Saving Money on Gas: “Staycation”
May 28, 2008 by Miranda Marquit
Filed under Finance
One of the questions Lazy Man and Money asked his readers recently is whether or not they used a “staycation” to aid them in saving money on gas. This reminded of my post last Friday about how my driving habits have changed lately. Because we did, indeed, do the “staycation” thing.
Instead of our yearly trip to a national park (last year we did Yellowstone, and we’ve done Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon in the past), we stuck close to home. I mean, it’s expensive to drive that far. Luckily for us, we live in the mountains of Utah, and a “staycation” to Bear Lake (or even to Salt Lake City) is only an hour away.
Here are some ways you enjoy yourself with a “staycation,” while still saving money on gas:
- Go on a picnic. Pack a lunch and go to the local park.
- Public pool.
- Museums, special exhibits and other local attractions (like the zoo).
- Amusement activities (we have a small mini golf and go-cart center).
- Check the local paper for activities. Most Friday papers offer weekend and upcoming events. Attend those.
- Find something to do within a one to two hour drive. Caves, lakes, camping or another town (with different attractions) make good destinations. And they’re close enough that you don’t have to spend money on a hotel!
What are some ideas you have for a “staycation”?
image credit: Miranda Marquit
I definitely did that for Memorial Day weekend — instead of going home to see family or driving out to a lake with friends, I stayed in and rested and watched movies. Turns out I’m not the only one: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080527006417&newsLang=en
Thanks for sharing, Emily! Staying in and watching movies can be a lot of fun. It’s actually something I do with my son on rainy days. We spread out a blanket in the family room and have a “picnic” while watching a movie.
And my husband loves your suggestion. He’s more of a homebody, so his idea of a good vacation is sleeping in and having nothing to do.