Rodney is sharing his tips for dealing with finances on family vacations:
When I was a little kid, I loved going on vacation. I would jump in the car without a care in the world and enjoy every moment of sunshine showering down upon me. Of course, when I was a kid I didn’t have to worry about Aunt Helga paying her portion of our summertime vacation cottage rental either. Mom and Dad took care of all that and I was thankful and blissfully unaware. I was also clueless to the fact that Uncle Bo and his seven kids would eat more than their fair share and not compensate us either.
By the way…names have been changed to protect their identities. These are fictional characters…ahem!
The bottom line is that odd, uncomfortable situations arise when we combine our vacations with other family members. It is awesome to get a big place and everyone “share in the expenses” so that money can be saved. The problem starts when someone does not do their part.
Here are some tips to keep your summer vacations drama free where money is concerned. (Sorry, but I can’t do anything about Cousin Daisy’s dog using your leg for nefarious purposes. That is one you will have to handle alone.)
The first bit of advice I would suggest would be to book adjoining rooms in a hotel if you know there are common problems. Getting a cottage on the beach or in the mountains is awesome and all, but it is just begging for problems. At least if you are next door to one another, they have a separate bill with the renters. Any issues with non-payment will be between them and the hotel.
If you simply can’t avoid getting a place together, then insist on someone else doing the organizing and booking. What is particularly effective is to have the one that is known for not paying their fair share to be the one booking the place. If this is the route you take, however, don’t pay until you know the room is booked. The best time is upon arrival so that you know nothing is going on that is dishonest. It is easy enough to check up on reservations if you must.
Another key is to make certain you discuss the terms clearly and with witnesses. It is best to sit down as a family and work all of this out. Decide what is going to be done by whom, and when they are expected to do it. This is absolutely vital to avoid any dramatic blowups or problems.
If you truly want to make it simple, the easiest way is to split up what everyone will be doing. For example, one person pays for the hotel, one person pays for the food and so on. If you break up the tasks, then you are delegating the responsibility rather than shouldering it yourself in the hopes that others will do the right thing.
Finally, if at all possible, demand payment before you book the home. Some folks simply will not do the right thing no matter how easy you make it. If you have someone that is coming like that, then just make it that way across the board. Make everyone else pay also and the person won’t feel singled out. Just explain that you can’t afford to front the expense this year so you are getting everyone’s payment and then booking the place.
My dad used to tell me how tough it is to coordinate family vacations and I thought he was just being crabby. The truth is, I was being very short-sighted. It is tough and it is even harder to collect from those that you care about. Having been on both sides of the fence now, I understand.
He used to say, “If you can’t afford to lose it, then don’t risk it or loan it.”
These words had the potential to save me a ton of grief if I had listened earlier. At least I get it now. Stay true to this in all you do financially and you will have a good base. Family vacations and dealing with finances are certainly a fine example of my daddy’s words in action.
Or….you could just watch Uncle Bo and his seven kids eat while you foot the bill…
What say you?
Based in Greensboro, Rodney Southern has been writing and editing sports and nature articles for going on 10 years. His articles have appeared in “Nicean” magazine, “The Sporting News” website and countless other online venues. Southern was the 2008 Ultimate Call for Content National Award Winner. He attended Guilford Tech and was trained as an EMT in the Army. He now spends his life chasing his two twin daughters and loving his incredible wife while chasing the book in his head. You can read his humorous posts on family life and parenting at RodneySouthern.com.
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