Plan a debt-free summer vacation: We hate to be buzzkills, but it behooves not to get in on a piece on spending if we weren’t going to give some kind of advice on how to manage a debt-free vacation, courtesy of financial planning consultant Andrew Housser. Some of these are basic and are just common sense. But vacations are designed precisely to dull our common sense. So here are some of his tips for financially prudent vacation:

• Budgeting: The most obvious one of all. His big warning: DO NOT GO INTO DEBT. No vacation is worth that. In case, the trip’s expenses are too steep, consider cutting back on luxuries including eating out and pre-travel shopping.
• Be mindful of hidden costs: these include factoring in extra nights in hotels, stuff like Wi-Fi, gas cots, choosing cheaper flight days and just general wear and tear. These hidden costs is how they get you.
• Account for the costs at home while you’re gone:The best way to do it would be seeking the help of family or friends who admire your place to stay in for no-cost lodging and included home care. Just make sure to secure any valuable or breakable items.
• If all else fails, then a “staycation” option should always be on the table. It can still be fun to welcome visitors and friends over, show them around local sites you never saw or dine out at a local place you never got a chance to experience.