September 9th, 2009
Fall vacations can sometimes be a bit stressful because typically, everyone in the family will need to return to their routine the moment vacation ends. Here are some helpful hints for transitioning smoothly into — and out of — your fall vacation.
1. Plan ahead.
You’d be amazed what a difference it makes to come home from vacation and find a clean house and no laundry waiting except what lies in your suitcases. A little preplanning may involve scheduling bills to be paid while you’re gone (or once you’re back), checking email once or twice while you’re away, and making a list (hopefully short) of what needs to be done as soon as you return — no sense leaving details to memory!
2. Start Saving Early.
For many families, one of the greatest stressors of vacations involves the expense. By saving early, you can avoid running up credit card debt and ensure that you have plenty of funds for souvenirs, extras, and unplanned expenses. Some banks offer special vacation savings accounts that allow you to use direct deposit from your paycheck, and won’t let you touch the money until it’s time (at least, not without penalties). Consider this: If you’re planning a $3000 vacation, you only need to save $500 for 6 months to have enough savings for your trip. That’s far less stressful than coming home from vacation with $3000 in new credit card debt!
3. Prepare the Kids.
Talk to your kids’ teachers and find out what they will be missing while you’re traveling. Many teachers are required to create lesson plans weeks in advance, so there’s no need to wait until the last minute to arrange a conference. Ask each teacher if there are any materials the child could review before or during the trip to stay on track with the rest of the class. Find out if any tests will be missed, and ask about exam makeup policies. Sure, it may sound like a drag to do homework on vacation, but why not get it done during the long drive or plane ride there? It will get out of the way and your child will have an easy time readjusting once school is back in session.
If you found this article helpful (as well as Part 1 and Part 2), please share it with a friend or post your comments here.
Leave a Reply
