Cheap and cheerful weekend getaways for families
Everyone looks forward to the weekend for a chance to take a break from the stress of the workplace, relax, unwind and spend some quality time with the family. But the looming thought of taking the family out and spending precious money, especially during these less fruitful times in the economy can quickly damper our spirits.
Staying at home is the easy solution, but when the weekend passes and the kids are back to school and we’re back at work, it can seem as though the weekend was unsatisfying and spent doing virtually nothing.
Getting out of the city to refresh and re-energize your battery doesn’t have to be a costly exercise — take the family on a road trip, and not more than two hours out of town, so you save on petrol.
What do you do to make the weekends exciting for the whole family without spending a lot of money?
Here are some money saving ideas for your next road trip with the family:
Make use of out-of-town friends and family
When it comes to saving money on accommodation, your loved ones are your best bet. Everyone loves having friends and relatives over for the weekend, just remember to bring a bottle or two of wine and a few treats from the city and don’t leave your wet towels on the floor!
Camp
The kids will thank you for it, when they’re older that is. Camping in the great outdoors is one of the best things families can do to bond and share special moments, especially when the kids are young. If you don’t have any camping gear, ask around your friends and neighbours, someone’s always got a few tents and sleeping bags in the back of their garage.
Find out more about camping in Australia at http://www.camping.com.au/
Pack healthy snacks for the road trip and a picnic basket
Stopping off at convenience stores on the way to pick up snacks and drinks is a real money waster. So make sure you pack plenty of fruit, muesli bars and bottled water to keep the kids and driver happy during the trip. Stopping for lunch off the highway may not be very expensive, but it sure will be unhealthy. Arm yourself with a basketful of goodies and find a nice spot for a lovely family picnic and some fresh country air.
Save money on food during the weekend
If you’re on the coast, find out where you can go fishing. Not only will you have dinner, but it’s a great opportunity for the family to bond, relax and have fun. If you’re staying with friends, bring some milk and cereal for breakfasts and have plenty of simple barbeques. If you’re camping, bring along a portable barbeque — someone’s always got one laying around if you don’t have your own.
Save money on petrol
Don’t venture too far out of the city. A two-hour drive each way is a comfortable distance to travel for a short weekend, and on the pocket. It’s easy when you live in Australia, nature is a skip, a jump and a hop away no matter where you are. Talk to your friends, family and neighbours, they might know a great spot that’s not very far away.
One the other hand, if you live outside the city, a great family excursion would be to visit the city over the weekend. If you drive, leave the car at home and use the buses and trains. You’ll save plenty of money, time and grief — parking and finding your way around the city can be stressful.
Pack a picnic and have lunch in the park and arm yourself with plenty of water and snacks for the kids to save money and visit free museums and concerts.
To find out what’s happening in and around your area, visit About Australia.
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