I've recently begun planning my summer vacation. Virtually everyone feels the need to "get away fro it all" now & then. Summer vacations are the most popular. Travel gets expensive. If you start preparing now, you'll be able to stash some money away for your trip, enabling you to minimize your use of credit, or avoid it altogether. Financial experts say we should only borrow money for things that will outlive the financial obligation. Travel + Leisure offers some great suggestions for putting away a few dollars for that trip. Little things add up over the course of six months or a year. One great idea is to stop hitting that drive through coffee shop. You can buy a pound & make it at home for the price of one cup. Michelle McGagh saved $500 in a year on coffee alone. She offers some other great suggestions. Stay out of bars! If you're a beer drinker, you can buy a six pack for what 2 beers cost in a bar. If you're drinking in a private home, you're also in a much more controlled environment. Here's another one many ladies won't like. Cut out the "retail therapy." Check your closet. How many dresses & pair of shoes that you've never worn?" Get 'em out & wear 'em instead of shopping for more. Quit smoking. When I was a kid, my best friend's parents saved one year worth of cigarette money & bought a new snowmobile. By the way, if you've never tried that, it's a LOT of fun, but it's not cheap!

More From 99.9 KTDY