The end of summer is soon upon us, and as many are getting ready for the school year, others would like to think about a vacation with that whole week or two a year a “ReallyPoor” job allows. (If at all). Nonetheless, even vacations do not have to be just for the well to do, who budget yearly and visit someplace exciting each new year. Really Poor people though as with the other things in their lives have to be creative, and some of the information to follow should aid in that ‘creativity’. Most of these suggestion hold in mind the largest constituency of ‘Really Poor’ people, single moms and kids. Even among homeless populations they are ‘over-represented’.
The reason many people without money do not take vacations is because they are too tired if they only get a week off till next year, and too poor. I have recently travelled a little in the Midwest, and any safe hotel, even with super discounts and deals, are these days still going to run with discounts over $50.00 a night, and even many middle class but decent family hotels are getting into the $100.00 a night range. Motel 6 may leave the light on , but in too many cases, they have to. A mother with children, travelling alone, is additionally burdened not only with cost factors but with safety issues.
Further, rising gas prices are so significant, that most of us cannot even take a leisurely Sunday drive. A two hour round trip drive in a car with pretty good mileage recently cost around fifty dollars just in gas over two days, which doesn’t sound bad, but it is a local trip without much sightseeing, and is an added cost to the meals, hotels etc, making vacations for poor people mostly impossible, when the money is necessary to pay bills and eat.
GAS
Still, there are ways to use about the same money you would use at home for the week on a creative outing. To begin with, the gas, if one has a car, is going to be somewhat of a problem, as mentioned. During a week of driving to work though, you would use depending on distance, one might use as little as $10-$20 , or as in Wisconsin where a lot of people live in small cities outside of big cities, weekly gas costs can be as much as $50 or more for a small family. That is $200.00 a month! Unless you save for gas, that will limit your trip to a point not too far from home. The cheapest gas prices in your region can be found by going to gasbuddy.com. They have folks report their local gas prices statewide and show the rates and locations. Of course it doesn’t make sense to drive 50 miles to save a dollar and a half, so consider that in your decision. Another way to reduce gas costs is to make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you drive smoothly and safely, without using air conditioning more than you have to, if you have it. If your car will take it, I85 ethanol can be up to a dollar a gallon cheaper. Another idea, is if you are during regular weeks under a severe budget, for about 4 or 5 weeks, drive only when necessary so that you can use what you save towards gas for your trip.
Where to Go
Free and ‘Wild Camping’
If you have a mind to do it, you can spend an entire week camping for no camping fees, sometimes in some great places, but you have to be very careful. FreeCampsites.net is one of many sites online that lists free or close to free campgrounds, even in nice State or National Forest Campgrounds. Some have facilities, and some do not, so consider your level of camping skills and style especially with children. You will need a tent if you do not have some kind of camper or old RV, and even if you think you might sleep in your car, don’t try as a lot of ‘free’ sites require at least tent camping. The sites online usually tell what is at the site, how long you can stay for free, and what facilities are nearby, as well as information about local touristy stuff. Be careful though, because while the call of hiking, and marshmallows over a fire, and telling stories at night is appealing, the free sites run in two basic categories: safe, and not safe. The most likely to be safe are those that are in National Parks and which are patrolled regularly.
Wild Camping (some make the distinction between this and ‘free’) is camping freely apart from designated or ‘allowed’ areas: many single people with an outdoors spirit like to do this. However, the US is not too friendly to wild camping, and may consider any wild camping the same way they consider homeless camping, so this is not the best option for a family. Europe varies by nation but some nations allow free ‘wild’ camping on the edge of even private property as long as one is gone by early morning (6am or 7am). Israel has some very inexpensive camping and in more wilderness areas ‘free’ camping, but little by little many European nations are outlawing wild camping.
HOSTELS
Another option is Hostels which used to be for wandering youths finding themselves the year after college, but now there are many hostels that while costing a bit, are far cheaper than hotels, and the family ones are as safe or safer. A caution though: hostels are often age or type limited, and single person hostels will not often take families in part for family safety and the ‘flavor’ of young single persons’ lives. Again, online searches will even show pictures of hostels including many in the US which are clean and acceptable, and many offer a free breakfast in dining areas. If one is traveling with children though, they can get a little pricey because they often charge by the bed not the room. The cheapest prices are also ‘dorm style’ which many parents or couples do not care for. HostelUsa.com is an example of many of the online sites leading to lodging at a discount.
Church Campgrounds and Revivals
When my children were young we went through some tough years when there was no money at all for anything but survival. However, once or twice a year, churches in the area affiliated with the ones we attended, had camp meetings, like the old fashion kind, which are great for families, and often provide lodging or free camping. They usually also provide potluck meals, and lots of preaching and singing. They really are fun and wholesome and if there is little or no budget, can get you away to a nice place for a week or so, hearing the greatest story ever told.
Family Visits
One of the least expensive vacations for a single parent family if family is not too far away is a visit home. They will usually love to see you for about a week until grandmom starts rocking her chair a little too hard. You can take your children to free events in the area, and take them to see the places you grew up, go through photo albums etc. It helps with the budget and gives them a sense of belonging. Be reasonable though, if it is just your parent(s) not used to kids around all day, be courteous and loving, and keep them out of the house part of the day. Nice for about a week.
Free RV Parking
There are a number of places that allow one night, free overnight parking for RVs. Some even really poor people have an old camper, that can be cleaned out and turned into a cheery vacation. A little paint can be bought from the RESTORE, a habitat for humanity recycling store, or if you are a little wicked you can go to Lowe’s and buy samples for your remodeling project for a little over two dollars, which will be enough for repainting the cabinets in an old RV. A handy mom can sew new slipcovers for the cushions in those old 1970’s RVs, and as long as everything works and they run, what’s the difference? Stop at a rest stop and have a picnic: that’s what my mother and father used to do en route to Baltimore once a year for no less than 8 children: it’s cheaper than McDonalds and healthier. Show kids the large maps showing where they are and teach them to read maps on the way.
Wal Mart Stores, at least many, allow free overnight parking for RVs as long as it is only one night, and they would like people to make a purchase while there. That’s not usually too hard, since there’s always something needed like a box of cereal, or paper towels. Leave the designated spaces clean and be a good guest though, so they don’t shut down the practice. Some restaurants like Hickory Farms will allow overnight parking of RVs after the restaurant closes, but you have to ask the manager, so its hard to plan unless you know they do. Some of the free camping sites have information on which do and don’t. Truck stops on highways also will allow some overnight RV parking, but consider safety if traveling alone or with children. There are also city parks which allow overnight RV parking in some states, for a few spaces. Gas stations may or may not, but again exercise caution: while most of these sites are safe for all, some may be the site of criminal activity such as prostitution, and you don’t want to even park in the vicinty.
The Really Poor, more often than not do not even think about vacations, quite understandably: there just isn’t any money, even for the few things mentioned above that are not free. Getting out though for a week with someplace to go, away from the grind, can be very refreshing, and give you some renewed vigor in creative approaches to hard situations. A vacation doesn’t have to cost very much at all with some thought and planning. Happy Camping, campers!
ekb
The reason many people without money do not take vacations is because they are too tired if they only get a week off till next year, and too poor. I have recently travelled a little in the Midwest, and any safe hotel, even with super discounts and deals, are these days still going to run with discounts over $50.00 a night, and even many middle class but decent family hotels are getting into the $100.00 a night range. Motel 6 may leave the light on , but in too many cases, they have to. A mother with children, travelling alone, is additionally burdened not only with cost factors but with safety issues.
Further, rising gas prices are so significant, that most of us cannot even take a leisurely Sunday drive. A two hour round trip drive in a car with pretty good mileage recently cost around fifty dollars just in gas over two days, which doesn’t sound bad, but it is a local trip without much sightseeing, and is an added cost to the meals, hotels etc, making vacations for poor people mostly impossible, when the money is necessary to pay bills and eat.
GAS
Still, there are ways to use about the same money you would use at home for the week on a creative outing. To begin with, the gas, if one has a car, is going to be somewhat of a problem, as mentioned. During a week of driving to work though, you would use depending on distance, one might use as little as $10-$20 , or as in Wisconsin where a lot of people live in small cities outside of big cities, weekly gas costs can be as much as $50 or more for a small family. That is $200.00 a month! Unless you save for gas, that will limit your trip to a point not too far from home. The cheapest gas prices in your region can be found by going to gasbuddy.com. They have folks report their local gas prices statewide and show the rates and locations. Of course it doesn’t make sense to drive 50 miles to save a dollar and a half, so consider that in your decision. Another way to reduce gas costs is to make sure your tires are properly inflated and that you drive smoothly and safely, without using air conditioning more than you have to, if you have it. If your car will take it, I85 ethanol can be up to a dollar a gallon cheaper. Another idea, is if you are during regular weeks under a severe budget, for about 4 or 5 weeks, drive only when necessary so that you can use what you save towards gas for your trip.
Where to Go
Free and ‘Wild Camping’
If you have a mind to do it, you can spend an entire week camping for no camping fees, sometimes in some great places, but you have to be very careful. FreeCampsites.net is one of many sites online that lists free or close to free campgrounds, even in nice State or National Forest Campgrounds. Some have facilities, and some do not, so consider your level of camping skills and style especially with children. You will need a tent if you do not have some kind of camper or old RV, and even if you think you might sleep in your car, don’t try as a lot of ‘free’ sites require at least tent camping. The sites online usually tell what is at the site, how long you can stay for free, and what facilities are nearby, as well as information about local touristy stuff. Be careful though, because while the call of hiking, and marshmallows over a fire, and telling stories at night is appealing, the free sites run in two basic categories: safe, and not safe. The most likely to be safe are those that are in National Parks and which are patrolled regularly.
Wild Camping (some make the distinction between this and ‘free’) is camping freely apart from designated or ‘allowed’ areas: many single people with an outdoors spirit like to do this. However, the US is not too friendly to wild camping, and may consider any wild camping the same way they consider homeless camping, so this is not the best option for a family. Europe varies by nation but some nations allow free ‘wild’ camping on the edge of even private property as long as one is gone by early morning (6am or 7am). Israel has some very inexpensive camping and in more wilderness areas ‘free’ camping, but little by little many European nations are outlawing wild camping.
HOSTELS
Another option is Hostels which used to be for wandering youths finding themselves the year after college, but now there are many hostels that while costing a bit, are far cheaper than hotels, and the family ones are as safe or safer. A caution though: hostels are often age or type limited, and single person hostels will not often take families in part for family safety and the ‘flavor’ of young single persons’ lives. Again, online searches will even show pictures of hostels including many in the US which are clean and acceptable, and many offer a free breakfast in dining areas. If one is traveling with children though, they can get a little pricey because they often charge by the bed not the room. The cheapest prices are also ‘dorm style’ which many parents or couples do not care for. HostelUsa.com is an example of many of the online sites leading to lodging at a discount.
Church Campgrounds and Revivals
When my children were young we went through some tough years when there was no money at all for anything but survival. However, once or twice a year, churches in the area affiliated with the ones we attended, had camp meetings, like the old fashion kind, which are great for families, and often provide lodging or free camping. They usually also provide potluck meals, and lots of preaching and singing. They really are fun and wholesome and if there is little or no budget, can get you away to a nice place for a week or so, hearing the greatest story ever told.
Family Visits
One of the least expensive vacations for a single parent family if family is not too far away is a visit home. They will usually love to see you for about a week until grandmom starts rocking her chair a little too hard. You can take your children to free events in the area, and take them to see the places you grew up, go through photo albums etc. It helps with the budget and gives them a sense of belonging. Be reasonable though, if it is just your parent(s) not used to kids around all day, be courteous and loving, and keep them out of the house part of the day. Nice for about a week.
Free RV Parking
There are a number of places that allow one night, free overnight parking for RVs. Some even really poor people have an old camper, that can be cleaned out and turned into a cheery vacation. A little paint can be bought from the RESTORE, a habitat for humanity recycling store, or if you are a little wicked you can go to Lowe’s and buy samples for your remodeling project for a little over two dollars, which will be enough for repainting the cabinets in an old RV. A handy mom can sew new slipcovers for the cushions in those old 1970’s RVs, and as long as everything works and they run, what’s the difference? Stop at a rest stop and have a picnic: that’s what my mother and father used to do en route to Baltimore once a year for no less than 8 children: it’s cheaper than McDonalds and healthier. Show kids the large maps showing where they are and teach them to read maps on the way.
Wal Mart Stores, at least many, allow free overnight parking for RVs as long as it is only one night, and they would like people to make a purchase while there. That’s not usually too hard, since there’s always something needed like a box of cereal, or paper towels. Leave the designated spaces clean and be a good guest though, so they don’t shut down the practice. Some restaurants like Hickory Farms will allow overnight parking of RVs after the restaurant closes, but you have to ask the manager, so its hard to plan unless you know they do. Some of the free camping sites have information on which do and don’t. Truck stops on highways also will allow some overnight RV parking, but consider safety if traveling alone or with children. There are also city parks which allow overnight RV parking in some states, for a few spaces. Gas stations may or may not, but again exercise caution: while most of these sites are safe for all, some may be the site of criminal activity such as prostitution, and you don’t want to even park in the vicinty.
The Really Poor, more often than not do not even think about vacations, quite understandably: there just isn’t any money, even for the few things mentioned above that are not free. Getting out though for a week with someplace to go, away from the grind, can be very refreshing, and give you some renewed vigor in creative approaches to hard situations. A vacation doesn’t have to cost very much at all with some thought and planning. Happy Camping, campers!
ekb
No comments:
Post a Comment