Trying to spend money this summer? This year, forego expensive vacations and opt for a cheap and cheerful stay. Vacations at home can be a surprisingly fun alternative, if you put a little planning and effort into it. Cut down on the drudgery of everyday life and schedule plenty of exciting activities, and your vacation will be a resounding success!

Leave the routine:

• Treat the job the same way you would when you were out of the country. Can’t help but be ‘on call’? Save it for emergencies. Otherwise, it’s not a proper vacation.
• Take care of housework sooner or later. A relaxing vacation does not include laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping.
• Delete the family calendar. Take a break from regularly scheduled obligations, classes, and sports. Replace with fun-filled group activities.
• Set appropriate expectations within your social circle, ie you will not be able to contact you for the duration or respond only to urgent issues.

Turn off electronics:

• Use the “out of office” setting on computers and phones. Others are less likely to panic when you don’t respond instantly.
• Turn off the idiot box. PVR your favorite shows and catch up afterwards; Or better yet, show that you can live without television for a week or two.
• Give up video games. Leave the virtual world behind and enjoy some real fun for a change.
• Put down the smartphone! Make a pact to minimize calls (work and personal) and establish a system of fines for family members who break the rules. Spend the extra money on vacation adventures.
• Avoid surfing the net. If you need to search for something, quickly go online and then turn off. Email and the Internet can consume everything. Don’t get sucked into the vortex.

Focus on the fun:

• What activities would you recommend to outsiders? Take a local guide and rediscover the main attractions of your city.
• Add a little drama to your life. Catch a summer blockbuster, drive-in movie, live theater show, or devour a long-awaited book.
• The sporty type? Catch a major league game, find a pool, water park or recreation area, or schedule a personalized walking or biking tour of the city.
• Enjoy some mental relaxation at local museums, art galleries, historic properties, science centers and zoos. In Toronto, free tickets are available at your library.
• If you’re near open water, consider a boat tour. Rent kayaks, take sailing lessons, or book a ferry excursion for a great day out on the waves.
• Gather family and friends for a good old-fashioned picnic or barbecue at a community park. Bring snacks, toys and games to keep everyone busy and happy.
• Foodies will jump at the chance to visit new/favorite restaurants and social butterflies are likely to appreciate concerts, pub crawls, or clubbing.
• Schedule a day trip to explore beyond the city limits. Find cheap thrills at the amusement park, enjoy a regional wine tour, enjoy a nearby beach, or make your way through the local farmers market.

Holidays at home are not synonymous with deprivation. Break with your usual routine, channel your inner tourist and don’t waste a moment! You’ll return to work refreshed and recharged, and you’ll still have money in your pocket. It could be the best vacation you’ve ever had.

What is your favorite vacation activity? How do you plan to enjoy your hometown in the summer of 2013?