CCCS Offers Tips for a Vacation Within Your Budget.

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 1999--

Ah, Summer ... as kids, we could hardly wait for school to let out and vacation to begin. As adults, the thought of a July getaway can keep us going through a dismal winter or a tough week at work.

If you're struggling to make ends meet, however, paying for a summer vacation may seem impossible. Don't give up. According to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Ohio (CCCS), most consumers can afford some type of escape. It just takes a bit of careful planning.

"The first thing to do is to sit down and realistically determine how much money you can set aside by vacation time," says Nancy Deevers, Director of Education and Community Relations for CCCS. "Saving money in advance allows you to know exactly how much you have to spend. It also prevents having to face a stack of bills when you return home."

For potential travelers planning vacations, CCCS offers the following advice: -0-

1.   Be an armchair traveler -- Planning a trip can be almost as much
     fun as the actual vacation, because you get to explore the
     exciting world of possibility. Travel guides, magazines, friends,
     the Travel section of the Sunday newspaper and the Internet all
     offer ideas; try the library for books devoted exclusively to
     budget travel. Poll family members to get everyone's input and,
     as a group, decide on a destination.

2.   Travel within your means -- Once you've decided where you're
     going, outline a preliminary budget. Account for all possible
     expenditures from pet-sitting expenses and gas money to camping
     fees and amusement park ticket prices. If the total adds up to
     more than you can afford, look for ways to trim costs or select
     an alternate destination. To save money, consider sharing
     expenses with another family or taking a short trip to a nearby
     location.

3.   Shop carefully and compare prices -- Compare hotel and air
     prices. Some discounts are unpublicized and only available to
     those who ask. Many motels offer reduced prices to members of
     groups such as AAA. Furthermore, if you can be flexible about
     your vacation plans (for instance choosing mid-week
     departures/returns or visiting a site out-of-season), you can
     often save substantial sums.

4.   Decide how to pay -- Evaluate your payment options. The first
     step is to save as much money as you can in advance. For the
     balance, consider carefully before using loans and credit cards;
     compare interest rates and other terms. While on vacation, paying
     with a credit card offers the advantages of easing the
     reservation process and reducing the need to carry a lot of cash.
     However, avoid spur-of-the-moment purchases and have a plan to
     pay off your credit card balance within three months.

By following these suggestions, budget travelers can have enjoyable and memorable vacations. But perhaps most important, their post-vacation days will be free of financial stress.

For help with money management or budgeting, contact CCCS. CCCS is a non-profit organization providing confidential counseling, debt repayment and education programs to financially troubled consumers. It is a member of the National Foundation for Consumer Credit (NFCC), member of the Better Business Bureau and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children Inc. This service is free to consumers. To schedule an appointment at any of the 10 offices or for phone counseling, please call 216/781-8624.