How to Budget Travel for a Single Parent

There's no doubt about it, traveling is a serious expense. Two-parent families can usually lighten the load by utilizing the dual income, but single parents often find themselves scrounging to save for a much-needed vacation, educational experience or journey to see the grandparents. Budget travel is a challenge, but there are plenty of ways to save if you have a little patience.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Join an online travel network for single parents. Open your preferred Internet search engine and type in "single parent travel" to access two or three great forum-style sites for single parents who enjoy travel. Here is where you will find your best tips on budget travel.

2. Avoid package deals, unless they are specifically designed for single-parent families. Package deals historically help travelers when there are at least two adults. There are exceptions to the rule, but in most instances, single parents will save money by purchasing fares for themselves and their children separately.

3. Consider the use of travelers checks. These function like cash in most countries. If you decide to allot your child a certain amount of money, supplying a travelers check keeps you more organized and less likely to hand out cash continuously. It also provides a great learning opportunity for the kids.

4. Pack temptations, rather than buying them. Food and drink consume the majority of funds while traveling. Utilize all 50 pounds allotted to you and stuff those suitcases with snacks, dry cereal, meal replacement bars and powdered juice mix. While cuisine is an important aspect of culture travel, every meal eaten outside the hotel is money that can't be spent on sightseeing and activities. Besides, single parents don't have the luxury of asking the other parent to watch the kids while they stand in line for food.

5. Stay at a bed and breakfast. Most families don't flock to B&Bs, but these independently run inns are a great way to budget travel. A bed and breakfast will surprise you with its price (often cheaper than a hotel), its luxury and its size. Not only can you and the kids crash in one big room, but breakfast is on the house.

Tips & Warnings

• A digital camera to document the trip can be the most economical souvenir. Take plenty of pictures and frame the best ones when you get home. You'll enjoy it much more than a plastic trinket or fake gold ring from an overzealous street vendor.
• If you're a single parent traveling with a teen, take advantage of a "couples package" or "weekend getaway for two." Who says that a weekend getaway has to be for a husband and wife--technically, you and your child qualify as "for two" and a "couple."
• Travel during the off-season. Vacation packages are pushed when it's popular to travel. Not only do you save money by traveling at off-peak times, but you avoid most of the packages that cater to two-parent families.

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on 8/20/2008 if you are single parent, ...finding a rewarding relationship and remarriage
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