Focus on the Family Magazine - June/July 2020

…that don’t break the bank
BY SAMI CONE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN DRAGO
6:19 A.M. As my husband finishes packing the
trunk, our teenagers argue over who gets the back
seat to themselves. I have wondered whether this
weekend adventure will be worth the effort—the
planning, the saving, the follow-through.
But . . . the journey is the gift.
One of our family’s values has long been to trade
the “stuff” of life for experiences together. That’s
often easier said than done. With the barrage of
media and (usually) good-intentioned friends telling
us what we should buy or what we need to own,
it can be difficult to look past the tangible to see
the intangible. Yet we’ve come to appreciate the
valuable payoff in prioritizing shared experiences—
a deep bonding with one another and family memories
that will last a lifetime. We’ve also discovered
that committing to regular family adventures
doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Do you want to start bonding as a family through
sharing experiences? The following are a few tips
about where to look and how to get started:
Adventures just
down the road
Who said you must leave town to get away? Even
if you don’t live near a big city or tourist area, there
are likely a number of interesting events and places
to stay within a 45-minute drive from home.
Whether you want to take the family to a new
exhibit and spend the night downtown, or unplug
from media by camping at a provincial state park, park, a little a little
research and creativity can reveal many options.
Find something for everyone. I recommend
picking an activity that your whole family will
enjoy, perhaps a local sporting event or familyfriendly
festival. Or choose something totally new
that you can experience together. Ever been to
an air show? A museum with a collection of the
world’s largest insects?
Spend the night, if possible. While it may seem
contrary to good budgeting practices to spend
money on lodging near your home, the impact on
kids is well worth it. Whether it’s staying up late
watching a movie after swimming in the hotel pool
or sleeping in and then eating as many different
types of cereals as possible from the breakfast
buffet, kids love the adventure of a night away.
Make it a mini? If spending the night somewhere
isn’t in your budget, consider planning a staycation.
Put aside weekend chores and camp out in your
backyard or living room, and then spend the next
day exploring your hometown. Discuss with your
family what means the most to them when it comes
to time together. Just as our kids often preferred
hanging out at the hotel more than exploring the
destination, you needn’t spend unnecessary money
on something that doesn’t speak to your family’s
sense of adventure. >>>
June / July 2020 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY 37