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Budget for the Beach with These 5 Tips

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Going to the beach is one of those summer family vacations everyone looks forward to. And for good reason, right? The sound of the waves hitting the shore, the smell of the water in the breeze, and the cooling feeling of dipping your toes (or your entire body!) directly into the water are all reasons that a trip to the beach is one of the most favorite activities of millions of people.

The other great part about going to the beach? It’s a vacation that isn’t going to break the bank. It is absolutely doable to budget for the beach for a minimal cost to you and your family budget. If you’re looking for a few tips on how to make that happen, here are some suggestions to help you get started!

Budget for the Beach

Simple Ways to Budget for the Beach

Pack Your Own Food from Home

Nothing adds up quicker than thinking that a restaurant meal has to happen. If you’re planning a trip to the beach, plan ahead and pack your own family picnic. Fruits, veggies, chips, and sandwiches in a cooler are the perfect picnic items to fill your tummies and leave your budget for the beach intact as well!

Head to the Dollar Store

Many people tend to overlook everything that the dollar store has to offer. While the selection can vary, they typically do a pretty good job of having seasonal items in stock as needed. You can find sunscreen, lip balm, flip flops, sand toys, visors, and even some great food items all for only $1 each! That’s a super simple way to budget for the beach and get prepped and prepared for your upcoming beach trip. Check out the previous post on how the dollar store can help you save money on travel.

Find a Beach with Free Parking

Many beaches are free, but some do cost money. It’s important to do your research because while some cost money to enter, others may cost money just to be able to park. Thanks to the usefulness of the internet, you can research ahead of time and find out just how much your trip to the park will cost for you and your family. Some days can be cheaper than others as well, so those are all questions to find answers to during your search. And if all else fails, pick up the phone and call. Regardless, with enough research and effort, you can find parks that are either free or have very small fees to enjoy a day full of fun frolicking on the beach!

Carpool with Another Family

If you have friends who also want to head to the beach, why not see about riding together? It’s a great way to save on gas costs; plus, some beaches charge for the carload, not per person. Riding together to the beach can be a super simple way to budget for the beach!

Set Aside Money from Each Paycheck

If you truly want to budget for the beach, save a small amount of money from your weekly paycheck. This is a great way to ensure you’ll stay within your budget. Not only will you be doing it automatically, but you’ll know just how much you have in your beach fund.

Spending the summer at the beach sounds like the perfect family-friendly activity! Try a few of the suggestions above to help make your beach trip budget-friendly and see if it helps you and your family stay within your set financial constraints. You may be surprised at how easy it is to stay within your budget once you start thinking outside the box a bit about ways to make it happen.