[MountainHip]

Hello out there,

I am trying to save some money for a vacation. First the good:
I have a budget, I have a plan.

The Bad: I can't seem to stop spending. I am not disciplined. As much as I can afford to save money, I need to put it somewhere where I cannot spend it.

I have tried opening an account at a bank I don't use, but I keep going back, I have tried setting up an account separate from my other accounts.

I have tried using ING but that didn't work either.

Is there a way I can "put money away" for 6 months, and withdrawl it without penatly?

How do you save your money for short term goals?

[crewgirl]

Well considering that I have the same problem with $ :oops: I would suggest something that has occurred to me in hindsight. Get a credit card via your bank where you can arrange automatic payments of X$ each month. As soon as you get the card activate then CUT IT UP. Into very little pieces - you'll want to use an old pair of scissors, it'll ruin them. Then a couple weeks b4 you need it call back & ask to have the card replaced because it was "damaged".

Remember the two keys are: 1)Set up automatic payments & 2)Cut the damn thing up! Little little pieces! You'll be obligated to have the $ in your bank account or suffer the consquences of insufficient funds/late payments & you won't use the $ you've saved because you can't tape a bunch of small pieces of card together (& yes if you only cut it in two, some bank machines will still take the cards!) & it takes a couple of weeks to get a new card. Most places require your CID# which can only be found on the card so be sure to dispose of the pieces to avoid internet/phone impulse purchases.

Hope this helps
Oh and try putting up pix of your intended destination for incentives.

[j-monster]

If you already have a certain chunk of money ready to set aside, but you are afraid you will spend it, you might want to look into a 3 or 6 month GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate). I think once you get one of these, they are locked in for the whole term, so you can't withdraw anything during that time. Plus, you even earn a little bit of interest on top of your investment.

You'd have to be careful about when you'd need to pay for your vacation, so make sure you talk to someone at your bank and buy a GIC that will mature in time for you to make your payments as necessary.

If you DON'T have a nest-egg already, and need to set aside some of your paycheques to save for vacation money... I don't know man, you just have to be really disciplined and harsh on yourself. Say to yourself, "Yeah I might want to spend some money on this, but then I can't go on vacation. Is that what I want?" Hopefully you'll see that the vacation is more important, therefore you won't spend.

Good luck.

[The Horrible Esthete]

Here's a method that i still to this day use to help me save up for an annual vacation or some other "treat":

Instead of using checks or credit, I use cash for everyday expendatures (groceries, laundry, odds and ends). When i get home, I immediately put the coin change in a jar. I NEVER touch that jar unless I'm putting change INTO it.

That change adds up. Every year, my spare change from minor, everyday cash expendatures totals about $300.00 (american). I know that's not alot, but i never miss that money - it's almost like i never had it to begin with!

[cferneyh]

Hello out there,

I am trying to save some money for a vacation. First the good:
I have a budget, I have a plan.

The Bad: I can't seem to stop spending. I am not disciplined. As much as I can afford to save money, I need to put it somewhere where I cannot spend it.

I have tried opening an account at a bank I don't use, but I keep going back, I have tried setting up an account separate from my other accounts.

I have tried using ING but that didn't work either.

Is there a way I can "put money away" for 6 months, and withdrawl it without penatly?

How do you save your money for short term goals?

What about giving a friend or family member the money to hold on to you until it comes time to pay for the vacation?

[sean.bonner]

Personally, I enjoy winning the lottery.