How Do I Save Money on These Trips?

I get asked this a lot: How do you make this all work?

Well, this might not appeal to everyone, but some of the ways we save money are actually super easy.

We aren’t necessarily trying to travel cheap. We’re trying to figure out what is worth spending money on and what isn’t.

For us, I’d rather save money on a hotel room and spend it on an experience, an ice cream, or something the kids will actually remember.

So here are some of the things I do to make these trips a little more affordable.

Where We Stay

We Just Sleep There

I’ve said this before, but we just sleep there. As long as there aren’t bed bugs, it’s clean, and we have AC, we’re good. 😂

If there’s free breakfast, that’s a huge plus.

The boys all eat a ton, so if we can fill them up at breakfast, hopefully they can survive on some peanut butter crackers or snacks for lunch, and then we’ll have a bigger dinner.

I’m not looking for a fancy resort. We’re usually leaving early in the morning and coming back exhausted at night. I don’t need a five-star room that I’m going to spend approximately eight hours in.

Booking Accommodations

Use Rewards When You Can

I also book through Expedia and Vrbo when it makes sense because I can earn rewards that can be used toward future travel. And then I go through MyPoints to book them and get even more rewards. (More on that below!)

Once I have our plans finalized and know where we want to stay, I usually book one thing each month rather than paying for everything at once.

It makes the trip feel a lot more manageable when I’m not looking at one giant vacation bill all at once.

Instead, I can say, “Okay, this month we’re paying for the hotel.”

Next month: “Okay, now we’re paying for this.”

And eventually, somehow, we have a whole trip paid for. 😂

Saving on Flights

Don’t Be Afraid of Two One-Way Tickets

A lot of our trips involve two separate one-way tickets instead of booking one round-trip ticket.

This can sometimes be more expensive, so I always compare the options.

But there’s a big benefit: you can use different airlines.

That can give you better flight times and sometimes cheaper fares.

For example, maybe Airline A has the best flight out, but Airline B has a much better flight home. Why limit myself to one airline just because I’m booking a “round trip”?

I compare the prices both ways and see what makes the most sense.

Sometimes the cheapest option wins. Sometimes the flight schedule wins.

Because saving $40 isn’t worth it to me if it means getting home at 1:00 in the morning with two exhausted teenagers.

Saving on Rental Cars

Check for Rewards and Cash Back

A lot of our trips also involve rental cars.

When I’m booking one, I compare prices and also check to see if I can earn points or cash back on the rental.

I’ll explain more about how I do that below. 😉

Check Your Auto Insurance

Here’s another thing people don’t always realize:

Check your auto insurance before automatically buying the rental company’s extra insurance.

Depending on your policy, you may already have coverage for a rental car. For us, our auto insurance provides coverage, so I don’t automatically add the extra rental-car insurance.

Obviously, check your own policy first because coverage varies. Don’t assume you’re covered without confirming it.

Earn Rewards on Things You’re Already Buying

MyPoints: This One Is Huge!

I use the MyPoints app, and this is probably one of my favorite ways to earn gift cards.

When you sign up, you can get a gift card for joining, depending on the current offer. Then there are several ways to earn points that can be traded in for gift cards.

And they have a bunch of options that can actually be useful for travel, including things like Southwest, Delta, Hotels.com, and Airbnb, and viator (for different excursions).

Here’s How I Use It

Booking a hotel?

Before I book, I compare prices between Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and Airbnb.

Then, if the site I want to use is available through MyPoints, I go through the MyPoints app first.

Depending on the current offer, you can earn points for your purchase. Those points are pending until the trip is completed, and then you can use your points toward gift cards for future travel (you can earn giftcards for things like Hotels.com, Airbnb, Delta, or if that won’t work for your next trip, just get the Visa GC and use it for food).

Rental car?

Same thing.

I check MyPoints before I book and see if there’s an offer for the rental company I’m considering.

So if I’m already spending hundreds of dollars on a rental car, I might as well see if I can get some points back for it.

Watching TV at night?

I’m a multitasker. If we’re watching TV, or I’m riding in the car, I’ll do surveys on MyPoints.

I try to do a couple a day.

Is it going to make me rich?

No.

But those points add up.

Ordering something online?

I’ll check MyPoints first and see if the store is available.

There are so many options: Walmart for non-food stuff, amazon (for certain purchases), Etsy, eBay, and so many other options. You just have to go to Mypoints first and click the site you want to visit. Mypoints gets notified of your purchase and awards your points. Easy!

Again, I was going to buy the thing anyway. If I can earn points while doing it, why not?

Get Cash Back on Gas

We Use Upside

Gas is another one.

We use the Upside app, which gives you cash back at participating gas stations.

So before we fill up, I check the app and see which nearby stations are offering cash back.

Then we just go there.

Because…We’re getting gas anyway, right?

I’m not going to drive 45 minutes out of my way to save 12 cents a gallon.

But if there’s a participating gas station along our route, why not get some cash back?

It takes a few seconds to check. And once again, it’s money we were already going to spend.

Even the Little Things Add Up

Google Opinion Rewards

I use a Google survey app, too. Sometimes it asks me a question a day and gives me a few cents.

Is 10 cents going to pay for my vacation? Absolutely not. 😂

But I just let it sit there and accumulate. Then when it’s time to travel, I have a little extra money sitting there that I can use.

And this is basically my philosophy with all of these things:

A few cents here. A few dollars there. It adds up.

Save Money on Food

Bring Food From Home

I’ve said this in several adventure posts, but it can be cheaper to check a bag full of food than to stop and buy everything along the way.

Depending on the airline, a checked bag might cost around $35 or could even be free if you get a free checked bag with your ticket or status.

Yes, I realize this sounds ridiculous.

“Hey kids! We’re going on vacation! Pack your clothes…and also let’s fill an entire suitcase with food.”

But hear me out. We’re going to eat whether we’re at home or on vacation.

So I’d rather bring food we would already buy at home than pay inflated prices for snacks and meals at airports, parks, tourist areas, and remote towns.

And honestly, part of this is because of my food allergies and dietary restrictions. Having food with me makes things easier.

I’ll pack things like protein shakes (and powders with a travel blender), peanut butter and jelly, protein bars, crackers, snacks, and easy meals.

We pack snacks into backpacks for the day and try not to buy food every time someone announces:

“I’m hungry.”

Because apparently teenagers are hungry approximately 47,000 times a day.

We Don’t Spend a Fortune on Meals

The kids know that we aren’t going to choose to spend our money on fancy, huge meals every day.

We do eat out. We just don’t do it for every meal.

A lot of the time, they’ll pick out some easy microwavable dinners or a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, and we make it work wherever we’re staying.

I grew up eating microwaveable Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes probably once a week, and guess what?

I looked forward to it and I’m still alive! 😂

We’d buy groceries at home, so why would I suddenly decide that every meal needs to be purchased from a restaurant just because we crossed a state line?

Instead, we save some of that money for the things we actually care about.

Like ice cream.

Obviously.

So What’s the Secret?

Honestly, I don’t think there’s one big secret.

We just save money in the places that don’t matter as much to us so we can spend it on the things that do.

We don’t need a fancy hotel.

We don’t need to eat at a restaurant three times a day (not everyone in the family would agree—cue the oldest child).

We don’t need to buy every snack along the way (oldest child would again not agree 🙄).

We don’t need to fly the exact same airline both ways.

And if I can get cash back on gas, earn points on a rental car, collect gift cards from surveys, or save money by bringing our own food?

I’m going to do it.

But we do want to see the national parks.

We do want to do the hikes.

We do want to eat ice cream as a meal replacement occasionally (hold the judgment).

And we definitely want to come home with stories.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what we’re actually paying for.

The experiences. The memories. The ridiculous moments we couldn’t have planned if we tried. In fact, one day, I hope they are laughing at the fact that I was asking for their plastic silverware after eating a lean cuisine so it can be washed and reused for the next hotel meal.

That’s what makes all the saving worth it.

So save where you can.

Spend where it matters.

And leave a little room in the budget for the ice cream. 🍨

Because some things are just non-negotiable.

A Quick Disclaimer

Some of the websites, apps, and reward programs mentioned on this page may offer referral or affiliate benefits, which means I may earn a small reward if you sign up or make a purchase through certain links. This does not cost you anything extra.

Rewards, promotions, prices, and program terms can change at any time, so always check the current details directly with the company before booking or making a purchase.

I’m sharing what has worked for our family—not financial advice or a guarantee that you’ll get the same savings. Do your own research and choose what works best for you!