‘Staycation’ as the frugal alternative to a vacation
by Celine on September 19, 2008
in Frugal Tips, Frugality, Travel
Staycation is the new buzzword, probably because of the rising cost of gas. Generally, it means staying in your own home or in your own hometown during a vacation instead of going far away. What can you do during a staycation?
Take a photo walk. If you’re into photography, you’d be surprised how many photo opportunities there are in your neighborhood. For example, here are some thumbnails of photos taken by my partner in our subdivision:
Just go around armed with a camera and explore the area and look at it with a fresh perspective. You can easily turn the regular, mundane things you see into something extraordinary.
Eat someplace new. Whether it’s a new turo-turo place in your area or a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop, there’s probably some place in your hometown where you haven’t eaten yet. I have yet to explore all the restaurants and eateries in Marikina. Doing this instead of an out of town vacation will prove to be interesting and it will introduce you to new nearby favorites.
Make a great home-cooked meal. Nothing beats a delicious gourmet meal you make yourself. If you have some free time and you want to learn to cook new dishes, use your staycation as an opportunity to do this.
My favorite site for recipes is AllRecipes, especially since users are allowed to rate or comment on the recipes. Here are some great, simple dishes you can try:
- Scott Ure’s Clams and Garlic
- Hot n’ Spicy Spareribs
- Marinated Grilled Shrimp
- Lemon Garlic Tilapia
- Spinach Tomato Linguine
You can also go to SuperCook to find recipes for ingredients that you already have at home.
Visit the local parks, museums, and galleries. Most cities in the Philippines have museums, art galleries, and parks. To enjoy them, we just need to know where they are and what they have to offer.
If you want more ideas on what to do during your staycation, I recommend taking a look at these other articles:
- 5 Tips for a green staycation
- List of staycation suggestions
- 7 Tips for a fantastic and frugal staycation
Frugal Pinoy is a personal finance website for the average Filipino. We discuss savings, frugality, and other money matters. To learn more about Frugal Pinoy and the author,
everytime i’m on official travel i see to it that i explore the place. it’s a free vacation without spending extra money. and i also cut down on pasalubong. it’s nice to be thoughtful but it’s not good if it’s hurting your budget.