Odds are that if you’re a human being who breathes oxygen, you probably are in need of a vacation right now. Americans are becoming more and more burned out because of the nature of our jobs and our society. But a lot of us simply can’t afford a vacation right now, right? Wrong! You can save a lot of money by having a staycation instead. Not only is it good for your peace of mind and bank account, but it is also better for the environment.
Less Stress. Vacations are supposed to be about relaxing, but traveling is often a very stressful endeavor. You have to stick to a budget and a schedule, things you already do all the time. Staycationing eliminates a lot of the stress associated with the usual vacation so you can do what you’re supposed to on a vacation - relax!
More Savings. A big portion of a vacation budget is allocated to travel expenses, especially lodging. Travel costs amount to almost 50% of the average American family’s vacation funds. You can save hundreds of dollars by staycationing. You can also avoid additional expenses such as paid parking and tolls.
Less Fuel. You’ll spend less money on gas, and lessen your carbon footprint by staycationing. Between air travel and car travel, it is better for the environment to drive because of the amount of fuel required to get a plane into the air versus a car on the road. However, neither method is good for the environment. Cutting back on fuel means more money to spend on your actual vacation, or save for the future. In addition to saving money on fuel, you will also save some miles and wear and tear on your car.
More Doing. A staycation might just be what you need to get on top of those projects you need to do around the house. Those little things that build up over time and contribute to your stress and general unhappiness. Take time to knock out those tasks and relax a little in between. The sense of accomplishment will be a treat in itself. You could even take some time to really dive into your favorite hobbies or whatever brings you joy.
Less Time Off. Did you know that you can save yourself PTO hours by staycationing? By eliminating days spent traveling to your destination, you can stop spending your PTO in the car or at the airport and spend it doing just what you intended - relaxing! Staycationing makes more sense when you think of it in terms of how to best spend your precious vacation time.
More Reasons to Love Where You Live. There’s a lot to love about the town you live in. But when you spend roughly 70% of your week working, you don’t really get to enjoy it. All those days where you’ve driven by a shop or a restaurant and thought “I’ll have to go there sometime”. That sometime is now! Make a list of all those someday destinations and knock out that list during your staycation.
Less Planning. Vacations take up a lot of mental and emotional currency. The further you travel, the more you have to plan. It’s important to plan so that you can make the most of your time off, but it also takes away some of the fun. You can enjoy more spontaneity when you’re vacationing at home.
More Time With Loved Ones. If your goal for your vacation is to spend time with your loved ones, the best place to do it is right at home. Travel can put a lot of strain on relationships, and by the time you’re done with your vacation, you might feel like you need a vacation away from your travel companions. By eliminating the stress, strain, and strife sometimes associated with typical away from home vacations, you will have more quality time with your loved ones and enjoy your vacation even more.
