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I recently came across a DIY travel savings bank idea that completely changed how we are planning our next family vacation, and honestly, it’s making the entire process more fun for my entire family.
My husband and I are passionate about family travel and creating experiences our kids will remember long after the souvenirs are gone. As vacation planning season rolls around, we try to be as prepared (and stress-free) as possible. One way we are doing that is by involving our kids early especially when it comes to the frivelous money spending.
Explaining budgeting to pre-teens is about as effective as teaching them about 401(k)s. So instead of talking numbers, we talked memories. We have also implemented cash for miscellaneous purchases that is helping us be observant of where our money goes.
We reminisced about past trips; jumping into a rental car, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at random beaches, and picking out souvenirs along the way. That excitement sparked an idea: what if we saved together for our next trip?
How We Plan a Family Vacation (With Kids Involved)
Research Destinations Together
We started by researching multiple destinations as a family. We talk about:
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Weather and seasons
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Indoor vs. outdoor activities
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Backup plans for rainy days
Write Down All Costs
We keep a simple log of expenses:
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Transportation
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Accommodations
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Activities
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Food budget and extras
Seeing everything written out helps kids understand where money actually goes and helps us avoid surprises.
Credit Card Rewards (Use Strategically)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® all-around travel rewards and transfer partners
Capital One Venture Rewards Card flexible miles on every purchase
Chase Sapphire Reserve® perks like travel credits and lounge access
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card — No annual fee, easy rewards for beginners
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card — Automatic elite status, free night awards
Hilton Honors American Express Card — Bonus points and complimentary status
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard® — High point earnings at Choice hotels
Use one airline + one hotel chain consistently instead of spreading points thin. Use the same email for all of your travel so that you can find everything you’ve signed up for.
Hotel Loyalty Programs (Free to Join)
Choice Privileges earn free nights and flexible redemption options across many brands.
Wyndham Rewards earn points easy to use for free nights.
World of Hyatt points with perks like free night awards and elite status benefits.
Marriott Bonvoy earn and redeem points, especially if you stay frequently.
IHG One Rewards IHG-brand hotels (Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza) with bonus points and elite perks.
Airline Rewards
United MileagePlus earn and redeem miles across United’s global network, with perks like priority boarding and award flights.
American Airlines AAdvantage earning miles that travel worldwide.
Delta SkyMiles flexible for domestic and international travel.
JetBlue TrueBlue valuable for U.S. domestic travel and vacation packages.
Discounts You Don’t Want to Miss
Membership Discounts
Check if you qualify for:
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AAA
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Military / First responder
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Educator or student discounts
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Warehouse clubs (Costco Travel, Sam’s Club)
Attraction Bundles & City Passes
For families, these are huge money savers.
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City attraction passes
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Museum bundles
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Theme park multi-day tickets
Savings often hit 30–50% compared to individual tickets.
Rent a Car for Flexibility
Family travel is significantly easier with a rental car. Having our own vehicle means:
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More flexibility
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Faster travel
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Room for strollers, beach gear, and snacks
Plan Activities (But Stay Flexible)
We create a loose itinerary with:
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Must-do activities
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Optional backups
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Plenty of downtime
This keeps everyone happy without over-scheduling.
Our DIY Travel Savings Bank
We made our own family travel savings bank. Suddenly, saving money wasn’t a boring chore, it was a shared goal.
My kids love watching it fill up, and they’re especially excited knowing they’ll have a say in how we spend the money. Including them in the planning process is one of the reasons I loved homeschooling. These moments turn into real-life lessons in decision-making, responsibility, and teamwork. I don’t pressure them to add money but we do use our change from the week to fill our savings bank. For instance trip through fast food and coffee for the week left us with $6.98 left over (you can read more about how we do that in our $120 cash challenge). Instead of putting it in my wallet, we added it to our savings.
Start a Travel Savings Bank
Making a DIY travel savings bank and turn vacation planning into a family project. It’s hands-on, visual, and incredibly motivating for kids. Not only does it help save, but it builds excitement long before we ever pack our bags. Family travel doesn’t just create memories, it teaches life skills. And when kids are involved in planning and saving, the trip becomes even more meaningful.
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