The season of beaches, BBQs and outdoor festivals is quickly coming to an end, but it’s not completely over yet! Take advantage of the last unofficial weekend of the summer season — Labor Day weekend — and pack lightly (or not at all!) for these last-minute, affordable ideas for ending the summer on the right note!

Image: iStockphoto

Online Deals

Deals online through various getaway websites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Last Minute Travel or Expedia can make your last summer weekend your best weekend of the season. With many deals in various destinations, going online to book a last-minute trip has become one of the most popular ways, with up to 80 percent off regular hotel prices.

Tip: Make sure you read the fine print of your online deal to make sure the Labor Day holiday weekend is covered with the number of nights you need. Book your travel, pack your bags and you’re all set to soak up the last summer weekend.

thinkstockphotos.com

Did you suddenly look up to find that it’s August?

It’s funny that not too long ago, many women were eager to greet the summer with a fresh stack of summer reads they hoped would accompany them on a beachside hammock. Now, as the air starts to cool and hint at autumn and the onslaught of back-to-school commercials pipe through the television, the middle of August beckons with an even more disheartening revelation: you haven’t had a summer vacation.

Summer’s the easy season, a time for sunny adventures in an exotic locale or a road trip with girlfriends. But at a reported average of $1,180 per person, a relaxing vacation can come with unwarranted financial stress. Did an unexpected car repair eat into you vacation savings? Don’t think you can scrape together airfare before Labor Day hits? Were you caught in a harried work schedule during June and July? Though your cruise ship dreams may have fallen short this summer, you haven’t missed the boat. You don’t always have to vacate to have a vacation; a staycation (a period of time where you relax at home) in your neck of the woods might be what you need to recharge, regroup, and recalibrate your senses. Here are some hints for finding some R & R right where you are:

Disconnect – If you inform your boss that there’s no cell phone service on the high seas or of the exorbitant cell phone roaming fees in Rome, he shouldn’t expect you to be available via text or e-mail. And you shouldn’t be – you’re on vacation. The same rule applies to a staycation. Just as you’d do miles away from the office, unplug from the responsibilities of work. Let your boss know you’ll be unavailable. Resist the urge to check e-mail or to swing by your nearby office one afternoon to “check in.” A simple “I’ll respond to e-mail messages upon my return” should suffice for your automatic out-of-office reply to senders, no matter how close you are to home.

Be A Tourist in Your Town – Been meaning to check out the observatory deck on the local skyscraper? Never had the time to eat at the famous hole-in-the-wall on the outskirts of town? A staycation is the perfect opportunity to explore your city with fresh eyes. Why not grab a tourist guide and appreciate the sights you may have taken for granted as resident? Walk at a tourist’s pace downtown, look up at the height of the buildings, take pictures at all the landmarks. Instead of stomping across the bridge, stop to marvel at the gleam of the river below you. Pack a picnic for the rolling meadows or go for a hike on the trail that’s only a few miles away from you that thousands may travel long distances just to see.

Take a Spa Weekend at a Local Hotel – Scour travel websites to find deals on spa getaway packages at a nearby inn. Pack a small bag and stay the night to make the luxury last. Check out the services offered by local massage and cosmetology schools, too. You can find professional-quality treatments and rubdowns for prices that won’t dent your pocketbook.

Camp Out in Your Own Backyard – Erect a tent and fire up the grill for some s’mores . Enjoying the great outdoors in your own backyard makes for a great late-summer’s night retreat with friends or a romantic romp with your honey.

Pamper Yourself and Your Place – Hire a cleaning crew to handle your weekend chores. Have them freshen your sheets, fluff your pillows, and light candles on the tables before they leave. The collection of take-out menus stacked in the kitchen drawer? Put them to good use this weekend and have your meals prepared and brought to your front door. Bring the spa to you, too: many spas offer mobile massage services that will come to your home.

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Source: wechealthunit.org

From yourtango.com

By Sinclair Institute

Are you looking to plan a romantic getaway for you and your man? Instead of spending tons of money on an exotic, faraway location, check out these easy tips to have a focused vacation at home.

1. Plan ahead. The best way to pull off a staycation when you have kids is to make sure everything is planned beforehand. You do not want your spouse to have other plans for the weekend, so talk about it.

2. Hire a sitter. If you have young children, you will want to hire a babysitter so you can fully enjoy yourself. If you do not have family that can help, consider exchanging the favor with friends. Invite their kids have a sleepover with yours one weekend and then ship yours off to their house. Either way, if you can get the kids out of your house for the weekend, you will have a much better time with your man.

Read more at yourtango.com

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(Bankrate) — Slashing your annual vacation travel budget is an easy way to save money, and families can choose a much less expensive “staycation” to achieve that goal. But staying at home or close to home can look, sound, taste and feel like a vacation. ”Vacation sounds a little more exotic, but with a staycation, it’s all about that creativity. You can take something ordinary and make it extraordinary,” says Paul Tocknell, who founded the Staycation Ideas website with his wife, Holly. “It’s not necessarily about the destination; it’s about the journey.”  Tocknell’s secret is to think like a tourist. Look at your own area as an outsider might, and staycation destination ideas will present themselves.  Here are five tips for making a staycation feel like a vacation.

Read More…

Got time off, but no dough to jet off somewhere fancy?  No worries! Take a staycation instead! A staycation is when you are taking time off from work, but you’re not hopping on a plane anywhere. The key to a successful staycation is to stay close to home, spend little to no money and have a good time.

Here’s how to do it:

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