What’s summer without a vacation? The two go hand-in-hand, like picnics and the Fourth of July. If you’re taking a vacation this summer, you’re probably already starting to think about what to pack, scheduling your accommodations, and prepping your itinerary. But don’t forget to prepare financially and take some basic security precautions as well. Doing your homework ahead of time can help to eliminate stress during your trip, and can make for a more enjoyable homecoming as well.
It’s a good idea to start your preparation by creating a vacation budget. Make a list of the expenses you anticipate, including your lodging and transportation costs, as well as your entertainment and food expenses. And be sure to set aside some extra spending money for things like souvenirs. By preparing a budget ahead of time, you’ll be less tempted to pull out the plastic and start charging unplanned purchases to your credit card. After all, who wants to come home to a bunch of vacation-related credit card bills?
If you’ll be heading abroad, across the country, or even out of state, it’s a good idea to notify your bank ahead of time about your destination as well as your planned travel dates. Giving your bank a heads-up will alert them that your accounts may have more frequent activity or activity in areas outside of your normal spending radius. For instance, if you let your bank know that you’ll be vacationing in London, they won’t be alarmed by overseas transactions that would otherwise result in a fraud alert being placed on your account. Warning the bank ahead of time can help to prevent them from mistaking your vacation spending as fraudulent and putting a freeze on your debit or credit card.
And be sure to alert your bank if you plan to make any major purchases while you’re away. Many financial institutions set daily spending limits that if exceeded, could trigger a fraud warning preventing you from making a purchase or taking funds out of your account. The last thing you want on your vacation is to not have access to your own money, or the embarrassment of having your purchase declined at a restaurant or store!
If you plan to be on vacation for a week or more, it’s also a good idea to strongly consider suspending your mail and newspaper delivery during your time away. It’s just a matter of contacting the postal service a few days before you leave to initiate the stop in service. You can then resume your delivery and pick up your accumulated mail when you return from vacation. Otherwise, your mail will start to pile up in the mailbox, including bills and credit card offers that contain sensitive information and could put you at risk of identity theft. And your newspapers will be laying around, signaling to neighbors, and anyone driving by, that no one is home.
On that note, don’t advertise that you won’t be home on social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram either. Posting updates from the airport, or photos of your vacation may seem harmless, but they let everyone connected to your online profile (or the general public, depending on your privacy settings) know that you’re gone. And the more people who know you’re not home, the greater chance your house could become the target of a break-in. Imagine how horrible it would be to come home after a great vacation to find that your house had been ransacked.
Remember, a little bit of planning can go a long way with helping to make your vacation, and your return home, as fun and stress-free as possible!