{"id":165620,"date":"2024-07-01T03:58:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T07:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/?post_type=content&p=165620"},"modified":"2025-05-30T16:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T20:23:53","slug":"how-to-plan-your-road-trip-and-help-stay-on-budget","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/www.interac.ca\/en\/content\/life\/how-to-plan-your-road-trip-and-help-stay-on-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"How to plan your road trip (and help stay on budget)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Getting ready to hit the road? You want to make every part of the ride as smooth as possible, so you can focus on the good times you\u2019re going to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That includes the financial side of road trips and weekend getaways. Interac can help make spending and sending money easy and convenient. Here are some ways \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Interac e-Transfer helps you plan the trip (and split the costs) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re planning your trip, it\u2019s smart to work out how you\u2019re all going to share the big expenses \u2014 like rental properties (cottages and cabins), hotels, and a car if you need to rent one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also: Why not matching T-shirts, if your trip is for a bachelorette or stag party? As you\u2019re planning, keep in mind something you and your friends all have in common: the need to stay on a budget. Handle your trip bookings by paying with Interac Debit or Interac e-Transfer if accepted, and you\u2019ll be using your own money from your account. That makes it easier to help keep track of your spending, while helping you avoid getting a shocking bill the next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has reportedly warned of a rise in cottage\/cabin rental scams,<\/a> which typically trick would-be renters by using fake listings.

How to spot a potential fraudster?

First, they often don\u2019t offer rentals through official booking sites.

Second, they may pressure you to pay quickly \u2014 and pay them directly, not through a booking service.

Third, they attract targets with low rental rates. That might look tempting \u2014 cottages have become expensive to book in the last few years. But don\u2019t fall for a listing that looks too good to be true!

Do you think you\u2019re being targeted by a scam? <\/strong>Here, you can learn about the \u201cStop, Scrutinize, Speak Up\u201d<\/strong><\/a> approach for combating fraud.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

All right, now what supplies will you need for your trip? Beach towels? Sunscreen? Neck pillows? Road snacks, and a cooler to keep them in? (You can save money if you\u2019re not always buying snacks at rest stops\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You use Interac e-Transfer to split a few other costs with your friends \u2014 like your trip to the store to get all-important road snacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(If you\u2019re the one receiving the paybacks from your friends, enabling Interac e-Transfer Autodeposit could make settling up easier. Using the Autodeposit feature means you don\u2019t have to set up a security question and answer with people who send you money; the funds go directly to your account. Learn how to set it up at this page<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t have time to get to the store? Order online if available using Interac Debit with Apple Pay* and Google Pay** \u200b\u200bPayment in your apps or while using your smartphone is easy. (Learn more about how to pay with Interac Debit e-Commerce payments<\/a> through digital wallets<\/a> where supported by the merchant and your financial institution.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, you\u2019re paying with your own money, meaning there won\u2019t be a surprise bill that\u2019ll catch up with you down the road. You\u2019re almost ready to set out! One last thing if you\u2019re taking transit to a rendezvous point with your friends: Did you know that on select transit systems, you can use Interac Debit to pay for an adult fare instead of using a transit pass? (See if you can use Interac Debit to pay for a transit ride where you live<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Interac speeds you on your way during the trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Road trip expenses can pile up. (Even faster than litter from car snacks.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be spending money on the expected things, like meals and gas. But the spirit of the road trip is to be ready for the un<\/em>expected, too. Who knows what kinds of spontaneous stops you\u2019ll make, bedding down at places like motels and campsites? Spontaneity can also mean spending on souvenirs and entrance fees to activities. (If you spot a town\u2019s signature roadside attraction, like giant Muskoka chairs or towering dinosaur sculptures, you kind of have to stop there, right?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever the road takes you, ask if you can use Interac Debit to pay. It\u2019s convenient, and it\u2019s easier than handling cash, it\u2019ll help you stay on track with your budget by using your own money. That can help give you the peace of mind to enjoy the experience rather than fretting about the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also want to make good time on your trip, and Interac Debit can help. Where Interac Debit contactless payments<\/a> are available, you can tap your debit card or digital wallet to check out quickly at gas stations, restaurants, drive-thrus and other pit stops along your route. By adding your debit card to your digital wallet<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to make payments without taking your physical card out. Not only that, some of the services you\u2019ll use along the way \u2014 like select fast-food restaurants \u2014 let you pay through an app. If available, this can be a way to skip the drive-thru and sometimes even have the food brought right to your car \u2014 a 21st-century road tripping luxury!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Interac helps after the trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your trip may have involved unforgettable memories \u2014 but your friends may still forget to send you what they owe for gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Interac e-Transfer Request Money<\/a> to give them an easy way to pay you back. It can also help you avoid being awkward about asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just like you did before the trip, use Interac e-Transfer to split the cost of any other shared expenses that need settling up, like outstanding accommodation fees or a group gift for someone who hosted you. You want the memories of the trip to last a lifetime \u2014 but splitting the costs should only take a few moments.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interac e-Transfer and Interac Debit can help you get the most out of life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \n Learn how<\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple Pay and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc.* <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google, Google Pay and the Google logo are trademarks of Google Inc.**<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting ready to hit the road? You want to make every part of the ride as smooth as possible, so you can focus on the good times you\u2019re going to have. That includes the financial side of road trips and weekend getaways. Interac can help make spending and sending money easy and convenient. Here are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":165925,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"content-tags":[279,272],"content-category":[192],"spokespeople":[],"in_the_know_post_format":[169],"class_list":["post-165620","content","type-content","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","content-tags-interac-debit","content-tags-interac-e-transfer","content-category-life","in_the_know_post_format-article"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUse Interac for Convenient Road Trips<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Planning a road trip? 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