I use the theory that we eat B/L/D whether home or away so it falls under FOOD whether from pantry. fridge or restaurant. We're usually on international trips so I can't bring fruit/food. I'm so curious I find it fun to shop at a food mkt. in other countries frustrated to be limited to take-away, eaten out-of-hand or snacks. In SE Asia all accommodations include a giant buffet breakfast [of totally unfamiliar foods].
I track it as "Vacation." Also, track any entertainment, gas, souvenirs etc. as Vacation. The only thing I don't count is something I buy for my real life while on vacation. Like if I find some cute potholders, or something. Then it's tracked as "Household Supplies."
We usually get a little self-catered apt. on vacation - so groceries are under groceries and dining out is under dining out. A few months before I try to limit dining out so that our dining out budget has more in it (from leftover from previous months). But I will move money around from other discretionary spending for vacations if we need to and we have the money for it. Under vacation I have these subcategories: pet sitting, airport parking, tickets/entertainment, rental car, hotels, travel insurance and airfare. I try to build up the tickets and entertainment a little before we leave, too.
I track it under vacation spending because it may be a bit more expensive than regular meals, although I am the kind of traveler that goes to the grocery store to make my own breakfast (even in hotels unless hotel includes breakfast) and to pack a lunch and snacks with a dinner out for local flavor. I track these expenses, and all vacation spending, to know how much I spent and how much is left in my vacation account when I return.
But....I also don't allow myself to use the grocery and allowance for the time I am traveling. If I am gone for two weeks the entire amount comes from vacation savings and the allowance and grocery money I am not spending goes into the savings. Very rarely have I had to use the my grocery/allowance on vacation.
We use "vacation" because we don't eat out much and vacation eating out (for 2-4 people) tends to be extremely expensive. So it has to come out of vacation budget.
On the flip side, when I was childless, I ate out all the time and vacationed solo, or just the two of, us a lot. I am sure "vacation eating out" was the same difference as "at home eating out". So, just used the "eating out" category. *shrugs*
At the end of the day, I just want to know what I Am spending and ensure it's within my planned total spending for the year. I don't really belabor the details. I suppose looking back, it makes more sense from an accounting perspective to put it under vacation because at current dining out is a "large and unusual" expense. Otherwise, why I on earth did I spend $500 eating out that month?? It wouldn't make any sense. Putting it under vacation makes sense, for now. But, in my childless days I don't see that it would really make any difference.
March 26th, 2014 at 04:09 pm 1395850141
Subcategory under "Vacation" heading (for me and my purposes).
March 26th, 2014 at 04:42 pm 1395852152
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March 27th, 2014 at 05:15 am 1395897329
I track it under vacation spending because it may be a bit more expensive than regular meals, although I am the kind of traveler that goes to the grocery store to make my own breakfast (even in hotels unless hotel includes breakfast) and to pack a lunch and snacks with a dinner out for local flavor. I track these expenses, and all vacation spending, to know how much I spent and how much is left in my vacation account when I return.
But....I also don't allow myself to use the grocery and allowance for the time I am traveling. If I am gone for two weeks the entire amount comes from vacation savings and the allowance and grocery money I am not spending goes into the savings. Very rarely have I had to use the my grocery/allowance on vacation.
Weird maybe but it works for me!
March 27th, 2014 at 05:26 pm 1395941217
On the flip side, when I was childless, I ate out all the time and vacationed solo, or just the two of, us a lot. I am sure "vacation eating out" was the same difference as "at home eating out". So, just used the "eating out" category. *shrugs*
At the end of the day, I just want to know what I Am spending and ensure it's within my planned total spending for the year. I don't really belabor the details. I suppose looking back, it makes more sense from an accounting perspective to put it under vacation because at current dining out is a "large and unusual" expense. Otherwise, why I on earth did I spend $500 eating out that month?? It wouldn't make any sense. Putting it under vacation makes sense, for now. But, in my childless days I don't see that it would really make any difference.