Avoid vacation budget anxiety with these simple tips

Julie Murphy • June 2, 2011

This week marks the first “unofficial” week of summer – many of us dusted off the grills, packed away our winter clothes or soaked up some sun at the newly-opened beaches. And it’s also the beginning of the summer vacation season.

It’s incredible how anxiety-inducing a vacation can be, even when many look at a summer get-a-way as a ticket away from everything – the stresses of the office, family issue, or personal struggles. And their budget. Using the time away as a break from dealing with your finances isn’t healthy. But stressing over them doesn’t do any good either. When planning for your summer holidays, keep these three financial tips in mind.

Spend what you save

Maybe your big summer vacation happens around the fourth of July. If you already set up a “July 4 vacation” savings account and have been putting away money in it regularly, kudos! If not, start today. Saving a little more each month, week or day isn’t that hard.

We all have some level of emotional attachment to our finances. So stop saving for your summer vacation with a negative mindset and start thinking about it as a way to fund your dream. And when you finally get to your destination, remember to stick to that positive mentality by respecting your budget.

Set a budget

And make simple cuts to really stick to it! Don’t get too swept up into the “spending” part of your vacation that you completely undo all of the hard work you’ve done on your finances.

A good place to start your “vacation budget” is by breaking down your expenses. You know about how much you’ll need to spend on food, entertainment and personal items. And you know almost exactly what you’ll need for local transportation, lodging and travel. At this point, it’s about budgeting the luxuries. Maybe you’ll limit your splurges by cutting back on alcohol or limiting souvenirs.

Whatever limits you set, know that sticking to a budget on vacation is not as difficult as it may seem. You can still enjoy those holiday indulgences without derailing your financial progress.

Ditch the credit cards

There’s no better way to blur your financial situation (as well as ruin it) than with credit cards. Using your vacation as an excuse to charge your bill to the max is bad planning and even worse execution. So stick to cash; chances are if you need to charge up half of your vacation and you can’t pay the balance in full when you get back home, you probably can’t afford it anyway.

Vacations are supposed to be a relaxing time you spend with the people you love doing things you enjoy. They shouldn’t bring more stress into your already packed life. So utilize that “vacation savings” you’ve worked so hard for, and stick to your budget and stone-cold cash. Keeping a cap on the financial anxiety during your time away makes those vacations even better.

Tags: summer vacation budget, emotion behind money, Julie Murphy, Chicago personal finance, Chicago financial planner, female financial planner, family finance, money

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How to End the Year Like the Wealthy Do

By Julie Murphy • December 10, 2025

Reset Your Money Energy for 2026 Every December, we all feel that pull, the desire to “be better with money next year.” But here’s the secret I’ve seen again and again after nearly three decades of walking alongside people from all walks of life: Financially wealthy people don’t just plan their next year — they energetically complete the one they’re leaving. They close loops. They clear emotional residue. They realign their energy field before they set a single goal. And you can absolutely do the same. As I share in The Emotion Behind Money , wealth is never created by logic alone. It comes from managing the emotions behind your money and understanding that money itself is energy. And in Awaken Your Wealth , I remind readers that energetic shifts begin when you consciously picture yourself stepping into a new reality, while compassionately acknowledging the one you’re standing in now. So let’s walk through the simple year-end process I teach my clients — one that spiritually, emotionally, and financially resets your money field for a powerful 2026. 1. Review Your 2025 Wins & Losses With Compassion Before you step into the new year, look back with the most loving, nonjudgmental eyes possible. I call it neutral observation . Wealthy people don’t spiral into shame when something didn’t go perfectly. They get curious. Ask yourself: Where did I expand financially this year? Where did I contract emotionally or economically? What choices were truly aligned with my values? Which ones came from fear, scarcity, or old patterns? In Awaken Your Wealth , the “Accepting Reality and Awakening” step of PACT teaches that awareness without judgment is how we break old money patterns for good. So breathe. Notice. Write it down. No shame. No spiral. Just truth. 2. Forgive Any Money Mistakes Here’s a truth most people never consider: Every financial mistake carries emotional weight and emotional weight blocks money flow. From my work in The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money , we know that your heart’s energy is more powerful than your brain’s logic, and intention is what redirects energy back into alignment. Forgiveness, of yourself, your past self, or others involved, releases stagnant money energy. Try this: Write down any money decisions from 2025 that still feel heavy. Place your hand on your heart. Say: "I forgive the version of me who made this choice. She/he did the best they could with what they knew at the time.” Forgiveness isn’t about letting mistakes slide. It’s about resetting your emotional money field so you can co-create something new. 3. Create an Energetic Closing Ceremony for the Year This is where wealthy people truly separate themselves; they honor the transition. You can create your own year-end ceremony using whatever resonates from your spiritual toolkit. Here are a few ideas inspired by the intention-setting and clearing practices throughout my work: Light a candle Symbolize releasing the old year and calling in the new. Write a “completion list” Include everything you’re ready to release: debts you’re no longer carrying shame over, relationships you’re energetically cutting cords from, patterns you’re finished reenacting. Burn or bury the list This physical act tells the Universe: “I’m done living from this version of myself.” In The Emotion Behind Money , we explore how inherited beliefs and emotional patterns repeat until they are consciously released. This ceremony is your line in the sand. End with intention Close with one powerful intention for 2026, aligned from your heart: “I choose a new flow of abundance.” “I trust that money comes to me with ease.” “I allow myself to receive the wealth I’ve been working toward.” As The 4 Spiritual Laws of Money reminds us: “The Universe responds to action.” Your ceremony is your spiritual action. Ready to Step Into 2026 Aligned, Clear & Empowered? If you’re craving deeper support with your financial reset, join me for my Emotions Behind Money Workshop in January. If you’ve been feeling the nudge to recalibrate your relationship with money, this is your moment. Let’s make 2026 the year your inner wealth and your financial reality finally match. You deserve abundance and you’re closer than you think. With love, alignment & a whole lot of possibility, Julie ✨