We all have different ideas of what a dream vacation should look like. For some people, it’s a week spent lying on the beach, soaking up the sun. For others, it’s an adventure in the great outdoors, with tons of sights to see. Whatever your vision of the ultimate trip might look like, however, there’s a good chance that you have one challenge holding you back: paying for it.

A dream vacation often stays a dream for most of our lives, simply because we can’t find the extra cash to pay for the trip when we’re factoring things like bills into the equation. Fortunately, there are a few different ways to pay for your big experience. Today, we’re going to be looking at two options: save and splurge.

Saving for a Dream Vacation

Often regarded as the most sensible way to find money for a big expense, saving for your dream vacation usually means opening a separate bank account and putting a small amount of your income away each month. You’ll need to create a budget for this to work and look for ways that you can cut down on other expenses, so that you can afford to put as much as possible into your fund. Saving is a respectable way to build some cash for your future. However, it’s worth remembering that you might have to dive into that cash before you have chance to use it on what you really want.

The unfortunate truth is that unexpected issues can drain a lot of your reserves. The good news is that if you continue to save, you’ll have some peace of mind if anything does go wrong. To really make the most out of your savings potential, take a close look at the areas where you’re currently spending the most money, and ask yourself if there’s anything you can cut down. For instance, cancelling non-essential subscriptions.

The Splurge Route

The alternative to saving for a dream vacation is borrowing the money to live the experience now. Ultimately, this means that you take out a personal loan from a private lender to get access to the funds you need to make your dream a reality. There are a lot of great deals out there, and with the right strategy, you can get terms and conditions that work for you.

Like saving, this will also mean that you’re putting money away each month, which once again requires you to take a closer look at your budget. The difference is that you’re paying back the cash you owe, rather than saving up for the future. With a little luck, you’ll have enough cash to pay back what you owe and put cash aside for an emergency fund – just in case.

If you’re eager to get on that vacation right now, this is definitely the fastest way to do it. The key to success is making sure that you consider both of your options carefully, and ensure that you know exactly what you can afford before you get started. Be realistic, and you’ll be on the beach in no time.