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PLANNING FOR VACATION

WITH MANDY GARLAND, FIRSTBANK

April showers bring May flowers…and the beginning of summer vacation! One of my jobs in our family is planning the annual summer vacation trip. It can be a lot of pressure, but something I personally enjoy as well. When planning for trips, the first thing I’ll do is get input from everyone else. How long do we want to stay? Where do we want to go this year – tried and true or somewhere new? Of course, this year begs for the familiar since there are still travel restrictions in place. Make sure you check your destination’s requirements before you leave. This year will probably be a Florida Panhandle vacation for us, but I do want to prepare for a “big” trip possibly next year. Both of my kids will be in middle school in the fall, so I’m realizing that my family vacation time might be limited. I want to make sure I get in as many memories as I still can!

To help me do that, I opened an additional FirstBank account that I’ve titled, “vacation” on my online banking dashboard. When I get paid in my primary checking account, money is automatically transferred out to this vacation account. I do this with other various savings accounts as well. I have read advice online from several money saving gurus that it’s best to put your money in various buckets to help track it. Famous for organization and budgeting, Jordan Page of funcheaporfree.com suggests each family consider opening seven checking accounts to better manage your finances. While I’m not quite up to that number, I do see the benefit of having separate accounts for savings, vacation money, and for each of my children. My vacation account helps me plan well in advance for our “big” trip which takes out some of the stress.

Contact your banker to open a separate vacation account if that is something that appeals to you. I can’t believe summer is finally here. Here’s to lots of warm weather and Happy Memorial Day!

MANDY GARLAND FirstBank

Mandy Garland serves as Senior Vice President, Middle Tennessee Regional Marketing Coordinator for FirstBank.

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