I got sick of spending so much money before even reaching our destination, so now I get organised before getting to the airport, and easily save £50 a time using a few quick hacks08:36, 06 Jul 2026Having kids is an expensive business, and this is especially apparent when it comes to taking them on holiday. Yes, there are deals like free child places that can save you money, but it’s the little extras that add up: from buying a new inflatable to the odd ice cream. But while I’ll happily spend money on those treats that make holidays so exciting for a kid, one place I truly begrudge spending my hard-earned money is the airport.‌After all, by the time you arrive at the airport, you’ve likely already paid an eye-watering amount for parking, or in the case of Gatwick Airport, a whole £10 for a drop off that took all of 90-seconds. So the inflated prices truly feel like an insult and can soon eat into your holiday budget.‌And prices are no more inflated than at the food outlets. If you have the misfortune of having a flight that’s close to a meal time, and you’re a couple with two kids in tow, you will easily be spending nearly £50 for the most basic burger chain meal. Of course, the expenses don’t end at just lunch. Buying essentials like water soon adds up, and coffee chains will, as always, charge a fortune because they can.‌After a particularly expensive trip to sunny Gatwick a few years back, I decided I’d had enough. I gave myself the challenge of spending as little as possible at the airport and on the plane. That starts with packing a round of sandwiches. They don’t need to be gourmet, just enough to keep you going.Luckily, many of the airports near me have eased their liquid restrictions now, so I have the option to grab a meal deal en route to the airport if there's nothing in the house and take a big bottle of water of up to two liters through security.‌If your local airport is still enforcing the 100ml rule, then pack your water bottles and fill them after you’re through the scanners. I have seen a 750ml bottle of water priced at €4.15 at a European airport (around £3.50) and it was sitting in a warm fridge. Fill up your own bottle. You can save a small fortune and the water is nice and cold.Don’t forget, some food counts as liquid, so if you can spill it, spread it, or pour it, it will need to follow security restrictions. Also, double-walled Thermos and similar flasks will need to be empty to go through the scanners, so packing hot foods can be trickier. Since taking your own coffee is impossible, I head to M&S or Pret A Manger, which tend to have the cheapest coffee options at airports.‌Grab some snacks for your backpack so you can avoid paying €7 (about £6) on a certain budget airline for a mini tube of Pringle-style crisps. The same airline also charges €5 for a single Kit Kat chunky, meaning you could buy two multipacks of four in the supermarket for around the same price.Another waste of money I also avoid is the kids' snack boxes on planes. The first couple of family holidays we had, I forked out £5 each for a tiny box with some Mini Cheddars, a melty Freddo, and some crayons, which ended up completely ignored because iPads exist now.Nowadays, when I pack their hand luggage, they get a plastic lunchbox each and I fill it with stuff from the packed lunch cupboard selection. It means I can also sneak in a bit of fresh fruit and some healthier snacks to keep them quiet on the plane, and they like having more of a personal choice.Article continues belowIf you’re particularly frugal and feeling adventurous, I discovered recently that some airport outlets participate in the Too Good to Go app. If you’ve got an early-morning or late-night flight, this could be an interesting option to try. Please don’t blame me if you end up taking a bag of 30 croissants and a loaf of bread on the plane. Remember, the app is basically gambling on what you'll get.Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com