TIL a calm way to handle who pays on family vacations

We had to plan a big cabin trip with my siblings and their kids, which always sparks money talks. I started by asking everyone to chip in for groceries before we even left (it set a clear expectation). This small step made the bigger cost talks about lodging and activities way less tense. Now, we do a quick chat upfront for every trip, and it cuts down on the later awkwardness. It's not perfect, but it helps a lot.