Saving Money With A Staycation

We have entered interesting times, to say the least, where it can be difficult to take vacations and travel. But we often overlook what is right around our area or state. Not only is traveling difficult but can be more expensive as well. Many people have been working on saving money and vacations don’t always fall into it. Saving money with a staycation can be a great way to get out of the house and make memories without breaking the bank. Whether you will be spending a vacation with family or going solo, a staycation is a great alternative. 

1. Plan ahead

Unlike many vacations, you do not need to make detailed itineraries but would still benefit from having some type of plan. One of the benefits of a staycation is that it is easier to plan compared to a bigger vacation. It can be as simple as, today we are going for a hike at this mountain. By planning ahead, you are able to check to see if there are any deals going on or make reservations if needed. This can be used to prevent spur of the moment costs and keep within a budget. 

2. Make a budget

Just because you are staying close to home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan out your budget. If you are planning anything, then you should always make sure that it will fit in your budget. It can be deceiving because you are not spending a lot at one time, but smaller possible purchases. You don’t want to think you are saving money only to see a big dent in your savings. Having a rough idea for the plan during the staycation will help to keep within your budget as you will have an idea of how much will be spent during each activity. 

3. Make the most with Day Trips

There are a lot of different things that can be done for fun during a staycation whether local adventures or simply spending time at home. Sometimes the best are the day trips that you’ve been putting off whether hiking or exploring what the area has to offer. Maybe you’ve meant to go to a museum but never seem to get around to it, this is a perfect opportunity. List out a few of the things that you would like to do and mark them on the schedule. 

4. Groupon deals

This is probably one of the best sites to find any type of discount for a variety of locations. Whether it is a deal on hotel rooms or on museum tickets, this should be your go-to spot to check. You can sometimes find quite a discount on various local activities. This is one to check back often as they update their deals often. 

5. Cooking vs Dining out

Decide what you would like to do for meals, this is will go hand in hand for the budget. You can obviously save money if you are cooking or making a picnic or bringing your food. But some days you want to splurge and dine out, which can be difficult at this time. As long as you are factoring it into your budget, then either option can work. Where a lot of people get hung up is that they plan the activities during the day but forget about meals. If your budget is tight, lean more toward cooking or bringing your own food/snacks. 

6. Free trips

If you are short on funds or don’t want to hinder your budget, look towards free options. This can be going for a hike at a local mountain or state park (some are free to access) or even a picnic. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate but time out of the house to create memories. Doing daily hikes can be a great way of doing a staycation and save money. 

7. Saving on pet care

There can be a lot of different areas that you can be saving money on with a staycation. One that is often overlooked is what to do with pets during a vacation. With a staycation, you may be able to leave them at home, if this is part of the normal routine, during day trips. If not, you could bring them along depending on what is planned for that day. This saves a lot of money on having someone check on them or to have them put up in a doggie hotel. 

8. Pack snacks

This is one of the easiest ways to save money. Packing a bunch of snacks so that there is less impulse buying when hungry. If you are traveling with children, this is a must. A variety is best to make sure that there is something for everyone. No matter what the plans are, I always recommend packing at least a few snacks to bring with you.

Trip Ideas

Here are just a few of the more common day trip ideas that can be relatively cheap and not break the budget. These can be a great way to spend the day while saving money with a staycation.

• Picnic
• Ocean trip
• Museum
• Hiking
• Camping
• Local zoo
• Or farms
• Geocaching

Staying healthy with Staycation

Things that can be done to make sure to stay healthy per recommendations of various health organizations. 

• Wear a mask when on your adventures – many locations are requiring this, so make sure to bring a mask along if venturing out. 

• Wash hands frequently if possible or use of hand sanitizer – Frequently wash your hands, which is good advice just in general. 

• Check for any potential outbreaks – If this is a concern in your area, make sure that you keep up to date with things that could potentially interfere with your staycation

• Spend more time outside – fresh air is good for anyone but especially in these times, it is best to spend time in open areas especially if going out for your staycation. 

What is your favorite tip for saving money with a staycation? Let us know in the comments below