Money Matters: Thanksgiving travel is the unofficial national sport - millions of us racing toward Grandma’s house with optimism, snacks, and questionable weather apps.

But between airfare spikes, hotel markups, and gas prices that seem personally offended you’re visiting family, the costs can stack up fast.

This week, we’re breaking down what travel really costs - and the five easiest ways to arrive with your savings intact.

Survey says: 

• 55.4 million Americans will travel 50+ miles for Thanksgiving — the most since 2005.

• Thanksgiving flights average $268 round trip, up 9% from last year.

• The average family road trip burns $613 total, including gas, food, and lodging.

• Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the most expensive travel day of the year - every year.

• Only 18% of travelers set a travel budget before booking.

Here is what on that portioned plate today:

😎 Our Favorite Resources
👍 5 Ways to Save Big on Thanksgiving Travel
👌 The Thanksgiving Packing List That Actually Saves You Money
🤷‍♀️ What’s up for next week

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Cool Links

Our favorite resources

✈️ Flights & Fare Tools

• Hopper predicts price drops and spikes, tells you when to book, and alerts you when fares hit their lowest.

• Google Flights Date Grid – Shows cheapest days to fly.
  Why it matters: Knowing when to book can save 20–40% instantly.

🚗 Road Trip Helpers

• GasBuddy - Find the cheapest gas nearby.

• Roadtrippers – Map your route with smart pit stops.
  Why it matters: Planning one exit ahead saves fuel and patience.

🛏️ Lodging Options

• Priceline Express Deals offer steep, opaque hotel discounts where you don’t see the exact property until after booking - but you save big in return.

• Hotels.com Rewards gives you a free night for every 10 nights booked!

👀ICYMI

Getting ready for the holiday season and looking to avoid debt or to-good-to-be-true deals? Check out our issue The Secret Debt Trap Families Are Falling Into This Holiday.

📜Quote

The worst way of flying, I think, is standby. It never works. That's why they call it standby. You end up standing there going, ‘Bye!’ - Jerry Seinfeld

Today’s Main Event

Deep Dive: 5 Ways to Save Big on Thanksgiving Travel

1. Fly on the “Right Days” (Not Wednesday!)

Thanksgiving airfare is basically dynamic-pricing chaos. But the pattern is predictable:

• Cheapest outbound: Monday or Tuesday

• Cheapest return: Friday evening, Saturday morning, or the following Tuesday

• Most expensive: Wednesday (all day)

Savings: Up to 40% per ticket - which is $428 back for a family of four.

2. Drive Smarter, Not Longer

Long road trips gobble more than gas. Traffic jams burn 15–30 extra bucks in wasted fuel.

Your cheapest driving windows:

• Leave Monday or Tuesday before 10 a.m.

• Return Friday before noon or Saturday after 6 p.m.

Hack: Pack meals. Road snacks are where budgets go to cry.

Savings: $45–$60 just by avoiding convenience foods and idling.

3 Consider Thanksgiving Morning Travel

It sounds strange, but flying or driving on Thanksgiving morning is often:

• Cheaper

• Quicker

• Way less crowded

You’ll be home before the stuffing hits the oven.

Savings: 20–55% off typical fares.

4 Outsmart Hotel Pricing (Or Avoid It Entirely)

Thanksgiving weekend = peak hotel season.

Three ways to cut that bill:

• Stay with family/friends (offer to bring the pie!)

• Use a home-swap site for free lodging

• Search for hotels outside the holiday radius

Savings: Up to $534 by avoiding a 3-night peak-price stay.

5 Bring the Food, Skip the Fees

Restaurants and convenience stores on the road are a wallet’s worst enemy.

Average road-meal cost for a family of four: $60–$80/day.
Packed-meal cost: $12–$18/day.

Savings: $200–$250 per trip — plus the cooler doubles as a footrest.

The Thanksgiving Packing List That Actually Saves You Money

Packing for Thanksgiving isn’t “packing” - it’s you hovering over a suitcase, trying to outsmart every overpriced trap waiting at an airport kiosk.

Every year it’s the same scene:
“Did we bring the charger?”
“No.”
Enjoy your $42 Hudson News walk of shame.

And nothing screams rock bottom like holding a granola bar that costs more than your old car payment, wondering, “Why is airport food priced like the turkeys flew first class?”

That’s why this packing list exists - not to weigh you down, but to keep your wallet from shrinking faster than your wardrobe after Thanksgiving dinner.

It’s basically travel insurance your future, half-asleep self will thank you for.

Chargers + Power Bank

Airport chargers cost more than your phone plan. Bring backups so you don’t buy one in panic mode.

Reusable Water Bottles

Fill them after TSA. Saves $4–$6 per person.
Savings math: A family of four skipping bottled airport water saves $16–$24 before boarding.

Meds + Mini First-Aid Kit

Pain relievers, Benadryl, motion sickness tabs — the travel trifecta.
Avoid paying $9.99 for 2 pills you’ll never finish.

Road Snacks + Simple Meals

Granola bars, fruit, pre-made sandwiches.
Cuts road food spending by $40–$60/day for a family.

Travel Pillows, Blankets & Comfy Layers

Avoid buying a $29 “airport pillow” that looks like it came from a claw machine.

Trash Bags, Zip Bags & Wipes

A parent’s holy trinity.
Also saves you from buying a $6 pack of wipes at the one gas station for 80 miles.

Entertainment Kit

Download movies, playlists, podcasts, coloring pages, puzzles.
Keeps boredom purchases (books, toys, airport trinkets) from spiraling.

Takeaway

Most travel “emergencies” are just packing failures with a price tag.

A well-built bag can save $75–$150 per trip, reduce meltdowns by 60%, and make you feel like the most prepared person at the Thanksgiving table - which is honestly priceless.

Until Next Time

What’s Up Next Week

Pack well, save big, and show up ready to eat your bodyweight in mashed potatoes knowing you didn’t spend half your paycheck getting there.

That’s the real Thanksgiving miracle… well, that and staying awake after the turkey.

Check back next week as Nico looks into more ways to save and budget as we close in on the end of the year.

—Jim & the MoneyHoot Team 🦉

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DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.