Ways to Save Money for Vacation:

 

 

All it takes to save money for your road trip is a little pre-planning. My advice is to start planning about a year in advance. Having a year will give you enough time to save money in a variety of ways. Remember every dollar adds up. You’ll be amazed how much you’ll save in a year.

 
 

 

1). Try to save $35/week (Saving $35/week for 11 months is over $1,500)
 
2). Sell kids clothes at a consignment store or sale. (Locally, we have a consignment sale that I participate in three times a year. I’ve made over $600 this year.)
 
3). Sell items on Facebook Marketplace, Let Go, or Craigslist. (Selling toys your kids have outgrown or household items you no longer need is a great way to stash away some extra cash for your trip.)
 
4). Have a garage sale. (Maybe you can get your neighbors to participate. Neighborhood garage sale always seem to draw in more people.)
 
5). Cut down on going out to eat. (Making dinner at home almost every night will save you a bundle. If you choose to forgo going out to dinner, take that extra money and put it directly into your vacation fund.)
 
6). Get a part-time job. (Having a part-time job working 8 hours a week will add up. An Extra $90/week for 11 months is $4,000.)
 


Ways to Save Money While on Vacation:

>Good Sam Membership- 5 cents off a gallon at Flying J & Pilot

>TSD RV fuel program for diesel engines- Savings about 20% off

>Use the Gas Buddy App- Allows you to shop around for the best price on fuel.

>Drive slower- Driving 60 mph will save you money.

>Pack your own food- Create a meal calendar and buy your food prior to your vacation or stop at Walmart to buy groceries to use along the way.

 

>Eat earlier- Spending money at restaurants add up. Eating dinner earlier you can pay the lunch price, saving you money.

 

>Gift cards- Buying discounted gift cards at big boxed stores can save you 10-20%.

 

>Order take out- Sitting down to a dinner you will spend extra money on drinks and a tip.

 

>Apps- Download restaurant apps. A lot restaurants offer coupons for discounted or free food.

 

>Share meals- Order 4 larger meals to split with 6 people. This way you won’t have to deal with leftover’s.

 

>Sandwiches-Make sandwiches instead of big meals.

 

>Walmart- Walmart has a great option of to-go meals cheaper than fast food.

 

>Hotel food- After you are done eating free breakfast, snag a few extra muffins and fruit for lunch.

 

>Snacks- Instead of stopping at a restaurant for lunch, pack some healthy snacks and eat that instead.

Hotels–

>Comfort Suites- Almost every summer Comfort Suites has specials where you stay 2-3 nights and get a $50 Amazon gift card.

 

>Shop around-Once you know the general area you will be staying, check a 20 mile radius. Chances are, you’ll find something affordable.

 

>AAA- Having a AAA membership saves you 10%. 

 

>Loyalty card- Many hotels offer points for every night stayed, which can then be converted to free nights.

 

>Credit card rewards- Some credit cards offer extra rewards for hotel stays.

 

Campgrounds–

>Plan- When you plan out where you’ll be staying, you can shop around for the best price.

 

>Reservations- Making reservations 6 months ahead of time allows you to get into National Parks and State Parks. Being that these campgrounds are more affordable, they go fast.

 

>Rest Areas- Stay at a rest area, truck stop, or Walmart a night or two to help balance out the costs of a more expensive campsite. FYI- The state of Ohio as electric hook ups at their rest areas for $20/nt. This includes a dump station too.

 

>Harvest Hosts- Pay a yearly membership ($79-$119) to stay for free at a Harvest Host.

 

>Campendium.com- Find cheap or free campsites on this website/app.

 

>Good Sam’s/AAA- Save 10% discount at various campgrounds.

>National Parks Pass- Spending $80 for an annual pass will save you money if you plan on going to multiple National Parks.

 

>4th/5th Grade National Parks Pass- Usually the National Parks offer a pass to any 4th grader and the families for free. However, because of the pandemic they are offering it to all 5th graders as well (for the 2021 season).

 

>Groupon- If you search up the area you will be visiting, often Groupon has some great deals on activities.

 

>Amusement Parks- Often discounted tickets can be purchased in advanced online or at grocery stores. Sometimes they’ll be savings at Groupon too.

 

>Museums- A lot of museums will have free or discounted days. Many times, they’ll have a discounted rate after 4pm. Don’t forget to check if they have a AAA discount. Check their website.

 

>Free Activities- Hiking, window shopping, outdoor sculpture parks, special museum/ zoo/ aquarium days, local parks, beach time & biking are all free.

 

>Time Share Lecture- In Sedona they offer a deep discounted rate on a Pink Jeep Tour if you listen to a Time Share lecture for a couple of hours. I’m sure other locations may also have this offer.