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With April being Youth Financial Education Month in Maine, a news story that aired this past week on WGME CBS 13 and FOX 23 provided an appropriate preview to the month, as well as reinforcing the efforts of Maine CUs as a resource to help consumers save money on vacations.
Jake Holmes, the Young & Free Maine Spokester through Maine's Credit Unions, talked about staycations as being "the perfect compromise when you want to get away, but are on a budget. I know a lot of people that live in the Portland area right next to Portland Head Light, the most photographed head light in the United States and they haven't been there in years. Between flights, hotels and unexpected spending, vacations add up quickly. It's really easy to go past your budget and kind of get overwhelmed with that on vacations."
Holmes said he enjoys doing these types of interviews because vacation-spending isn't "just an issue for millennials, who I usually focus on, but for all consumers. Fiscal responsibility is an ageless topic." Jon Paradise, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement, said having opportunities to "highlight credit unions as resources for consumers, not just for financial services but helpful when it comes to helping with budgeting, spending and money management positions credit unions as a valuable resource."
While Holmes spoke about the benefits of staycations, he added, "If you do take a vacation, Holmes suggests spending with cash instead of a credit card, it will help you track your spending."
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