How Not To Go Broke On Vacation

Okay, I will admit it. I am cheap. I hate spending money unnecessarily so when my family asked about a family vacation this year, I asked them if being together wasn’t enough. Apparently everyone, including my husband (traitor), wanted to go away for vacation so I immediately had to strategize on how to do this on a budget.

My first thought was a “staycation.” If you are on a really tight budget, look for local low or no cost activities to do on your vacation. If you work for a large company, dig through your HR benefits and call if applicable, for discounted movie and museum tickets. A company I worked for years ago offered free tickets to several museums in my area.

Several states have a program that allows you to check out a free state parking pass at a local library. In fact, some libraries have programs that offer free admission to local zoos. Certain banks like Bank of America offer cardholders free admission to certain museums.

Some cities offer free admission to several attractions for local residents. Other museums offer free admission on your birthday. Also, many museums and zoo have a “suggested price,” which means you can pay less on certain days of the week or every day.

Get creative. Sprinklers at the park are a great and free activity for the kids. If you live in an area that plays outdoor movies, these are often free. Go to free local festivals and outdoor concerts. Check out the activities at your local library.

Google local attractions for “free days.” Visit daily deal websites like Groupon.com, Livingsocial.com or Yipit.com for deals on local activities. We have saved a lot of money by getting sometimes 60% off discounts on local attractions on these websites. Look online for a local dollar theater, especially ½ movie days, for movies. Consider doing a few day trips to get out of your area.

Contact your local stores for events for kids. Stores like IKEA, Lakeshore Learning Center, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Michael’s, Toys R Us, Disney Store, Pottery Barn and A.C. Moore Craft offer free classes for kids. Companies like Apple and Microsoft (enter your zip code to pull up your local store’s events) have free activities for kids.

Pack lunch and have a picnic. It’s cheap and the kids love it. If you have to eat out, search for restaurants that offer kid discounts. Frugalliving.tv has a list of places where kids can eat free. Do a little research before your travel so you know where to go to get the best bang for your bucks.

If you decide to travel, start planning early. The best deals go quickly. Create a vacation spending budget, stick to it, and start looking for ways to save on travel. Use your AAA membership to get a free vacation planner to price shop for you.

Online websites like Expedia.com and Travelocity.com have discounts on hotels and local activities. Hotels that offer a full breakfast can help you save a lot of money on breakfast food for the family. Extended stay hotels with kitchens can help you save on meals since you can cook.

As I started looking for vacation spots, I realized that vacation rentals were generally cheaper than hotels. I started combing through sites like Vrbo.com, homeaway.com, tripadvisor.com and Airbnb.com for deals. Heads up – the initial price you see may not be the actual price so always ask for a quote including all upfront costs. I did not know this originally and got excited over my $500 one bedroom, 5 day rental on the beach that turned into $1,800 by the time fees were tacked on. Read the guest reviews since people are not shy and will post every single thing they found wrong with the rental.

I then found a condo hotel concept. These are condos that are owned by individuals with the management of a professional organization and some are surprisingly inexpensive. I found some one bedroom beachfront condo hotels in northeast Florida for less than $750 for a 5 day stay. Once you have chosen your location, go on the daily deal websites, punch in the city you are visiting and look for sightseeing deals.

No matter what you choose to do on your summer vacation, the important thing to your kids is that you spent time with them. It’s not about how much you spend. To kids, any time with parents focused on them is a good vacation.

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