Instructions
You are in charge of planning a 4-day, 3-night trip for your family of four to historic Charleston, South Carolina! You have a total budget of $2,000 for the entire trip. Your job is to make smart choices for transportation, lodging, food, and fun to stay within your budget. Use the spaces provided to do your calculations and track your spending.
Starting Budget: $2,000.00
Step 1: Getting There - Transportation
Your first big decision is how to get to Charleston. Compare the costs of driving versus flying and choose the best option for your family's budget.
Option A: Driving
Your family car gets about 25 miles per gallon (MPG). The round trip is 900 miles. The average cost of gas is $3.50 per gallon.
- Calculate the total gallons of gas needed:
900 miles ÷ 25 MPG = _________ gallons - Calculate the total cost of gas:
[Your answer from #1] gallons × $3.50 per gallon = $_________
Total Driving Cost: $_________
Option B: Flying
Plane tickets are $275 per person. You also need to pay for airport parking ($50) and a rental car in Charleston for 4 days at $60 per day.
- Calculate the total cost of plane tickets for 4 people:
$275 per person × 4 people = $_________ - Calculate the total cost of the rental car:
$60 per day × 4 days = $_________ - Calculate the total cost for flying:
[Ticket cost] + [Rental car cost] + $50 parking = $_________
Total Flying Cost: $_________
Your Choice
Compare your two totals. Which option will you choose? Write the cost below.
My Transportation Choice Cost: $_________
Now, calculate your remaining budget:
$2,000 - [Transportation Cost] = $_________ (Remaining Budget)
Step 2: A Place to Stay - Lodging (3 Nights)
You need a place for your family to stay for 3 nights. Choose one of the options below. Calculate the total cost and then subtract it from your remaining budget.
- Option A: Luxury Downtown Hotel: Costs $350 per night. It's beautiful and you can walk to most attractions.
Calculation: $350 × 3 nights = $_________ - Option B: Suburban Suite Hotel: Costs $225 per night. It's a short drive from downtown but includes a free breakfast for the whole family each morning!
Calculation: $225 × 3 nights = $_________ - Option C: Vacation Apartment Rental: Costs $175 per night. This gives you more space and a full kitchen, so you can cook some meals to save money.
Calculation: $175 × 3 nights = $_________
Your Choice
Write the cost of your chosen lodging below.
My Lodging Choice Cost: $_________
Now, calculate your new remaining budget:
[Previous Remaining Budget] - [Lodging Cost] = $_________ (New Remaining Budget)
Step 3: Fueling the Fun - Food Budget (4 Days)
You need to budget for food for 4 people for 4 days. Your lodging choice might help you save money here! Choose a daily budget per person.
- Fancy Feasting: $80 per person, per day. (Eating out for every meal)
- Smart Spending: $60 per person, per day. (A mix of restaurants and snacks/groceries)
- Budget Bites: $40 per person, per day. (Great if you have free breakfast or a kitchen!)
Your Choice & Calculation
- Choose your daily budget per person: $_________
- Calculate the total food cost for one day for the whole family:
[Your chosen daily budget] × 4 people = $_________ per day - Calculate the total food cost for the entire 4-day trip:
[Total cost for one day] × 4 days = $_________
My Total Food Cost: $_________
Now, calculate your final remaining budget for activities:
[Previous Remaining Budget] - [Food Cost] = $_________ (Final Remaining Budget for Fun!)
Step 4: Charleston Adventures - Planning Your Fun!
This is the best part! Use your "Final Remaining Budget for Fun" to choose activities for your family of 4. You don't have to do everything! Pick the activities that sound most interesting to you and that you can afford.
Activity Options (prices are per person):
- South Carolina Aquarium: $30
- Historic Carriage Tour: $40
- Fort Sumter Ferry & Tour: $35
- Patriots Point Naval Museum: $28
- Evening Ghost Tour: $25
- FREE: Walk along The Battery, see Rainbow Row, and explore the City Market.
Your Itinerary & Calculation
List the activities you choose and calculate the total cost for your family of 4. Remember to multiply the per-person cost by 4!
Example: Ghost Tour = $25/person × 4 people = $100 total.
Activity 1: _________________ Cost for 4: $_________
Activity 2: _________________ Cost for 4: $_________
Activity 3: _________________ Cost for 4: $_________
Activity 4: _________________ Cost for 4: $_________
Total Activities Cost: $_________
Step 5: The Final Tally
Time to see how you did! Fill in the blanks below with the choices you made.
Starting Budget: $2,000.00
Transportation Cost: - $_________
Lodging Cost: - $_________
Food Cost: - $_________
Activities Cost: - $_________
Total Amount Spent: = $_________
Final Calculation:
$2,000.00 - [Total Amount Spent] = $_________
Did you stay on budget?
If you have money left over, congratulations! What would you do with the extra? If you went over budget, go back and see what you could change. Maybe a cheaper hotel, or one fewer activity? Planning a trip is all about making choices!
Answer Key
Because you made your own choices, your final answers will be unique! Use this key to check the math for each individual section.
Step 1: Transportation
- Driving Cost:
900 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 36 gallons
36 gallons × $3.50/gallon = $126.00 - Flying Cost:
$275/person × 4 people = $1,100.00 (tickets)
$60/day × 4 days = $240.00 (rental car)
$1,100 + $240 + $50 (parking) = $1,390.00
Step 2: Lodging (Total for 3 nights)
- Option A (Luxury Hotel): $350 × 3 = $1,050.00
- Option B (Suburban Hotel): $225 × 3 = $675.00
- Option C (Vacation Rental): $175 × 3 = $525.00
Step 3: Food (Total for 4 days for 4 people)
- Fancy Feasting ($80/person): $80 × 4 people × 4 days = $1,280.00
- Smart Spending ($60/person): $60 × 4 people × 4 days = $960.00
- Budget Bites ($40/person): $40 × 4 people × 4 days = $640.00
Step 4: Activities (Cost for family of 4)
- South Carolina Aquarium: $30 × 4 = $120.00
- Historic Carriage Tour: $40 × 4 = $160.00
- Fort Sumter Ferry & Tour: $35 × 4 = $140.00
- Patriots Point Naval Museum: $28 × 4 = $112.00
- Evening Ghost Tour: $25 × 4 = $100.00
Example Budget (A budget-friendly trip)
- Transportation (Driving): $126.00
- Lodging (Vacation Rental): $525.00
- Food (Budget Bites): $640.00
- Activities (Aquarium + Fort Sumter): $120 + $140 = $260.00
- Total Spent: $126 + $525 + $640 + $260 = $1,551.00
- Money Left Over: $2,000 - $1,551 = $449.00