Why We Chose Family Travel Over Toys — And How You Can Too
“The days are long but the years are short.”
Oh, how often I found myself repeating that mantra in the blurry haze of new parenthood. Especially during those wild pandemic years with a newborn in May 2020 and then another little one in July 2022. It felt like an endless cycle of feedings, diaper changes, and trying to navigate the glorious chaos of tiny humans (and seriously, huge shout-out to my husband, the stay-at-home dad rockstar who keeps our household afloat!). Like many parents, we were buried in stuff—but eventually, we realized the value of experiences over things for families.
Why We Chose Experiences Over Things for Our Family
Like many of us new parents, I thought the answer to everything was stuff. I confess, in those early years, I went a little overboard. Giant Santa piles, Boo Baskets, Easter bonanzas… I’m typically not that mom, but I sure tried to be in those first few years (I even considered buying a Cricut at one point!). Our living room quickly became a minefield of sharp, pointy plastic objects, providing endless “entertainment” for the kids, watching Mom and Dad trying to maneuver through the toy tsunami.
Then, one day, I just gave up. I came home bringing in the (daily) Amazon package from the front porch and my then-3-year-old casually asked, “What did you buy me mom?” I started to reply that not everything being delivered was for her or her brother when I stopped myself, because it turned out it usually was. And she would fall over herself to tear open the package only to cast the new toy aside minutes later, her gnat-like attention span already captured by something else. That’s when the light bulb truly went off: Experiences over things.
We made a conscious decision that day to buy less stuff and instead, more memories. Because in all honesty, we didn’t have a long time to do it.
Think about it this way: If you decide to take a vacation with your family just once a year, starting from when your kids are born, you only have 18 vacations together. Maybe even fewer if they get into summer jobs, sports, or (gasp!) start being embarrassed by their parents before they even turn 18.
Before kids, my husband and I were DINKs (dual income, no kids), traveling the world – Vegas, England, Paris, China, New Zealand, Australia…the world truly was our oyster and we loved seeing these far off locations. Now, we want our kids to experience that wonder, too.
So, how do we make those precious 18 (or so) family adventures a reality, especially with rising costs and busy schedules? It starts with a plan, and yes, even a budget.
Budgeting for Experiences Over Things: How to Make Family Trips Happen
I get it, life is expensive, especially with little ones. But committing to a yearly family trip doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. It means being intentional.
- Set a “Vacation Fund” Goal: Decide what kind of trip you’d like to take next year (even a ballpark idea helps!) and figure out a realistic saving target. These trips don’t always have to be big-budget extravaganzas either. One year we might do a camping trip, the next Walt Disney World. The goal is to do something outside of your everyday normal.
- Automate Your Savings: Set up an automatic transfer from your checking to a dedicated “Vacation” savings account each payday. Even small, consistent amounts add up surprisingly fast. Think of it as paying yourself for future memories! Many credit unions have accounts like these called “Holiday Funds” that have restricted access to the funds until a predetermined date where you can withdraw it. This can help with taking away the desire to use the money on something else.
- Audit Your “Stuff” Spending: Remember my Amazon obsession? Sometimes, redirecting even a fraction of what you spend on impulse buys or toys that quickly lose their appeal can fund a flight or an amazing experience. I recently heard about a great hack, where you can change the face of your credit card or debit card with a picture that represents your trip. For example if my next trip was going to be in Aulani in Hawaii, I would select a picture of a tropical location. Then every time I pulled that card out to pay for something, I would see a physical representation of our dream vacation and remind myself what I should be saving my money for.
- Small Sacrifices, Big Rewards: Maybe it’s one less takeout meal a week, or a few fewer lattes. Every little bit truly contributes to that bigger goal of family travel. We know this isn’t going to make us rich but it does go a long way to establishing better spending patterns to reach your vacation goal!
The Travel Classroom: Why Family Travel Is the Best Experience Over Things
Beyond the sheer joy and memory-making, traveling with your kids offers something incredibly powerful that no amount of toys or textbooks can replicate: real-world learning.
Think about it:
- Geography isn’t just a map: It’s feeling the humidity of the Bahamas, seeing the crystal-clear water of a distant island, or navigating an airport in a foreign country.
- History comes alive: Visiting ancient ruins, walking through historic cities, or seeing artifacts teaches them about the past in a way a book simply can’t.
- Culture becomes tangible: Trying new foods, hearing different languages, seeing how other people live – these experiences foster empathy and open-mindedness that are invaluable.
- Problem-solving skills: Even small things like navigating a new subway system or figuring out how to order food when you don’t speak the language build critical thinking and adaptability.
- Resilience and adaptability: Things will go wrong sometimes! Lost luggage, a missed turn, a grumpy toddler. Traveling teaches kids (and parents!) to roll with the punches and find solutions. My daughter was upset to realize that she didn’t have her Chapstick in her suitcase on a recent vacation. My response was, of course, “Well did you pack it?” I put the onus on her to remember these little “extra” things when we travel. It may have backfired on me a little though as now she starts packing for trips weeks in advance so as to not forget anything!
These are lessons ingrained through experience, shaping curious, adaptable, and globally-aware little humans. They’re learning about the world, about different people, and even about themselves, all while having the time of their lives. In the grand scheme of things my children are incredibly spoiled. We live in a great area of SoCal; 10 minutes from the beach, 20 minutes away from Disneyland and two hours from the mountains. While they are young, yes many of our trips will be more touristy and fun. But as they get older, my goal is to incorporate more cultural trips to expand their life experiences.
So, if you’re a busy parent staring at a mountain of toys and dreaming of more meaningful moments, know that you don’t have to navigate the world of family travel alone. I get it, our family’s been there, and I’m here to help you plan those precious, unforgettable family adventures.
Ready to start planning your family’s next big adventure? Let me handle the details so you can focus on making memories. Contact me today!
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