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	Q: Planning for Vacation by Mickie Siebert
Q: Dear Mickie, by the end of every summer, I get the urge to take a trip, but never seem to have the money left to fund the kind of trip I want to take. How can I plan ahead and save?
--Joan
A: The summertime is certainly one of the busiest in the travel industry.  It can also be one of the most draining times on your finances.  But just like with other large expenses, first and foremost, saving for vacation takes careful budgeting, some smart advance planning, and the right account in which to grow your dollars. With these simple skills, you just may be waving Bon Voyage yet. Let's take a closer look... If you don't already have one, construct a working budget. Constructing a solid working budget is an important first step in starting to save for your trip. Even the most savvy financial professionals know that the principles behind a smart budget - having more money coming in than going out, keeping credit card spending at bay, or maintaining an emergency savings fund - are the cornerstones to any comprehensive and effective financial plan.  Here's how.   Tailor Your Budget To Meet Your Travel Expense Needs Now that you have an idea how to find the extra cash in your household budget, you can start to think about just how much you need to fund your vacation so that you can start to save. You will need to think carefully about just how much major expenses like airfare, lodging, food, transportation once you arrive and entertainment will cost.  Click here to learn more. Open The Right Account Once you have your budget set up you will need to open the right account in which to accumulate your savings. For short-term investments, which your vacation fund will most likely be, money market funds and short-term CDs are a smart low risk place to hold your cash.  Click here for more information on each. Have a safe and happy vacation!