The expenses of a growing family can be hard enough to budget, your time off traveling shouldn't add to your worries.  Here is some valuable advice for planning a great vacation at a lower price. 

Whenever possible, plan ahead

Nothing takes a bite out of your travel budget like last-minute airline tickets and hotel bills. Try to choose travel dates at least two months ahead of time (three's even better), then start scanning the newspapers and the Web for bargains. Even if you don't find a great deal, you'll benefit from the standard discounts airlines offer on tickets purchased more than 30 days in advance.

Sandy Jameson of Austin, Texas, simplified her family's life by scheduling their summer vacation for the same two-week period every summer. Knowing in advance that they always take their vacation the second two weeks of July helps the Jamesons save a bundle on airline tickets, hotels, and more. It also makes it easier for them to go where they want, stay in the best places, and enjoy top attractions, because early travel planners get the best picks. An added bonus: Because their July vacation has become such a tradition, it's easier for other family members to join them. That, in turn, saves them money on communal meals and accommodations.

When you can't plan ahead, be flexible

Planning ahead is great, but with kids in the picture it's often hard to find the time. If you don't have the luxury of spending the next two months searching for the best deals, work on your spontaneity. If you're flexible, you can find some fantastic last-minute bargains. Most of the major airlines now offer weekly deals on last-minute flights that aren't fully booked. You can't always get a ticket to your dream destination, but if you're just looking for a weekend getaway with a pool and full cable access, you'll do fine.

Even if you're not the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type, you can still save dough by being flexible with your travel dates. If you're willing to vacation off-season or fly on non-peak days, such as Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can find some real deals. There are websites that let you type in where you'd like to go and the date, then they offer you deeply discounted fares.