.
6. [Temporarily] Sacrifice the Small Stuff.
What’s more important: a summer getaway or dinner from a drive thru? Do you really need that new pair of sandals? Ask yourself before a purchase, “is this worth more than our summer vacation?” You’ll be surprised at what you’ll put back just so you can lounge by a pool.
7. Wash Cars
8. Run Errands
Errands might include: grocery or gift shopping, driving someone to appointments.
9. Housekeeping
These services could include: general or extensive house-cleaning, laundry, window washing, freezer cooking. Your target customer could be seniors or work at home moms who need some extra help when their kids are home from school over the summer.
10. Have a Good Old-Fashioned Yard Sale
Having a yard sale is the quickest way to make immediate cash. We participate in our neighborhood’s yard sale every spring and put the money towards our summer vacation. You kill two birds with one stone: get rid of stuff and make cash. It’s a win-win. Also, local Facebook groups dedicated to selling stuff have become quite popular.
I happen to LOVE yard sales and consider myself a pro, so check out my 7 Tips for Yard Sale Success.
But beware, people want to pay yard sale prices at a yard sale, so if you have more time, you could make more by selling larger or more valuable items on Craigslist, local consignment shops, or a local Facebook buy/sell page.
How Much Should You Charge?
Do some competitive research in your area and come up with a price that’s fair for your time and resources and that your potential customers would be willing to pay.
When this vacation is over, starting planning for next year.
Follow the same principle that we use to pay for yearly expenses. Plan your budget that you want to spend on your next year’s vacation and divide by 12. That number is what you need to save each month for next year.
While on vacation…
Follow these 8 Tips to Save Money While ON Vacation.
Tell us about your summer vacation plans in the comments? Are you taking a trip? How will you pay for it?
beach photo credit
