CASE STUDY

CASHBACK, prepaid cards, camping and strict budgeting have all helped the Trivetts fund their ‘family gap year’.

They quit the humdrum of normal life in the UK to embark on a world tour – travelling across North America, South America, Australasia, Asia and currently Europe.

Louisa, 46, and Paul, 51, set off in July last year with children William, 11, and nine-year-old Isabel. The children are being educated ‘on the go’ by their parents until they start at a new school in September.

The family is currently in Austria where they recently visited the world’s largest ice cave.

Pre-travel planning involved selling their home in Putney, South-West London, and buying a cheaper property in Cambridge – which they are currently renting out.

While away they have stayed in a mix of Airbnb accommodation, campsites, hostels and hotels. To keep costs low, they booked through online travel company Expedia via the TopCashback website. This earned them cash of £650.

Louisa says: ‘We had a strict budget but underestimated how much we would spend on food. Nearly everywhere is more expensive than the UK except South East Asia.’

They have been using Revolut prepaid cards which offer competitive currency exchange rates and no additional fee for spending on the cards.

Louisa also upgraded her mobile phone contract to allow usage overseas at no extra cost. She adds: ‘We have had an amazing time as a family and will never regret our decision to take this gap year.

‘If other families fancy the idea, they should do everything possible to make it happen.’