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Budget Holidays: Planning a 'Staycation'
| (Advertising Feature) | Published: 13th July 2015 14:50 |
When money is tight and you can’t afford to go away on holiday, but you still need a break to recharge your batteries, one good option is to have a vacation at home. It’s not as bad as it sounds, and you may find it rather enjoyable. As long as you follow some ground rules you’ll be wondering why you ever thought about going away.
Set Some Ground Rules
In order for a staycation to work properly, you will need to carry on as if you are going away for your holiday, so what should you do?
· Cut off all communications except for emergencies only - When you go away, you usually switch on the answer machine and inform your workplace that you are away. During a staycation, you may be tempted to answer work calls, but you should try to avoid this so treat your break in the same way you would if you weren’t at home.
· Switch off the internet - Encouraging teenage children to keep away from the internet can be like plaiting sand. They might moan for a while, but it’s likely they wouldn’t take their computers on holiday with them. If you really don’t like the sound of turning the internet off completely, consider setting up certain rules surrounding its use. The adults can’t respond to work emails, and the children need to take part in family activities rather than staying at home.
· Do everything together - This means not popping off to the pub for him, or doing housework for her. You are not at home now; well you are, but you must treat it like being at a holiday let or hotel. Plan your days to involve everyone and only use your home as a base.
· No housework - You don’t go around polishing and dusting on holiday, so lock the duster away and leave the washing ‘until you get home.’
Prepare Your Home
To follow the ground rules above, you will need to bottom your home. Go on a cleaning blitz so you don’t have to do anything during your staycation. Get the family to muck in as well, as it will get them in the mood for doing everything together. Do a holiday shop instead of the usual weekly grocery shop, so you buy things that are normally reserved as a holiday treat. Or, omit meals so that you have to go out to eat instead.
Plan Your Week
Have a look at what you can do within easy travelling distance from your home; you will be surprised at what’s available. If you find somewhere a bit further away that you wouldn’t mind seeing, you may even think about stopping over somewhere for one night. This might be useful if you decide to go cycling, as you won’t have to think about getting back until the next day. If you find you need a bicycle or the ones you have could do with a service, then it might be an idea to contact an online website such as ukcyclecentre.co.uk, and buy one used instead of new.
If you can manage to do all these things and come out at the end feeling refreshed, you might even decide to plan another staycation for a future date. It will cost you to eat out and have day-trips, but at least you won’t have the cost of travelling to your destination, and paying for accommodation. This may even allow you to save for a better holiday in the future.
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