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Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but underplanning and overspending can lead to financial stressors. Consider the following tips to reduce travel-related anxiety and help you make the most out of your time away – whether journeying across state lines or overseas.

 

Create a travel budget.

A budget can help you make well-informed financial decisions while away without compromising your long-term savings goals. Also, ask us about our Vacation Club savings account! A dedicated savings account that you contribute to regularly can help pay for a lot of your expenses before you even leave and prevent you from spending money on an impulse.

 

Plan ahead.

Trip planning can be stressful. Create a reasonable timeline, prepare a budget, and ensure you have your affairs in order, like bills. Bill Pay allows you to pay your bills and set up payments in advance to ensure you don’t miss a deadline. 

 

Think mini getaway.

Taking shorter, more frequent trips versus one big faraway bonanza not only requires less planning, and is generally less expensive, but offers more opportunities to unwind year-round.

 

Control what you can.

Unexpected surprises – flight delays, lost or stolen items can quickly derail your vacation. Travel insurance can help you recoup some of your expenses and soften the blow to help with smooth sailing. Community Bank Visa® Credit Cards* can be another form of payment and offer a sense of security with Travel Accident Insurance and Emergency Assistance Services. Also, consider setting up your smartphone’s Mobile Wallet** with your credit cards and your Community Bank debit card. The built-in protection and random payment codes can protect your cards from fraud when traveling.

 

Accessing accounts.

Whenever you are preparing to travel, add “inform your bank” to your list. Whether you are traveling inside the U.S. or outside, a quick call to Community Bank to ensure that we have your correct contact information can help you avoid an account freeze or any declines for “suspicious activity.” Once you’ve let us know you will be traveling, debit card alerts can be sent to you via a text message. It is also an important step to have Online and Mobile Banking** set up so you can monitor and manage your accounts from anywhere, anytime.

 

As always, we are here to help. We hope you take these tips into consideration and enjoy a well-deserved vacation.

 

* Credit cards are subject to approval.
** Community Bank does not charge for Mobile Banking, but your mobile service may charge for text messaging and/or web access. Be sure to check your service provider for data rates.

 

Jessica Walters
Retail Banking Specialist/Regional Coordinator