Budget-Friendly Summer Staycation Ideas
Thanks to the novel coronavirus aka ‘Ms. Rona’, summer 2020 will not look like any summer we’ve seen before. Even if you have cancelled overseas travel plans this year, now might be a great time to change things up, especially with stay at home orders lifted, the economy reopening and places of amusement, including beaches and movie theatres now open, though protocols are still in place. The added benefit is that the need to be ‘socially distant’ could help us to stick to our budget, as we have to maintain ‘social distance’ from some ‘money magnets.’
My friend Nicky and I, were chatting about all fun the things we have been doing and/or could do now that we have to stay indoors more and be more mindful as we engage in outdoor activities. I am letting you in on some of the great budget-friendly summer staycation ideas we came up with, so that you too can make memorable moments with the ones you love. I dare you to do as many as you can, and double dare you to total all the money you will save; who knows, maybe some of these will become a staple on your vacation list.
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A typical vacation travelling overseas or going to a hotel costs approximately J$______________. Here are some staycation ideas to enjoy alone, with friends or family: |
Amount Spent |
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Go camping |
$ |
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Stay at a villa |
$ |
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Do a DIY project to transform your home into a retreat |
$ |
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Go for a road trip across several parishes in Jamaica, visiting some great gems |
$ |
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Do a backyard BBQ or a pot luck |
$ |
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Do your own sip and paint |
$ |
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Make it pizza night and add your own twist to your signature pizza |
$ |
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Family games/ movie night |
$ |
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Do your own production with your children, using old socks to make puppets or use items at home as props in your production |
$ |
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Host your own fashion show, retro style, with all the old clothes that you may have in your closet, a trip down memory lane may be good |
$ |
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Have karaoke night at home |
$ |
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Have a virtual party or game show evening, no need to worry about social distancing |
$ |
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Total spent on Staycation activities |
$ |
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Amount Saved taking a staycation |
$ |
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A typical vacation for my child/ren to travel or attend to summer camps cost approximately J$______________. Here are some staycation ideas that your children could enjoy: |
Amount Spent |
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Virtual summer camp |
$ |
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Teach your children to cook/ bake or other skill |
$ |
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Create a playhouse or obstacle course for the children using reclaimed materials and tires |
$ |
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Be a kid again, play some of your favourite childhood games with your children like Chinese Skip, Dandy Shandy, to name a few |
$ |
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Make Summer drinks and smoothies: a mocktail for the children, and maybe a cocktail for you |
$ |
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Total spent on Staycation activities |
$ |
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Amount Saved taking a staycation |
$ |
How much can you save by taking a staycation instead of your usual vacation plans and what will you do with the money you did not spend? How about putting your savings towards another goal, whether it be your child’s education, a home, investment property, new car or some other delight? Get other great staycation ideas from our recent JMMB Goal Getter Live webinar at, https://bit.ly/staycationFMS or JMMB Group YouTube channel.
Written by Michelle Sinclair-Doyley
Manager, Group Financial Partnership Support & Financial Education, JMMB Group