Families across the nation are struggling with all kinds of economic woes. Job loss, wage reduction and rising gas prices are forcing people to re-evaluate their financial standing when it comes to the family vacation. For some, the idea of a traveling vacation is simply out of the question. For others, it’s a matter of cutting back on the expense and figuring out an economical substitute for family entertainment. The “staycation” may just fit the bill. (No pun intended.)

A staycation is a vacation you do at home or that is based out of your home. It can afford time and money savings, but it does require some careful planning. If you’re a working parent, you must be committed to setting aside your work mindset and focusing on the activities you have planned for your family. Here are some suggestions:

• Stay away from your computer: forgo checking your email
• Put your cell phone on silent: let calls go to voice mail

If necessary, you can check messages at the end of the day when the kids have been tucked in. Realistically, you want to be inaccessible to those daily tasks that would be impossible to attend to if you were on vacation outside of town.  So, don’t be thinking about any minor home improvement projects. Mow the lawn and pay your bills before your staycation begins. You might even consider having your mail held.

What to do on this break from the daily grind? Prior to your staycation, do some research and investigate activities and events that may be occurring right in your hometown. Look into sporting events, museums, fairs, concerts and local theatre productions that may be available to you at little or no cost. Depending on the age of your children, visiting a dairy farm or petting zoo may be an enjoyable afternoon trip.

Camping, hiking or canoeing at a local campground or state park can fulfill the need to “get out of Dodge” and spend quality time with your family. For additional ideas, check out this article on cheap vacations at home.

Whatever your choice, do the best you can to make your staycation relaxing and stress-free. The goal is to have fun together and make memories that will last a lifetime.

TALK BACK: Do you plan to take either a vacation or a staycation this summer? Have you ever taken a staycation and if so, what did you do? Post your comments below.

Posted by Sharon Walker

Tags: staycation, vacation at home

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under Homeowner Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.