🔎 Disclosure: Heads up, babe: some links here are affiliate links, which means you might throw a tiny commission my way if you buy (zero extra cost to you). Only things you’d actually use and love get shared on this site.
1. Book Your Flights On A Tuesday Or Wednesday
Midweek bookings feel random, but airlines drop lower fares when fewer people search.
Instead of fighting the Sunday night crowd, you grab tickets cheaper and keep extra cash for beach snacks, babe.
Try this quick switch before you book:
Search On Tuesday Morning: Check prices early to catch lower fares before they rise
Compare Wednesday Night: Look again midweek to confirm the cheapest option
Clear Your Browser: Open a fresh tab to see updated prices without old searches
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Open your flight app this Tuesday morning, search your dates, screenshot the lowest fare, and compare again Wednesday night before you click buy.
How I Made It Easy: Consider a Hopper flight price tracking app to alert you when fares drop.
2. Check The Total Price With Bags Before You Pay
Cheap tickets look cute until baggage fees sneak in like a toddler with scissors.
Before you tap confirm, double-check the full total with carry-ons and checked bags included, girl.
Look for these details before you pay:
Add Bags First: Include all suitcases to see the real final price
Review Seat Fees: Check if seat selection adds extra dollars
Compare Airlines: Choose the option with the lowest total, not just the base fare
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Select your flight, add every bag your family plans to bring, and review the final checkout page before you enter your card.
How I Made It Easy: Consider a lightweight luggage scale to avoid surprise overweight fees at the airport.
3. Compare A Vacation Rental With A Hotel Room
Hotels feel easy, but rentals sometimes give you more space for the same money.
When your kids share a room and you finally get a couch to yourself, that savings hits different, bestie.
Before you lock it in, compare this:
Check Total Nights Cost: Multiply the nightly rate by all nights to see the real amount
Add Cleaning Fees: Include every extra fee listed at checkout
Divide By Bedrooms: Calculate cost per sleeping space to see true value
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Open both listings, write down the full total price including fees, and divide by how many people sleep there to compare clearly.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using Airbnb to filter for family-friendly homes with kitchens.
4. Stay In A Hotel With Free Breakfast And Parking
Free breakfast saves you from dropping $60 on pancakes before 9 a.m.
Parking fees can crush your mood faster than spilled juice in the car seat, babe.
Look for these included perks:
Free Hot Breakfast: Start the day without paying for every waffle
Included Parking: Skip daily parking charges at the hotel
Kid-Friendly Dining Hours: Feed everyone early without extra room service fees
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Search hotels with the “free breakfast” and “free parking” filters turned on before comparing nightly rates.
How I Made It Easy: Consider booking through Booking.com to filter hotels by free amenities fast.
5. Pack Snacks And Sandwiches For Travel Days
Airport food prices feel like they think you won the lottery.
Bringing your own snacks keeps everyone happy and your wallet calm, FYI :).
Before leaving the house, prep this:
Make Simple Sandwiches: Pack easy turkey or peanut butter sandwiches for the drive
Fill Snack Bags: Portion crackers, fruit, and granola into zip bags
Bring Empty Bottles: Refill after security to skip buying drinks
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Prep sandwiches the night before, pack them in a cooler bag, and toss in reusable bottles for easy refills at the airport.
How I Made It Easy: Consider a small insulated travel cooler bag to keep snacks fresh all day.
6. Travel During The First Week Of School
Prices drop when most families rush back to routines.
If your schedule allows it, that first week of school can mean lower hotel and ticket prices, girl.
Check these timing wins:
Search Early September Dates: Compare rates right after school starts
Look At Theme Park Calendars: Pick lower crowd days for cheaper entry
Book Midweek Stays: Choose Monday through Thursday for better deals
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Check your calendar, find the first school week in your area, and compare hotel prices for those dates before booking peak weeks.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using Google Flights date grid to see cheaper travel days instantly.
7. Look For Kids Eat Free Restaurant Deals
Dining out with 2 or 3 kids adds up fast, right?
Finding places where kids eat free keeps dinner simple and your budget steady, bestie.
Here’s what to look for:
Search “Kids Eat Free Near Me”: Check local listings before heading out
Ask The Front Desk: Hotel staff often know family-friendly deals
Pick Weekday Specials: Many restaurants offer free kids meals on certain nights
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Search your destination plus “kids eat free,” write down 2 options, and plan your dinner around those days.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using the Yelp app to filter family-friendly restaurants with deals.
8. Buy Attraction Tickets Online Before You Arrive
Gate prices almost always cost more than online rates.
Booking ahead locks in lower prices and saves you from long ticket lines in the sun, babe.
Before your trip, do this:
Check Official Websites: Compare prices directly from the attraction
Look For Family Bundles: Buy package deals that include multiple tickets
Download E-Tickets: Keep them on your phone to skip printing
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Visit the attraction website 2 weeks before your trip, compare family bundle options, and purchase digital tickets to store in your phone wallet.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using Undercover Tourist to find discounted theme park tickets.
9. Use Public Buses Instead Of Rideshare Apps
Rideshare fares climb fast during busy hours, and surge pricing feels rude.
Local buses or trains often cost a fraction and still get you where you need to go, girl.
Here’s how to cut transport costs:
Check Transit Maps: Look up routes near your hotel
Buy Day Passes: Pay one flat rate for unlimited rides
Travel Off Peak: Ride outside rush hour for smoother trips
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Download the city transit app before arrival, map your hotel to main attractions, and buy a day pass for cheaper unlimited rides.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using the Citymapper app to plan simple bus and train routes.
10. Bring A Refillable Water Bottle For Each Kid
Buying bottled water all day drains your wallet without you noticing.
Reusable bottles keep everyone hydrated and save you from $5 drinks every few hours, IMO :).
Pack these simple helpers:
Label Each Bottle: Write names to avoid mix-ups
Refill At Fountains: Top up before leaving attractions
Freeze Overnight: Keep water cold during travel days
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Pack one labeled reusable bottle per child, refill at fountains throughout the day, and skip buying drinks at every stop.
How I Made It Easy: Consider a stainless steel insulated water bottle set for each kid to keep drinks cold longer.
11. Share One Large Rental Car Instead Of Two
Two small cars sound cute until you see the total at checkout.
One larger SUV usually costs less than 2 separate rentals and keeps everyone together, babe.
Before you book, check this:
Compare Total Rental Cost: Price 1 SUV against 2 compact cars for the same dates
Add Fuel Estimate: Factor gas for 1 vehicle instead of 2
Check Luggage Space: Make sure suitcases fit to avoid last-minute upgrades
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Search your travel dates, price one midsize SUV, then compare it to two small cars and choose the option with the lower full total.
How I Made It Easy: Consider using Kayak to compare rental car prices side by side fast.
12. Plan One Free Park Or Beach Day
Not every day needs tickets, lines, and overpriced churros, right?
A simple park or beach day gives your wallet a break and still makes core memories, girl.
Build one free day like this:
Pack A Picnic: Bring sandwiches and snacks from your rental kitchen
Bring Beach Toys: Use items you already own instead of buying new
Stay For Sunset: Stretch the day without paying for extra activities
👉 Here’s How You’ll Do It:Pick one day of your trip, search for a local park or beach near your hotel, and plan a full picnic afternoon there.
How I Made It Easy: Consider a foldable beach blanket that fits in your suitcase easily.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: making life easier and sharing what works. I created ''Like Mom Said'' after one too many moments of realizing: "My mom was right about this." Turns out, a lot of that old-school wisdom still holds up... it just needs a modern spin. Think of me as your friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand.)
