There are a lot of financial advice articles that would have you believe you can save enough money to travel the world simply by forgoing your daily espresso drink. I’m not so sure.

By my calculation, even if you break a serious once-a-day venti latte habit for 12 months, you’ll still only save enough for about an airline ticket or two. If you’re a family of four, you’ll have to save a lot more than that.

My husband and I are taking our kids to the Galapagos Islands next year. The trip is way outside of our budget, but we’re going anyway. You can do the same. Here are five ways you can save for a really big trip.

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Now that the a la carte pricing model has been fully proven by the low cost carriers and adopted by the legacies, fees are the new great annoyance in airline travel. Depending on the airline, there are fees for almost every creature comfort including leg room, snacks, early boarding or even water or overhead bin space. It’s enough to make the casual traveler sick with disgust, or at least lose all faith in an industry that was once so great.

The airlines have to do what it takes to survive though, and if that means nickel and diming customers then it’s the price that we have to pay to fly across the country at 600 MPH.

If you’re hell bent on fighting the system though, there are a few loopholes that you can often work to avoid paying part of the fees.

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Packing lighter not only will help you save you time at the airport, but it can significantly reduce the amount of money you spend on your next trip. Unfortunately, most airlines now charge you to check in your luggage, and it is important to be aware that the largest allowed size for carry-on bags is 22×14×19 inches.

With careful planning and strategic packing, however, you can maximize your suitcase and shave approximately $50 off on your next round trip flight with a few smart packing strategies.

Here are a few quick tips for lightening your load on your next flight:

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Can you believe gas prices lately? My minivan is constantly thirsty. I’ll admit it, I only fill up a few gallons at a time, because the numbers on the pump are enough to give me a heart attack.

Even so, my family is planning a couple of road trips this spring and summer.  The key for us?  Saving money in other ways.  Believe you me, a road trip will be way cheaper than an airplane ride no matter what you do, but if you consider a few money saving tips even the gas pump won’t bust your budget.

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