Advice | Everyday Cheapskate
When I was a kid, vacation meant four kids crammed into the back seat of a sedan, poking and elbowing one another while counting the miles between rest stops.
Things have changed dramatically since then. But even with onboard DVD players, electronic devices, spacious minivans, air travel, cruises and theme parks, family vacations can either be delightful or disastrous. It all depends on the care you devote to research and planning.
ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE
Here is the first rule of family vacations: Parents on vacation really aren’t. If you can unload personal expectations that you will be relaxed and refreshed when it’s over, you won’t be disappointed when you’re not. And if you do get a little rest and relaxation along the way, consider it an unexpected bonus.
BE REALISTIC ABOUT COST
Decide ahead of time how much cash you have for this vacation. If you have, say, a family of five and $500 to spend, don’t even think about a couple of days at Disney World.
Always consider the money you have first, and then design a vacation that will realistically fit within that financial boundary.
BE REALISTIC ABOUT TIME
Don’t try to stretch your available cash to cover the maximum time you have to be away from home. Divide what you can spend by a reasonable daily budget to determine how many days you can be gone. Carefully consider all the costs, not only the admission fees and overnight accommodations.
Instead of full weeks, consider day trips or a weekend vacation. When it comes to family vacations, quality is considerably more important than quantity.
ENVELOPE METHOD
There’s nothing like a good visual to keep a vacation based in reality. Large, colorful envelopes are ideal, one for each day to hold that day’s allotted cash. Design the outside for the spending record so you can keep track of where the money is going.
INVOLVE THE KIDS
One reader allowed her teenage daughter to plan their vacation with the money they had to spend. “Our spendthrift daughter became Ms. Frugality because she wanted to para-sail,” the reader recalls. “She had us fix meals in our room, and watched the expenses like a hawk. And we parasailed!
“It was the best vacation ever. As a bonus, we went home with cash in our pockets and the priceless accomplishment of teaching our child the value of money.”
THEME PARK STRATEGY
Set on a visit to an amusement park? You can find deals and discounts on the internet, says Robert Niles, editor and founder of ThemeParkInsider.com. “Birnbaum’s 2019 Walt Disney World: The Official Guide” gets rave reviews from readers of this column. “We visit several times a year for what many people spend on a single trip, and we do it with four kids!” reports one family.
CAMPING
If you’re careful, camping can be nearly as affordable as staying at home, provided you have the equipment or can borrow it. Visit the National Park Service website to search for affordable destinations within the National Park Service.
Many campgrounds now require reservations, so don’t wait until the last minute. Expect to pay an average of $15 to $35 per night for a campsite.
LIVING HISTORY MUSEUMS
There are at least 2,000 living history museums around the country where the past seems as real as the present.
Start with a virtual tour of many of these wonderful attractions online. Go to AL HFAM.org, the site of The Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums. Jamestown Settlement, Washington County History Society, Henry Ford Museum and Conner Prairie are just a few of the living history museums that make learning fun for visitors of any age.
Mary invites questions, comments and tips at Every dayCheapskate.com ,