Family vacations are a treat. It’s a chance to spend uninterrupted time with your kids and create memories that will last a lifetime. Trips with the kids also help to strengthen your bond. You get to experience new things and connect in a way that everyday life doesn’t always allow time for. So, of course, it’s something you’d appreciate doing often. Unfortunately, vacations are far and few in between for most families. Between hectic schedules and financial obligations, taking a trip always takes a back seat.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. As you’ll see from the tips listed below, there are things you can do to take more family vacations.

REDUCE OUTSTANDING DEBT

When you have too much debt, finding money to pay for a family vacation is challenging. If you’d like to change that, simply come up with a debt reduction strategy. Let’s say you have about $10,000 in credit card debt that is costing you $250 a month. If you refinance your credit cards with a debt consolidation loan or line of credit, you could save money. It would also make it easier to repay what you owe. Simply use a credit card debt calculator to see how beneficial this strategy might be for you. As you continue to make payments, you reduce the amount you have to dedicate to debt and increase your vacation fund. Eventually, you’ll have an entire $250 to work with.

SET MONEY ASIDE

If your family lives on a tight budget, your best bet to travel more is to set money aside. For instance, if going on a vacation will cost you $1,000, turn this into a savings goal. If you put $100 a month in a savings account for a year, you’ll have the funds to go on an annual vacation with your kids.

Treat it like any other bill, allow for it each month and write into your budget. Once you adjust you won’t miss it and you’ll enjoy your holiday more not worrying about money. 

BECOME A SAVVY TRAVEL PLANNER

Family vacations aren’t cheap, but you don’t have to break your budget. If you only have a small amount of money to work with, you can still get away and have a good time. This is accomplished by becoming a savvy travel planner. It takes research and proper planning, but there are tons of ways to save on a trip. Whether you use coupons, cook food in your hotel, or take advantage of travel discounts offered by vendors, the more you save, the more affordable your trip becomes.

GET A SIDE GIG/PART TIME JOB

If you can’t find the money in your existing budget to go on family vacations more often, then increase your income. These days, it’s a lot more convenient than trying to get another full or part-time job. You can find something to do in your spare time that generates cash. Just ensure that you don’t mismanage the money. Everything you make from your side gig should be set aside to either pay down debts or build a savings, so family vacations are more affordable.

PLAN AND BOOK IN ADVANCE

Families tend to have hectic schedules. Between work, school, and extracurricular activities, you barely have any downtime. Although you may not be able to get around this, you can accomplish your goal of traveling more often. Planning in advance gives you the time you need to eliminate things from your schedule. For example, if school takes up a lot of time, planning a summer vacation removes the problem. The kids are out of school, and you guys can vacation without worrying about homework and other educational obligations.

Kids don’t remain children forever. At some point, they’re going to get older, move out of the house, and embark on their own lives. That’s why it’s essential to make the most of the time you have together. Taking family vacations is one way of creating experiences you’ll cherish forever. If money or hectic schedules have prevented you from traveling with your kids as often as you’d like, consider the tips above to turn things around.

Research shows kids that travel do better in school, so get out there and create little global citizens!