The weather is warming, sunlight (when we have it) lights up the sky later and later in the evening, the kids are home from school: it’s vacation time! But these days, as continuing economic problems make us reluctant to spend money, more and more folks are opting for “staycations” instead. So how do you turn “home” into a wonderful vacation destination?

Research: What is there in your area to do? Many of us are guilty of ignoring the pleasures that are close to home. We’ll get to it later, we think, but somehow we never do. Well, now’s the time! Have you been to your hometown zoo, aquarium, popular parks? Does your town offer a rebate if you buy tickets to multiple venues in one package?

Plan: Once you’ve determined where you want to go, how can you maximize the experience? What trip to the zoo couldn’t be improved with a delicious picnic lunch; and is an outing to the park really complete without a barbeque and baseball game with friends? You might even be able to sneak in some learning by going on a docent-guided tour of your park or taking a guidebook along while you look for birds or poke in tide pools. You can be really adventurous and head out at dusk or dawn, when you might see bats or owls—flashlights make every venture into an adventure! Don’t forget your camera, so you can catch all the action.

Budget: plan what you’ll spend and stick to it. If one of your primary reasons for taking a “staycation” this year was to save money, don’t ruin your good intentions by overindulging!  Your research and plan should help you determine how much you’ll need to spend to do the things you really want to do, so stay on plan to stay on budget!

Avoid:

• Falling into time traps. It’s too easy to let summer slip away while we watch TV or fiddle around on the Internet. Save the indoor stuff for winter and go on a hike instead. Making trail mix is a hoot; eating it on top of a mountain while enjoying gorgeous views is even better!
• Spending your time doing chores. Budget your time as well as your money, and be efficient in doing those little tasks that can eat away at your vacation days. You’ve earned some time off, so take it! Can you get it all done before your staycation starts?
• Doing the same old same old. Vacations are about doing something different, so challenge yourself to find something new to do!  Check with your local Parks Department for suggestions and events, and no doubt your city library will have some ideas as well.

If you live in or near Seattle, the Seattle Parks Department  has a full calendar of low- and no-cost events for individuals or families. It’s finally warming up outside, so do what your mother always told you when you were a child: go play outdoors!

Filed under: Money management tips by admin