Israeli Families Seek Ways to Cut Summer Vacation Costs Amid Rising Expenses

As the summer vacation begins, many Israeli parents face the challenge of managing childcare and the significant financial burden that comes with it. Activities such as summer camps, outings, and vacations abroad can lead to expenses reaching tens of thousands of shekels for families with children. Financial advisor Dor Neuman, a father of four, and Matan Mor, a mother of three, discussed these challenges in a Ynet studio interview.

Neuman highlighted the difficulty parents face balancing work and childcare during the summer, noting that expenses can nearly double. He recommended enrolling children in summer camps despite the upfront cost of 2,000 to 3,000 shekels, as it provides peace of mind and can ultimately save money by reducing spontaneous costly outings. Mor shared her approach of registering her two older daughters for July and a shorter, more expensive camp in August, totaling around 7,000 shekels for all childcare arrangements.

Regarding summer vacations abroad, Mor explained that her family postponed their trip until after August 10 to coincide with camp schedules. Due to regional security concerns, they chose to stay in Israel, which still involves significant costs for a short 3-4 day trip. Neuman advised parents to register early for camps to save 10% and to utilize discounts available through various organizations such as the police, teachers’ union, and military reserves. He also recommended using coupons for outings and meals to reduce expenses.

Neuman estimated that a family with three children could spend at least 30,000 shekels on summer camps and vacations combined. He stressed the importance of planning a year in advance, especially when the dollar is low, to secure cheaper flights and reduce overall costs by 30-40%. On childcare, Mor relies mainly on grandmothers to avoid babysitting fees, but Neuman noted that modern grandparents often have active lifestyles and cannot provide full-time care as in the past.

This conversation underscores the financial and logistical complexities Israeli families face during the summer break and offers practical advice for managing costs through early planning and leveraging available discounts.