Home, food, family. These are the ingredients to the good life,. It's images of home, those glorious smells wafting from the kitchen, the dog barking with excitement, smiles, hugs and kisses. You get home from work, kick back and feel good.
Leisure life happens for you and your spouse on weekends when you grab the remote on date night, slide in a DVD, start the movie, munch popcorn and sip a cold drink.
You put fun in family, too. As days and weeks pass by, most families want a longer relax time. Don't you?
You see TV ads of couples who take time to lay on warm sand listening to tropical ocean waves. Perhaps it's an exotic vacation, safari or a trip to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland.
It's the family vacation I'm referring to, and it isn't what it used to be, is it? Between smaller incomes and saving for retirement years, paying less for time to relax is more than a smart choice.
Even when you have a good job, healthy income, regular paycheck, it can end in 5 minutes, can't it? Jobs aren't for life anymore. Can you imagine life with no money, no income, no way to pay the bills? How does one start investing for the future when you're in the future?
Even though you probably can budget a trip to Europe or Hawaii or Disneyland, you don’t want to burn through our savings account just to have fun now and live under a bridge later. What you want is to add as much money as you can to saving for retirement. There is a happy compromise. You can have F-U-N without spending a ton of money.
Some people who are not wealthy, but are comfortable, reward themselves with nice vacations. That's okay, but you know when to save for retirement. You save the money you need for your future comfort -- before you reward yourself today. It's a simple choice. Do you know how much social security will pay you? Will you have Medicare in 20 years or 30? What you do now, affects how you get to live later.
If you typically spend $2,000 a year on a vacation (and most people spend a lot more) -- you put $1,500 in the bank and spend only $500 on this year's relax time — and at the end of 10 years, you have $15,000 in the savings. In 20 years, you save $30,000.
You know that you don't need to give up your relax time. You can cut expenses, save money and find less costly ways to enjoy the leisure days of life.
Having fun is all about being with the ones you care about; that's what's important. Here are a few tips for leisure life at home with a fun-filled Staycation.
Staycations
From barbecuing in the backyard to visiting the State Fair and taking the dog to the dog park to play, there is a lot to do that is F-U-N that won't break the budget.
Enjoy leisure moments
One of my best tips for leisure life is to not limit fun outings to the weeks you have off from your job. Make leisure a part of your life as often as possible. Have a "date night or two." Take over chores for a day. Light a candle. Put on soft music. Set the table. Have dinner waiting.
Museums, observatories, planetariums
Fill the day with art, science, aviation or history. There are lots like this to choose from.
Scenic train rides
Take a train ride. They range from 30 minutes long to day trips and can be a romantic memory. Some have pretend “train robberies” and other shows. Check it out.
Water parks
Water parks are fun and easier to find than they used to be, because many cities have built them as part of their recreation centers and natatoriums. Community swimming pools are another option to get on your swimsuit and play in the water together.
Zoos and aquariums
I love the zoo, and there are some great aquariums, too. Many zoos also offer behind-the-scenes “VIP” tours. Call and ask.
Camping
Although I am not big on camping myself... camping (and camping in the backyard) are classic low-cost vacation ideas that have always been popular. I think the difference now is that we have a lot more options. We have the Internet, which makes it easier to research the possibilities locally, as well as find attractions and destinations within 100 miles.
I love live musical theater, comedy clubs, even just driving to a nearby town and exploring a little. You can save money and create the fabulous staycation memories with just a little thought... and only a little money. Riding the commuter train downtown is fun especially when the destination is the aquarium or a museum.
Here are more ideas...
• Sporting events (as well as stadium tours)
• Camping (as well as hiking, biking, wilderness viewing areas, state parks)
• Regional amusement parks
• City festivals
• Family fun centers (with bowling, miniature golf, go karts, laser tag).
• Sunset cruises on lakes (usually with dinner)
• Wine-tasting and winery tours
• Community theater and touring Broadway productions
• Historic home tours
• Concerts and theater shows
• Staying at a local resort for a few days
• In-town Bed and Breakfasts
Consider a "Staycation" -- Good tips for leisure life on weekends, on no-school days, and family vacations, too.