With the recent surge of gas prices, the thought of taking your vehicle out on the road for a long summer getaway might make you want to rethink the idea. So how do you have that fantastic summer vacation without the high price tag? Vacation at home- with the right plan you and your family can have a fabulous summer vacation that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. A home-based vacation can save you loads of money on transportation costs and lodging while expanding on the smart management decisions you’d make when traveling.

If history is an indicator, American consumers haven't seen average gas prices rise this close to the $4 mark since 2008, the year some travel experts called "Staycation Summer." Remember that a staycation will only fulfill your much needed vacation needs if it’s treated as a true vacation, not a cheap alternative. As your staycation approaches, make certain to make all necessary preparations just as you would if you were leaving on a trip this way you’re not stuck doing chores and paying bills while on vacation.

Get a hold of some local travel guides, many communities offer vacation style activities. There may be a variety of activities you’ve never gotten around to doing or just didn’t know existed. In El Paso for instance, we’re just a short drive (approx. 2 hours) to Elephant Butte Lake where you and your family can enjoy camping, boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and bird watching. And if your looking to invest in a new toy this summer, head on over to your local recreational dealership. Whether you’re looking for a new ATV, RV, boat, Jet Ski or motorcycle, EPEFCU can finance your loan at a great low rate, just another way to help you save money.

Once you have an idea of where you’d like to go, plan out your itinerary just as you would on any other destination getaway. Make sure your plans get you out of the house-everyday.

Set a budget-remember that the point of a staycation is to save money, so you’ll want to spend less than what you would have if you’d gone out of town, but more than what you’d normally spend on entertainment. This is your vacation after all!

Go on a chore strike. Most people don’t normally clean out their closets, make their beds or organize the garage while on their vacation, and you shouldn’t either. Take a break, hang up your chore hat for the next week and let yourself relax, after all, this is your vacation.

These days, American have been conditioned to think that taking a vacation means getting out of town. Vacation is a mindset, what we look forward to the most when taking a vacation is spending more time with our family, and getting a break from our busy work week and let’s face it, you can do both at home. And when you finish the summer without a mountain of vacation debt you’ll be able to start saving for a destination vacation next year. Need some help? Open up a Vacation Club Account now through July 31st and start saving for that perfect getaway today!