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Planning a Trip to Hawaii on a budget

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Our last trip to Hawaii was a three-year process in the making. We could have done it quicker, but I still wanted to maintain our other trips. So how do you go about planning a trip to Hawaii on a budget?

Figure out your flights. The majority of your cost is going to be getting to Hawaii. You can find decent deals on hotels and food can be as inexpensive or as expensive as you make it in most places. But flights are always the wild card when planning a trip to Hawaii on a budget. Here are our considerations for keeping costs down.

General Flight Considerations

To give you an idea of the airline costs; for the three of us to fly round trip from Chicago to Honolulu, it was 135,000 miles total. Joni and I can fly to Cancun from Chicago round trip for 20-25,000 combined usually. It is possible to get the points pretty quickly if you want to do the credit card sign up bonus game.

Southwest Airlines recently got approved for long haul flights from the West Coast to Hawaii. Their first test flight was completed with government review and they have just recently opened up flights to Hawaii. When the news initially broke about Southwest getting closer to having another carrier flying from the Continental United States, some of the other carriers started to run specials with some of the lowest costs seen in a long time.

It is believed that the increase in competition will drop the dollar amount and airline miles required for that once…or twice… in a lifetime trip. With this news, I am having to keep four different airlines as potential options.

Keep in mind what airline and what airport you want to travel out of when planning a trip to Hawaii on a budget. Are you ok with a layover? Want a straight through flight? Are you willing to travel super early or want to be flying all day? With a flight this long you may want to travel during waking hours or you may want to fly mostly overnight. These are important questions you need to ask before you book your trip.

Consideration # 1 – Inter-Island Flights with Hawaiian Airlines

Joni had mentioned she wants to go to Maui along with Oahu this next trip. So when we are planning our trip to Hawaii on a budget we have to consider this additional cost. Hawaiian Airlines runs cheap flights between the islands. I have seen prices ranging from about $150 round trip or 15,000 miles between the islands per person. Hawaiian Airlines has a secure online shopping portal where I already picked up around 4,000 miles in the last 4-6 months doing shopping at a couple online stores I like. This will definitely help our budget.

The other quick options for miles if I need for these on shorter notice is through Barclays. They have a Hawaiian Airlines card where just the general offer is 50,000 miles for $1,000 in purchases over 3 months. I also over the past year have seen an offer as good as 60,000 miles after one purchase. That would be 3-4 round trips between the islands for an annual fee of $99.

Flights to Hawaii

Option #1 – United Airlines again (Chicago to Hawaii)

This is what we used last time. Right now we are mostly getting our miles using their phone mobile app making purchases at Buffalo Wild Wings and Starbucks. I already have enough in the account for one round trip ticket. I don’t think Joni would approve on me going on a solo trip for this one. I do not want to lock miles hard into United Airlines as they do not have the best options for Las Vegas.

Option #2 – Southwest

This is more likely the direction we will end up going. I do prefer Southwest over United just as a personal preference. Most of my Southwest miles that I use for my Vegas trips come from the Ultimate Rewards program now with Milwaukee having non-stop flights there.

The superior flexibility that Chase has with their Ultimate Rewards points program is that I can transfer those points to either Southwest or United. This offers us great options when we are planning trips and will certainly come in handing when planning a trip to Hawaii on a budget.

Option #3 – Delta through Minneapolis

Delta is my second favorite airline. If I am not flying Southwest to Las Vegas, then most likely I am flying Delta. They have many non-stop flights all over; including some to Hawaii. Delta also has options for flights out from many of the regional airports to get to Minneapolis, Detroit or even Salt Lake City as places to connect from.

One of the new cards I have been looking at over the last 4-6 months is from American Express. Delta Miles take a long time to accrue using their branded credit card at 1 point per dollar for regular purchases. I do carry it and pay the annual fee as I am ahead just on bag fees every year and it also gets me earlier boarding.

But the American Express Gold Card gives 4 Membership Reward Points per dollar spent on Groceries and Restaurants. These points can be converted into Delta Miles. Groceries and restaurants are more substantial expenses in our household, so I am still working the math to see if the cost of the annual fee makes up for the difference.

So what is the next thing we will have to consider when planning a trip to Hawaii on a budget? Hotels… stay tuned we have tips for that too!

Be Successful with 12 Ways to Make Budgeting Easy

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To many people just saying the word Budget makes them cringe. It’s like Budget is like an offensive word, and it reminds me of cleaning. You know you need to do it, you probably have a general sense of even how to do it, yet you don’t want to. In this article, we are going to break down how you can make budgeting easy.

There are many advantages to budgeting. If you want to learn more about some of those pros check out our article 5 budget advantages to make you successful. To try and help make things easier for you we’ve created some FREE resources just for you! We really hope you enjoy our Free Budget and Expense Tracking printables.

How to make budgeting easy

  1. Consistency – This is probably the most important tip I can give you. However, being consistent will help you stick to your budget. As soon as you start to make excuses, you will give up on yourself. Don’t do that!
  2. Use an App – We put together an article about five apps that you can download to help you with your budget. Which one do you think would help you the most?
  3. Track Categories – I found that if I tracked every dollar I spent, I drove myself crazy. So instead I gave myself a category for misc items such as that random candy bar I needed at work. This way I could put money into that category without having to write down every cent used. However, some categories you need to track every line item. Use what works for you!
  4. Forgive yourself – You are going to make mistakes. Additionally, you are going to forget to write down something. However, don’t beat yourself up, correct it and move on.
  5. Be accountable – Some people will not follow through if they are the only ones who know what they are doing. Tell someone, make them ask you how you are doing. It’s harder to quit if someone is asking you about your progress.
  6. Understand your goal – If you haven’t picked out a reason for budgeting, you should do that now. If you take our Monthly Budget Blastoff course, you will get some great tips on how to set financial goals.
  7. Do what works for you – Just because a plan works for someone else doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Read and research, but ultimately you have to determine how to make your budget yours.
  8. Gets others on board – Parents, kids, significant others can dramatically impact your success. However, those who can influence you should be on board with your plan, or at least supportive of what you are doing.
  9. Reward yourself – As you achieve success with your budget find a small reward you can enjoy. In other words, your reward might be an afternoon alone. It’s way more motivating to work towards something that has some reward. Ask yourself, what is rewarding to you? How can you make that fit into your budget goals?
  10. Do NOT give up – We all get frustrated. We all want to give up. We are all cheering for you to not be like those who fail. Start and finish your budget each month, celebrate milestones, and don’t give up.
  11. Schedule Time – Everyday you need to schedule a time to update your budget. Either pay bills, update what you spent or plan out our next budget. No matter what you do, get in the habit of investing some time each day to your budget.
  12. Be Productive – Being busy and being productive are not the same. Above all, don’t over think things. Don’t get wrapped up in making your spreadsheet pretty or your budget perfect looking. Just get it down on paper so you can adjust, learn and fulfill your goals.

Monthly Budget Blastoff

Click to get our Monthly Budget Blastoff course! #budget #monthlybudget #personalfinance #finances

As mentioned earlier in the article we have a course we call our Monthly Budget Blastoff that can help you with your budget needs. This course is great for helping you determine how to make budgeting easy, helping you set goals, and you can then figure out the basics of budgets. Additionally, you get a free budget spreadsheet! Check it out now!

5 Financial Rules for Teaching Kids about Money

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As a parent, there are many things we try to teach our kids. Being financially responsible has got to be one of them. In the current world we live in there are too many teenager and those in their early 20’s who are floundering on financial topics. One of the greatest responsibilities you have is to teaching kids about money. 

Young children seem to think that money just appears. This is mostly due to their innocence and lack of understanding. Middle school aged kids are starting to grasp the concepts but still sometimes struggle with delayed gratification. High school aged children typically have the knowledge but sometimes lack the ability to understand broader money concepts. All this can sometimes be overwhelming as a parent when you want to teach your kids about money.

Here are 5 Financial Rules you can use when teaching kids about money.

  1. Needs Vs Wants
  2. Money isn’t FREE
  3. Earn Before you Spend
  4. Allow Kids to Make Mistakes
  5. Teach them to budget

Needs Vs. Wants

As a parent this is a constant battle. When you are talking about money it’s your job to make sure you children know the difference. Wanting something because it looks good is not the same as needing food to eat.

Make sure when you are teaching kids about money, you stress the importance of needs, and telling them wants can wait.

Money isn’t FREE

Money is associated with work. If you don’t work,  you can’t have money. That doesn’t mean your kids should always be rewarded with money, however, you can ensure they work towards their goals.

Setting up age appropriate chores they get paid for or ensuring they get an allowance after having a well behaved week helps teach your kids the value of money.

Earn Before you Spend

Teaching kids they can purchase something and then earn money sets them up for a life of borrowing. This is troublesoe, so instead make sure you are teaching your kids about money and earning it prior to spending.

Allow Kids to Make Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. We are not immune to this, neither are our children. Make sure you let them make mistakes and make them into opportunities they can learn from.

Teach them to Budget

Financial understanding is so important and a budget is a big part of this. Letting your children be in charge of what they are getting for money and where it is spent is so important.

This makes them invested in finding ways to earn more when something is important to them. Most significantly it makes them accountable for purchasing the items they want.

Teaching Kids about Money

Teaching your children about money isn’t easy and it’s not going to happen overnight. But with persistence, ground rules and smart strategies you can help set your children up for success.

How to save $1,000 by Christmas

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The thought of saving money for Christmas, birthday’s or gift exchanges makes me cringe. Not because I don’t want to do it, but because I know I need to. Planning a holiday budget is an important part of budgeting. I put together a free 5 Easy ways to Save Money Fast guide just for you, make sure you sign up to get your copy!

First things first, let’s talk about budgets. Having a budget is crucial to being successful with your finances.  And there are many tools you can use to help you along the way. If you are mobile-driven like I am, check out The 5 Best Budget App (s) to Make Your Life Easier to see which tools are best for you.

Now let’s dig into how we set this up, so we can be successful. Here are some easy tips on how to make a Christmas budget you can stick to.

Plan Early – Christmas Budget

Planning your Christmas Budget early is probably apparent, but the earlier in the year you start preparing your Christmas Budget, the more time you will have actually to save.

Make a plan and do it early in the year. At the beginning of each year, we sit down and write out every birthday and holiday gift we know we need a gift for.

Then we add in a couple extras for friends or people we might have forgotten about. Birthday gifts get added to this list as well including things like Easter Baskets and Halloween treats for us.

Determine Savings Amount for your Holiday Budget

Once you have an idea of what you are going to spend, determining how much you need to save is relatively easy.

Take your total amount, divide by the number of weeks left to that event and divide the numbers.

So if you need to Save $1,000 and you have ten weeks to do it. You will need to save $100 per week to make your budget.

Make it part of your household budget

Now that you know the amount you need to save for your Christmas budget, you need to put that into action. Add a line item to your household budget for gifts.

Ensure that you are saving the amount you’ve allocated towards gifts and that you set it aside as you do with groceries, clothing, etc.

If your household budget doesn’t allow for this line item, you will need to make some adjustments to either fit it in or determine gift giving is not something you can do right now.

Does budgeting work?

Having a detailed spending plan for your Christmas Budget is so important.

Having a budget for every dollar you spend is a sure fire way to meet your monthly financial goals. Know where your money is being spent, so you are controlling your finances not allowing your finances to control you.

If you haven’t received your free 5 Easy ways to Save Money Fast guide now is the time to enroll and get your money savings tip guide.

5 Budget Advantages to Make you Successful

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Having a budget is the #1 thing you can do for your financial well being. This simple yet effective plan allows you to manage your money and understand what you are spending. A budget does not have to be super complex nor does it need to be stressful to create. Here are 5 Budget advantages to make you successful! Just keep in mind that setting a budget is only the first step in financial success. You must stick to your budget to be truly successful.

budget advantages

Defines Objectives/Goals

When you have a budget, you end up needing to establish your long-term objectives. In turn, determining what your goals are. Some families have many goals; others have only one or two. It doesn’t matter how many you have, ensure you have defined them. You may not be able to achieve all your goals at first, and that’s ok. Work on the most important ones that will ensure financial stability first.  One of your most significant budget advantages is planning. Setting up goals allow you to project your plans to the universe. *** Pro-tip: Vision Board: What is it?

Forces you to prepare

Having a budget makes you sit down and prepare for purchases and future expenses. For example, almost every birthday in our family takes place between July and October. That 4-month stretch has an increased gift budget because we know we will need to spend more on gifts those months. Looking at the big picture of our overall budget allows us to put money aside in off months so that we aren’t struggling to make those purchases later. This applies to every area of your budget. From car repairs, clothing expenses, school fees, etc. Having a plan in place and a way to save for those expenses makes them easier to deal with.  *** Pro-tip: 15 Tips on How to Save Money

Set up an Emergency Fund

One of the most significant budget advantages is setting up an emergency fund. Most financial advisors and other business professionals recommend you have three to six months of living expenses. However, when first starting out having this much in an emergency fund may seem unrealistic. If that is you, set aside something between $750-$1,000 to help you in case of an emergency. If your car breaks down, the plumbing goes out, or something else happens you need a quick and easily accessible way to get cash fast. Having a budget allows you to save this emergency fund so that you don’t end up curled in the fetal position crying yourself to sleep not knowing how you are getting to work the next day. And Yeah, we’ve been in that position before.

Know when your bills are due

Budgets force us to pay attention to our statements and their due dates. If you are planning out when you will spend your money, then you need to know when that money is owed. This way if you have a bunch of bills due the first of the month you won’t suddenly be short because you made a big purchase on the 20th and therefore didn’t keep that money allocated as it should have been. ***Pro-tip: 5 useful ways to save money on utilities

Happier and Healthier

The last advantage to having a budget which will most certainly make you more successful in allowing you to be happier and healthier. When you start planning out your money, you will probably start to cut out unhealthy habits. Additionally, not stressing out about your money continually is sure to make you happier in life. Finding financial freedom among the chaos of today’s world is indeed a blessing and a huge stress reliever.

budget advantages

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5 useful ways to save money on utilities

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One of the things we can’t cut out of our budget is utilities. For us we live in Wisconsin, we can’t go without heat in the winter. While we could probably reduce the air conditioning in the summer, I would be miserable. So while we can’t cut out those expenses, there are some useful ways that we can save money on those pesky utility bills. save money on utilities

Energy Efficient Things

The easiest thing you can probably do is start using Energy Efficient Lightbulbs. These are available in every store these days and aren’t all that more expensive than regular light bulbs. There are many options for dimmable and LED lights in floodlight bulbs or small mirror bulbs. I even found those pretty round bulbs used on vanities that came in LED options.

Another option is to use Energy efficient appliances. When your washer, dishwasher, or dryer dies, consider replacing it with something that costs less to run on a daily basis.

save money on utilities

Programmable Thermostat

One of my favorite things we ever did that ended up helping us save money was to install a programmable thermostat. We LOVE our nest, but there are so many options out there. Nest allows us to set up a schedule; auto detects if we are home based on our phone settings and it “learns” our habits and starts to sneak in energy savings we don’t even notice.

Other great things you can do to help with this is to install thermal blinds or thermal drapes. These help keep cold air out in the winter and warm air in the summer. And these do not have to be the ugly old black and brown ones we probably associate with energy efficiencies. We’ve come a long way with style in these areas!

save money on utilities

Update the way you do Laundry

Additional tips for appliances include using dryer balls to decrease dry time. Using cold water in your washer and using your appliances during off-peak times. Also, take advantage of things like your overheat in the winter, open that baby up and let it help you heat your home!

Don’t forget to review your setting on less remembered appliances such as your water heater. Make sure you aren’t heating your water above 120 degrees. This will help with Laundry when you do need to use warm water, but will also help with showers and dishwashers too!

save money on utilities

Use Fans to Save Money on Utilities

Fans are not just for summer! Get out your fans to help you push air around your house in a way that benefits your natural air flow. Winter Tip: Put your fan in the corner of the room, nearest to the heat source to help you control that air flow.

If you have ceiling fans make sure you have them going in the right direction for the time of year. In the winter months make sure they are going clockwise. This allows the fan to push the warm air back down around the edges of your room. This helps keep the warm air down where you are instead of stuck on the ceiling. Same for summer, but then the fan needs to turn counterclockwise so that it can pull the cold air up off the floor.

save money on utilities

Visit Utility Website

Most Utility websites have lots of tips, and I’m sure yours does too! If you use WPS check out all their great suggestions for energy efficiency as well as any programs they may have for you to save a few bucks on those appliance replacements or larger scale energy projects!

If you want additional tips on how to save money check out 15 Tips on How to Save Money. Let us know what other tips you have and of course SHARE our articles with your family and friends or even on Pinterest so they can get these great tips and more too!