Author: Abbey

At the end of 2016, a quarter of consumers said they expected to rack up holiday debt. Of those shoppers, 66 percent said it would probably take them three months or more to pay it all off. That’s a lot of shopping.

“Most, if not all, of us have been there,” says Ryan Frailich, a Financial Planner in New Orleans. “We forgot about four people we needed gifts for and underestimated how expensive traveling would be. Before you know it, our December credit card bill is double what we expected. The good news is, for many, this is manageable.”

If you’re in a post-holiday spending haze, your first order of business is to come up with a solid debt payoff plan. Beyond that, here’s what you can do to fix your finances now, supercharge your debt payoff, and prepare your budget for next year’s spending craze.

1. RETURN STUFF YOU DON’T WANT.

Whether it’s a top that doesn’t fit or a camouflage-patterned Snuggie you’ll never use, try to return any unwanted gifts and gift cards you received this year, says Kendal Perez of Coupon Sherpa.

“Return them for cash and use the money you receive to pay down your holiday debt,” Perez says. “If you don’t have a gift receipt and receive store credit for your return, you can sell your gift card through sites like GiftCardGranny.com for up to 90 percent of the card’s value in cash.”

2. FIND WAYS TO EARN EXTRA CASH.

It’s easier said than done, but a side gig or two could really boost your debt payoff goal. “Love dogs? Dogsit your way to being out of debt,” says Frailich. “Got an extra room? Airbnb can bring in great cash flow for a short period of time if you need it. Find a way to boost your earnings so you can rid yourself of the debt ASAP.”

When you’re using your extra cash to bail yourself out of debt rather than, say, buy a new pair of sneakers, the money doesn’t seem to go as far. “Once people are in debt, an extra $300 doesn’t feel as big as when they were debt free,” Frailich says. But this is precisely when every penny matters. As your debt increases, so does the interest you rack up. As you pay down your principal balance, even if it’s by a small amount, your interest payments will also decrease.

3. GO ON A SPENDING FAST.

“Try a ‘no spend’ month, where you stay away from restaurants and movie theaters and stay home for a month,” says Craig Dacy, a Financial Coach.

Most “no spend” months involve cutting non-essential expenses—like entertainment, shopping, and meals out— so you can funnel those funds to your credit card bill instead. Perez adds that some extreme participants also cut their grocery spending for the month and eat what’s already in their refrigerator or pantry. For this stricter approach, Dacy recommends using Supercook, a web app that generates recipes based on what you already have at home. (You can use an app like this to help you shop smarter, even if you’re not drastically limiting your grocery budget.)

“Identify what structure works best for you to yield the most savings and apply your ‘extra’ cash toward your holiday credit card bill,” Perez says.

4. TRANSFER YOUR BALANCE (CAREFULLY).

And then there’s the balance transfer hack. You transfer your credit card debt to another card that offers a promotional 0 percent interest balance transfer. With these promos, you have a certain amount of time—usually six months or a year—to pay off your balance before you start accruing interest.

“If you have a high credit score and are eligible for a 0 percent balance transfer, it may be a good strategy to use in this one instance, as long as you are absolutely certain you can pay off the full balance during the 0 percent term,” Frailich says. “Be careful, though, because if you don’t pay it off in full during that window, you’ll pay even more in credit card interest than on your original card.”

Not only that, you also want to watch out for deferred interest credit cards. These cards offer similar terms to 0 percent interest balance transfer cards, but if you don’t pay the full balance by the end of the promotional period, you could end up owing interest retroactively. Be sure to read your credit card’s terms and conditions thoroughly before committing to anything.

5. SAVE NOW FOR NEXT YEAR.

Finally, prevent another hangover by preparing for next year’s spending as soon as possible. The holidays catch people off guard, but they really shouldn’t—they’re right there on the calendar. Holiday gifts and travel are predictable expenses you can budget for now.

Frailich describes a client who consistently overspent and racked up debt every January. After paying off the previous year’s debt in April, she started automating a $50 transfer from each paycheck into a savings account dedicated to holiday spending. “When the time for gift-buying and traveling came, she already had $800 set aside, so she was able to handle almost all of her costs with that money. Going forward, she is continuing her automated savings so she’ll be ready next year to handle the full holiday expenses with money she saved ahead of time.”

Another suggestion to consider: You don’t have to spend so much on the holidays to begin with. Lay out your spending limits and expectations beforehand so you’re not frantically spending on last-minute gifts. “I know some families who do a drawing and each person only buys and receives one or two gifts per year rather than facing an endlessly growing list of people to shop for,” Frailich says.

If your interest in visiting Cuba has been piqued since President Obama’s 2014 announcement of plans to improve relations between the United States and Cuba, you’re in luck: One of the areas in which swift changes have been made is travel. Several U.S. airlines launched direct flights to a handful of Cuban cities in August 2016, and tickets remain affordable and available. Here’s what you need to know to plan your own trip to Cuba.

1. BOOKING A FLIGHT IS EASIER THAN EVER … BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S EASY.

For the first time in the history of the internet, U.S. travelers can book their flights to Cuba online. While flights still can’t be purchased through Expedia, all of the commercial airlines that offer flights—including American, Delta, JetBlue, and Spirit—allow online booking, and a few aggregator sites do as well, including CheapOair (which offers flights from JFK Airport in New York to Holguín).

But just because you can buy your flights from your laptop while lying in bed doesn’t mean the process is simple. Once you book your ticket, you’ll still need to purchase a travel visa (which you can’t yet do online) and you’ll need to be prepared to prove that you fall into one of the 12 categories of approved travelers published by the U.S. Department of Treasury. While word on the street is that authorities aren’t actually checking records to determine whether educational and “people-to-people” trips conform to DoT rules, you’ll want to be sure to stay within the letter of the law.

If you have questions, ask your airline, but remember: Commercial flights are still relatively new, and many airline agents aren’t yet familiar with specific regulations. When possible, get the name and title of the person with whom you speak for accountability’s sake.

2. GET TO THE AIRPORT NICE AND EARLY.

Many airlines and airports offering direct flights to Cuba locate their Cuba flight check-in operations outside the usual “Departures” area. Give yourself the full three pre-departure hours recommended for international flights, and contact the airline prior to your flight date to ask where you’ll need to check in. Also, bear in mind that curbside check-in and similar amenities often are not available for Cuba-bound flights, even if you hold a special reward or member status with an airline.

3. BRING PLENTY OF CASH.

While several major U.S.-issued debit and credit card companies rushed to announce they were arranging for their cards to be usable in Cuba, they’ve been slow to make good on their word. In December 2015, one small Florida bank was reported to be the first U.S. bank to forge a relationship with Cuba’s central bank, and in June 2016 they debuted the first U.S. credit card to work there. But don’t get your hopes up: Very few Cuban vendors have point-of-sale machines that work with U.S. plastic.

With none of the large U.S. banks operating in Cuba, you also can’t withdraw cash from Cuban ATMs. Which means you need to bring your funds with you. The catch here is that you will always lose an automatic 10 percent when you exchange U.S. dollars into CUCs (Cuban Convertible Pesos) at a CADECA (the official currency exchange office). Finally, Cuba still has a dual-currency system. There are CUCs, which tourists tend to use, and CUPs (Cuban Pesos), which Cubans tend to use. When being charged for goods or services, be sure to ask what currency is being used. While there has been talk about moving to a one-currency system since 2013, no timeline has been announced and both currencies remain in effect as of this writing.

4. BE PREPARED FOR A DIGITAL DETOX.

In many ways, Cuba—or Havana, at least—is more digitally connected than it has ever been. Wi-Fi service is increasingly ubiquitous in the capital’s parks and public spaces, and prices for Wi-Fi access dropped significantly in December 2016. And with AT&T announcing roaming capabilities in October 2016, it’s possible to stay connected throughout your visit to Cuba. However, service can be pretty pricey, at $3 per minute for voice and $2.05 per MB of data. It may be easier (on your wallet and mind) to just disconnect completely.

5. DON’T PLAN ON WINGING YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS.

I’m a traveler who’s typically happy to forgo trip planning micro-management in favor of serendipity, but when it comes to accommodations in Cuba, this is not a good plan. Upon landing and proceeding to Immigration, you’ll be required to provide the address of your lodgings while in Cuba. Beyond potentially causing problems with entry into the country, you will also be hard-pressed to find accommodations if you don’t know Cuba well and you wait until you land to look for a place to stay.

Airbnb now lists more than 300 options all over the island and is likely the most affordable, accessible, and simple way for Americans to book a place to stay before they touch down.

6. INDULGE IN RUM AND CIGARS TO YOUR HEART’S CONTENT.

Don’t worry about rum and cigar limits! In October 2015, the Obama administration announced that Americans returning from trips to Cuba can pack their bags with as much alcohol and cigars as they can carry (subject to the standard duties and limitations, of course). Be sure your wares are legit, though; plenty of hustlers, including employees at cigar factories, are keen to sell boxes at cut rates, but these boxes aren’t likely to pass muster if inspected. Waited ’til the last minute to do your shopping? You can buy cigars at Duty Free shops in the Havana airport.

7. BRACE YOURSELF FOR CHANGE.

It’s important to remember that these policies are still in flux, so stay apprised of changes by regularly checking in with the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

You’ve been slaving away at your job—isn’t it about time you get a raise? You’re not alone in feeling like you’re underpaid: According to a 2016 survey by PayScale, only 36 percent of employees feel like they’re fairly compensated, compared to 73 percent of employers who believe their employees are paid the appropriate amount. Clearly there’s an information gap here. This is how you can talk to your boss and snag that raise.

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

It’s essential that you know how much people in your position make at competing organizations, says Andy Decker, regional president at Robert Half, a major staffing agency. To find this information, start by searching job-hunt websites like CareerBuilder, PayScale, or Indeed. You can also reach out to your alma mater about putting you in touch with other alums in your industry, or searching public records.

2. SPEAK WITH YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

Unless you work in a small private business, your human resources department should have a compensation plan, says Marie McIntyre, author of Secrets to Winning at Office Politics. “Ask human resources how salary is determined,” she says. “Don’t ask them how much someone else makes, but they’ll tell you about pay ranges and scales and how decisions are made.” Once you understand the market value of your job as well as how your company determines your pay, then you’re in a better position to have “the conversation.”

3. ASK YOURSELF “WHY.”

Now you need to prove why you deserve a raise, McIntyre says. Do you deserve it because you’re underpaid? Do you deserve it because you’re a top performer? Because you made a particular contribution to the company? “What’s your rationale for it?” McIntyre asks. “You don’t just get a raise because you’ve been there for six months.”

4. PLAN YOUR STRATEGY.

You want to cater your approach to best suit your boss’s individual style. Is your boss more likely to be swayed by facts and figures? Then you need to go in there with the numbers to support your case. Is he going to respond well if you talk yourself up? Some will be impressed by that, but others will be turned off by it, McIntyre says.

5. CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY’S FINANCIAL POSITION.

Before you march in and request a raise, think about your company’s state of affairs. Did they recently have a round of layoffs? Did they make budget cuts or take away any perks? If there were any signs that the company is having obvious financial problems, then it’s not the best time to request more money, Decker says.

6. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

Contrary to popular belief, your raise appeal should not be at the same time as your performance review, McIntyre says. This is because many companies determine budget and salary before the review. Ideally, the salary talk should happen at least a month before you’re due for your review.

It should also be a scheduled visit. Explain to your boss that you’d like to meet with him or her to discuss your current compensation. “If he’s not prepared, he’ll feel like he’s been ambushed, and he may be defensive, which can shoot you in the foot,” Decker says. Since most people are busier at the beginning of the week, Decker recommends scheduling a time to chat on a Thursday afternoon. This way your manager has had a chance to tackle the important issues of the week, but isn’t running out the door to start the weekend.

7. HAVE THE TALK.

This is hands down the scary part. Thirty-two percent of people would rather clean the house than ask for a raise, according to a 2015 survey by Robert Half. But if you’ve followed steps 1 through 6, you’re ready. “Go in there and have an open conversation,” Decker says.

8. BE PREPARED FOR REJECTION.

It happens—but that doesn’t mean you have to walk away empty-handed. According to the Robert Half survey, under a quarter of people who were turned down would ask for other perks, which means that the majority of you are missing out on a great opportunity, McIntyre says. “Consider asking for a bonus,” she says. “Often, companies are much more willing to give bonuses; a pay raise is permanent and would stay in the budget for a long time as opposed to a [one-time] bonus.” Other options include requesting flex time, a title change, or extra vacation days.

If you’re given a firm “no,” ask what you need to do to move to the next pay step. Or, if the reason for your rejection is just that there’s no room in the budget for an increase, ask when a better time would be and make it known that you’d like to revisit the question then.

If you want to get your finances in shape in 2017, a money challenge is a good place to start. Not only can tackling one serve the practical purpose of helping you save some cash, it can also teach you a thing or two about your own money habits. The idea of any financial challenge is to motivate you to take action; and once you see the progress of your actions, you’re motivated to keep going.

If you’re looking to kick off a challenge on January 1, try one of these five free ones recommended by personal finance experts.

1. THE ROCKSTAR FINANCE WEEKLY CHALLENGE

The popular personal finance site Rockstar Finance recently launched a series of weekly challenges hosted by Derek Olsen of the blog HowDoIMoney.com. Olsen lists a new challenge every Monday, inviting readers to join and share their progress via Rockstar’s online forums. The first challenge prompted readers to dig deep and come up with a meaningful financial goal, while the second one challenged them to sell something on Craigslist. Each challenge includes actionable, quantifiable steps.

2. THE CASH CONFIDENCE CHALLENGE

Stefanie O’Connell is a personal finance expert who often writes about the unique roadblocks women face when it comes to their finances—namely, the wage gap. “The crisis here isn’t competence, it’s confidence,” O’Connell tells mental_floss. “Unfortunately, the result of that lower confidence isn’t making bad choices, it’s making no choices. Which, when it comes to money, career, and our respective financial futures, holds us back from affording and enjoying all the things we really want.”

O’Connell cites a BlackRock Investor study, which found that 42 percent of women feel confident about their finances—compared to 71 percent of men. In response, she recently launched the Cash Confidence Challenge to empower women when it comes to personal finance. The challenge includes seven days of lessons, guidance, and worksheets. While it’s aimed at women, anyone can join.

“We start out by defining what it is we actually want—without putting personal contingencies, limitations, or judgments on those goals,” O’Connell says. “We’ll then break down our respective dream lifestyles into tangible, financial metrics, identifying next steps as well as available resources to help us follow through, and [create] an action plan for managing potential obstacles and mental roadblocks.”

3. A “NO SPEND” MONTH

This challenge is a little extra challenging, but that’s what makes it interesting. The goal is to see how much you can save in a month by cutting back on any expense that isn’t an absolute necessity. Some variations of the challenge focus on cutting out a specific expense in your budget, such as restaurants, movies, or impulse spending.

Aside from the practical purpose of saving money to pay down debt or put towards your goals, a “no spend” month can help you spend more mindfully. You’re forced to think twice about your habits and decisions, which can shed some light on how those habits serve you to begin with.

For accountability purposes, you could ask friends or family members to join, too, then track and share your progress with each other throughout the month.

4. SAVE $1000 IN A WEEK

Ramit Sethi, author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich, is a fan of big wins: actions that make the biggest difference to your finances. In his “Save $1000 in 1 Week” challenge, Sethi shows participants the most lucrative methods to cut back on expenses.

Participants sign up via email and are sent a new challenge every day. Challenges include saving on cable, car insurance, gym memberships, and more. Sethi gives readers the exact scripts they should use to haggle down these expenses, and the goal is to save at least $1000 in seven days.

5. THE “LIVE RICHER” CREDIT CHALLENGE

Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche launched the Live Richer Challenge a few years ago, and it’s grown into a movement that includes over 200,000 women who have saved a collective $25 million. “The previous challenges were so successful that I decided to host a new LIVE RICHER Challenge every year,” Aliche writes on her blog. “The 2017 Challenge will focus on helping you to improve your credit.”

The challenge is 22 days long and is organized into three weeks. The first week will cover credit knowledge, the second will show participants how to improve credit, and the third challenge will cover credit maintenance. When you sign up, you’ll receive a starter kit via email along with weekly challenge updates.

The beginning of a new year is quickly approaching, which makes now the perfect time to take stock of your priorities and set goals for your future. Setting goals helps you focus your attention, get more done, and change your life. Robert Pozen, MIT professor and author of Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours, shares his top tips for honing in on your goals—be they to live a healthier lifestyle, advance in your career, or prioritize your relationships—and seeing them through to fruition.

1. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS.

Just brainstorming your goals isn’t enough—you need to write them down. To give you one place to organize and categorize your goals, Pozen partnered with the Wall Street Journal to create the Productivity Planner for their Journal Collection. “If you don’t write down your goals and prioritize them, you are not likely to achieve them,” Pozen writes in the foreword to his Productivity Planner.

“Begin by jotting down all your goals for the next year, both personal and professional,” Pozen writes. “Use your notebook to then divide both sets of goals into ‘high priority’ and ‘secondary priority.’” The planner then helps you translate your goals into monthly objectives, and uses a two-sided schedule to help you manage your time. For every appointment you pencil in to your planner (meetings, phone calls, lunches, etc.), you also provide its purpose, or what you want to get out of it. “This will help you actively manage your day,” Pozen writes.

2. START WITH SHORTER-TERM GOALS.

Pozen’s Productivity Planner starts by asking you to list your yearly goals, but coming up with these can seem like a monumental task, especially when you’re young. “Start with your goals for a relatively short period—like the summer or a semester,” Pozen tells mental_floss in an email. “Those periods are easier to see as relevant.”

Once you have your list of goals, “divide your goals into personal and professional,” Pozen says. “When you think about personal goals, start with the easy ones such as what type of social life would you like to have? When you think about your professional goals, similarly, start with something like what new skill would you like to develop?”

3. GIVE EQUAL ATTENTION TO YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

“It is often easier to think about your professional goals because most people have an idea of a career path,” Pozen says. “Do you want to advance to a higher level in your current organization, or get a job someplace else? Do you need to go to a short training course or get a new degree or simply do a lot more networking? In this process, you can consult a colleague at work or a professional mentor.”

Personal goals often get the short shrift since it’s more difficult to nail down what it is you want and how to get there, but they shouldn’t be neglected. “When you try to generate personal goals, you should try to think through your daily life and needs. If you are single, do you want to meet a girlfriend or boyfriend? If you are married, do you want to have children?” Pozen says. “Then you might focus on your free time. Do you want to become better at playing a physical sport or start a new hobby or go on a special vacation? In this process, you can consult your partner or a friend.”

4. DO THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

Pozen recommends you live by the principle OHIO: Only Handle It Once. “OHIO means that it is most efficient to deal with important matters right then and there, instead of waiting a week,” Pozen says. “If you wait a week, you may forget the important matter or it may take you a hour to get back up to speed. So if you receive an important email from your boss, only handle it once—answer it right then and there.”

5. MAKE TIME FOR MORE SLEEP.

You need a solid seven hours of rest for more than just your beauty. “Without enough sleep, your performance will decline on complex tasks without you even realizing,” Pozen writes in the Productivity Planner.

Without a doubt, this is something you’ve heard before. But it can feel impossible to put in the hours you need at work, get your chores and errands done, exercise, eat dinner, and hit the hay at a decent hour. While Pozen notes that there are tricks you can try to fit more in—“routinizing low priority tasks like eating breakfast, trying not to procrastinate by getting started with an easy part of a large project, and limiting meetings to 90 minutes at the most”—the most important thing you can do is de-emphasize the number of hours you’re putting in at the office. “The key points are to set your priorities and focus on getting them done, rather than just staying long hours at work—that is a false sense of productivity,” Pozen tells mental_floss.

6. EXERCISE.

“Devote at least 15 minutes each day to exercise,” Pozen writes in his planner. This will help you feel more alert and eager to tackle the day. But again, how do you fit this time into your busy schedule? “You should try to exercise in the middle of the afternoon when your energy is low – that will help you be more energetic and productive for the rest of the day,” Pozen tells mental_floss. Moreover, an afternoon workout won’t cut into your dinner prep or sleeping time.

7. MAKE SOME SIMPLE CHANGES TO YOUR ROUTINE.

To increase your productivity and work more efficiently, Pozen recommends making five easy changes to your daily routine—right now.

1. Get prepared the night before so in the morning you can quickly dress, eat a standard breakfast, and leave for work.
2. Use a two-sided schedule where you list your appointments on the left and what you want to get out of them on the right.
3. Don’t call a meeting unless you need to discuss something and keep all meetings to 90 minutes at the maximum.
4. Skip over two thirds of your email—you can tell they are not worth reading by the subject matter and sender.
5. Think about your purpose before reading anything, then read the intro and conclusions to decide if you need to read more.

You don’t need a special day to come up with goals, but New Year’s Day is as good a time as any to build better habits. The problem is, by the time February rolls around, our best laid plans have often gone awry. Don’t let it happen this year: Heed these three simple tips for fail-proof resolutions.

PROBLEM 1: THEY’RE TOO OVERWHELMING

Let’s say your goal is to pay off $5000 worth of credit card debt this year. Since you’re giving yourself a long timeframe (all year) to pay it down, you end up procrastinating or splurging, telling yourself you’ll make up for it later. But the longer you push it off, the bigger and more overwhelming your once-reasonable goal can feel.

Solution: Set Smaller Milestones

The big picture is important, but connecting your goal to the present makes it more digestible and easier to stick with. Instead of vowing to pay off $5000 by the end of next December, make it your resolution to put $96 toward your credit card debt every week, for example.

In a study from the University of Wollongong, researchers asked subjects to save using one of two methods: a linear model and a cyclical model. In the linear model,the researchers told subjects that saving for the future was important and asked them to set aside money accordingly. In contrast, they told the cyclical group:

This approach acknowledges that one’s life consists of many small and large cycles, that is, events that repeat themselves. We want you to think of the personal savings task as one part of such a cyclical life. Make your savings task a routinized one: just focus on saving the amount that you want to save now, not next month, not next year. Think about whether you saved enough money during your last paycheck cycle. If you saved as much as you wanted, continue with your persistence. If you did not save enough, make it up this time, with the current paycheck cycle.

When subjects used this cyclical model, focusing on the present, they saved more than subjects who focused on their long-term goal.

PROBLEM 2: THEY’RE TOO VAGUE

“Find a better job” is a worthy goal, but it’s a bit amorphous. It’s unclear what “better” means to you, and it’s difficult to plot the right course of action when you’re not sure what your desired outcome is. Many resolutions are vague in this way: get in shape, worry less, spend more time with loved ones.

Solution: Make Your Goal a SMART One

To make your goal actionable, it should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. When you set specific parameters and guidelines for your goal, it makes it easier to come up with an action plan. Under a bit more scrutiny, “spend more time with loved ones” might become “invite my best friends over for dinner every other Sunday night.” This new goal is specific, measurable, time-bound—it ticks all the boxes and tells you exactly what you want and how to get there.

PROBLEM 3: YOU FELL FOR THE “FALSE FIRST STEP”

“A false first step is when we try to buy a better version of ourselves instead of doing the actual work to accomplish it,” Anthony Ongaro of Break the Twitch tells mental_floss. “The general idea is that purchasing something like a heart rate monitor can feel a lot like we’re taking a step towards our fitness goals,” Ongaro says. “The purchase itself can give us a dopamine release and a feeling of satisfaction, but it hasn’t actually accomplished anything other than spending some money on a new gadget.”

Even worse, sometimes that dopamine is enough to lure you away from your goal altogether, Ongaro says. “That feeling of satisfaction that comes with the purchase often is good enough that we don’t feel the need to actually go out for a run and use it.”

Solution: Start With What You Already Have

You can avoid this trap by forcing yourself to start your goal with the resources you already have on hand. “Whether the goal is to learn a new language or improve physical fitness, the best way to get started and avoid the false first step is to do the best you can with what you already have,” Ongaro says. “Start really small, even learning one new word per day for 30 days straight, or just taking a quick walk around the block every day.”

This isn’t to say you should never buy anything related to your goal, though. As Ongaro points out, you just want to make sure you’ve already developed the habit a bit first. “Establish a habit and regular practice that will be enhanced by a product you may buy,” he says. “It’s likely that you won’t even need that gadget or that fancy language learning software once you actually get started … Basically, don’t let buying something be the first step you take towards meaningful change in your life.”

Banner image courtesy of iStock.

Major airlines are cutting their fares to keep up with the competition, making travel more affordable and accessible than ever. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami are known for their tourism, but why not check out a hidden gem that’s yet to be overrun with tourists? These under-the-radar destinations have all the amenities of a travel-friendly city without the crazy crowds and tourist traps—and your dollar will get you further, to boot.

1. CLEVELAND, OHIO

Nestled on the coast of Lake Erie, Cleveland is undergoing a travel renaissance. Since 2011, over $3.5 billion has been spent on visitor-related infrastructure investments, says Nick Urig of Destination Cleveland. “What some still think is just a stop on the interstate is home to some of the country’s most renowned cultural institutions, quirkiest museums, [famed] sports teams, and most-visited green spaces,” Urig tells mental_floss.

In particular, Downtown Cleveland has transformed significantly in recent years. In its first few months of opening, the Hilton Cleveland Downtown was booked solid during the Republican National Convention and Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. “And with the World Series having happened just steps from the hotel, we know we will only see the numbers of visitors and events in the city continue to rise,” Stuart Foster, VP of global brand marketing for Hilton, tells mental_floss. “As a Cleveland native, it’s incredible to see all the transformation happening in this great city.”

It’s also affordable. According to Kayak, median flight prices to the city from the U.S. and Canada are 22 percent lower than they were in 2015, and median hotel rates are under $250 a night. When visiting, you’ll want to make time for the West Side Market, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. “The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the only nationally recognized art museums to offer free admission to its permanent collection, which features more than 45,000 pieces of art from artists like Dali, Monet, and Warhol,” Urig says.

2. BOISE, IDAHO

“Boise is often called a ‘mini Austin’ for its similar characteristics: laid-back, outdoorsy, hills and rivers in the city, identical capitol buildings,” says Erin Bulcher, Content Manager at FareCompare.com. Domestic round-trip flights to Boise are about $350 on average, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Once you get there, you can stretch your dollar by taking advantage of Boise’s many free outdoor activities. With the Boise River running straight through it, the city offers amazing fishing, whitewater rafting, and scenic views. “Boise is a place you can hike or ride a bike in the hills, come off the trail and hit up a pizza joint or grab a drink at a local bar,” Bulcher says. She recommends simply walking the Boise River Greenbelt, a 25-mile trail that follows the river and passes through museums, golf courses, and beautiful scenery.

3. PORTLAND, MAINE

The East Coast’s version of Portland is a charming city with small-town vibes, and it’s definitely worth a visit. “What used to be a place to pass through on the way up Maine’s rugged coast is now packed with a week’s worth of must-try restaurants and brews,” says David Solomito, VP of NA Marketing at Kayak. “Dining options abound but traditionalists like to stop by the foodie haunt that started it all: Fore Street.”

Known worldwide, the gourmet restaurant opened in 1996 a block from the waterfront in Portland’s Old Port District. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Port features cobblestone streets and 19th century buildings, but it’s also known for its bustling nightlife. You can take a walk down the city’s main drag, Congress Street, to check out the many bars, shops, and art.

If you prefer to stay outside of the hub, check out Portland’s historic West End—and better yet, stay in a classic New England bed and breakfast (the Pomegranate Inn is a fun option). Once you’re fed and rested, head to the Portland Museum of Art, which is free every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and $15 otherwise. And of course, you have to see a lighthouse or two in Portland; for that, you can drive up the coast and stop at the gorgeous Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park.

4. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

It’s probably best known for being home to the Alamo, a must-see historic mission that sits smack-dab in the middle of San Antonio’s downtown area, but there’s a lot more to the city than that. The San Antonio Riverwalk, for example, stretches through downtown and is lined with restaurants, galleries, and hotels. “While everyone remembers the Alamo, they often forget about San Antonio,” Solomito says. “The city defines Tex-Mex culture, so be sure to head to Rosario’s, or another of the city’s many great restaurants, for an authentic taste.”

“Recently the city is seeing a bigger travel surge because it’s a smaller city of Texas but has all the Southwestern charm,” says Jennifer Buglione of Texas-based public relations firm Giant Noise. You’ll want to check out the McNay Art Museum, San Fernando Cathedral, and for a little kitschy fun, the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum. For a more upscale experience, try the Paramour, a swanky rooftop bar close to the Museum of Art in Downtown San Antonio; compared to the price of fancy cocktails in New York and L.A., the $12 drinks here will feel like a steal.

5. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Let’s face it, when you think getaway, you probably don’t think of Minnesota. However, Minneapolis is a gorgeous outdoorsy city known for its music and theater—and since it’s still considered under-the-radar, it’s generally pretty affordable.

Visitors shouldn’t miss the Minnehaha Falls, a 53-foot waterfall within the city limits; it is arguably even more beautiful in the winter when the Falls freeze over. And art lovers should be sure to check out the Walker Art Center or Midway Contemporary Art Gallery. If you choose to stay at the Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis, the hotel will give you free entry to many of the museums around the city. For a more upscale experience, stay at the The Foshay, the W’s Minneapolis location (you can still snag a room and breakfast for less than $200 per night). Both hotels also offer complimentary biking tours of the city.

Kayak also named Minneapolis one of their Top 10 cities to visit for New Year’s Eve. Median flights for late December and January are around $285, and hotels are less than $200. It’s cold in the winter, yes, but Minneapolis has an 11-mile interlocking skyway system that spans a whopping 69 city blocks, so you’re covered (literally).

All images courtesy of iStock.