Budgeting for Family Travel: 12 Realistic Ways We Save for Our Next Adventure
Since becoming a mom and continuing to travel all over the world, we’ve learned some tricks to keep up with “life + travel” without breaking the bank. These are the ways we budget, save, and still get to explore.
Tip #1: Use Cloth Diapers to Cut Daily Costs
My first money-saving tip that I don’t see enough parents talking about is cloth diaper use. We have two kiddos in diapers, so using cloth diapers saves a lot on what would otherwise be a constantly rising cost. We save around $2,000 a year per child just by using cloth diapers, so that’s a huge saving (little or more than $4,000) that we can use towards travel!
Tip #2: Let the Deals Guide Where You Go
Instead of always choosing a specific destination, we let great travel deals guide us. For example, we often use Groupon to find international all-inclusive travel packages. If the price is right, we go—even if the country wasn’t originally on our “must-see” list. We’ve visited Malta, Turkey, and Greece this way. Was Malta on our radar? Nope. But the deal made it possible, and we loved it.
Tip #3: Use Flight Scanners and Aggregators
If you don’t want bundles or want more control, flight-scanner apps like Hopper are a lifesaver. They alert you to cheap flights, track price drops, and make booking feel easy as pie.
Tip #4: Bundle Everything When Possible
When you do find a deal, bundle what you can—flights, hotel, tours, transfers, even car rentals. These packages from Great Value Vacation or Affordable Worlds tend to offer big savings, especially when hotels include free breakfast or the tour company gives kids discounts. If Groupon doesn’t have the best dates, we contact the companies directly to see what they offer (especially now that school schedules factor in).
Tip #5: Travel During Shoulder Season
Summer is beautiful, but traveling in shoulder seasons (just before or after high season) gives you cooler temps, fewer crowds, and much cheaper prices. We almost always go this route.
Tip #6: Use Gift / Experience Giving to Offset Travel Costs
We’ve found a clever way around excess holiday or birthday gifts: instead of asking for “stuff,” we ask for an experience—or even part of a trip. Think: paying for a tour in Thailand as a gift, or asking grandparents to contribute towards flights. Many websites and apps make this super easy, so instead of sending your Amazon wish list, send a Goody wishlist instead! This particular website has gift cards, experiences, or just money. Experiences last longer than toys; this helps us avoid buying things we don’t need.
Tip #7: Take Advantage of Military / Heroes Discounts
- If you’re eligible, Space-A flights can get you overseas or within the U.S for free or very low prices (22 pp). Check out which base is closest to you and hop on a flight!
- Book or schedule around discounted military resorts/stays, I’m not talking about those 10% off discounts, I’m talking major resorts worldwide (Korea, Hawaii, Florida) for affordable prices around $150 ` $300 per night. Each resort is totally different, and also your rank and status affect this. Check out this website for accurate prices and availability.
- Search for flights and car rentals through American Forces Travel
- Cruise lines offer hugely discounted or even free trips, like the “Heroes Sail Free” program from Margaritaville at Sea Cruise line.
- USO lounges worldwide at airports are a gem for comfort (and snacks). You can go in to take a nap, let your kids play, refuel, and recharge as they say! Always check what perks are available for military or active duty status! Check out their locations here!
Tip #8: Fine-Tune Your Everyday Budget to Free Up Travel Money
We look for savings everywhere:
- Cheaper car & home insurance.
- Switching cell providers (we went with T-Mobile because it was cheaper and includes perks like free wifi on American Airlines flights)
- Cutting back on subscription costs or combining services.
- Buying grocery-brand food rather than always name-brand.
We also set aside a fixed amount each paycheck (for us, $100) specifically for travel.
Tip #9: Use Travel Credit Cards & Mileage Points/Rewards
Some credit cards are amazing for travel. We once had an Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card that gave a free ticket every year on its anniversary. In another year (2025), they had a BOGO deal to South Korea. These savings add up—especially when you have to buy individual tickets for all your kids anyway. Most credit cards have some sort of point system; some cards are better suited for travel benefits, but can be worth it. We have certainly taken “free” flights all over the U.S just because we linked our credit card to pay some automatic house bills. It was so great. Check out some of the best travel credit cards from Stranger In This Town.
Tip #10: Earn Extra Income with Flexible Side Hustles
We babysit, train/sit pets (via Rover.com), and sell handmade goods at local art markets to raise extra travel funds. Yes, it takes effort and some upfront cost, but something like selling dog treats almost always sells and helps offset the cost of a trip. Some moms I know sell things on Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, you can use free time to Uber or DoorDash; this is a great option for quick cash with less upfront costs. I’ve even heard positive outcomes from those who rent out cars through turo.com for extra income. Everything, of course, comes with a risk, but there are some cool options!
Tip #11: Use Your Tax Return to Plan Ahead
If you get a tax return, use some or all of it toward travel. Then plan the trip almost a year out. That way you have time to save up for extras like car rentals, souvenirs, or food/spending money. It helps so much with avoiding last-minute stress or overspending.
Tip #12: Earn Flight Miles Through E-shopping with American Airlines
I just found out that American Airlines has an AAdvantage Program where you can shop/buy for your normal everyday items like CVS, Verizon, for example, and earn miles! Those miles can then be used towards your flights, rentals, or stays. Check out the website!
Final Thoughts
Traveling with kids is a balancing act, but by combining all the small hacks above—bundling, timing, reducing everyday costs, using deals, and planning ahead—we make travel a regular part of our family life. If we can do it, you can too.
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