If money is scarce and a source of stress, you can still have a good vacation without making your situation worse. Here are eightfun and exciting holiday ideas if you're on a tight budget.
It’s all in the planning
Just because you have to tighten your belt, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy taking a break from all the stress in your life. Of course, taking vacation while money is tight requires some sacrifice and simplicity. You’ll have to forget a week of tanning on beaches, but with a little ingenuity you’ll be able to enjoy what’s all around you and break the routine of everyday life. You don’t want to spend your annual leave at home feeling bad about your state of affairs, so first off you need to plan out each of your days. Above all, you’ll have to respect your budget, regardless of the amount or even if it’s non-existent.
Eight fun and exciting holiday ideas
With a little creativity, it's easy to find a variety of free activities that will appeal to the entire household. Here are eight for inspiration.
- Free music concerts or outdoor movie screenings offered by your municipality.
- Free or inexpensive municipal beaches.
- Picnics in the park (where there’s a splash pad for kids). Bring balls, Frisbee and bathing suits for a day of fun.
- Trekking in the mountains.
- Visits to local museums. Leaf through tourist brochures, which often include discount coupons for entry fees.
- Cycling. Scour the bike paths in your area to make some beautiful discoveries.
- Camp in a tent. Borrow one from a friend if you don’t have one.
- Summer family camps or campgrounds for low-income families.
For the adventurous
To take vacations while cash is a concern, sometimes you have to know how to take chances.
- If you feel a strong need to leave your home in order to “disconnect,” you might offer to housesit for someone else during their absence. As a result, you’ll get a change of scenery without emptying your wallet. Exchanging your home with a family can also allow you to visit another region on the cheap.
- Try an Internet matchmaking site where you can find food and shelter in exchange for a few hours of work. In any case, it’s important to agree on the terms of exchange so as not to end up with unplanned costs once at your destination.
Final tips
- Plan for picnics as much as possible. Restaurants can easily eat up your vacation budget.
- Don’t buy anything on credit. Paying back interest for several months on a week of fun isn’t worth it.
- Consider putting money aside for your next vacation when you’ve finished paying off your current debts. Regular saving will give you plenty of options for your future destination.
- Consult a financial or credit expert to find a concrete and permanent solution to your debt problems.
