How I Started Traveling More While Working Full-Time and Raising Three Kids

And how you can too without quitting your job or emptying your bank account

Let’s be honest life is full. Between teaching full-time, navigating teenage drama, breaking up arguments over who gets the last biscuit, and pretending I actually enjoy laundry it’s safe to say my plate is full. Add in my overambitious dream to travel more, and it starts to feel downright impossible.

But somehow despite the packed schedule, the three kids, and the modest budget we’ve started travelling more. And I mean three holidays a year more.

Here’s how we’re doing it and how you can too.

Step 1: Redefine What “Travel” Looks Like for your Busy Families

Once upon a time, I thought travel had to be:

• Two weeks off in summer
• Somewhere long-haul and exotic
• Planned within an inch of its life

Spoiler: None of that is required.

Now, I treat travel as something we squeeze in between school runs, deadlines, and school plays. A long weekend in Europe? Yes. A mid-term breaks in the countryside with dodgy Wi-Fi? Absolutely.

Travel isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s me in a shared Airbnb kitchen with three cranky kids and a cuppa. But it’s worth it every single time.

Step 2: Get Smart with Work and Holidays

As a teacher, my time off is fixed but I’ve learned to make those school holidays work harder. Instead of one big holiday in August, we now:

• Take one big trip over the summer
• Add two smaller trips in half-term breaks
• Use inset days creatively (hello, 4-day weekends!)

And guess what? The kids love these smaller getaways just as much as the big ones.

Step 3: Budget Without Sucking the Joy Out of It

Let’s talk money. After one too many “oops” moments looking at our bank statements post-trip, I had to face the truth: We were overspending without even realising it.

So, I built a system that actually works:

• 🏖️ A dedicated travel savings pot (we use Monzo and yes, our “Holiday” pot has a palm tree emoji 🌴)
• 📆 Monthly travel budget check-ins (yep, even with my husband 🙃)
• ✈️ We also lean on smart travel tools – Skyscanner alerts for cheap flights, Trainline for rail deals, and last-minute trackers that help us keep costs low without missing out on fun.

We now budget first, plan second and the difference is magical.

Why Monzo makes it so easy:

• No sneaky foreign fees – more gelato in Italy or street food in Bangkok 🍦🍜
• Instant spending notifications that keep you aware without killing the vibe
• Easy bill splitting when you travel with friends or family
• Exchange rates that are actually fair (thank you, Mastercard)

👉 Bonus: You can set up a Pot, round up your spare change, and watch your next holiday fund itself.
💡 I’ve saved over £700 just by letting Monzo manage the “boring” part of travel. It’s like having a money-savvy travel buddy.

Want to try it too?
📱 Scan the QR code below to sign up easily using my invite link.

🟩 No fees, fast setup, and great for travel budgeting!

AND trust me, it’s the best budgeting decision we’ve made.

Step 4: Travel with Kids Without Losing Your Sanity

Travelling with children is a joy.
Also: an extreme sport.

But we’ve cracked a few tricks that save our sanity:

• Everyone packs their own “fun bag” (snacks, headphones, peace offerings)
• We set expectations before we go: “You can complain about the walk or the food, not both”
• We prioritise experience over schedule the best memories are often unplanned

Also: if there’s a pool involved, that’s half the parenting done for you.

Step 5: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Moment

This is the part where I get real.

For years, I thought I’d travel more once the kids move out or once we had more money… or when work slowed down.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

Life doesn’t slow down unless you make it.

We didn’t win the lottery. I still work full-time. But we decided to prioritise joy and choose adventure, even in small doses.

And it’s changed everything.

🚀 Ready to Start Travelling More?

If you’re a working parent like me, dreaming of more adventures and fewer excuses, here’s your starter pack:

✅ Pick one trip for the next school break
✅ Set a small, realistic budget
✅ Plan something you’ll actually look forward to
✅ Pack snacks (trust me)
✅ Remind yourself: You deserve this.

Want to know exactly how I plan, budget, and book our family adventures without quitting my job or losing my mind?

🎁 Grab my free Travel More Toolkit for Working Parents: made for mums and dads juggling full-time work, school calendars, and toddler tantrums.

Here’s what’s inside:
✅ My actual travel budget spreadsheet the one that helped us have for 3 trips last year without touching our emergency fund
✈️ Cheap flight hacks including the Skyscanner trick that scored us £35 flights to Spain
The family packing checklist with space for bribes, backup chargers, and that one cuddly toy you can’t leave behind

📥 Get your free toolkit and start planning stress-free, budget-friendly family trips, even with a full calendar.

👉 Download it here and I’ll send it straight to your inbox. (No spam, just real tools that actually work.)subscribepage.io/KJIH3Xparental-toolkit

Final Thoughts

Because if I can do it with three kids, 120 coursework’s to mark and grade, and a husband who overpacks every time you can too.

Let’s travel more. Work smarter. And create memories that don’t require a second mortgage.