It’s summer! Time for a vacation, or not. As the weather heats up we are all looking for ways to cool down, unwind and relax. If spending money ain't your thing or in the budget don't fret. By now everyone is familiar with the term “staycation” I had never heard of this term until a few years ago, but now staycations are becoming increasingly more common as people look for ways to still enjoy life but live within their means.

What is a staycation anyway? According to Wikipedia, a staycation (also spelled stay-cation, stacation, or staykation) is a neologism for a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home, relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions. Staycations have achieved high popularity in the US during the financial crisis of 2007–2010 in which unemployment levels and gas prices were high.

Boring! Who wants to stay home when there are so many awesome places to visit? Well, staying at home doesn’t have to be boring or leave you feeling empty. With a little bit of planning, the right attitude and some out of the box thinking, stay home can be fun and easy on the wallet. How many times have you returned from a vacation only to say that you need a vacation from your vacation?

If you live in or near a City there are endless activities and attractions for you to experience for free or at a minimal cost. Art lover? Most museums offer free admission on select days, so take advantage of their generosity. Grab a sketchpad and really go wild. Perhaps music is more your thing. Check local listings for free concerts and performances in your area. You might not get to hear your favorite band but there is a lot of great undiscovered music just waiting to be heard. Street fairs are excellent places to people watch, soak up some sun and enjoy the outdoors. They plentiful during the summer months and often provide entertainment, food and beverage options at an affordable price. Most cities also have community pools so grab a trashy novel and some sunscreen and make a day of it.

If you are looking to leave the rat race behind camping is a fun and affordable way to commune with nature. All you really need is a tent, a cooler and some food. Don’t let not having the “right” gear keep you from discovering your inner power animal. Camping is a great family activity and many places also have hiking, canoeing or biking trails near by. There is nothing better than sitting around a fire on a hot night drinking a cold beer and staring up at the stars.

With a little effort, some research and an open mind there are a lot of ways for you to enjoy a stay at home vacation. No matter what, being on vacation is always better than going to work.