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How To Save For A Family Vacation

Family vacations can be costly, and with persistently high inflation, many families are modifying their travel plans or canceling them altogether.

According to Bankrate's summer vacation survey, 80 percent of those with summer vacation plans are altering their plans due to inflation. But higher prices don't mean you have to forego a family trip.

Instead, consider taking some time to plan in advance and develop strategies to save up enough for your travel destination.

Family vacation statistics

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While 63 percent of U.S. Adults say they are taking a summer vacation this year, 80 percent of those are modifying their plans due to inflation.

Of those who aren't taking a summer vacation this year, 58 percent say it's because they can't afford it.

Inflation was the top-cited reason for not being able to afford a summer vacation, cited by 62 percent of those who can't afford it.

The most-cited ways vacationers are changing their plans due to rising prices are by selecting less expensive accommodations/destinations (29 percent), engaging in cheaper activities (28 percent), driving instead of flying (26 percent), taking fewer trips (26 percent) and shortening their trips (26 percent).

The average cost for a one-week vacation in the U.S. Per person is $1,982 — that would be just shy of $8,000 in total for a family of four.

Sources: Bankrate's 2023 summer vacation survey, Budget Your Trip

Planning and saving for a family vacation

To avoid overspending and ensure a memorable trip, the key is planning ahead and saving enough in advance. Here are tips for setting your vacation goals and achieving them.

Decide where to go on vacation

Rising costs may have made some travel destinations unrealistic for your budget. In fact, one of the most cited ways that vacationers are changing their summer vacation plans is selecting a less expensive destination, according to Bankrate's summer vacation survey.

Choosing a destination that fits your budget and your family's needs is crucial when planning a family vacation. One way to save is by considering locations that are less popular or less touristy. You might also want to look for destinations that offer plenty of free activities, like parks and museums.

Factors to consider when choosing a vacation spot include:

Cost

Ease of access

Attractions

Accommodations for different ages

Safety

Here's a look at some popular travel destinations and what a one-week trip there would cost, on average, per person.

Calculate expenses and budget travel

Whether your family is planning a beach getaway or a visit to a historic city, it's time to determine the costs.

Budgeting your trip is one area where you can involve your kids in the process. Break down the numbers for airfare, local transportation, lodging, entertainment, food and so on. Show your kids the total and discuss how they'll help you save that amount and stay within predetermined spending limits.

Be sure to factor in the possibility of unexpected expenses, too, such as medical emergencies or unplanned activities.

When traveling internationally, you'll also want to account for exchange rates and foreign transaction fees. There are some payment strategies you can take to reduce how much you spend on conversion, such as by using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

When it comes to finding room to cut costs, remember that you can often save when traveling with a family by booking shared rooms for kids and a shared rental car, rather than individual rooms and cars. You can also take advantage of group discounts for things like entrance fees, tours and other activities.

Start budgeting for your vacation by utilizing a travel budget template and budgeting apps.

Set a timeline

Typically, the farther in advance you plan your vacation and start booking, the more time you have to save and get better deals. But your exact timeline will vary depending on the destination, estimated cost, season and how many people you're traveling with.

For domestic travel, it's best to start planning at least three or four months ahead. This will give you enough time to research and book flights and accommodations. You might want to give yourself more time, however, if you're planning a trip during peak season or a holiday weekend, in which case booking at least six months in advance can help ensure you secure the best deals.

International destinations often require planning six to nine months in advance. In addition to flights, accommodations and activities, you also need enough time to research visas, vaccinations and passports.

Other factors can also impact what your timeline looks like. A cruise vacation, for example, may require more advanced planning, since you need to choose a cruise line, secure your desired stateroom and book shore excursions before the cruise fills up.

How to build your savings

Paying for a vacation can be expensive, and it's important to begin saving for it as early as possible so you can avoid holding onto debt and have a cushion of support for unexpected expenses during the trip. Saving can include setting aside money from your paycheck, holding off on purchases and adding that money to a vacation fund or working a side hustle to earn some extra cash.

Open a savings account dedicated to the vacation

A savings account dedicated to your trip can help you keep your vacation savings separate from other funds and motivate you to reach your goal. Having this separate account gives you a clear picture of how much you've saved and how much you need to meet your budget goal.

Many banks offer high-yielding savings accounts, which means that your money will earn more interest over time than it would in a traditional savings account or a checking account. If you plan far enough ahead, having a high yield can significantly boost your savings and help you meet your savings goal faster.

Cut back on costs

You may need to limit some day-to-day spending to build up your vacation fund. Some ways to cut costs include:

Make food at home instead of eating out.

Cancel subscriptions you don't use.

Brew your own coffee.

Shop around for cheaper, off-brand groceries and products.

Negotiate monthly bill costs.

Avoid bank fees.

Reduce energy consumption.

Create extra income

If cutting back on expenses isn't enough, you may need to look for ways to increase your income. That could mean picking up some extra shifts or hours at work, or you can look for alternate ways to boost earnings, such as by taking on a side gig.

A 2022 Bankrate study found that 31 percent of U.S. Adults have a side hustle, and 17 percent of those are using the income from it to contribute to savings. Side hustles can include anything from doing freelance writing to delivering food.

Some other ways to make extra income include:

Track your savings goal progress

Once you've determined a savings goal and implemented some strategies to meet that goal, monitor your progress so you stay on track and achieve the savings target for your vacation.

You might want to track your progress using some kind of visual representation, whether that be in a traditional spreadsheet or a savings app. List your savings for each week or month in your tracking method, and add up the total savings at the end of each period.

If you find you're not hitting your savings targets, don't be discouraged. Re-evaluate your savings plan and consider other ways you can save more money.

Vacation planning frequently asked questions How to do a cheap family vacation?

Here are some tips to make your family vacation less costly:

Find a more affordable destination.

Travel off-season.

Book in advance to get better deals and discounts.

Use loyalty programs and rewards.

Rent an apartment or vacation home instead of staying at a hotel.

Take advantage of group discounts on activities.

Find free or low-cost activities, like museums and parks.

Pack light to save on luggage fees.

How can I save for a vacation fast?

The first step toward saving for a vacation is setting a specific savings goal, based on how much you estimate the trip will cost, and creating a budget to meet that goal.

Then, you'll need to cut back on spending, earn extra income or both to start building your vacation fund. Consider selling used items or picking up side gigs to increase your earnings.

It's also important to find the right savings account to store the vacation fund, which should come with a high yield and low or no fees.

How much should I save for a vacation?

How much you should save for a vacation will vary depending on the destination, travel dates, family size and activities you plan to do.

When researching and calculating the cost of a vacation, make sure to consider flights, local transportation, accommodations, food, activities and a cushion of extra savings for unexpected expenses. Use a site like Budget Your Trip to find average costs for a variety of destinations.

Get Organized With These Meal Planning Hacks

Tools and Tips to Help You Be a Meal Planning Rock10'000 Hours

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If you're like me, every January or new school year rolls around and you say to yourself "this year is going to be different." This year is going to be about health, getting to appointments or school on time, making bread every week, or finally nailing down your signature style. As the months go by however, those goals tend to wane and it can be hard to jump back on the bandwagon. If one of your goals this or any year has been to get better at meal prepping—maybe by way of discovering how much you actually spend on take-out or the mere fact that you find yourself throwing out a lot of uneaten food every week—you've come to the right place! Whether you're looking for healthy lunch ideas or dinners for the family, these ideas will make meal planning less of a chore.

Here you'll find our top tips for making meal planning a regular rhythm and a roundup of some of our favorite products that can help you become a meal prep pro.

Make Your Own Meal-Planning Rules

When it comes to meal planning, it can feel pretty overwhelming when you start seeing how many resources, tips, opinions, and meal plans there are out there. There can be pressure to cook each night of the week or be strict to your plan so you don't waste food. But life happens, and the good thing about your meal plan, is that it's your meal plan. So you get to make the rules! Start small, with meal planning a few nights a week, or at the very least have food in the house for a few different meals. And if cooking isn't your thing, then maybe a few convenience meals are part of each week's menu. So before you get started and buy all the things, jot down a few notes about what it is you want to achieve through meal planning. Saving money? Eating healthier? More free time? Discovering your ultimate "why" will help you focus on what matters to you when you start your meal planning journey.

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The Lazy Genius Kitchen

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Find Your Meal Planning Rhythm

Once you've discovered your "why," decide a day of the week or month that you will regularly spend some time pulling together your plan. For some people, that might mean sitting down on your lunch break and making a plan for the next few days because deciding a whole week is too much right now. For others with big families or those that need to access stores that requires more travel time, maybe you'll plan meals for a whole month. Whichever way, make a date with yourself for that time so that it can become a regular habit.

Write Your Plan Down

It might seem obvious, but writing (or typing) out your weekly plan will go a long way in helping you keep focused, especially when it comes time to go shopping. There are a lot of helpful (and stylish) planners and pads to help you get all your ideas for the week or month down and just as many great wall displays so the whole family can see what's on the menu for the week. Which is a great way to mitigate the constant, "What's for dinner?" that echoes around the house around 4 p.M. And while it might be fun to buy a new planner, if you know about yourself that it's more likely that you'll follow a plan if you have it on your phone, it's as easy as starting a note, adding a calendar event, or using an app (more on that later!). Either way, make sure to check your family calendar as you write down your plan, so that you can be intentional about what nights you'll need to eat out, which nights need an easy meal and which days you can spend a little extra time cooking something a little more involved.

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Acrylic Dry Erase Weekly Meal Planner

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Pick Your Stand-bys

It might be tempting, as you get started to want to pore through all of the recipe books you've been collecting or try that new ramen recipe you saw in that food magazine. But as much as we all fancy ourselves contestants on Top Chef, more than likely we are getting home from work and wanting something we can put together quickly, is healthy, and doesn't break the bank. Which gets us back to your ultimate "why," if you're wanting to try new recipes, maybe start out with one a week as you get into the meal planning rhythm. The rest of your meals don't have to be gourmet, they can be a mix of comforting standbys, family favorites, and prepped foods that make a complete meal on the fly. There are a lot of great places to find recipes online these days (like..Ahem…right here on Country Living) and as you start gathering your arsenal of favorite go-to's, you'll have an easier time pulling together your meal plan each week.

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Recipe Notebook

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Save Time with Meal-Planning Apps

For the more technically inclined, there are a lot of great apps out there that can help you with meal planning. Some will have meal plans for you to use. There are other recipe sharing apps where you can keep your Aunt Linda's famous Cinnamon Bundt Cake recipe and save all your favorite recipes from the web. Some recipe apps will even make a shopping list for you and connect you to food delivery services. So depending on what app you use, you may not even have to leave the house!

Perfect Your Meal Prep

Whether it's writing a list so you don't cruise the aisles of the grocery store grabbing any and everything that looks tasty, chopping some veggies on the weekend so you can easily snack on them or use them in recipes throughout the week, or cooking up a big batch of rice for your lunch bowls, being prepared for the week ahead looks different for everyone. Decide what items on your weekly meal plan might benefit from you spending a little time preparing them before the craziness of the week is upon you. It can be as easy as hard-boiling a batch of eggs for easy breakfasts, stocking your office desk with go-to snacks, or making some overnight oats. Think about one small task that might make the week ahead easier as part of your meal plan and start with that.

Find the Best Containers

When you've spent precious time prepping ingredients or have valuable leftovers from a great meal, you want to know that the containers you store them in will help your food retain some form of freshness and not take on any lingering smells from the refrigerator. Look for glass or plastic containers that are safe for reheating and won't get discolored from foods like tomato sauce.

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Rubbermaid Leak-Proof Food Storage Containers

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Fill the Freezer

When it comes to meal planning, your freezer can either be your best friend or the place where your leftovers go to die. With a little extra planning, you can easily create and store prepped ingredients for future meals. For those who like to use their slow cooker or Instant Pot, make soups and smoothies, and have the space for extra proteins, your freezer can be a space that helps you stretch your budget, enables you to save time on grocery shopping, and even encourages you to make healthier choices.

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Put Those Kitchen Appliances to Use

It goes without saying that when it comes to the meal prep life, having a slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, or combination of all three can help you make delicious and cozy meals. What's better than coming home and knowing that you have dinner already done because it's been cooking while you were at work? Or for you air-fryer fans, it's a great feeling knowing that in this one appliance you can not only cook your favorite fried foods like tater tots and chicken fingers, but also salmon and steak bites in a matter of minutes.

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Keep Your Plan Flexible

Ultimately, after you've made the plan, written it down, and bought the groceries, be flexible with how it all plays out throughout the week. You may not be in the mood for tacos on Monday and would rather have spaghetti. Do what you and your family want to do with the ingredients you've gathered. At some point you may have to put your grown-up pants on and cook something you're not in the mood for, but for the most part, keep going back to your "why" and remember that all you do to make your meal plan work for your family is a beautiful form of love and care.

For more meal ideas, check out some of our favorite kid-friendly meals. Got a meal planning hack? Share in the comments below.

Here Are 20 Day Trips You Can Take With The Family Around NJ

Planning the perfect family vacation doesn't have to deplete your funds or vacation days.

There are many fun-filled activities around New Jersey that can offer unique ways to get out this summer and create those one-of-a-kind memories on a budget.

Here is our list of daycations around New Jersey. Some you may recognize, others might be "hidden gems" for you to try.

Bergen County American Dream Mall, East Rutherford

There are so many activities at the American dream mall that you could schedule trips here for days. There is an indoor NHL regulation-size ice skating rink, and Legoland Discovery Center, Tilt Museum and the NJ SEA LIFE Aquarium with over 3,000 sea creatures, and a walk through an ocean tunnel.

Wasabi, an endangered species of Napoleon Wrasse, has found his new home at New Jersey Sea Life Aquarium in the American Dream mall.

Nickelodeon Universe Amusement Park, East Rutherford

This is the western hemisphere's largest indoor theme park with 35 indoor rides, kiddie rides, and multiple playgrounds. All rides pay homage to Nickelodeon TV shows. It is located within the American Dream Mall.

DreamWorks Water Park, East Rutherford

This water park is the largest indoor water park in North America with the biggest indoor wave pool, 15 water slides, and the world's longest hydromagnetic rocket coaster. It is located within the American Dream Mall.

Van Saun County Park, Paramus

This park spans over 130 acres with attractions from ball fields to picnic areas, to state-of-the-art playgrounds and splash pads, to a miniature train ride. There is also the Bergen County Zoo that explores animal exhibits, carousel rides, pony rides, and free live animal shows in the zoo amphitheater.

Camden County Adventure Aquarium, Camden

This aquarium has 15,000 marine animals, an extensive collection of sharks, Nile Blue Hippos, 6 facilities of Little Blue Penguins and a one of a kind shark realm with a shark bridge and a shark tunnel.

Diggerland, West Berlin

Here at the only construction park in U.S., there are over 40+ rides and attractions, a full service arcade, zip line, and rock wall. There are two parks at one location. At one, families can drive and ride specially-engineered, real construction machines. At the other, soak and slide inside the 4-acre water park.

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Cape May County Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May Court House

This 200-acre park provides free year-round admission to a collection of more than 550 animals representing 250 species in 85 acres of exhibits like the Reptile House and the Amphibian House and the African Savanna.

Celebrate International Tiger Day Friday at the Cape May County Zoo.

The Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor

You can explore the natural conservation area through elevated walkways and salt marsh trails. There are events curated for each season that feature different scientific activities, which educate guests about native creatures and their habits.

The Skimmer, Cape May

The Skimmer is a 40-foot eco-tour pontoon boat that is U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified. The eco-cruise offers potential views of over 400 species of birds and 300 species of fish, and even more marine invertebrates inhabit New Jersey and many of them call the salt marsh their home.

Essex County FunTime Junction, Fairfield

This indoor children's entertainment center has everything for your fun-filled day trip. Guests can have fun with 1,800-square-foot laser tag arena, an interactive floor projection with over 20 and a multi-level climbscape complete with slides, tubes, web ladders, bouncers, and a jump pillow.

Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange

The Turtle Back Zoo offers guests 15.5 acres of exhibits, including a 4,000-square-foot reptile center, a 1,600-gallon marine life touch tank, a sea lion pool and wildlife from around the world.

A pair of Masai giraffes in the "African Adventure" exhibit of the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.

Monmouth County The River Queen, Brielle

Take a beautiful and scenic day cruise on board The River Queen while you enjoy cuisine along the picturesque shorelines of the Manasquan and Metedeconk rivers and the Barnegat Bay. This two-deck boat is also climate controlled for your comfort.

ClimbZone, Howell

The indoor climbing and entertainment facility has over 68 themed walls and 5 major attractions. Guests can have a fun-filled time with a 2 Level Sky Trail Ropes Course with Zip Line, the Hologate Virtual Reality Arena, arcade games, and soft play area.

Middlesex County SeaQuest Woodbridge, Woodbridge

This interactive 20,000 square-foot adventure aquarium offers an exciting journey around the world. You can snorkel with sting rays, hang out with sloths and have your feet tickled by "kissy fish."

Altitude Trampoline, Woodbridge

This park offers 35,000 square feet of indoor jumping space, exciting games like ultimate dodgeball, and trampoline basketball. There is also a giant foam pit, trapeze and a gymnastics tumble track.

Ocean County Insectropolis, Toms River

Dubbed as the Bugseum of New Jersey, Insectropolis, takes visitors on a trip into the insect world where guests can interact with live tarantula, millipede, and a hissing cockroach. There are 12 exhibits where you can learn and explore in popular exhibits like the mud tube.

Jersey Shore Pirates, Brick

Come aboard the Sea Gypsy II for a swashbuckling pirate adventure on the Metedeconk River where participants will sail on an interactive treasure hunt on the high seas, discover a secret message in a bottle and find the enemy pirate aboard the vessel.

Sussex County Mountain Creek, Vernon

There are over 30 fun attractions for kids and adults that have thrilling water rides along the backdrop of picturesque mountains. There is also spray ground, a wave pool and a bike park.

Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg

The Sterling Hill Mine was one of the world's richest zinc ore deposits. It is also the fourth oldest in the United States. Guests can explore a fun scientific adventure, including an underground mine tour, drilling and blasting demonstration and the fluorescent Rainbow Tunnel.

Space Farms Zoo & Museum, Wantage

This 100-acre complex has both a zoo and museum. The zoo has over 500 live wild animals and the Space Farms Museum complex has 9 large museum buildings. The wildlife animal park also has a large picnic area, playground and restaurant.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Family fun things to do: 20 day trips in NJ

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