Did you hear the one about the family that took a holiday in a Villa in Tuscany, then a London apartment followed by a cabin in the Rocky's and paid nothing for accommodation? Well its no laughing matter, its absolutely true. To top it all off they had a free car too!! What's that you say, impossible? Not if your prepared to swap your house with someone else's. Houseswapping has been working successfully for years. The cost saving are seeing this practice boom, organisations like Homelink International act as a database for potential swappers.

With over 60 countries, from Brazil to Belgium and Tahiti to Turkey. Home exchange gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people from very different backgrounds, live as a local and enjoy low cost holidays with all the comforts and warmth of home. HomeLink Australia was established in 1980 on their comprehensive website you can browse listings, learn more about the home exchange concept, read FAQ's and members stories.

Of course, you will find it a little more difficult with children, but there are still plenty of places on offer. Many families are discovering house swapping. The benefits of being in a home rather than a hotel are huge, the kids have space, you can prepare meals saving a fortune, you get to meet locals and its a great base to explore a new country or destination. In many cases people swap cars too, which makes it a really cheap holiday.

What's that you say? You don't have a house, doesn't matter, consider housesitting instead. With the worry of leaving pets and their biggest asset vacant many people are opting to have a housesitter when they take their yearly holiday. Register with a housesitting agency and you may be looking after someones house, cat and dog in the next suburb or across the globe. Wherever you go its an economical and interesting way to live or travel. Or if you are heading off on the annual holidays perhaps you need a sitter to walk your dog.

So if your want to stretch your next holiday budget look into the cost effective options of house-sitting and house swapping.

Leah Squire is a freelance travel writer and the owner of BYOkids ...your family travel gurus. www.byokids.com.au