Always budget ahead
Seeing that credit card bill post vacation can incite a lot of panic when you realized just how much you spent. You want to come home relaxed and refreshed from the spa, not full of regret on how you shouldn’t have got that extra treatment. (But seriously the facial is always worth it.) This is why you should always budget ahead.
When you decide to take a trip and book that flight and hotel, immediately write down in your budget how much the total is. Divide this up by the months remaining until your trip. Then start adding the monthly amount to your vacation savings. When the time comes, this part of your trip will be completely paid for before you even start packing! This same tip can be applied for other aspects of your trip. Save up for food, any tours you want to attend, and souvenirs. Plus, put a little extra aside for the stuff you forgot to pack in your excitement, like toothpaste.