subject: Can Your Family Afford A Vacation This Year [print this page] There is just something about the season when summer approaches that makes people begin to long for a little time off from work and home life. Just a week or two or even just a few days can be so refreshing after months of routine on your job and family life too when it involves kids. Everyone needs a little break and when you do have a family, a vacation means you have some time to spend together away from the humdrum, day to day tasks that can be so demanding. With the economy still in recovery and so many Americans suffering on their own economic and financial front, can a vacation be fit into the budget?
Just being able to take a few days off of work, much less an entire week can cause an even bigger financial problem. If you spend money that should be meant to pay for other things, then you will get behind. If you borrow money to take a little break, it will have to be repaid and how will you fit that in? There are plenty of ways to raise a little cash and get better deals on your vacation if you look for them.
Holding a family yard or garage sale a month or so before you plan to take a vacation might be one way to raise a little cash. Getting the whole family involved is a good idea. Everyone can donate the things they no longer need and you can get rid of some of the clutter that every household manages to collect over time. It is a good way to spring clean and get paid for it. Whatever you make can go towards your time off. Holding a sale like this for several weekends in a row can make more money, but always remember to advertise for the best turn out.
You should also plan your time off well ahead. If you are traveling by car, map it out. Find the gas station with the lowest gas prices, fix food at home to take along and stop at grocery stores more often instead of always eating out. Keep a cooler for drinks because it is much cheaper to buy sodas and juices in packages instead of singles at convenience stores. Look up your motels on line and look for coupons and places that offer discounts for families or any other kind of deals. Try to plan your trip in an off season if possible when tourists crowds are smaller because this can get you better deals at motels, restaurants, theme parks and all sorts of family entertainment.
You have to be smart and plan well ahead in order to get the most for your money on vacation these days. If you begin months ahead of time, you will likely be able to have at least a few days of fun for the family without it causing you to flush your budget down the toilet
