Vacations are a great time to get away from your worries and responsibilities, kick back, and generally just have a good time. But if you forget to do a few things before you head out to the airport or pack up the car, you could be inviting a world of trouble into your life when you get back. By keeping a handy checklist of things that should be done before you leave, you can make sure that your fun, care-free vacation stays that way long after you’ve gotten back home.
1. Call your bank and let them know where you’ll be going and for how long.
Most banks monitor your credit and debit cards for suspicious activity whether you know it or not. If you live in Tennessee and suddenly make hundreds of dollars’ worth of purchases in California while on vacation, the bank may incorrectly flag this as suspicious activity. This could result in the charges being denied or your card being canceled altogether. If your credit or debit card is your only means of payment while on vacation, this could leave you stranded without any money for a reason that was completely avoidable.
2. Make any necessary adjustments to your data plan.
If you have a smart phone that connects to the Internet, make sure you won’t be getting charged additional money if your data plan is in use while outside of the area in which you live. This is especially true if you’re traveling outside of the country. If you’re traveling abroad, call your phone company and switch to an international data plan for the duration of the trip. This can avoid literally thousands of dollars of charges due to data plan use while on vacation with a single phone call.
3. Don’t just turn off your electronics, but unplug them.
Even when switched to “Off,” most electronics continue to draw electricity for as long as they’re plugged in. This is especially true of computers, television sets and video game consoles. Turn off all your electronics and unplug them from the wall to avoid a large electricity bill when you get home.
4. Make sure you have the ability to charge any electronic device that you’re taking with you.
As we live in an increasingly electronic world, you are more than likely taking at least a phone and maybe a computer with you while you travel. Make sure you have all the necessary charging devices packed before you leave to avoid any battery issues while on the road. Chargers are typically a high markup item, which means that buying one while on a trip will cost a lot more than it probably should.
5. Suspend any services that you won’t be using for the duration of your trip.
Certain services like Netflix charge you one flat fee per month of use. However, if you’re planning on being gone for a week or two you can always suspend these services to avoid getting charged during a period where you won’t be using them at all. When you get back from your trip, call and have your services reactivated again to continue normal use.
