If you are like most Americans, you are on a strict budget this year. One glance at your checking account and it may seem impossible to take that yearly family trip. Stop right now! Get that thought out of your head! Despite what you might believe, you can still have a great family vacation, even when traveling on a strict budget. How?

Vacation close to home: When we think of family vacations, we often envision days in the car or hours on an airplane. Yes, this might have been your vacations in the past, but now you are closely monitoring your finances. Why don’t you look closer to home? We bet you haven’t given local vacation hot spots much consideration in the past. When you look, you should like your options. Many areas are home to theme parks,museums, campgrounds, state parks, and more.

Make a vacation out of mini trips: As previously stated, we often think of long, extended trips when it comes to trips with the family. If you need to stay local, create a series of mini-vacations. These can be done throughout the year or crunched into one week. By staying at a cheap hotel, your family will still get that “normal” vacation feel. Most importantly, you save money especially if some of your activities are free or come with low admission fees.

Cut your vacation short: If you don’t like the idea of staying close to home, look at your budget. If you have some money to spend, why not shorten the length of your traditional family trip? You can still get your time at the beach or Disneyland, but your trip will only be 3-nights instead of 5 or 7. Since you still get a good vacation at a popular destination, you are less likely to feel as if you are shortchanging yourself or your family.

Travel during the off-season: It is fact that most families vacation during the summertime. It is easier to get time off from work and the kids are on summer break. However, this is peak travel season, meaning you will automatically spend more money. In the United States, most school children get holiday, winter, and spring breaks. These week-offs vary around the country, meaning it won’t necessarily be peak travel season.

In short, there are many ways to not only plan a family vacation on a budget, but a good one at that. Family vacations on a budget can be planned within hours if you know where to look, and the budget getaway can save a dreary weekend during the vacation months. Plan ahead and you will share a memory that will last a lifetime.

Some of the best tips for saving money on your honeymoon are to use the calendar to your advantage. Look at what time of year you are getting married, and think about destinations where that time of year is off-peak. For example, if you are getting married in the summer, consider a honeymoon to a winter hot-spot like Aspen. Ski resorts have fantastic summer packages and can be just as romantic as a winter trip (minus the skiing). The Caribbean and other tropical destinations are usually much cheaper in the summer.

It might seem like it would be more expensive to book your trip through a travel agent, but using a professional can be one of the best tips to save money on your honeymoon. Travel agents can book hotels and travel (air fare, train tickets, car rentals, etc.) together, often for a deep discount. They also often know tips to save money on your honeymoon once you arrive at your destination. Things like good restaurant deals, the best places to shop, and excursions can all be found at a discount if you know who to ask.

Another tip to save money on your honeymoon is to book your trip at an all-inclusive resort. All-inclusive resorts (like Sandals and Beaches) can be a great way to book a tropical destination with a smaller price tag. Many newlyweds find that an all-inclusive resort makes budgeting for their honeymoon much easier, since meals, accommodations, and entertainment included. Be sure to check to see what is included; some resorts include day trips and drinks in the price, while others may charge extra for these things.

Some of the best money saving honeymoon tips come from thinking outside the box. One unique way to save money on your honeymoon comes from how you pay for your wedding. Do some research into credit cards that offer rewards; hotel stays, frequent flier miles, and cash are all available through various banks. If you use one of these reward cards to pay for your wedding, you may find that a chunk of your honeymoon is already paid for. Some couples also register for their honeymoon as part of their wedding registry. You can let your guests know that things like dinners and excursions will be welcome wedding gifts.