Budget Busters: Doing Spring Break Big on a Student Budget

By Ian Donnelly

Spring break—it’s so close you can almost smell the salty sea breeze, feel the sand between your toes, and taste the freedom of a week away from campus. Nothing can stop you from hightailing it out of your last class and heading straight to the beach—nothing except for your bank account, that is.

But even if you’re working with a bare-bones student budget, you deserve a vacation! That’s why uCribs is dusting off its Budget Buster series for a special Spring Break Edition—here’s the essential money-saving rules for doing spring break on a budget!

Get Real

This one is the golden rule of spring break, no matter what kind of budget you’re working with. Whether you’re jetting off to the Bahamas or road tripping it to the nearest beach, you need to give your plan some thought, lay out all your expenses, and budget accordingly. The last thing you want is to have your amazing, fun-in-the-sun celebration cut short by a dried-up bank account.

Take a realistic look at your finances and determine how much money you can afford to spend on your vacation. How much of that sum will you spend on food and entertainment? What about gas money, or a hotel? These are all vital questions to ask before you leave, and if you’re cutting it close, you’re better off cutting it out. It’s important to prepare for the unexpected— even on your perfectly planned spring break getaway— so assume everything will cost ten percent more than you expect it to. The worst that could happen is you end up with more cash that you thought you’d have when you get home, and that doesn’t sound too bad, now does it?

B.Y.O.Everything

And we mean everything. If you get to your fun-in-the-sun destination and realize you need to buy toothpaste, sunblock, or any other items that slipped your mind, you’ll be kicking yourself for racking up costs that could’ve been avoided. Sure, your friends may be willing to help you out, but don’t rely on your travel buddies to spare a pair of sunglasses, loan you their phone charger, and share their snacks.

Make a list ahead of time so you don’t forget stuff like an ice chest, a beach towel or chair, and other vacation essentials that will cost way more at a beachside, mom-and-pop gift shop. Travel-size toiletries will clear up space in your luggage as well, and stocking up that cooler (which you didn’t forget, by the way!) with plenty of munchies and beverages is essential for making the most of your spring break on a student budget. Eating out can be one of the biggest – and most underestimated – expenses on a vacation, so stop by the grocery store and pick up enough food for a few hearty breakfasts, quick lunches, and plenty of snacks to cut down on overpriced meals at those tourist-trap restaurants.

Your Student ID is Your Golden Ticket

Packing a valid form of identification is a no-brainer for your vacation essentials checklist, but your student ID deserves a spot in your bag, too. Sure, you may want to leave behind anything that even remotely reminds you of classes, assignments, and finals, but carrying your student ID can be pretty helpful when you’re pinching pennies.

Spring break is all about having fun, and your student ID can earn discounts on everything from drink specials and restaurant deals to shopping sprees and venue admissions. A lot of clubs, restaurants, and attractions rely on spring breakers for business during this time of year and will offer special discounts to students as they venture into town. As long as you bring your student ID along, you can take your vacation to the next level with all the deals and discounts!

By abiding to these rock-solid rules for spring breaking on a budget, you can spare yourself from a tidal wave of money constraints and enjoy the well-deserved break you’ve worked so hard for all semester!

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