Summer is over, and we didn’t have any long-extended vacations.

Bummer right? 

 Wrong 😊 

Luckily, we Tennesseans live in a county that gives our son two weeks for Fall break. When most of the country is in school we get some play time.  This means that we are in full-on vacation mode and have been for several months now. 

Pretty awesome, I know! 

Let me tell you, going on a road trip for almost 14 days is 

1. Fun
2. Crazy
3. EXPENSIVE

But the good news is that we’ve been able to find deals with hotels and make pit stops to stay at a friend’s home to defer the cost. (But it’s also a great time to catch up with my buddy and reminisce!)

We make sure we plan plenty of entertainment along the way, whether is a roadside attraction or scenic overlook. And let’s not forget the food! Let me say,  food is not cheap! Although we do pack a bunch of healthy options to munch on in the car, there are some traditions that we as a family must partake in.   

Oh, yes,  there are always stops at a DDD (Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) or specialty restaurants.  

With all that said, how does the average American family usually pay for a trip like that?  

You got it!!  Credit cards (sigh).  

But I’d like you to be weird and consider another way of living. The way my wife and I have been vacationing for years. It’s the plan-ahead method. (No, I’m not trying to be funny, just a little sarcastic!)

Let me take a step back. 

My wife, Koriann, is a bit of a crazy runner. Back in March, she shared that she really wanted to run her 10th marathon in the scenic state of Utah. This marathon just happened to coincide with our son’s Fall break. 

Bingo! We’re going to Utah, baby!

This is where you lean in. This is where the plan ahead method comes in. This is where I’m asking you to be weird.

(Notice this is NOT where I take out my credit card.)   

When the decision was made to take this adventure to Utah, the first step I took was running the numbers. I figured the trip would cost upwards up $4,000. How did I do this? You have to do the legwork. Plan the trip out from start to finish – hotels, meals, activities, gas, extra cushion, etc. 

After a bit of careful calculation, it came down to $130 a week from March until the last week of September to be financially ready for the trip. 

Doable? If you budget, it’s a resounding yes! 

On the other hand, if I were the average American using a credit card at 11.99%, it would take 20 months to pay that off IF paying just the minimum.  HOWEVER, the average interest rate these days is over 24% (as of September 23’).  This means it would take 26 months to pay it off

 (Gut Punch!). 

Can I ask you a pointed question? And yes, it’s purely rhetorical:

Is it worth paying for a fun, crazy, and expensive trip over 26 months AFTER the fact?  

Just let it marinate for a bit. 

And when you pull into the driveway after 14 days of excitement, you can unload the car knowing that you can now plan your next trip rather than plan on paying down a credit card for the next two years.