Saving for a Family Vacation: A #TomorrowTalk Recap
Tori Dunlap
Last Thursday, we chatted on Twitter about saving for a family trip — just in time for summer vacations! Our guest, Chris from Keep Thrifty, is a husband and father obsessed with personal finance and making the most out of your money — we were thrilled to have his insight.
Below we share some of our favorite findings from our participants — to see all of the discussion, click here! #TomorrowTalk happens on the third Thursday of every month, and we can't wait to see you in July for a discussion on side hustles!
Q1. When summer rolls around, it's common for families to take a vacation. Do you have one planned for this summer, and if so, where? #TomorrowTalk
A1. We have the luxury of taking vaca in the "off season" because of my work schedule. Nothing planned this summer because WE'RE UNDER CONTRACT FOR A HOUSE!! 🎉🎉🎉 #TomorrowTalkhttps://t.co/8ZgQbySpB4
— Green Revelation (@littlegreenrev) June 22, 2018
A1.
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) June 22, 2018
We just
got back
from Costa Rica.
👉🏽Part
work trip.
👉🏽Part
family vaca.#TomorrowTalk pic.twitter.com/lLjoBaLP8J
A1. A road trip to Atlanta, Gainesville, Charleston, and Asheville #tomorrowtalk
— Wise Mind Money | Emilie (@wisemindmoney) June 22, 2018
A1: We just got back from the Hot Rod Power Tour, 7 cities in 6 different states in 7 days! Plus the 4 other states to get there and back. Great road trip! #tomorrowtalk
— WomensMoneyTalk (@WomensMoneyTalk) June 22, 2018
Q2. How does your family budget for a vacation? #TomorrowTalk
A2: My wife and I use Quickbooks to track our personal finances and family vacations are budgeted in at the beginning of each year. I've got young kids, so I haven't included them yet in the process. I plan to soon though! #TomorrowTalk
— Joshua C. Heckathorn (@JoshHeckathorn) June 22, 2018
A2. We try to stay with family or use hotel points. Mostly watching the expenses of meals and entertainment. #TomorrowTalk
— Andrew Wang (@RunnymedeCap) June 22, 2018
A2. Each year, we set prioritized financial goals including travel. We work our way down the list as the year goes on, putting extra money toward the next goal. We're mindful budgeters each month, avoiding frivolous purchases so we can ensure we've got enough. #TomorrowTalk
— Chris Durheim (@keepthrifty) June 22, 2018
Q3. What do you prioritize when it comes to vacations? Where do you spend the most of your money? #TomorrowTalk
A3. I'm with everyone else--food takes up the biggest part of the budget! #TomorrowTalk
— Femme Frugality (@femmefrugality) June 22, 2018
We will splurge on unique hotels and local experiences / expeditions. Oh, and food. Um...so all of it? 🤦
— Feminist Financier (@MsFinancier) June 22, 2018
I use a travel agent who gets access to things that can be hard (for me, limited time) to find / research and her partnership has been amazing. 💞 #TravelTalk
A3. Adventure. To me vacations are about the exploration, thrills and excitement. The bigger the adventure the trip will be, the more I’m willing to spend.
— Winning Personal Finance (@WinningPFin) June 22, 2018
Q4. What's been the best deal you've nabbed on a previous vacation (maybe a flight deal, or using credit card points?) #TomorrowTalk
A4. Hm that's a tough one. We don't travel regularly enough to know where to find good deals. Best free attraction I have stumbled across was the Natural History Museum in Dublin. So cool + free. #TomorrowTalk https://t.co/HueNqVGmJo
— Green Revelation (@littlegreenrev) June 22, 2018
A4.
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) June 22, 2018
My husband
is from an island
in the Mediterranean.
The gov't
gives him 50%
off an all travel on
and off the island.
No matter
where he is going!
Lucky duck.
Huh?#TomorrowTalk pic.twitter.com/kV8eGWXeiR
A4: - We scored 5 nights of hotel @ Disney all on rewards points and airfare too! #TomorrowTalk pic.twitter.com/m7BGRxdS3s
— Brian (@DebtDiscipline) June 22, 2018
Q5: How do you balance what you want to do on vacation, with what you can afford to do? #TomorrowTalk
A5.
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) June 22, 2018
Consider
the WHOLE
experience a gift.
For example,
👉🏽a stroll
👉🏽a drive
👉🏽a new park
👉🏽a new food
all of
it is new
and exciting.
Our kids
loved the
cool new shower +
"icky" bugs they saw.
Haha.
Just get creative! :)#Tomorrowtalk pic.twitter.com/xkN0Eu3bEO
A5 - Activities and Destination really don't matter as long as I'm with my family and people I want to spend my vacation time with! #TomorrowTalk
— Brian (@DebtDiscipline) June 22, 2018
A5 I prioritize. But honestly, I'm usually able to fit everything in the budget because of using all those points or driving long distances. Or by reviewing the experience on the blog. It's more time that presents an issue. #TomorrowTalk
— Femme Frugality (@femmefrugality) June 22, 2018
Q6. What are your favorite tips or tricks when saving for a trip? #TomorrowTalk
A6 - If you can be disciplined with credit cards, rewards points can save you a ton of cash! #TomorrowTalk pic.twitter.com/Fo6nvAOQ4t
— Brian (@DebtDiscipline) June 22, 2018
Sign up for an app like hopper that watches flight prices. They tell you when the best time to buy is! #TomorrowTalk
— Gwen (@FieryMillennial) June 22, 2018
My favorite is to actually SAVE for the trip. Sounds obvious, but I'll have enough $ set aside so when I return, can easily pay off all the final bills and not have post-vaca spending sadness. 😫 Always save enough to include some special art / items IF I find em! #TomorrowTalk
— Feminist Financier (@MsFinancier) June 22, 2018
Q7. How do you get the entire family involved when saving for a family vacation? Do you have anyone in your extended family who contributes? #TomorrowTalk
A7. Every time we pass a McD's my kids ask for it. Then I ask them which they want more with that money: fast food or Disney/the beach. Works like a charm! #TomorrowTalk pic.twitter.com/LsoJ10SDem
— Femme Frugality (@femmefrugality) June 22, 2018
A7. Our girls know the financial side of travel. Spending more on treats/toys means less for travel so we try to strike a balance. We build in stays with extended family as part of our trips when we can. It saves money and lets us invest in our relationships. #TomorrowTalk
— Chris Durheim (@keepthrifty) June 22, 2018
A7: When my kids were young we often traveled with my mom and stepdad to split vacation rental costs. #TomorrowTalk
— WomensMoneyTalk (@WomensMoneyTalk) June 22, 2018
Q8. Where are some of your favorite places to travel as a family on a budget? #TomorrowTalk
A8. DC is great with free museums, monuments and zoo and lots of reasonably priced hotels. Plus it’s within diving distance from us.
— Winning Personal Finance (@WinningPFin) June 22, 2018
A8: Backpacking in the Cascades! #TomorrowTalk
— Joshua C. Heckathorn (@JoshHeckathorn) June 22, 2018
A8: In our own state! #Michigan is beautiful and full of lakes, state parks, Mackinaw, and the sand dunes. #TomorrowTalk
— WomensMoneyTalk (@WomensMoneyTalk) June 22, 2018
We're about to wrap up #TomorrowTalk! Do you have any additional thoughts or comments?
Travel is amazing. I could not imagine our lives without it. It may have to be on a budget but I never want to give it up. #TomorrowTalk
— Winning Personal Finance (@WinningPFin) June 22, 2018
Traveling as a family is a great way to create memories that last a lifetime. It doesn't have to be expensive if you find fun in every stop along the way. For more about how we travel, check out our frugal road tripping guide: https://t.co/PXfwtYj43S #TomorrowTalk
— Chris Durheim (@keepthrifty) June 22, 2018
