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How to Plan a Fun Family Vacation on a Budget

March 29, 2017 in Entertainment, Saving Money

Modern day life is busy, busy, as parents shuffle between work and keeping up with domestic chores and responsibilities, and kids juggle equally frantic schedules packed with school, homework, sports and leisure activities. As the weeks fly by, it can be difficult to find time to sit and eat together, never mind actually communicate or have fun. This all makes taking the time to enjoy a family vacation pretty essential, although when budgets are tight that may seem like a frivolous spend.

The best route is to compromise and plan a shorter vacation on a budget. Children need quality time with parents who can relax and escape the pressures of everyday life more than they need fancy hotel stays in exotic destinations; in the end, the most lasting memories will be of the fun, laughter, and adventures you experienced together.

Here are some essential tips covering how to plan a great holiday without breaking the bank.

Plan Ahead
Look for good prices on domestic flights or discounts for advanced car rentals. Consider all possible travel options if the price is right, as a train or bus trip or even a combination of several things can be turned into a cost-effective adventure.

Choose Accommodation Close to Free or Cheap Attractions
National Parks provide easy access to nature for a reasonable entry fee, so choosing one as the base area for your vacation makes sense. For example, search online for budget friendly Bryce Canyon hotels and you will find something affordable close to Bryce Canyon National Park. There may also be options for camping, which will reduce the costs further still. Most areas have several free or cheap entertainment possibilities, details of which can be found online quite easily.

Make a Food Plan
Part of the fun of being away from home is not having to shop for, prepare and cook food, or tidy up afterward. But eating three meals a day in diners and restaurants can soon stretch your budget to an uncomfortable point. Ease the strain by making a few plans ahead of time, for example, if your motel offers breakfast make the most of it; it is, after all, the most important meal of the day.

Agree to snack on store-bought fruit or other healthy food at lunchtime and check out sites like Groupon or look for discount coupons and promotions for possible evening meals. (Many places offer 2-for-1 or ‘early bird’ specials, but having a few details of recommended budget food places is wise, just in case.

Create a Project
Planning an interesting project that everyone can contribute to while away on vacation is a good way to channel children’s interest into a low-cost activity. Choose a topic or theme that suits both the interests and ages of your children, for example, a photography project with a focus on one thing, such as trees or clouds.
At the end of the day a vacation is about spending time with those you love, and giving your kids undivided attention in a relaxed environment is worth more to them than any amount of money.

Image via Getty Images

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Comments

  1. dontemailme@gmail.com'robin masshole mommy says

    March 29, 2017 at 1:15 am

    These are all great tips. I am always looking to save money when we travel.

    Reply
  2. goodstuffmamablog@gmail.com'Brandy says

    March 29, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    Great tips – as the kids get older, we end up spending more and more while away on trips. Sometimes I really do very little thinking ahead about what to do during the evening time and we end up randomly spending money.

    Reply
  3. kjsmcd@gmail.com'Katherine McDermott says

    March 29, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    LOVE the food idea! I feel like food expenses are one of the biggest on family vacations. Eating at the hotel when you can is one of the quickest ways to save $$.

    Reply
  4. karenymorse@aol.com'karen says

    March 29, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    Loving your main idea of compromise. It does not have be an “all or nothing” trip. It can be shorter (like you said) and you can find budget ideas to make it work!

    Reply
  5. thissoutherngirlsnest@gmail.com'Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says

    March 29, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Love these tips! I’m always looking for ways to travel and save money. We do budget trips all the time, and it totally doesn’t have to be an all or nothing trip. We went a few weeks ago for a mini getaway and only did a couple of things in that area. It’s a reason to go back one day!

    Reply
  6. Thesocialbeing721@gmail.com'Katie says

    March 29, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    I like the ideas of planning ahead and making a food plan! Great tips.

    Reply
  7. fennellseedsblog@gmail.com'Carolyn says

    March 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    Love the tips. I also think vacationing at a place where the main activity is free is helpful such as beach or hiking.

    Reply
  8. terristeffes1117@gmail.com'Terri Steffes says

    March 29, 2017 at 10:28 pm

    Great tips! Our food savings was like this: breakfast in the room, a nice lunch out and then pizza or hamburgers from a local joint for dinner. We ate the fancy places at lunch, that way the menu was a bit cheaper and we didn’t have to dress up as much.

    Reply
  9. tiarastantrums@gmail.com'Teresa says

    March 29, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    We are trying to figure out where to go this summer for our family vacation. I want a spot, my son wants another spot, my husband wants an altogether different spot – so o one can agree right now!

    Reply
  10. nikkiarnold314@gmail.com'Nikki Arnold says

    March 30, 2017 at 12:17 am

    I try to majorly plan when I go on a trip too! Food I feel like can end up being one of the biggest expenses.

    Reply
  11. blythe32@gmail.com'Blythe Alpern says

    March 30, 2017 at 4:57 am

    I think the key to any good vacation is to plan ahead and find the best deals. Even if you aren’t on a budget, you shouldn’t spend all your money when you can find specials on accommodation and travel.

    Reply
  12. thecoffeemom0617@gmail.com'jessi says

    March 30, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    I have found that planning ahead is the biggest help! My husband is so last minute on everything that I end up doing all of the planning. Having an idea on food is great too. I know we try to take sandwich stuff with us so we aren’t eating out for every meal.

    Reply
  13. lydiamonson@gmail.com'Lyd says

    March 30, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    Visiting a national park would be such a great vacation, and so affordable! I would love to visit the Grand Canyon someday!

    Reply
  14. angiethefreckledrose@gmail.com'Angie Rose says

    March 31, 2017 at 4:43 am

    This is so helpful to me right now. I’ve been dying to go on vacation, on a budget. I completely agree that planning ahead is the way to go. It’s when you wait till the very last minute that you end up spending money you don’t want to. Great tips!

    Reply
  15. kerri.gristina@gmail.com'Kerri says

    March 31, 2017 at 10:26 am

    You are so right. Planning ahead is super important for saving money. This way you can have a budget and not go over.

    Reply
  16. emailanvita@gmail.com'anvita says

    March 31, 2017 at 3:03 pm

    These are awesome tips. It’s a great idea to plan things ahead of time as it definitely saves money and the last minute chaos

    Reply
  17. reesann723@yahoo.com'Reesa Lewandowski says

    March 31, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    I always find getting somewhere can be the hardest part. There is so many places that offer free and very cheap things to do!

    Reply
  18. sixtiemom@gmail.com'Jeanine says

    March 31, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    We have such a big family doing everything on a budget is necessary. So this is very helpful. Would love to take a vacation as a family!

    Reply
  19. taketimeforstyle@gmail.com'Kristin says

    March 31, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    Nothing beats the quality time spent on a family vacation! And we all love to save money right? 🙂

    Reply
  20. kecia@frommomsdesk.com'Kecia says

    April 3, 2017 at 1:45 pm

    I really like the project idea. That is something I haven’t thought of when planning our family travel!

    Reply
  21. aaa@gmail.com'Aish Das-Padihari says

    April 3, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    We are going on a family vacation in two months. This post will help me save some money. Thanks for sharing this post with us. Enjoyed reading.

    Reply

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Clean drinking water is even better! I introduce to you ZeroWater.  Only ZeroWater leaves 000 dissolved solids, for the purest tasting water. ZeroWater is the only filter certified by the NSF to reduce both Lead and Chromium. It also has a premium 5-stage filter versus the standard conventional 2-stage filter used by other brands.

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Sorry Kanye, but this is the greatest of all time. Sorry Kanye, but this is the greatest of all time. The Goat of all soups. And it’s easy to make too. 

🍁 Vegetable Soup 
Here’s what you need: 
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
2 cups peeled and chopped carrots (about 5)
1 1/4 cups chopped celery (about 3)
4 cloves garlic , minced
4 (14.5 oz) cans low-sodium chicken broth* or vegetable broth
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
3 cups peeled and 1/2-inch thick diced potatoes (from about 3 medium)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped frozen or fresh green beans
1 1/4 cups frozen or fresh corn
1 cup frozen or fresh peas 

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🍁 Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. 
🍁 Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute 4 minutes then add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
🍁 Add in broth, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, bay leaves, thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste*.
🍁 Bring to a boil, then add green beans. 
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For the full how to: check out Vegetable soup on the cookingclassy.com. 

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Follow on Instagram
#FuelTheirDrive #CassClay #Sponsored We’re geari #FuelTheirDrive #CassClay #Sponsored We’re gearing up for the final weeks of cross country AND the Fuel Their Drive competition. 

We've been loading up on protein, carbs and chocolate milk in our household!  For every Cass Clay milk you purchase, you can snap a photo of your receipt, upload it to http://www.fueltheirdrive.com/cassclay and have a chance to win up to $10k for your athletic department. Is your school on the leaderboard?  Check out the top schools for the area here:
https://fueltheirdrive.com/cassclay/en-us/Leaderboard

Again, quick recap on how you can help your high school athletic department:  Simply buy Cass Clay milk, snap a photo of your receipt and upload it to www.fueltheirdrive.com/cassclay and then vote for your favorite high school!  Help push your school to the top.  Find Cass Clay milk at a local retailer near you, including Walmart.

CASS CLAY WILL AWARD 16 GRANTS RANGING FROM $1K-$10K TO SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING NORTH DAKOTA! WIN-WIN! LET'S GOOO! 

No Purch. Nec. Ends 10/15/21. 16+, IA, IL, KS, MN, NE, ND, WI only, Rules: http://pl.fyi/zw2
My famous “mom” line is, “make sure you are My famous “mom” line is, “make sure you are drinking water!” Or “are you drinking water?” Or “do you need some more water?” Any sort of variation can come out of my mouth at any given time.  Ask my kids and they will confirm.  If there is one thing that I know is that staying hydrated is so important. 

Clean drinking water is even better! I introduce to you ZeroWater.  Only ZeroWater leaves 000 dissolved solids, for the purest tasting water. ZeroWater is the only filter certified by the NSF to reduce both Lead and Chromium. It also has a premium 5-stage filter versus the standard conventional 2-stage filter used by other brands.

I am teaming up with @zerowater000 to give away a zero water pitcher.  This pitcher comes with a water quality meter and premium 5-stage ion exchange filter!

The Ready-Pour technology allows you to dispense filtered water as the reservoir continues to filter. No need to wait until the pitcher is full to start enjoying.

Here’s the deal and the rules. 
*must “like” this post
*follow @mamasitaal 
*follow @zerowater000
*tag a friend to receive an extra entry (the more you tag, the more entries you get)

It’s that easy to enter. 
Good luck! 

This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. 
Winner will be announced on 10/15/2021 
#ZeroWater #LiveLifeAtZero #creatorco #onetreeplanted #creatorsplanttrees
Today’s good mood is sponsored by coffee. #nati Today’s good mood is sponsored by coffee.

#nationalcoffeeday should be every day and let me tell you, Starbucks cinnamon dolce is my fave.  I top mine off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Perfection. 

Are you a coffee fan? If so, what is your favorite coffee brand? How do you like your coffee? How many cups do you drink per day? 

#coffee #coffeelover #coffeegram #coffeeaddict #coffeelife #coffeeholic #coffeedaily #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeevibes #coffeebreak #coffeeislove #yumyum #cantleavewithoutit #cantleavehomewithoutit❤️
Crisp air. Pretty leaves. Sweaters and boots. Foot Crisp air. Pretty leaves. Sweaters and boots. Football. Coffee and pumpkins.  I love fall. 

#ourneighborhood #myneighborhood #fallseason #fallisintheair #fallismyfavorite #fallvibes #fallcolors #changeisgood #beautifulview #myviewrightnow #myviewisbetterthanyours #sunrise #gorgeousviews #autumn #autumnvibes
Sorry Kanye, but this is the greatest of all time. Sorry Kanye, but this is the greatest of all time. The Goat of all soups. And it’s easy to make too. 

🍁 Vegetable Soup 
Here’s what you need: 
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 medium)
2 cups peeled and chopped carrots (about 5)
1 1/4 cups chopped celery (about 3)
4 cloves garlic , minced
4 (14.5 oz) cans low-sodium chicken broth* or vegetable broth
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
3 cups peeled and 1/2-inch thick diced potatoes (from about 3 medium)
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped frozen or fresh green beans
1 1/4 cups frozen or fresh corn
1 cup frozen or fresh peas 

Instructions:

🍁 Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. 
🍁 Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute 4 minutes then add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
🍁 Add in broth, tomatoes, potatoes, parsley, bay leaves, thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste*.
🍁 Bring to a boil, then add green beans. 
🍁 Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until potatoes are almost fully tender, about 20 - 30 minutes. 
🍁 Add corn and peas and cook 5 minutes longer. Serve warm.

For the full how to: check out Vegetable soup on the cookingclassy.com. 

#comfortfood #soupseason #soupdejour #souprecipes #nummanum #yummy #soupfordays #fallsoup #fallsoupseason #vegetablesoup #vegetablesoup #soupmaker #deliciousness #delicious #cookingclassy #comfortfoods #goatsoup🐐 #greatestofalltime #whatsfordinnertonight #whatsfordinnertomorrow #itswhatsfordinner
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Be prepared for a slew of Autumn season posts.  Fall is my favorite. 

I love the colors. I love the decor. I love the fall fashion. I love the fall food.  I love it all! I had a few floral arrangements I had created by  different local small town florists.  Here are my faves.  Aren’t they gorgeous? And how cute is that little pumpkin? 

What’s your favorite season? 

#falldecor #fallfashion #fallcenterpiece #fallcenterpieces #fallstyle #falldecorations #fallready #fallharvest #fallisintheair #fallflowers #autumn #autumnvibes #autumndecor #autumnvibes🍁 #pumpkindecor
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