Staycation: The new way to spend your holidays

source – palm tree: http://nadine1984nrw.na.funpic.de/main/hintergrundbilder/palme_am_meer.jpg

tree: ©penkiller

Recession, a word you hear everywhere: in the media, at university and in the pub. This one word stirs the most unpleasant feelings in us. Cold sweat runs down our temples in fear of our jobs. Infuriated by the high gas prices and increasing cost of food, we rub our faces. Despite higher costs of living, we don’t get paid any more and the pressure to work even harder makes us long for relaxing holidays. But to be able to go on vacation we have to earn more money. And suddenly we find ourselves trapped in a vicious cycle. There’s, however, a way out of this vicious cycle, a cheap solution for a great vacation.

No matter if you’re a student or part of the workforce, if you live on a low budget or have to save money in these times of recession, you can also have a nice holiday without spending enormous sums of money. The magic word here is ‘staycation’. Save yourself the stress surrounding the perfect holiday: the last-minute packing, the hectic rush to the airport, the frustration with rude hotel personnel and the huge difference between the amazing pictures from the hotel website and the reality of the actual hotel. Take a break from the failures of previous vacations and appreciate your time off in your own four walls. At home you can sleep in your own bed, take a relaxing bubble bath and cuddle on the sofa with your cat.

If you’re one of those party people in need of some action, just create your own event. Invite friends over for a barbecue in your backyard. To save money, ask them to bring beer, salads and desserts. And why not surprise your friends by mixing your own cocktails? Who needs the usual margarita when you can have fun making your own creations?

After saving all this money, you might want to treat yourself to a surround sound system or even a home cinema. Simply put in a DVD and let your imagination take you and your friends to wherever you want: the Caribbean, Italy, even Disneyland.

Still need to get out of your house at some stage? Then turn your staycation into a green holiday. By staying at home, you’re already minimizing emissions that you would otherwise cause going to the airport and flying to your holiday destination. Also, on your holidays there’s no need to rush. Give yourself time to take public transport or go by bike. Getto know your hometown better and explore the countryside around it. You might find charming spots you’ve never seen before. Take a basket full of healthy food with you and have a nice romantic picnic with the love of your life. Food is often one of the most expensive outlays on your vacation, and you can save money by taking vegetables from your garden. You don’t have a bed full of carrots, cucumbers and salad yet? A staycation is the best time to start your growing your own food. And with a little creativity you can plan your perfect staycation and keep yourself safe from a failed vacation.