We've all been guilty of it! Returning home from a great trip only to realize you over did it on the spending and now you'll be paying for it in the weeks and months to come. For me this usually happens when I don't plan ahead. Plus, traveling with kids always seems to add a little overspending to any trip. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't ways to avoid the pitfalls! Plan, plan, and then plan some more! There are so many brilliant budget family vacation tips out there. Here are 5 ways that over the years our family has been able to perfect our budgeting skills and avoid overspending when planning our next vacation. Hope it's helpful to you!

1. Pay Ahead

Paying for your trip ahead of time can alleviate a lot of the stress and put you in a good place to not overspend on your next vacation. Even if it's not possible to pay for your trip in increments (which can be a great way to pay for a big and expensive trip), it's always helpful to treat it as if you can. Create a budget ahead of time, so you can save for your trip. You might decide to stash a bit of money away from each paycheck or make small payments to your vacation until it's paid in full. 

Booking your hotel early can not only help you find the best deals but also make your trip feel like less of a financial burden. Plus, breaking up your overall trip cost into smaller, more manageable payments will make it easier to fit travel into your everyday budget.

We also like to pay for activities ahead of time so that there are no surprises during our trip. Taking the time to plan ahead can help you pick out the activities or destination you want to visit during your vacation. Purchasing entry tickets for museums, amusement parks and other attractions before you go can not only help you stay within budget but even save you some money since you may be able to find some best deals if you plan ahead.

It's always good to have an idea of how much you want to (and can) spend on your next trip. Keep in mind that extra things are always bound to add up. One quick way to overestimate and add a little cushion to your travel budget is to round up your costs. For example, if your gas budget is $75, round it up to $100 and give yourself a little wiggle room. 

Also, factor in an emergency fund and carry some cash with you as part of your vacation budget. Not only will you be happy you have a back up plan if something goes wrong, but you'll also have some cash on hand if you encounter a place that doesn't take credit cards or even if you find that you need a bit extra to spend towards tips, tolls and souvenirs. It never hurts to have a little extra cash on hand!

3. Plan Out Your Meals

Make sure to spend some time mapping out local restaurants you may want to eat at while on vacation. This will help you get a better idea of how much your food budget should be. Also, if there's a high-end restaurant that's just a nonnegotiable during your visit, when you plan ahead you'll be able to cut costs from other meals to make sure you have enough to cover all meals during your trip.

If you're staying at a hotel you may want to consider accommodations that include breakfast as a way to cut down daily meal costs. Also, spend a little time identifying some family-friendly places to eat near your hotel and places that deliver to your hotel are also a huge plus when traveling with kids.

And don't forget local grocery shops or smaller food stops that may help you stock up on some snacks or on the go meals, especially when traveling with kids. Leftovers are also another cost-effective way to stretch your vacation budget. So make sure to check with your hotel to ensure you have access to a refrigerator and microwave oven to warm up last nights leftover dinner and get more bang for your buck while on vacay!

4. Use Email Alerts to Help Find the Best Deals

It's likely that once you have planned out your trip, your email inbox will become flooded with all kinds of updates -- confirmation emails, travel reminders, balance updates, you name it. And opting into email alerts could be just the help you need to stay within budget!

Companies will send you emails on a variety of deals ranging from discounted flights to reduced hotel room rates that can help you find the best deals. You might even get an email offer that alerts you to a much better deal that the one you've already booked. In many cases, you many be able to cancel and rebook your reservation to get the cheaper price and save yourself some extra cash in your travel budget. You can then use that extra cash to cover other travel expenses or treat yourself to a little something extra during your trip.

This is a great opportunity for you to take advantage of all the perks offered by airlines, hotels, rental car companies and more! Most reward programs are free to sign up for and can offer a wide range of benefits and perks. Signing up now can not only help you earn points for your current trip, but you can also start stashing points for the next time you're planning a vacation.

Signing up for a points-eligible credit card is another great way to stack up on points each time you travel. Use it for every transaction on your next trip (while staying within budget, of course) and see the points stack up quickly. Most cards allow you to use earned points towards things like airline upgrades and tickets and hotel stays too. Some even allow you to use your points towards your statement balance -- a great way to cover some of the costs of your next vacation and help you stay within budget. Just make sure to do your homework before hand when seeking out the best credit card for you! Since they all come with different terms and offer a variety of perks, don't forget to read the fine print before you sign the dotted line.

Happy Travels

Whether your vacation is in a few weeks or months way, thank you for reading my 5 tips to help you avoid overspending on your next vacation. I hope that these tips will make it much easier for you to plan your next budget-friendly family vacation. Happy travels!

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