Taking a lovely family vacation doesn’t have to break the bank! If you find yourself having to plan a family vacation on a budget, remember that there are two major ways to save before your next trip: cut costs before your actual vacation and cut costs during the vacation itself. Don’t worry, cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting down on quality! With a bit of early planning, flexibility and determination you can book the vacation of your dreams while still following a budget! Here are 5 great ways that you can cut costs before your next family vacation.
- Shop with coupon codes
Shopping with coupon codes is an amazing way to save your family some money on all their purchases. While it may seem old fashion, these budget-friendly tools allow you to unlock an exclusive discount on your purchase when it’s time to check out. There are two major ways that you can use coupons to save: online coupons and paper coupons.
Online coupons are promotional codes that when redeemed allow you to receive discounts and other perks from your favorite brands. Finding online coupons is super easy, just use a trusted deal website like BravoDeal. Go to the BravoDeal website and you’ll gain instant access to thousands or prices slashing coupons all available completely free of charge!
Another great way to save is to use paper coupons to save money, especially on groceries. Stop throwing out the weekly Sunday insert in your newspaper! It’s a great place to find free coupons. Many coupons can even be doubled at the grocery store, and if you combine coupons with sales items, you may actually receive some items free of charge!
- Slash your grocery bill
Your grocery bill is one variable expense that you can reduce in order to save money for your next vacation. If you’re trying to save up for your dream holiday, you’ll need to trim some variable expenses! Saving money on grocery shopping doesn’t have to be painful, just try some of these money-saving tips:
- Buy generic products instead of name brands.
- Always shop on a full stomach to avoid impulse buys.
- Sign up for free loyalty programs.
- Go in with a list and stick to it.
- Compare prices between stores.
- Use a rebate app.
Follow these tips and your savings will start to add up after every trip to the grocery store!
- Plan your vacation early
Planning your vacation early enough ensures that you won’t waste money on unnecessary expenses! Set a vacation budget for yourself at least 6 months before your actual vacation and start saving up monthly for it. In terms of planning your actual trip, follow this advice:
- Plan the vacation early: this gives you more to hunt out great deals and bargains.
- Use a travel agent: many travel agents receive great discounts that they pass on to you, the customer.
- Utilize travel rewards credit cards: you’re already going on vacation, why not earn some extra perks just for traveling?
- Go on a vacation, but not during the summer: summer is one of the most expensive times during the year to travel. You’ll save money just by choosing another time to take your trip.
With a little bit of early planning, you can enjoy a great vacation and still save money!
- Enjoy cheap forms of entertainment
Use the excitement that’s building for your next vacation to start saving money on entertainment. Your entertainment budget is another variable cost that you can cut to save money for your next trip. Take a look around your community and find budget-friendly ways that you can have fun, without spending a lot of money! Many concerts, festivals and farmer’s markets are completely free to visit and make for a fun, family-friendly day! Check your local museums and zoos to see if they have free-entry or discounted ticket days. Lastly, plan fun family activities that don’t cost a lot of money like having a picnic at the park or heading to the beach!
- Trim existing bills
You’ll be amazed at the discounts you can get if you call up your cable, insurance and other utility services and threaten to cancel your subscription! Many companies will offer you a discount just to maintain your business. Ask companies whether there’s a discount for going paperless as well. While the savings may not be huge, all those little amounts add up over time. Use the money you save towards your vacation fund and you’ll be on your way to paradise in no time!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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