Vacationing on a Budget

BY TABI FALCONE

Now that the world is reopening, it’s time to go celebrate by going on vacation! As much as we would all love to go on glorious, tropical, monthlong vacations at all-inclusive resorts, realistically, we all have a vacation budget identified, and it’s important to stay within that budget. In addition—the tighter we keep to the budget, the more vacations we can go on! There are a lot of ways to cut costs on vacations, but here are some great tips for how best to keep everybody happy, including your wallet.

CAMPING

Most campgrounds, especially state and national parks, are within the $15-$30/day range, which is an absolute steal in comparison to pricy hotels! Campgrounds also tend to have a lot of great free activities—you don’t even have to leave your campsite if you don’t want to. Most have hiking trails, and many even have playgrounds and swimming beaches. There is an initial investment for camping, in order to purchase the supplies needed, but if you go camping often enough it evens itself out over the years. Camping also has the added perk of saving money on food, as meals cooked over the campfire are significantly tastier than any other meals—and way more fun to cook.

STAY WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY

In our early twenties this was known as “couch-surfing”—but as adults with families it’s more positively known as “spending quality time with our loved ones.” It may not be possible, or the best situation from some families with complicated relationships, but if you have the right interpersonal chemistry this is the perfect solve. Not only will you get more time than usual to bond with your loved ones, you will get time to hang out as just adults when the kids go to sleep. Bonus points if you happen to have friends or family who live near a tourist attraction. (I’m looking at you, relatives with beach houses!)

AIRBNB

Okay, hear me out on this one. I fully recognize that some of the options on Airbnb can be quite expensive, but there are many affordable options, especially if you travel outside of peak times and book ahead. Most places also offer a discount if you book a place for at least a week. If you are able to find a good one, many rentals can actually be cheaper than a hotel room—and you are more likely to be able to have separate bedrooms from your children. The biggest savings, however, is in food costs. When staying in a rental you essentially just keep your normal food budget—adding in a dinner out or two into the vacation budget. By having space and facilities to cook and store food, you can save upwards of hundreds of dollars in dinners out and takeout food!

STATE PARKS

When you find a place to stay, figure out what to do while you’re there. One of the cheapest (often free) options is to enjoy nature in a state or national park. Some of these are free, but some of them have a daily fee—make sure to do your research before you go, so you have the necessary cash. Our state and national park system has a huge variety of sights to see, and many free activities, hikes, and ranger programs to choose from. Spending time outdoors has also been scientifically proven to improve mental well being and increase a feeling of relaxation, so it makes it the perfect vacation destination.

RESEARCH FREE ACTIVITIES

The best way to do vacation on the cheap is to do your research in advance. Most towns have town websites that include a directory of activities—many of which are free or low cost. In addition, there are loads of lists online of free activities in most areas, especially high traffic tourist areas. Festivals usually have free kids’ activities to attract the parents, so, as long as you trust your willpower not to buy everything in sight, these can be a great option. Finding a Facebook group for the area that you are traveling to can open up a lot of events you might not find otherwise, as well.

We all know how important vacation is, both for resetting our bodies and minds and making memories as a family. With these few tips I trust you can make amazing memories and come back feeling relaxed and refreshed, without having to juggle around any finances to make it work.

The Good, The Bad And Let’s Hope For The Best!

BY KAREN COOPER

How will the past year be known in history books? The COVID year? The year of social isolation? The year the kids didn’t go to school? And what will the long term effects be? No one can know that yet.

I’m sure some kids must have thrived in virtual school or at least stayed at status quo. But for many, virtual school was stressful…emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and physically. There were technology challenges, lack of peer interaction, limited quality interaction with teachers, general confusion and a lot of uncertainty. It all took a toll on parents as well. In a CDC survey, almost half of all parents reported increased levels of stress and nearly a quarter of them said their drug or alcohol use had increased and/or they were having trouble sleeping. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

As we inch closer and closer to our new normal and get ready to send our kids back to school full-time, how do we prepare them? How do we prepare ourselves? What are the good parts of returning to school after a long absence, and what are the challenges?

THE POSITIVES

The best part (for most kids) will be the opportunity to be with their friends regularly and have one-on-one face time with their teachers. This will not be the case for all kids, however, as the past year (for some) has created anxiety related to being back in a crowded classroom.

Another great benefit of reopening schools is having the opportunity to participate in sports again. If this is an outlet for your kid, they may really be missing the opportunity to keep themselves physically and mentally balanced. I know this is true for my kids and we have done everything we can to supplement the lack of sports over the past year….but it was still a huge loss and took its toll on the whole family.

Having improved structure is something kids can get when they are present in school every day. They are held accountable in a different way when they are physically present and it’s harder to hide when you’re front and center in a classroom with a teacher nearby. Granted, I have teenagers so I’m speaking from that perspective!

THE CHALLENGES

Kids of all ages may not rush back to school with the same energy and excitement we might have hoped for. It’s important to realize that this transition back to “regular” school has been a long time coming. They have gotten used to a different kind of life and readjusting to full-time school may be accompanied by some anxiety and questions.

There is also historical evidence showing mental health problems related to social isolation can last years after the event has ended. Parents should stay alert to their child’s psychological well-being even if it has never been an issue before. Things to look out for would include: difficulty sleeping or too much sleep, lack of motivation, lack of enjoyment in their usual activities and uncharacteristic irritability. Try your best to be present, predictable and consistent. You might be the only area of their lives that feels that way right now.

If your child’s grades slipped during the pandemic, it may take some time for them to regulate. It may also take time for them to get back on track socially. Any socializing may feel awkward for a while. What’s more, nearly everyone’s routines look different than they did before COVID. Sleep cycles are off. Meal habits may have shifted. Routines will have to change again to coincide with in-person school. Parent and child will need to set realistic goals and expectations with the understanding that finding your new groove will take some time.

The more you can plan ahead as a family, the more it will alleviate any anxiety your child may have and will instill in him or her the confidence needed to move forward. You may also discover that the fears you think your child has are really just your own and that your child is more excited than nervous and is really looking forward to seeing people again in person and learning in the classroom environment.

Good luck to all! Here’s to a smooth transition and the greatest “back to school” season ever!