Summer Vacationing with one half the money and one parent

How to have fun and survive the recession

Divorce is hard on the pocket book – period. You still have the children, which is great, but with half or less than half the money, it can be stressful. While this presents a challenge for day to day living it also makes planning summer holidays, even more interesting. Who wants to say no---no parent does and so as usual, regardless of the decreased disposable income, you plan to go on summer vacation and make the best of what you can afford.

The last thing you want to do however is come home to increased credit card balances that result in interest payments far beyond the original cost of the vacation in the first place. While perhaps adjusting expectations of four and five star hotels, you can actually create experiences that go far beyond housekeeping services and pillows laden with hotel chocolates. The key work is creating memories. We all know that the most memorable times with our parents were about experiences that were often simple in nature but full of emotional connections.

Just consider a few alternatives:

• Camping. There is nothing like camp fire conversation under an evening of stars, plus learning to cook over a fire certainly creates lots of interesting challenges and dialog.
• Renting a pool for the back yard for a week and creating a summer vocation at home. Make sure you have a plan for each day so that you do not get distracted by house hold chores
• Volunteer as a family either in your home town or in some other city or country. Perhaps helping a family build a home as it certainly put things into perspective with regards to the haves and have not’s.
• Plan on going to see family. Perhaps the ex did not want to or did not get along with your family but perhaps it is time for new beginnings in this regard.
• If you have your favorite place to go but you can no longer afford it – then consider still going but for less time. Memories do not need to take a week to get – perhaps a few days is good.
• Consider a fishing trip or a horseback riding trip. There is nothing like connecting to nature to make us feel grounded, fortunate and blessed.
• Be creative and make the best of what you can afford.
• Do not go into debt to go on vacation. Stop the financial bleeding that our society has condoned and live within your means. Your means is good enough and will result in peace and therefore free you up to be the best parent you can be.

Karen Stewart, BSc., M.B.A., RHU, CDFA, R.F.M., is the President, CEO and founder of Fairway Divorce Solutions, a leading alternative divorce solutions firm. As an entrepreneur, leading divorce expert and proud single mother of three, Karen’s book, Clean Break: How to Divorce with Dignity and Move on with Your Life is a first-hand glimpse into the traditional system of divorce, it’s pitfalls and empowering alternatives, and is available at major book retailers across Canada and can be purchased online at www.amazon.ca .