Do You "Tighten" Your Belt In The Weeks Leading Up To THE Trip?

So here I am now 4 weeks out from my Memorial Day trip. Arriving early Saturday May 28th and leaving late (11:30pm) Monday the 30th. I have my budget set aside for what I plan to spend each day and will be doing the envelope system.....I figure I will be far enough away from Luxor that I won't be able to even touch the other days envelopes until I'm ready to get to the room and pass out!

With the general budget already set do you find yourself as the weeks draw closer "tightening" your belt just a bit to save a few more $$$'s for the trip? For instance I am a bachelor and when I went grocery shopping I found myself not splurging for things I normally would and instead going with just the bare essentials because I could save an extra $15 or so without that name brand bag of frozen chicken and instead of the Coca-Cola I went with a few bottles of Iced Tea that will save $$$.

Am I alone in looking to "cut corners" so to speak because I could save just a few more $$$'s over the next few weeks to throw at the trip? When do you start to look at what you spend and think "I could do this and save this" as the trip draws closer?

 

I notice we do some stuff differently... as in avoiding the local casino, but that's about it. We do have $X budgeted for each day's gaming
.

 

I start being more aware when I book the stay. Knowing that my extra/spare cash can be spent in Vegas. I pay for everything before hand but then want money for slots and things 100 a day but if I pay attention I can probably get an extra 50 or so in a day.

 

My "belt tightening" is more in the health/fitness department. I know that a Vegas trip means several days of not working out and consuming an ungodly amount of calories, fat, cholesterol, booze, etc. So I try to put a little more into the workouts and cut back on the bad stuff in the weeks leading up to a trip.

Though, I suppose I do try to hang on to my singles, fives and tens in the weeks/days leading up to Vegas so that I have plenty of tip money in the wallet. Of course, I'm not sure whether that actually helps me save money or causes me to "break" more twenties...

 

Once I book my trip I already have my budget set aside. However I do tighten my belt, I'm a bachelor as well and I find myself eating in more often that going out for diner, also I will get together with my friends in someone house and buy a 12 pack instead of going to a bar.

 

No.

i have the money sitting for only vegas use so my other funds are not touched so i just do regular stuff prior to going. of course my regular stuff is pretty cheap so not like i am out buying yachts or anything.

i do plan for the inevitable "something broke" while on vacation. twice in a row my home computer died while I was in vegas and it wasnt even on. once a laptop died. Another time my cat peed on my computer frying it out. all while i was away. i just plan on it now. Once bought a used car in vegas and it died on the way home in barstow and i had to take the bus the rest of the way.

Got an eviction notice once while in vegas as well. Oh yeah and had a tree fall on my motorcycle that was in the parking lot at my apartment.

the manager moved it for me which was nice and proceeded to break off the kickstand.

Now that i think of it. on two occasions i came back and all of my coworkers had been fired and replaced with all new people. i think they forgot about me as someone else was in my office and i had to use an old storage room as my office. Got transferred once while on vacation too and of course, they didnt tell me until i went to work and everyone was different.

maybe i should pick a different vacation destination come to think of it.

 

With a list like that, I wouldn't blame you! Hope your next Vegas trip doesn't experience any of these!

As for me, I don't change much at all. Before my trip last April, a trip to the local casino the week before fully funded the Vegas bankroll!

 

I do a little bit like avoiding eating out or doing it at cheaper places i always try to pickup a few more hours at work, nothing crazy but maybe just an extra 10-15 hours in the month before the trip

 

I quit severely limit my intake of alcohol the week prior to departure and drink mass quantities of water instead although I pee a lot more but avoid dehydration more consistently. As otdhers have said the money is not in the forefront of issues.

 

yes we limit spending before we go. this time, our entire trip is already paid for (hotel, rental car, even gambling money saved) other than paying bills before we go, we leave the bank acct alone.

 

Yes. Even though I have a separate vacation fund I will do less eating out as well as going out, knowing we are going on vacation.

 

We just kinda go.

 

Yes, I do, even though my bankroll and money for expenses are set before my trip. Now, i often spend a bit MORE pre trip on things like a special mani/pedi, last minute quick clothing item for the trip, etc. but rather than eating out 2-3 times a week at my same local place near my apartment, I often say to myself, "why don't I save some calories and 40-50 bucks a meal and eat at home given that I'll soon have dozens of food and entertainment options to spend those same funds in much more exciting ways and places!?" A special friend with a dinner, sure, I keep those kinds of dates. But the same ole eating out solo rather than cooking (I live alone in NYC), yes ,I do cut back on those kinds of expenses for caloric and money reasons, plus I can pack, keep working on my itinerary, and finish getting ready for Vegas while I'm eating dinner at home!

 

All great responses and good to know I am NOT the only one! I have a set budget for sure for Vegas that's already set aside but the degenerate gambler in me begins to think of a few things like....."stay in and warm up that TV dinner instead of going to get a meal at a restaurant." Also, I've not hit my local casino leading up to the trip which will surely help the kitty if I feel like dipping into what I've saved from that.

I also will put my name on the overtime list as well for the weeks leading up to it. An extra hour here or there is an extra $50-$100 on the trip which is more for food or an Uber or what not to get around town.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that starts to look at things once the trip is booked and starts to "cut" things from my budget that I don't really need in an effort to save a few extra bucks besides what's already set aside!

 

Does anyone here cook? lol

 

LOL. I like to, especially years ago when I owned a large home and lived alone, but I don't really even have a "kitchen" in my NYC apartment. It's a 2/3 size fridge, ditto on the stove and a sink with NO and I mean NO counter space so I use a dining table for chopping. With that environment and living alone, yeah, I cook but beyond heating up soup and doing basic things like steaming veggies or doing baked chicken or fish, every now and then, not much. Trying to take off some weight before my birthday trip this summer so I should be doing MORE broiling and steaming.

 

Our first place together was a small studio, though it did have a somewhat defined kitchen and small dining space. We often think back, smile and laugh, at some of the dinners we pulled off in that space. lol Half-pint fridge, tiny range, barely get four adults around the table (move it just far enough off the wall but not actually into the range). Memories!!

 

Although I kinda agree that my vacation money is set aside and budgeted well before the days leading up to the trip, my daily bankroll is officially designated as "Whatever I Can Scrounge Up", divided by the number of days.

So if I have to work late two days before the trip (to avoid disaster while I am gone) I still choose not to pick up a pizza on the way home because... well, to me that is just spending Vegas money while not in Vegas. $20 I don't spend on pizza is one more impulse $20 I can slide into a slot that calls my name as I am walking through a casino.

 

Me too! I'm going in June and have already bought 3 pairs of shoes and a new purse! Headed to the gym now!

 

I'm in a one bedroom -- it is a decent-sized apartment for NY, especially by Manhattan standards, especially for the rent -- but yeah, your memories of your kitchen and dining area are pretty much my current reality. LOL. Not complaining though. I could afford to live in a bigger place but I'm saving up to buy a place in NYC so living below my means for a while but still comfortably. My one major indulgence, beyond doing things for family and friends, are my trips to Vegas and travel generally.