no-fail tips to pay off your summer trips!

Whether it's another destination wedding or an extravagant European adventure, it seems like everyone I know is cash-strapped coming off of their summer vacations. Having just taken a 10-day jaunt to Copenhagen aka one of the most expensive cities in the world, it's time for me to buckle down and pay off all those $20 beers, or at least save up for the next round!

Feeling a little like this?



Try these no-fail tips to pay off your Summer trips (see what I did there?)!

1. Lower Your APR. Chances are you put your travel expenses on a credit card. Before you do anything else, call your bank and ask for a lower interest rate. It sound crazy, but I did it just the other day and no questions asked, they lowered by rate by 3 points! Doesn't seem like much but it will save me about $20 in interest fees each month while I pay off my trip.
2. Before You Go. If you haven't taken your trip yet, but are just looking for ways to save, try the sites you use everyday while at home like Groupon. Many sites, if not all, have subsidiaries in different countries. I saved a lot by buying tours and bar deals online beforehand.
3. Set A Goal. It's easy to let paying off your debt fall to the wayside, but if you make a goal you're more likely to stick to it. Check out Mint.com's goals section where you can set all types of parameters, including length of time, monthly payment and interest rate. Plus, it's always encouraging to see the progress you're making!
4. Sell unwanted gifts and household items. Have any birthday gifts or travel finds collecting dust in your closet? Search through your home, and look for items you can sell on eBay or Craigslist. Do some research to make sure you list these items at a fair and reasonable price, and don't forget to take quality photos, and write an attention-grabbing headline and description to sell the item as quickly as possible.

Have any good tips that have worked for you? Share below, and good luck!