Summer’s Simple Pleasures — Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members and representatives share some great ideas for giving your family—and your bank
account—a rejuvenating break this season.

by Jennifer L. Krempin

Kaylan and Savannah Talley are packed and ready to go. Summer clothes, books and toys are stocked in plastic storage totes and loaded on to the family’s camper. At ages 4 and 7, respectively, the sisters are excited for summer’s many adventures. And their parents, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Associate Kim Talley and her husband, Eugene, are equally excited that summer won’t break the bank.

Since purchasing their used camper two years ago, the Talleys, of White Lake, Michigan, have enjoyed weekend trips to baseball games, parks, zoos, even a Christian KOA campground and NASCAR races—all for a fraction of what they would have paid if each weekend getaway had required a hotel and dining out.

“Northern Michigan is a tourist area, so we would easily have spent $200 a night for a hotel,” Kim Talley explains. “We also tend not to eat out as much because we bring our own food.” The Talleys, and many young families like them, are enjoying summers focused on experiences, rather than expenses.

Natalie Heidler, a Thrivent Financial associate from Demotte, Indiana, and mom to 9-year-old Seth, says most of their family’s inexpensive summer adventures are close to home. “Going to the beach is free, whereas you have to pay to use the local pool,” she says. “We’ll also do things together with other families to keep costs down.”

Traveling on the Cheap
While summer is the ideal season for living simply, it can also be the most convenient time of the year to embark on big vacations—especially for families, since kids are out of school and yearning for a great topic for the “What I did on my summer vacation” assignment that awaits them in the fall. Families who are seeking a more elaborate getaway—whether it’s a week at Walt Disney World or a road trip to Glacier National Park—need to exercise even more caution when it comes to financing their trips, says Dan Dickhudt, a Thrivent Financial associate from Southgate, Michigan.

“There’s often a desire among people to do the best,” he says. “A client of mine went on an elaborate cruise and paid for her parents to join her. She ended up paying $7,000 when all was said and done. It’s not just the hotel, not just the airfare, but also all the hidden costs.”

It’s often not the vacation itself that gets people in trouble, Dickhudt says. Rather, it’s people’s failure to plan—and budget—ahead. “When I see clients going on vacation without thinking about how to pay for it, that’s when they whip out the credit card.”

Instead, Dickhudt recommends establishing a special vacation fund. “Take your estimated trip cost and divide it by 12 months in the year,” he explains. Saving a little each month will add up in a hurry.

To figure out how much money will be needed for a trip, Dickhudt has found it helpful to carry a little notebook around with him on vacation, in which he records every expense and meal. It’s a daily chore that certainly won’t be the highlight of your trip, but it will pay off big-time when it comes to future planning. “Then you’ll have a realistic idea of what you’ll spend next year,” he says.

Don’t forget to involve the kids in the financial aspect of planning your summer vacation. Older children can search online for cheaper hotel rates and amusement park discounts, for example. A few days before you depart, younger children can help you shop for inexpensive snacks for the journey, avoiding the high price of airport and highway convenience stores.

Heidler has found great deals for her vacations by price-shopping through discount vacation services. “Sometimes you can find rates up to 4 percent cheaper,” she says. “And I always encourage people to get the travel insurance. You never know when you’ll get sick and need it.”

Sticker Shock
Many families find that summer brings more opportunities than usual for dining out—whether it’s a burger joint after your son’s baseball game or fast-food pit stops on the way to your family reunion—and that means the spending adds up quickly.

“I always suggest more backyard barbecues, less dining out,” explains Heidler. “Or, if you’re going out to dinner, couple up with another family and share a baby-sitter.”

Ever experienced sticker shock at the cost of refreshments and food at popular theme parks? Heidler even has advice for that: “Pack a lunch!” Sometimes just a break back to the car for a sandwich and water is enough to calm down the kids and give parents a few minutes of rest before heading back for another spin on the roller coaster.

Some families also find that shopping in bulk at warehouse stores, or purchasing an entertainment book with valuable coupons, can save a few dollars during the summer. The bottom line? This is the season to appreciate the joys of simplicity. After all, Kim Talley says, “Even just roasting marshmallows around the campfire is a big event for a little kid.”

Jennifer Krempin is a Twin Cities freelancer whose work has appeared in previous issues of Thrivent magazine.

SUMMER BUDGET TIP:
“Call ahead to the visitor’s bureau to request discounts and coupons. In tourist areas, there are only so many hotels—so the more campers, the better it is for the local economy. There are so many great deals out there.”
—Kim Talley, Thrivent Financial associate, Livonia, Michigan

SUMMER BUDGET TIP:
“My family buys a summer membership to the zoo. You pay once for a whole summer of fun!”
—Dan Dickhudt, Thrivent Financial associate, Southgate, Michigan

SUMMER BUDGET TIP:
“Sports camps for the kids can cost as much as $100 for a week. Try to limit them to one sport per season, and forgo the expensive camps. Better yet, practice at home with your kids.”
—Natalie Heidler, Thrivent Financial associate, Demotte, Indiana

Only 8 Months Until Christmas!

As you settle into your lawn chair with a cold lemonade this summer, don’t get too comfy—at least not until you give some thought to the upcoming Christmas season. Doing a small amount of planning now can reap you enormous savings later.

Save a little each month. Enroll in a Christmas Club savings account that automatically deposits a specified amount from each paycheck.

Use the envelope system. Dan Dickhudt, a Thrivent Financial associate from Southgate, Michigan, advises tucking away money in envelopes earmarked for vacation, Christmas and special events. “Once the money in the envelope is gone, you’re done spending,” he explains. Better yet, put the money into separate savings accounts.

Shop throughout the year. Capitalize on sales and avoid last-minute impulse buys. “I always buy my son’s winter coats on clearance, after the season is over,” says Natalie Heidler, a Thrivent Financial associate in Demotte, Indiana. “I just buy up a size for next year.”

Track your spending from last year. Review last year’s expenditures to help you set a budget.

Give the gift of memories. Think about redistributing money that would have been spent on gifts to create a shared experience: attending a favorite play or musical, enjoying a weekend trip out of town, or a celebratory dinner.

Put your year-end spending to a good cause. Some retailers donate a percentage of sales back to Lutheran schools and nonprofits. “My son’s school, Trinity Lutheran School in Crown Point, Indiana, is affiliated with a Web site where you can purchase items through partner retailers,” says Heidler. “The school will receive money back to use toward tuition.” —J.K.