There are very few “free” holidays, even if you get your accommodation and travel paid for, heck even food, there are usually other things to consider like getting to the airport, holiday related expenses like sunscreen, new swimsuits etc!
I was recently offered a “free” holiday, a week @ a family members house in the west country. She is going on holiday and has cats, as she is away for 10 days it would be too long to kennel the cats, so bringing in someone everyday would be expensive. I get the pretty standard 5 weeks vacation/annual leave a year and having only used 1 so far was able to book another! I shall be in a lovely little modern cottage with a garden and cats for a week, 15 minutes drive from the the closest beach, 20 minutes drive from a national park!
But, I have some pretty tight goals for the month that I am not willing to compromise on, so even this free holiday has taken some planning. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
- Arrange my no spend days so that next week I can have only 3 no spend days instead of 5, this gives me a little more flexibility!
- Planned to take my lentils, chickpeas and barley with me
- Contacted my three friends who live in the area and arrange how we are going to meet. With my goals in mind I’ve arranged one to come over for dinner, another to go for a walk on the beach with and finally the last friend to spend an afternoon walking in the national park with!
- I found coupons for a restaurant near the town the house is in that has a 50% off meal deal, I plan to take my relative out for a thank you for allowing me to use the house! She doesn’t get taken out much so thought she’d like it. I’ll also do some gardening for her and can’t wait actually!
- Pre-planned my shopping so that @ the end of the week I can buy bread, milk, salad and some fruit for my relative when she arrives back. This means she doesn’t have to go without while she recuperates from travelling!
- Looked at the various travel costs using buses, car and trains for getting around her local area!
- Taken a book I want to read out of the library so that I can spend days sitting in the garden reading! I’ve decided on Long Way Down about a pretty amazing motorcycle ride from Scotland to South Africa!
- Kept my extra money left from my £10 a week spending money over July and Aug so I can leave my relative with a full tank of petrol!
- Booked my train tickets early and with off-peak travel!
- Found frugal local things to do that will make me feel like I’ve had a holiday – I plan to swim 3x @ the local pool, have many long walks along the beach, walk around the village she lives in, treat myself to the Saturday Times, leave my laptop @ home and just enjoy breathing without rushing anywhere or hearing sirens, screaming and cars; which is pretty much all I hear in my London flat :0)
- Accept that the tatty old swimsuit I currently own will make do for this holiday and I don’t need another one!!
- Remember that holidays don’t have to be about grand gestures, excessive spending or eating. The freedom I have since I started on my downshifting journey is something I never had when I was an active consumer! My holiday should just be a reflection of the new me!
You are so disciplined! It’s great. Enjoy the holiday and the break from the daily grind!
Deepali, I feel it has taken me far too long to learn this discipline!!!
I’d suggest spending a little money on some local food whilst you’re down there. I was in Devon a couple of months ago and spent like £1.50 or something on a jar of chutney. I didn’t open it until I got back, so it sort of extended the trip.
i’m glad to see that you booked a holiday! I have been trying to come up with something in the UK but couldn’t find anything amazing. I’ve finally booked, though and cannot wait! One thing I love about the UK is that everyone takes holiday. In the States, it is not always so.
Great suggestion Plonkee!
Saving not shoes – couldn’t agree more. I have so many friends with good incomes in the US and Canada that will eat out 3-4x a week because it’s “cheap” but never go on holiday, have never even seen their own country let alone travelled to other countries. One thing I love about British culture is that yearly holiday!
Sounds like a lovely holiday for you! Enjoy and I agree about the local food, we always bring back some spicy local chutney from Wales, it is so good that I now take orders from friends! lol!
I’m a frugal but not a No Budget Traveler like poetloverrebelspy she is incredable at no budget traveling, and when I mean no budget I mean no budget!!!
She gives a whole new meaning to frugal traveling! I’m a regular reader and I highly recomend her blog
http://nobudgettravel.wordpress.com/
opps incredible forgot to run spell check.
It sounds delightful! I’m sure you’ll also find plenty of time of reflection as well as relaxation and will return to ‘the grind’ refreshed and more resolute than ever.
Wow – Good on ya girl – you’ve inspired me to finaly get my bm in gear and emulate you.
I hope the weather improves before you arrive! It is raining heavily and blowing a gale here in Devon this morning. Good luck with your frugal holiday, have a great time.
I think it is so nice that you are so considerate to your relative even as you are on a budget. it sounds like you will have a wonderful relaxing time. Also it is true that being on a proper budget means that one spends on things that matter (like travel ) rather than things that don’t (forgettable meals from a takeaway).
You really know yours onions when it comes to being frugal, that’s for sure!
It’s about 15 years at least since I last went to the West Country. That was also a relatively frugal holiday – three weeks of travelling around on a motorbike, staying at cheap B&Bs (and one night spent sleeping rough in a field) and just enjoying being ‘free’. No visits to nightclubs, the cinema or other expensive entertainment but lots of walks on beaches, across the moors, and wandering around beautiful villages. They were good times. I have more wonderful memories from simple holidays than I do from a week in Tenerife, Majorca or Weymouth (at a Haven camp!)
That is so incredibly impressive – well done you! The best things in life are free, especially free time, so enjoy!
You’ve already sorted travel out but https://www.liftshare.org/uk/comstart.asp is useful to know. It matches up people with spare space in their car with people looking to catch a lift. Not 100% environmentally friendly as cars are involved but if people are going anyway, it can be a cheap way of getting around – esp considering how expensive train journeys are in this country. Haven’t tried it myself but I think it’s a great idea.
Jade x
thejunglefever.blogspot.com
Hey, that sounds like a really nice way to relax for a week – and in such a beautiful part of the country! You’ve got me thinking if we’ve got any relatives we can get house-poaching on…
Another idea for a frugal holiday (well doing something different anyway) is something like this
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-volunteering/w-workingholidays/w-workingholidays-find_working_holiday.htm
Costs £80 for the week, but might be worth considering.
The “holiday” I was looking at was £80 but the link I gave doesn’t take you to it – it was on Exmoor. Oh well …. hope you get the idea!
Then there’s WWOOFing …
http://www.wwoof.org/
Catz – will certainly try to!
Rob – thanks for the site!
Kerry – that’s exactly what I need – time to rest and recuperate from so much work!
Sledge – thanks, I find it funny that I could inspire anyone!!
Debbie – thanks, I don’t really like very hot weather but a nice cool temp in the ealy 70′s would be great!
Neiman – that is exactly it, why spend on nothing when you can buy life experiences!! I do think it’s really important not to take advantage of people, that way you get asked back and don’t put a strain on your relationship!
Sharon – Thank you! I’ve never been to a holiday camp, what are they like?? I do love Hi-De-Hi!!!
Jade- thanks for the link!!
Fru-gal hope you are successful!!
Sandie, thank you for the links! I love volunteer holidays, should have a look for next year!!
That is absolutely my kind of a vacation!! You’re going to make it a great one!! Have fun
This is great… I want to come! Although we’ve paid out for our two holidays this year, we decided to stay in the UK, take the dogs with us to save kennel fees and plan to spend time walking and enjoying this country, reading and relaxing and Yes, we’re taking food with us!
Your holiday sounds heavenly. Reading, walking, catching up with friends, a spot of gardening… can’t think of anything nicer.
This post is a terrific example that being frugal is not the same as being mean. You are definitely frugal, yet are generous with your relative. I hope you have a simply marvellous time.
Won’t your relative be treating you to something rather than the other way around?
Maybe you could hire yourself out as a house sitter? Lots of free holidays and be paid cash too.
Despite the fact she talks about it being so I can cat sit, I know she does it for me! Plus I have more money than she does and she has already done a lot for me, I’m happy to help out as much as I can! PLUS she will have added bills from my stay
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