shot of a businessman making his way to the airport with his suitcase.

How to Manage Your Finances While Traveling

The Fall brings more than just cooler weather, changing leaves, and seasonal coffee. For many business executives, Q4 means travel—and lots of it. With so many business professionals jet-setting across the country for meetings, sometimes personal financial goals can get left behind. Managing your finances amidst a full travel schedule can be tough, but it can be done—even in busy seasons.

How to Manage Personal Finances On-The-Go

Managing your finances is one thing, but managing your finances while you’re traveling can feel like a whole new ball game. But you don’t have to blow your monthly budget on dining out or airport food during your busy season. Plan ahead, stick to your budget, and focus on your goals. 

Here’s some helpful money tips to help you in the busy season ahead:

1. Create a travel budget. 

Whether you’re going to be gone for a few days or a month, creating a travel budget will help you stay on top of your finances while you’re traveling. Create a plan for how often you’ll be dining out, what activities you might be participating in, and what expenses go along with it. 

2. Review your budget often.

Make sure to look at your budget early and often! Track your expenses. If you go over in one budget category, you’ll have to get creative to make sure you don’t overspend in another. Looking at your budget and tracking your expenses will make all the difference when it comes to reaching your personal financial goals this season.

3. Automate your bills.

When you’re traveling, it can be hard to remember what bills you need to pay and when. That’s where automatic billing comes in. You can schedule your payments to come out on a certain day of the month so you don’t have to worry about missing one and potentially getting charged any late fees. 

5. Avoid vacation mentality.

Traveling can often lure us into thinking we’re on vacation. And vacation can get expensive . . . fast. Try to avoid switching into vacation mode with your spending. Stick to the budget and track your spending with every purchase so you can keep your personal finances top of mind.

6. Stay accountable to your goals.

If you’re traveling solo, make sure to check in with your spouse or partner. Knowing what your shared goals are when it comes to your finances can help you keep your spending in check. And the same thing goes for the partner or family member back home. 

7. Pack your own snacks. 

Airport food can get expensive. Instead of spending your money on overpriced grab and go items at the kiosk, pack your own snacks. Buy snacks ahead of your trip and pack them in your carryon for easy and inexpensive snacks on the road. 

8. Cook your own meals.

Many hotels offer a mini fridge in each room. Use it to your advantage. Hit up the grocery store for small items that you can use to make easy and inexpensive meals while you’re traveling. It won’t be as fun as dining out, but your budget will thank you. 

If you’re looking ahead at a full travel schedule this fall, don’t let managing your finances be another thing that keeps you awake at night. Invite a SageSpring Wealth Partner to help you manage your finances and get on track to reaching your goals. You’ll be glad you did.  

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Jeffrey T. Dobyns

CFP®, CLU, CHFC

President, SageSpring 

Jeffrey T. Dobyns

President, SageSpring 

Beyond crunching numbers and investment strategies, at SageSpring, we’re about building relationships. When you encounter Founder & President of SageSpring, Jeff Dobyns, it’s easy to understand why this is at the very heart of who we are as a firm. You won’t find stuffy formalities with Jeff; instead, you can expect to find him sharing a warm smile, communicating a compelling vision, or patiently untangling life’s complex challenges with clients. He believes in truly getting to know clients, understanding their aspirations and priorities, and navigating their financial plans with a tailored, comprehensive approach. Our team members have often been caught taking notes on Jeff’s effortless relationship skills from a distance, and we admire them for striving to learn from one of the best. 

Jeff’s financial expertise and wisdom are the perfect match to his innate people skills. Jeff holds the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChLU®) designations, and has held executive positions with financial planning firms for more than two decades. 

His dedication extends beyond the office to the boardroom and the local community, where Jeff is passionate about giving back. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Men of Valor, a prison ministry and mentoring program. Jeff also serves on the board of Send Musicians to Prison, which shares hope, healing and restoration with the imprisoned through musicians & artists. Jeff actively supports other initiatives in the community by sitting on the board of The Signatry of Middle Tennessee and the Halftime Institute of Nashville. 

Witnessing his four children, Gracyn, Hunter, Tanner, and Logan, excel on the field is almost just as rewarding, if not more, than celebrating the victories of seeing his clients overcome obstacles and build wealth. Spending weekends boating on the lake, hiking mountain trails, and fishing with his family are the moments Jeff cherishes most. It’s this grounded perspective that reveals the true meaning of wealth for Jeff: not just numbers on a page, but the freedom to create experiences that enrich your life and the lives of those you love. When you choose the Dobyns McMillin Wealth Team, you choose more than financial expertise. You choose a partner who champions your dreams, celebrates your victories, and walks besides you on the path to achieving your unique goals.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.