MAKE YOUR GETAWAY

How to have fun on a microscopic budget
By Jaclyn Law

The other day, I read in the paper that the rising cost of travel has convinced a lot of people to spend their holidays at home. There’s even a cheeky new term for this trend: the “staycation.”

The need for cheap entertainment is nothing new for young adults, since our budget tends to be pretty limited anyway. But if you’re looking for fun, inexpensive activities beyond the obvious (DVD rentals, video games and hanging out at the mall food court), read on – we’ve come up with a list of free, cheap and moderately priced mini-getaways that you can enjoy any time.

• Rent a hotel room with friends for a night or weekend – even if it’s in your own city. Ask about discounted hotel/dinner/theatre packages – check with your city’s tourism office.
• Girls, throw a spa day at home, complete with manicures and pedicures. You can even pool your cash to hire a beautician to make a house call. Or, treat yourself to a couple of deluxe bath products and indulge in a long soak.
• Buy a food magazine or look online for exotic recipes. Grab your pals and hunt down the ingredients at ethnic stores, then cook up a storm and enjoy the results. (And if it doesn’t work out, order a pizza.)
• Inquire at community centres, libraries and art schools about low-cost arts-and-crafts classes, such as pottery, painting, knitting, beadwork, jewelry making, calligraphy, bookmaking and soapmaking. Or, try a new activity like ballet, yoga, African drumming or creative writing.
• Like to read? Start a book club. To learn how or find an existing club in your area, visit www.canadianbookclubs.com.
• Pretend you’re a tourist in your hometown. Visit the attractions and explore parts of the city you don’t usually pass through (you might even want to flip through a guidebook in advance). Don’t forget to pick up a few tacky souvenirs!
• Check the newspaper or alternative weeklies for listings of free literary readings, movie screenings, guided tours, concerts, book fairs and more.
• Have lunch at a hip restaurant – it’s more affordable than dinner, and you can still enjoy the cuisine, ambiance and service.
• Pack a picnic basket with gourmet items, then enjoy lunch at a park (don’t forget to wear sunscreen!).
• Take a short road trip to a neighbouring town for a drama festival, cultural fair or eating tour.
• Be a kid again! Spend an afternoon at a go-kart track, an indoor climbing gym, a paintball arena or an arcade.
• Clean out your junk and hold a yard sale. You’ll be clutter-free and have moolah for the activities listed above – sweet!
• Sit back and daydream – when’s the last time you did that?