Awesome Ideas For Vacations as a Stay-at-home Mom

Being a stay-at-home mom provides a wide array of benefits. Not least is the fact you get to spend a lot of time with your children. There’s no danger of you missing any of the important milestones.

Of course, there are downsides. Being a stay-at-home mom means it’s harder to have adult conversations and connect with other adults. It also generally means the family is living on one salary and financially it’s tough.

Fortunately, there are now things you can do to increase the household earnings. Side hustles have become popular with everyone. You just need to find one with a low start-up cost.

You don’t even need to start a side hustle to create vacations that your children will never forget. There are several options worth considering.

Invest in a Park Home

Let’s dive in at the deep end. What better way to spend your family vacations than by returning to the same spot every year? Sure, it’s great to explore different places, but a park home allows you to create a home from home. That’s an idea for children, especially those of a nervous disposition. They already know what to expect.

It’s normal for the same families to vacation at the same time, meaning your children can make friends and, because you know the park, you can be happy that they are safe.

There are a huge number of park model homes available to choose from.  Beach homes, sky-view models, and even ranch-style park homes are all possibilities. You simply need to decide what suits your desired park and what budget you have.

You’ll probably need to borrow money to fund the purchase. That means you need to sort out your cashflow first. However, this is one of those times when you shouldn’t feel bad about debt, it’s a sign of good financial planning.

The key is to rent the park home when you’re not using it. The holiday rentals should make it possible to cover the cost of purchasing the park home and the site fees. In other words, your holiday home will cost you nothing and will be the source of some great family memories.

House Exchange

It’s possible to drive almost anywhere in the US. Although it takes time, it’s generally the preferred choice for families on a tight budget. That means the biggest expenditure is the vacation rental.

It’s especially difficult if you have children and can only vacation in peak season.

In recent years, an increasing number of people have gotten around this issue by doing house exchanges. There are even websites designed to facilitate your house exchange.

The principle is simple, you register your home on one of the exchange websites. You can also privately advertise it for exchange. Then, you look for somewhere you would like to stay and ask the other house owner if they would be interested in a swap.

Once you found a suitable place and agreed on dates and terms, you simply swap houses for the designated week or two. In most cases it’s an exchange so there are no charges, giving you free vacation accommodation. You can even leave pets behind if your exchange partner agrees.

This approach is more than a cheap vacation, it’s a great way to see different parts of the country and make new friends.

Pet Sitting

This approach can be harder with families as not all homeowners want the whole family turning up. The approach is similar to house exchanges. You look for people who need pet-sitting services and provide your service for free.

In exchange, you get to stay at their house and enjoy a vacation. You’ll have to find someone who needs a pet sitter with the same dates as your vacation. Of course, your holiday will also be slightly affected by the need to look after their animals.

It is a good way to get a free vacation home and your children can enjoy interacting with the pets.

Working Holidays

This is another approach that will need some planning. It’s possible to get a working holiday where you work but your family can come with you. This approach will limit the amount of time you get to spend together as a family.

However, it will give you the opportunity to meet new people and feel that you’re helping others. In return, the accommodation is free, allowing the family to enjoy time together in a different location.  

Summing Up

You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy a vacation with your family. It’s simply a matter of thinking outside the box and making the most of what is available. You’ll be giving your children the experience of a lifetime without breaking the bank.