- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Advice for a Frugal Summer
9 Tips for a Financially Sane Summer
Be a smart vacationer.
No matter where your wanderlust leads you and your family, you can cut costs. Here are a few tips: - Plan, plan, plan. Do plenty of research before you ever leave home so you'll know the best and most budget-friendly activities and destinations in advance. "It's when we fail to plan ahead that we fall prey to overpriced tourist traps," Tyson says.
- Don't go overboard on the hotel. There's really no reason to spend big bucks on a room you'll do little more than sleep in.
- BYOF: Bring your own food. If you're taking the family to a theme park, bring along a backpack of snacks. (If you don't, be prepared for some serious sticker shock!) And choose a hotel room with a kitchen (or vacation home) so you can prepare a few meals in.
- Don't buy a bunch of T-shirts and trinkets. It's usually better to spend the money on photos than "keepsakes" (i.e., clutter you don't need).
- If your child brings along a friend, make sure he pays his own way. "Don't assume that because Billy is inviting his friend Josh, you have to pay for Josh's meals, amusement park tickets and so forth," Tyson says. "If you aren't comfortable having a frank discussion with Josh's parnts ahead of time about who pays for what, don't invite him."
