Can you believe it’s already time for the kids to be finishing up school? Of course, if you haven’t made vacation plans yet then a bit of a panic may be setting in some time soon. Don’t worry! There’s lots of ways to have fun with very little planning involved. If you’re a little shy on the vacation budget this year then you can still have a good time without having to worry about loans or losing out on work hours. With these ten frugal ideas, you should be able to find a vacation that suits your family, your wallet and your time off work! So stop stressing over something that’s supposed to be fun and relaxing, and start planning out this year’s epic vacation!
1. National Park/Monument
I don’t know what it is about summer, but it seems to inspire a visit to a national park or monument. The weather is nice and it’s a good time to kick back and enjoy all that the country has to offer. The best thing is, these locations are often free or at a lost cost. Most parks do charge a small fee, but if you plan accordingly you may find yourself paying a visit during one of its free periods. There’s lots of monuments and parks around the country too, so chances are you’ll be able to find one near you. There locations will allow you to enjoy Mother Nature at her finest, historical lessons and the overall wow factor that most display. You can even make these little getaways more frugal by packing a picnic or pitching a tent! Also, you can find just about everything you need to know about the park or monument on their website which allows planning for scavenger hunts, lessons or play time a whole lot easier!
2. Campsite
For generations, families have traveled to the great outdoors in order to enjoy some bonding and hard earned vacation time. Camping is a tradition that every child should experience and will allow the whole family to get back in touch with nature and less in touch with their social media accounts. The best thing about camping is, you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to do it. If you already have the supplies then it will cost next to nothing to go; however, if you’re just starting out then you can always borrow supplies from a loved one or rent them from a camp site. To keep things even more frugal, you may want to look around and find a campsite that is free, or at least a low price. You should also make sure there’s places for fishing, hiking and other activities you may want to enjoy. Packing your own food is also a must when it comes to camping. You may want to pack a little extra if you plan on cooking fish that you catch, as sometimes the fish aren’t in the mood to bite!
3. Beach/Lake/River
With the summer heat gearing up, you may want to plan a trip to a body of water to help your family cool down. Not only is being able to swim whenever you feel like it appeasing, but areas near water tend to be a bit breezier anyway. The best thing about taking a trip to the water is it usually doesn’t cost more than the gasoline to get there. However, more and more areas are starting to charge for the use of the area, so make sure you check before you plan out a frugal getaway. While you’re by the water, you may want to bring along your water supplies. Of course, you can always rent surf/wake/boogie boards, as well as boats/canoes/kayaks and any other equipment you may want to use while vacationing. You should also consider looking on social media coupon sites, like Groupon, to find discounts on restaurants, equipment and activities, like diving.
4. Visit Family/Friends
If you have vacation time to spend, but are on a pretty tight budget then you may want to consider visiting family and friends, especially if it’s been awhile. Taking a trip to your hometown or somewhere there’s lots of people you know, can actually help take much of the burden off of your vacation expenditures. Usually, friends and relatives won’t have a problem with you and your family staying with them, which means you won’t have to worry about a hotel the entire time you’re away. If you can drive to the location, opposed to flying, then you’re also taking a great step to help out with the vacation budget. While you’re with your loved ones you should be entertained by all the catching up, but you may also want to plan out a few free activities to keep things going smoothly. For instance, if you’re familiar with the town then you’ll already know all the great parks so you can play sports, go for walks and maybe even take a swim. You can always give your family a tour of all the places you used to hang out when you lived in the location. If you’re having a family reunion then try to organize a potluck at a park or someone’s home to help save on food costs. This vacation idea offers a lot of wiggle room, so try to play as much as possible!
5. City Adventure
It doesn’t matter if you’re in a rural area, a suburb or actually in a city, sometimes, we overlook all of the cool things there are to see and do! So, instead of planning your next vacation in an all new city, you can always refresh your view of the one you live near! This is one of the best ways to keep it frugal on your vacation as you may not even need to stay in a hotel while you’re away. Simply head out to the city first thing in the morning, enjoy the sights and then cozy up in your own bed at night. The great thing about cities is there’s always something cheap or free to do in the city, so with a little planning you may not have to spend much at all. Of course, if you’re willing to go all out then you can always visit local theme parks, museums and other attractions. Sometimes, you may even be able to get a resident discount, especially if you have children in school! So, don’t forget to bring the student I.D. cards along for the ride.
6. Explore Nearby Town
Cities aren’t always where all the action is at. In fact, if you spend a whole lot of time in the city then you may want to mix things up and head to a smaller town instead. Check out a map of your region and pick out a town that isn’t too far away but may have a few hidden treasures in store. You can even research towns in your area to see who is going to offer you the most fun. Once you’ve decided then pack a lunch and hit the road! Of course, you should always make sure to check out the community center before you enjoy the town as it may lead you to some awesome finds you may have missed otherwise. Many towns will have special historical districts and museums that are fun for all to check out. You can also take the kids to enjoy a new park in order to get some of their energy out. Even if the town doesn’t have a whole lot going on, you may want to check out some of their shopping areas. Sometimes, there’s some amazing hidden gems that may lead you to a great find or huge savings. If you get through your town and still have time to kill then you may want to consider moving on to the next! You can even come up with clever games for the kids to play, such as scavenger hunts to find a certain number of plants, numbers, license plates and the like.
7. Water/Amusement Parks
If you don’t have a lot of vacation time or money to spend then you may want to consider finding a water park or an amusement park in your area. The closer to your area the better as it will mean you’ll be able to spend more time having fun and less time worrying about getting home or paying for a hotel room. The best thing about amusement and water parks is there’s a little something for everyone, so you can spend all day having a blast and cooling down. Of course, sometimes the tickets aren’t exactly on the frugal side. Luckily, many of these parks host discount days which could be the best time for you and your family to go. You may also want to ask if you qualify for some discounts. Of course, if all else fails, many parks will pass out coupons and some will even partner with major retailers, like Coca-cola, to provide families with an easy way to enjoy the park. To keep the visit even more frugal, pack a lunch and leave it in the car, you can get your hand stamped to re-enter the park after you relax and have a healthy meal.
8. Pretend to Go Abroad
Most people would love to take a trip abroad; however, most budgets aren’t ready for such a big trip just yet. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with your own abroad trip to appease the family. Do a little research online to see if there’s a location everyone can agree on. Then, check to see if there’s anything in your own town, or a neighboring one, that follows these customs. You may be surprised to find restaurants, museums and other activities that will make your pretend vacation amazing. If there’s no luck then you can always decorate the home, try out some recipes and rent a movie or two that comes from the country of your choice. You may even bring some crafts to the event so the kids have souvenirs to share and remember the special moment.
9. Cheap Destinations
Believe it or not, you can still book and enjoy a vacation without spending a bundle. You may want to browse your favorite travel sites to see if there’s any place you’d like to go that meets your budgeting requirements. Las Vegas is usually a popular place to choose as there’s so much to see and do and hotel rooms generally range around $30 a night! Of course, if you can meet the airfare requirements for this trip, or simply drive then your family can enjoy a spectacular vacation without diving into the savings! To keep it even more frugal, avoid restaurants and choose activities that are free or low cost.
10. Staycation
Many lead very busy lifestyles, so one way to refresh is to actually have a staycation. The best thing is, this will cost you next to nothing. All you have to do is bunker in and enjoy catching up on books, TV and movies. You can also plan special games for the family to enjoy together! Of course, in order to keep your vacation even more serene, you may want to put your phone on airplane mode and enjoy the quiet time. For an even more relaxing time, you and your partner can set up a spa time for when the kids are asleep. You may even want to set up a campsite in the backyard or living room with your own DIY tent!
Enjoying a getaway doesn’t have to destroy your budget! In fact, these ten tips can help you save a whole lot on money while still getting the much needed relaxation and bonding time. With frugal getaways like this, you may reconsider the way you’ve been vacationing!
