Staycations are boring, you’ll just sit around the house doing the same thing you do on the weekends. The only way to truly relax is by sitting on a sandy beach, swimming in crystal blue waters, or hiking through a forest with no car in sight.
That’s exactly what I used to think about vacations and using PTO.
I couldn’t be caught dead using my precious PTO to just sit around the house. I always felt like I needed to go somewhere and do something special.
But that all recently changed this past month when my wife (who’s a big traveler) and I took a whole week off from work and did a staycation. And it has honestly been one of the best things not only for our mental health, but it also gave us five huge financial benefits.
1. Eliminated Major Travel Cost
Obviously, the biggest financial benefit was that we weren’t spending our hard-earned money or credit card points on flights, gas for long trips, rental cars, or hotels. While we could have done a quick trip somewhere close, the cost of gas and hotels is still pretty pricey.
For instance, we looked at going to Yosemite for two nights, and the cost of the hotel alone came out to over $800.
And we still would have needed to pay for gas, food, and entertainment within Yosemite. So even a two-day trip would’ve cost us over $1,000.
With the staycation, the only costs we had were gas and whatever activities we chose to do.
2. We Eliminated Overspending Traps
When going on vacation, we tend to have the mindset of “treat ourselves.” The problem is that this mindset gets applied to everything we do.
Instead of eating at an economical restaurant, we’re eating at a fancy one. Instead of drinking water, we’re ordering cocktails.
We also fall into the trap of “who knows when we’ll be back,” so we justify doing every activity. Before you know it, the spending has ballooned to more than we ever imagined.
But during our staycation, we did things we had always wanted to do locally. The best part was that we were able to cut ourselves off once spending started getting too high.
Instead of doing an additional activity, we decided to make it a priority for next month. Instead of getting another drink, we headed home and opened a bottle of wine we already had.
3. We Allocated the Saved Money to Financial Goals
By skipping a big vacation, my wife and I were able to put that money toward our financial goals.
Recently, we’ve been thinking about buying a new house, which requires a substantial down payment. By skipping the vacation, all that money went straight into our future home fund.
Skipping a vacation can be hard for your present self, but your future self will thank you.
Additionally, the money we saved can now be invested and allowed to compound over time, helping us reach our goals even faster.
4. We Got a Better Mental Reset
On previous vacations, there was always a mental toll that came with the stress of traveling, getting to the airport, making connecting flights, navigating a new location, and adjusting to a different time zone.
On top of that, the financial stress would rear its head once we got home and saw the credit card bill.
But with a staycation, none of those issues existed. There was no travel stress, no need to rush around, and best of all, no financial stress afterward.
It was hands down one of the best vacations I’ve ever had from a mental reset perspective.
5. Support the Local Community
During our staycation, my wife and I made it a priority to visit bars and restaurants we had never been to before, specifically local, small businesses.
We checked out speakeasies, wineries, and sandwich shops, all of which were amazing. And the best part? They were far more affordable than typical vacation spots.
Instead of spending hundreds at fancy restaurants, we were enjoying $10 sandwiches. Instead of $60 bottles of wine, we were buying $30 bottles. And instead of feeling like tourists, we were welcomed and even made connections in our local community.
The best part was that the financial benefits supported both our family and our community. It was a win-win.
Give a Staycation a Try
This staycation was truly amazing. It saved us thousands of dollars, helped support our community and financial goals, and reduced stress along the way.
I learned that a staycation isn’t about what you’re missing out on, it’s about being intentional with your money, your mental well-being, and who you choose to support.
The benefits are immense, and I hope you give a staycation a try this year and see just how much money you can save.
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