Money Matters December-February 2016/17 | Page 13

Preparing for Spring Break

By Vernisha Martin, SMMC Peer Mentor

It's hard to imagine that in only eleven weeks we will be heading out to enjoy Spring Break! Here are a couple of tips to make the most of your Spring Break '17:

1.) Volunteer Trips - volunteer trips are great for serving while enjoying a pretty awesome and affordable spring break trip.

2.) Personally book your hotel - when you book on third party websites you may be paying fees, so cut out the middle man and book a room directly.

3.) Budget, Budget, Budget – plan for your expenses and add in some extra room for unexpected costs that may occur. Hold yourself accountable to follow your plan.

4.) Road Trips - If you can’t find a flight in your budget, you and a few friends could take a road trip. You will be able to see more for less, with many of the expenses split.

5.) Make a list of all the things you need to bring - If you are anything like me, you may need to make a checklist so you won’t forget the essentials. If you forget to pack something you alredy have, you could sometimes spend 3x the price it would normally cost you for a replacement.

6.) Bring your student ID with you - Take advantage of all student discounts wherever you go on spring break, just by showing that bad boy.

7.) Buy Groceries - In the long run it may be cheaper to stop by a local grocery store instead of eating out during your spring break trip.

8.) Student Universe - This website offers discounted deals on hotels and flights for students.

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