Take a break from work with a family staycation!

Too broke to take a vacation? Can't get the time off to travel? You don't need money or time to have a nice getaway with your family. Just plan a restful staycation!

SET UP A TENT -- If you want a camping staycation set up a tent in the back yard. If it looks like rain, set up the tent in the garage or even in the middle of your living room! It does not matter where the tent is as long as you sleep in it. If you don't have a tent just pull out the sleeping bags and sleep under the stars or by the fireplace indoors. No sleeping bags? Use blankets! You don't need much equipment to have a fun family camping trip to nowhere!

COOK OUT OR PACK A PICNIC -- During your staycation you should stay out of the kitchen as much as possible. Either plan on cooking on the grill or prepare picnic items that you can quickly grab from the refrigerator. Eat on a blanket outside or on the living room floor if the weather is bad. Or try something different by planning a make-your-own pizza night or salad bar night. Both are good options if it's raining and you are forced to eat indoors. Tell stories as you eat and enjoy yourselves!

TURN OFF THE TV -- No TV during a staycation... none! No computers or cell phones either. This is family time. Play board games, read books out loud, sing songs, tell stories, go for a walk, ride bikes, climb trees. Just do something different!

ROUND UP THE NEIGHBORS -- Want your staycation to be even more fun? Ask the neighbors to go on a staycation at the same time as you! Get together for barbecues and yard games. Take turns swimming in each others pools. Go spend a group day together at a park. Have family day at a local lake. Or have a family friendly block party!

TAKE DAY TRIPS -- If you are taking an entire week off or even a weekend off plan a few day trips. If you were on a vacation you would get out to see the sites. So you should do the same on your staycation! Visit a museum or go to the local library. Visit your fire station or police station. Walk around cemeteries to look at old gravestones. Or take a ride to the lake or the beach or visit a store you have never been to. And save money on food by bringing your own lunch.

GET WORK DONE -- What? Work during a staycation? Sure! Why not! Work can be fun when you do it as a family. Does your house need painting? Have a painting party! Invite everyone you know and ask them to bring food. Everyone can paint during the day then have a nice pot luck dinner in the evening. Those who want to spend the night can bring their own tents. This is a great way and cheap way to accomplish a big task that you normally would have to hire someone to complete for you.

SWAP HOMES -- If you can't afford to get away but you really do want to get away considering swapping homes with another family member just so you can have a change of scenery. Maybe you want to get away from the city and can swap homes with someone who wants to get out of their small town for a bit. Or maybe you can trade your lake front home for your best friend's beach house. Or maybe you just want to enjoy a different back yard for a change. The whole point is to keep it cheap and to enjoy yourself. Staycation here you come!

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Photo: sxc.hu/marcos_bh