For many, visiting family for the winter holidays is a matter of "how," not "if." But this year, rising costs could make travel less affordable, especially when paired with other life changes — say, moving cross-country, going to school or getting married.
The best way to tame these holiday travel costs? Set financial boundaries with your family and friends early on. Having these conversations can be intimidating, but there are ways to make compromises that keep the holidays feeling special without derailing your goals.
As you add new commitments to your life, it can get hard to maintain the same holiday travel routine. Younger millennials may find themselves moving farther away from their families for job opportunities, like Audrey Peshkam, who moved to New York earlier this year from her hometown in Southern California to work for a nonprofit organization.
"For the first time, visiting my parents for Christmas is going to be a pretty significant expense," Peshkam says. "If I stay in New York long term, I'll have to justify the cost of a cross-country flight every year." She hopes that as she progresses in her career, the financial strain will decrease.
As jobs, partners, pets and kids add complexity to holiday plans and magnify expenses, it's essential to keep your expectations in check — and communicate them with your family.
Finances and family occasions are often two of the most important aspects of adult life, which can cause conflict if they are not in sync. To avoid misunderstandings, communicate your limitations in advance.
Perry said that for years, the conversation about her ability to visit home for the holidays was so difficult that she would just outright avoid having it. She would opt to spend holidays with faculty and community members during college and early adulthood instead of traveling.
Now, she aims for compromise, helping her family to expect visits that work with her budget and schedule.
