Vacations are a time for escaping the doldrums of everyday life, indulging in some decadence, and partaking in eye-opening adventures.

Eventually, though, comes the time to take the long journey home. And no matter how diligent you were about budgeting for your trip in advance, the idea of paying off these expenses might instill you with dread. (A croissant in Paris cost how much?!) However, you can still avoid the regret and look back fondly on where you traveled and the memories you made with a little postvacation financial recovery.

Asses your spending

Start by surveying the damage. Review your credit card statements and bank account activity to calculate exactly how much you spent on your summer trip. Leave no stone unturned—small expenses such as coffee and snacks could amount to dozens of dollars, so add up every payment down to the cent. Check for surprise fees as well, including hotel surcharges that may have taken several days to finalize.

Remember to factor in the costs of advance purchases as well. For example, you may have booked your flight, hotel, rental vehicle, or some excursions days or even months before your travel dates. Assess these costs to help you take in the full scope of your travel spending.

Pay down your credit

Once you arrive at a total, take a breath, and then establish a damage-control plan for your credit-card expenses. Tackle upcoming bills on time to avoid racking up fees, and pay down as much of your overall balance as possible in one go, prioritizing high-interest-rate debt. According to Forbes Advisor, the average credit card APR stands at 27.80 percent at this writing, so paying only the minimum amount due on yours could turn a $1,000 vacation investment into one that costs about $1,200 after a year.

But charging plastic isn’t all bad—doing so can earn you cash or gift card rewards, which can be particularly helpful for soothing your posttravel blues. You could even direct cash rewards straight back into your checking account to help mitigate upcoming bills. Just don’t rely too heavily on these bonuses in general; setting aside a portion of your income each month for vacation debt is the more effective route to clearing it. If necessary, make budget concessions moving forward so you can pay down your balances in full.

Tighten your budget

Regardless of the size of your travel costs, tweaking your budget temporarily can help you rebound from greater-than-normal spending. Here are some simple and proven ways to pinch pennies without saying goodbye to a comfortable lifestyle.

Cook at home
Almost nothing can make money slip through your fingers like indulging in every temptation to dine out or order in. A 2023 CNET study found that meals cooked at home can be less than half the cost of purchased ones, so apply your culinary skills until all your travel costs are paid off. To get twice the bang for your buck, make food prep a family bonding activity or inexpensive social gathering—and don’t be afraid to ask guests to pitch in for ingredients.

Enjoy free activities
Trade costly activities like theme park and museum tickets for some frugal fun as you financially recover from vacation. Arrange for no-cost occasions such as public-park outings, game nights, movie viewings at home, and craft-making sessions with family and friends. With a little creativity, you can maximize your free time without accumulating extra balances.

Keeping a close eye on your finances can calm your posttravel tension and help you regain control over your monetary health. And before you know it, you’ll be back on track to saving for your next adventure.