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We all have a “dream” vacation in mind that we would go on in a heartbeat if it weren’t for kids, finances, jobs and all of life’s other stresses. There really never is a perfect time to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so we say start planning it now!

Most families go on a vacation once per year — and couples vacation without the kids even less often than that. It seems as though there’s always something preventing us from taking the trip of a lifetime, but really — is there ever a perfect time to go on a vacation? Probably not. We all have bills, jobs, children and responsibilities. But life is short, and we think it’s time to start doing the things we love now. With a little bit of planning you can start living your dreams, and what better way to start than with your dream vacation?

Set goals

If no goals are set, a dream stays just that — a dream. If you plan on taking your dream trip with your significant other, start discussing it and setting goals now. Here are some specific goals to keep in mind:

• When do you want this trip to take place?
• What is the budget for the trip?
• What’s your plan for saving for this budget?
• Where will the kids stay?
• How long can you take off from work?
• What activities do you want to do once there?

Setting goals makes dreams attainable. Come up with a plan, start saving and put the plan into action.

Check out these 9 steps to setting goals with your partner >>

Put the goals into action

Commit to your goals and be specific. For example, if your dream vacation costs $5,000 and you plan on going in 10 months, you need to start saving $500 per month. Some easy ways to save money monthly include:

• Reduce your cable, internet and cell phone plans
• Eat at home as often as possible
• Make coffee at home instead of going to Starbucks (this could save $100+ per month)
• Save on gas by carpooling
• Don’t overspend on gifts for others
• Cancel any unused subscriptions or memberships (tanning, gym, etc.)
• Go to the hair and nail salon less often

Yes, you will have to make sacrifices, but you only live once. When you’re sitting on the beach with a margarita in hand, you won’t mind at all that you skipped a few morning lattes.

Check out these 8 bucket-list travel experiences or these 20 must-see US destinations >>

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