But how do i go about finding a good deal in airfare?

Scott's cheap flights has just created another guide on how to find a good deal. If you subscribe to his page, you'll get a lot of good deals. Else, you can simply regularly check pages such as flightscanner etc. to get a feeling of what's "normal".

What about timing?

Depending on the country, season (winter vs. summer) and school/national holidays will have a huge impact on prices.

it won't bother me but how can i convince them that this is something i really need to do?

You don't have to convince anyone. Just tell them that you're going on a trip and that's it.

Make also sure you're up to date with your vaccinations and have an international vaccination booklet if necessary.