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How many times have you wanted to get away from it all, and visit someplace new, but couldn't afford it? Why should you have to charge your vacations now, and pay for it later? You shouldn't!
Over the course of a year, many families are spending hundreds to thousands of dollars on extra un-needed small "wants", instead of using that money wisely at a later time.
Let's pretend that every 2 days, you get a bottle of soda, and a candy bar at a convenience store - just a few of those many impulse buys that we are all tempted to make. 55 cents for the candy bar, and 99 cents for the soda comes out to $1.54. Multiply that by approximately 182 days, and you could've saved $280.28. Now $228 won't pay for the vacation itself, but it's a start.
A tightwad vacation does not mean that you have to be cheap. No, you don't have to go camping in your backyard or go hiking to the local supermarket. There are many cost-efficient ways to travel, and tips to help you along the way.
Don't fly, unless you can get real cheap rates, or if you are traveling out of the country. Traveling by train, or bus, can be cheap, but it depends on where you are traveling. Driving to your destination may not be the cheapest way to get to there though. Think of the impulse purchases you make along the way...snacks, drinks, souvenirs, tourist attractions, etc., and gas to get there may be more than a train or bus pass would've cost. Make plans a few months early to consider if you want to spend a lot of time doing activities at your destination, or if you just want to have fun getting there.
1) Do not travel during the holidays, or mid-summer. Prices are always jacked up on hotel rooms, restaurants, and tourist attractions at most major cities. Instead, travel during the fall, when school starts again, or early winter, when prices will be back to normal, if not cheaper than usual.
2) Take along your own food and drinks. Pack a large cooler with sandwiches, fruit, drinks, vegetable sticks, and so on. Also bring many types of food that won't go bad if you don't eat them within the first few days. Crackers, cookies, dried fruit, trail mixes, and nuts are always good to snack on.
3) Check the local online newspaper of the place you are visiting, and search for special money-saving coupons, discounts, and any special offers that you can find, and take advantage of.
4) Bring plenty of extra clothes. You don't want to have to buy new clothes, just because you don't have anything else to wear.
5) If you are traveling with small children, take a small bag packed with travel games, activity pads, tiny stuffed animals, crayons, and a coloring book to keep them busy. Even if you want the children to look around instead of playing in the backseat, it's much better to have them, "just in case".
6) Jot down every expense you make during this trip, and be sure to save those receipts. By keeping track of how much you spent on this vacation, it will be easier to make an estimate on how much you need for the next vacation, and to keep your family motivated from buying those small un-needed purchases all throughout the year.
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