Vacation Funds Running Low? Try a Staycation
A staycation can be the perfect break from your regular life — without the cost of flights, lodging, rental cars or time spent on planning. Here are some ideas for having fun while saving money, close to home.
Feel like exploring, but don't have the budget for a full-on vacation? The beauty of a staycation is that you can rest, recharge and sightsee in your own hometown, and you can keep saving up for a big out-of-town trip.
Here's how to staycation wherever you call home.
Be a Tourist in Your Hometown
Getting your travel fix doesn't mean you have to go far. If you live in Washington for example, there are many different budget-friendly vacation ideas that won't break the bank.
A staycation can be a great excuse to check out main attractions like museums, science centers, landmarks or sporting events. Consider looking into city passes to find deals.
Websites like Visit Seattle, Visit Spokane and Tripadvisor offer resources and experiences.
Sign Up for a Class or Tour
During your staycation, there's no better time to take that cooking, pottery or fly-fishing class you've always wanted to try. Look around your town to see if any local businesses are offering classes or workshops that interest you.
Similarly, whether you're a food, art or sightseeing connoisseur — there's a tour for that! Boost your hometown knowledge by checking out tours in your city.
Visit a Nearby Park
Depending on where you live, there might be convenient trails, beaches or picnic spots nearby. Local, state or national parks offer a variety of activities such as hiking, camping, biking, wildlife viewing and more.
Whether it's a day trip to a local park, or a weekend trip to the closest national park, take advantage of the natural sights near you.
Catch a Concert
Keep an eye on your favorite performer's social media accounts and listings in local entertainment news for concert announcements. Nearby concert halls and venues are a fun way to experience new artists and expand your taste in music.
During the summer, many cities offer outdoor concerts, like BECU Live at Northern Quest Casino in Spokane.
Staycation Budget Tip: Plan and Track Your Spending
Staycations can save you money but be careful not to get carried away by all the fun and overspend.
Pay attention to ticket prices, entry fees, tours, restaurant bills and transportation expenses for your activities. Ideally, you'll have a separate budget for spending on fun.
A little planning can go a long way to preventing you from running up your credit card and having to pay it off with interest.
To Save for Your Staycation:
- Plan out what you're going to do and how much it's likely to cost.
- Figure out how many weeks you have until your staycation starts.
- Divide the total cost by the number of weeks.
- Save that amount each week.
- Have fun!
The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized financial, tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation when making financial, legal, tax, investment, or any other business and professional decisions that affect you and/or your business.
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Community Content Team