Few Americans Going Into Debt for Summer Vacations

AUSTIN, Texas, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- About 8 in 10 Americans who plan to take a vacation this summer will pay for some of it with savings, according to a new CreditCards.com report. 15% said they're financing their vacation with a credit card and 13% plan on using credit card rewards points or miles.

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Just 44% of Americans are taking a vacation this summer, and the vast majority are not planning on going into debt over it. About two-thirds of those vacationing this summer (67%) are expecting to pay off their vacation in a month or less. Only 11% said that it will take four months or more.

"Most Americans want nothing to do with debt these days," said Matt Schulz, CreditCards.com senior industry analyst. "With the Great Recession still fresh in their minds, people are watching their budgets more closely and making sure they're not overspending, even if it means scaling back on vacations -- or skipping them entirely. If they can't pay for the trip quickly, they just won't take it."

For those who are looking to take hold of their debt, Schulz recommends creating reasonable budgets and tracking all expenses. He also suggests seeking out 0% balance transfer offers as well as negotiating lower interest rates on your current credit cards, if possible.

Additional highlights:

• Those aged 65 and older are the most likely to put a vacation on a credit card; millennials are by far the least likely.
  
  
• Affluent households and college grads are the most likely to use credit card rewards points to pay for their summer vacations.
  
  
• Midwesterners are the most frugal; 76% plan to pay off their summer vacation in a month or less.

The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. PSRAI obtained telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,003 adults living in the continental United States. Interviews were conducted by landline (503) and cell phone (500, including 326 without a landline phone) in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from May 5-8, 2016. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

About CreditCards.com:

CreditCards.com is a leading online credit card marketplace, bringing consumers and credit card issuers together. At its free website, consumers can compare hundreds of credit card offers from America's leading issuers and banks and apply securely, online. CreditCards.com is also a destination site for consumers wanting to learn more about credit cards. Offering advice, news, features, statistics and tools, CreditCards.com helps consumers make smart choices about credit cards. In 2015, over 27 million unique visitors used CreditCards.com to find the right credit card to suit their needs.

For More Information:

Adriana Perisa
Publicist
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SOURCE CreditCards.com