This document is one of a series developed by Money Mentors, a not-for-profit credit counselling and money management organization based in Alberta.

Here, the focus is on saving money by having a staycation, which means staying at home and pretending to be a tourist on vacation in the community.

Just like going away, a staycation involves selecting dates and determining the amount of money available for spending. The authors suggest planning around local events of interest to the family.

Other suggestions include trying new restaurants; getting caught up on movies or books; staying overnight in a hotel; organizing visits with family and friends; and taking a break from housework by hiring a cleaning service for a week.