Creative Ways to Save as a Family for Vacation

If you think vacation is not necessary in every family, think again. Vacation does not only offer an opportunity to take a break from school, work, and everyday routine; it also helps create a stronger bond with family members. It’s a perfect time for you to experience new things together as a family and discover new traits about each other.

But with the monetary pressure of making both ends meet, and ensuring that all bills are paid, it seems hard to have that vacation plan materialize. No worries though, with a little creativity and dedication, there are a lot of ways that you can save money for that planned vacation. Gather all the members of your family and get them involved with these amazing saving tips:

Adjust Your Food Budget

As food ranks high on our basic needs, a huge percentage of your household budget goes to this necessity. Take a look at your grocery receipt and examine the items that you don’t really need. Can your family get by without soda and candy? Cross out the things that are not really needed or limit the quantity of this item. Consult with the entire family and ask them to give up one food item.

Cutting off a little of your food budget does not mean that you have to starve your entire family. There are plenty of ways that you can get quality food without breaking your food budget. Shopping at the farmers market and buying in bulk quantity are great and smart ways to save money. You can also start your own garden and fill it with vegetables. Not only will you save on produce, you can be sure that the food you put on your table is fresh and organic.

It’s not just the food shop that can be more expensive than it actually needs to be. Common household items that you’re repeatedly purchasing can be cut back on too. I remember seeing an article at Get Razor Advice that suggested that in order to save money, you should invest in a permanent razor. This is a lesson that I apply to as many different aspects of the home as possible. I aim to have everything in my home as a re-usable product so that my monthly outgoings is reduced every single month! It’s also a lot better for the environment. Save the planet, save your money!

Open a Dedicated Vacation Bank Account

Having a single savings account can be difficult, as you tend to use this for other purposes such as emergencies, hospital bills, etc. Opening a dedicated savings account just for your vacation fund is the best way to ensure that you get to make that dream vacation happen.

It’s easier now to open a new savings account as many financial institutions don’t charge any ongoing fees or require a certain balance. Look for the best bank that gives you the highest interest rate for your deposits.

Encourage your family members to allocate a portion of their allowance and deposit it to your vacation fund. Not only you will be able to save faster for that trip, but you will also instill responsibility and discipline in your kids.

Sell Your Stuff

Do you have a lot of stuff that is no longer used? Keeping unused items such as clothing, toys, appliances, etc. just add chaos to your household as they occupy most spaces.

Take some time to declutter your place and let go of the things that you are no longer using. By selling these things, you are hitting two birds with one stone. You’re tidying your space and earning money that can be used on your next vacation getaway.

With the advancement of technology, it’s easier to sell things online now. Just post your stuff on ebay, Amazon, or other selling platforms and you can get rid of your stuff in no time. After all, someone’s junk is someone’s treasure.

Pick Up a Side Job

If you want to earn more and save toward your vacation, you need plenty of determination and skill. Earn extra cash on the side without having to spend too many hours working. Below are a few side job ideas that you can get your hands on.

  • Freelance Writer–If you have a knack at writing, it’s time to put your skills into action. You may want to start with content sites or create your own blog site. You can earn as much as $50 per guest post on paying sites, and what’s even better is that you’re earning at the comfort of your home and have full control of your time.
  • Babysitter–This side job is ideal for parents and older siblings. Use your childcare experience to earn cash, with babysitters usually earning an hourly wage.
  • Make and sell art and crafts–If your hobby includes making crafts, use this to your advantage. There are large markets for those that are into soap-making, knitting, woodwork or metal-smithing, felting, etc. You can either pitch your product to local stores, or widen your market by advertising your stuffs online.

Choose an Affordable Destination

Though going on a Caribbean cruise sounds dreamy, your next vacation get-away does not need to be super fancy that you will have to go broke afterwards. Use the internet to your advantage and research on travel destinations that offer all-inclusive packages for families, or adult only all-inclusives. This way, you will have an overall glimpse of how much you will be spending and will not get blown by unexpected charges.

Don’t Worry and Have Fun

Your next vacation trip is within your grasp. Do these saving tips as a family and enjoy your next get-away. As long as you are making wise decisions about how you save and spend your money, you are on the right track. You work hard for your money, so you deserve to treat yourself to a well-deserved vacation.