When people find out we’re a family of seven who road trips regularly, the first question is almost always the same:
“How can you afford that?”
The answer surprises them.
We don’t use credit cards.
We don’t “figure it out later.”
And we don’t come home to a pile of payments waiting for us.
We plan ahead. We save on purpose. And we involve our kids in the process.
Travel feels better when it’s paid for. And being debt-free means our money goes toward memories, not minimum payments.
Here’s how we do it.
Step 1: We Decide Where We’re Going Before We Start Spending
Before a single dollar is saved, we sit down and choose the trip.
Last year it was a two-week road trip through national parks. This year it’s a multi-state camping route with a few hotel stops mixed in.
Then we ask one simple question:
How much will this realistically cost?
We break it down into categories:
- Gas
- Lodging
- Food
- Activities
- Emergency buffer
No guessing. No vibes. We estimate high so we don’t come up short.
When we know the total number, the stress disappears. Now it’s just math.
Step 2: We Use a Sinking Fund (And It Changes Everything)
A sinking fund is just money you save a little at a time for something you know is coming.
Instead of charging a $4,000 trip in June, we save $500–$700 a month starting in the fall. By the time summer arrives, the trip is fully paid for.
No interest.
No regret.
No post-vacation panic.
We keep a separate account just for travel so it’s not mixed into our regular spending.
When the fund is full, we book.
It’s simple, but it works.
Step 3: We Get the Kids Involved Early
This is the part that changed our family culture.
We don’t just tell our kids we’re saving. We show them. And we invite them in.
They help:
- Brainstorm cheaper lodging ideas
- Compare grocery costs vs. eating out
- Track how much gas we’re using
- Choose one paid activity each
And yes, they save too.
Each child has their own spending and saving goals. We use Greenlight to help them manage their money in a way that’s visual and practical.
It allows them to:
- Divide money into savings, spending, and giving
- Set specific goals (like “souvenir money” for the trip)
- See their progress in real time
When kids see their savings grow, something shifts. They start asking better questions. They think before spending. They feel ownership over the trip.
Instead of asking, “Can I get this?”
They ask, “Do I want to use my trip money on this?”
That’s a big difference.
Step 4: We Talk Openly About Money
We don’t hide the numbers.
Our kids know:
- What gas roughly costs
- What hotels cost per night
- What groceries cost for seven people
Not to stress them out, but to educate them.
Money isn’t scary when it’s explained.
We show them how:
Saving $20 a week becomes $1,000 in a year.
Packing sandwiches saves $60 in one day.
Skipping debt gives us freedom later.
Travel becomes the reward for discipline.
Step 5: We Protect Our Debt-Free Lifestyle
Being out of debt isn’t restrictive. It’s freeing.
Because we don’t have payments hanging over us, we can:
- Travel longer
- Take trips more often
- Say yes to experiences without guilt
If we had car payments, credit card balances, or personal loans, that money would be gone before we even planned a trip.
Freedom is our priority.
And our kids see it.
They see that waiting is worth it.
They see that saving creates options.
They see that we don’t need to borrow to live well.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Sometimes it means:
- Camping instead of hotels
- Cooking at rest stops
- Choosing state parks over expensive attractions
- Driving instead of flying
But honestly? Those have become our favorite memories.
Card games at picnic tables.
Coffee at sunrise before the kids wake up.
Watching our children learn that money is a tool, not a trap.
If You Want to Start
Here’s the simplest version:
- Pick a trip.
- Price it out honestly.
- Divide the total by the number of months you have.
- Open a separate account.
- Automate the savings.
- Let your kids see the process.
And if you want your kids to have hands-on experience managing their own savings, check out Greenlight here:
[Insert affiliate link]
It’s been a practical way for us to teach responsibility without constant lectures.
Want the Real Numbers?
In our other posts, we break down:
- Exactly how much our last road trip cost
- How much we saved each month
- Where we cut back
- What we would change next time
No vague advice. Just real strategy and real numbers.
If you’re serious about traveling without debt and raising money-smart kids, go read those next.
Because the goal isn’t just one trip.
It’s a lifetime of freedom.
And that starts with how you handle money today.
Affiliate Disclosure:
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to sign up or make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools and resources that we personally use and genuinely believe help our family manage money and travel debt-free. Thank you for supporting our family and this blog.
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