Making Summer Vacation Affordable with Layaway Plan

Making Vacation Affordable

Summer Vacation Layaway Option

Justifying the cost of a summer vacation or being able to afford it altogether cause many to bypass a vacation entirely.

A vacation layaway plan may be just the thing to help fund your vacation, however.

The layaway system for vacations is pretty much how your typical layaway works in a retail store. You pay a small fee and down payment and then continue to make payments until the items are paid in full.

Read: 7 Things That Can Make You Sick This Summer

Sears Vacations offers the same service, but for vacation payments. And yes, that's Sears, as in the retailer.

Mother Nature Network blogger Melissa Hincha-Ownby cautions against using the Sears layaway plan, however, suggesting that you instead develop your own layaway system.

Basically, that involves saving the money weekly or monthly in a savings account, a little bit at a time, until you reach your goal. That way you have control over your savings, but you eliminate the need to plunk down one big sum for vacation as you've been saving it over time.

Hincha-Ownby adds that you have that savings as an emergency fund, too, not just earmarked for vacation.

It's unclear whether or not the Sears Vacation layaway plan would allow you to be refunded the money, or the turnaround on getting your money back, should an emergency arise.

Read: Outrageously Extravagant In-Flight Amenities

Trust me when I say that even if you can only afford the smallest of vacations, everyone needs some time away from it all.

Look for other money-saving vacation ideas, including the "staycation," staying with friends or family, or taking a road trip close to home that affords you some break from the day-to-day.