Hello from Our Family of Seven

Hi there. I’m Ellen Ferreira, and I’m so glad you’re here.

If you’ve landed on Budget Family Journeys, chances are you love to travel… but you also have kids. Maybe more than one. Maybe more than you ever planned on. In our case, we have five boys.

Yes. Five.

Our home is loud, busy, and rarely still. There are always shoes by the door, someone asking for a snack, and at least one missing sock. But it’s also full of laughter, energy, and a whole lot of love. And somehow, in the middle of all that, we decided we still wanted to see the world.

Who We Are

I’m Ellen. I’m a wife, mom of five boys, planner of trips, packer of bags, finder of lost water bottles, and the one who usually says, “Yes, we can make this work.”

My husband is my partner in all of this. He’s the calm to my chaos, the one loading the car while I do the final “did we forget anything?” check. He’s also the one who somehow manages to make road trips feel like an adventure instead of a survival test.

And then there are our five boys. Different personalities. Different interests. Same endless appetite. They are curious, energetic, and always ready to explore somewhere new… as long as snacks are involved.

Why We Started Budget Family Journeys

Traveling as a family of seven is not cheap.

Flights add up fast. Hotels can be tricky. Eating out feels like financing a small event. And don’t get me started on gear. When you have five kids, you don’t just need a stroller or a suitcase. You need systems.

But here’s what we’ve learned: you don’t have to be wealthy to travel well.

You need a plan.
You need the right gear.
You need flexibility.
And you need to accept that something will go wrong. Probably more than one thing.

This blog is where we share what’s worked for us. The budget-friendly places we’ve stayed. The destinations that are actually doable with multiple kids. The travel gear that survives real family use. And the small tricks that make big-family travel smoother.

If we recommend something, it’s because we’ve used it, tested it, and probably watched one of our boys try to break it.

What You Can Expect Here

On Budget Family Journeys, we’ll share:

• Family travel guides that won’t destroy your budget
• Honest reviews of travel gear (especially for bigger families)
• Road trip tips and planning strategies
• Ways to save on flights, lodging, and food
• Real-life lessons from traveling with five boys

We’re not perfect travelers. Our kids argue. We forget things. We’ve had hotel rooms that felt way too small and moments where we questioned our life choices.

But we’ve also had sunsets on beaches, hikes with little hands in ours, and road trip conversations we’ll never forget.

And that’s why we keep going.

Our Heart Behind It All

For us, travel isn’t about luxury. It’s about connection.

It’s about showing our boys that the world is bigger than our routine. It’s about teaching them flexibility, gratitude, and curiosity. It’s about building memories that don’t fit inside a toy box.

And it’s about proving to ourselves and to other families that you don’t have to wait “until the kids are older” or “until we make more money.”

You can start now. Even small.

We’re so excited you’re here. Whether you have one child or five, whether you’re planning your first road trip or your tenth flight, we hope this space helps you feel more confident and less overwhelmed.

From our loud, love-filled family to yours,

Welcome to Budget Family Journeys.

— Ellen 💛