Taking a Trip on a Budget

A couple of weeks ago the whole family loaded up and we took a trip. Vacations are alway fun but the costs can add up quickly and relaxing times can become stressful. Fast food can becoming very tempting when everyone is hungry in an unfamiliar area just trying to get from point a to point b. So before left we came up with a game plan to keep us all sane and our tummies satisfied on the twenty some hour drive from here to paradise.

My husband was being pulled a million different directions at one time between work and family obligations so he was as helpful as he could be but his stress level was through the roof the week before we were to leave. I was trying to balance the schedule of two busy kids along with my own work schedule in addition to prepping everything for the trip. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing but I think the packing and planning are what drive you to needing the actual vacation.

Twenty hours in the car with a 4 year old and an 8 year old would be challenging but we knew we could pull it off. We packed plenty of movies to watch during the ride (the expensive dvd player package on our van is worth every single penny at times like these). We also packed each child a comfy blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, reading book and coloring book. The i-pad also made it into the car even though I despise the kids using them in the house, desperate times called for desperate measures. We packed a large cooler with grapes, carrots, cheese sticks, milk and water. There was also a box with nuts, dried fruit, cereal, and crackers. We were all set for breakfast, lunch and snacks in the car the only stop we would have to make would be dinner and potty breaks. The trip there took longer than planned but with two drivers taking turns sleeping and driving it was not too bad and the kids held up great until about the last hour. During that last hour both kids considered breathing an annoyance that should be punishable.

Stay tuned for Part 2 and read about how we saved money once we reached our destination.