What can you do on vacation with no money?
?Honey B. Fly? asked:
My job decided to pay my share of my health insurance then decided to take it back by deducting it from my July checks. Funny thing is, my vacation is in July, so now I’m too broke to enjoy myself with the things/places I planned to do/go…. Long story short, instead of pouting and wasting my time in front of the tv and computer, what can I do instead?! I already played tourist last month when I had my other vacation, so that’s out.
Duh, forgot to mention I live in a tourist city: CHICAGO! LOL
If I “skip” all my bills/rent, I’d have plenty money, but the responsible person in me says it makes more sense to keep my lights and gas on and a roof over my head than go to a resort!
Lawrence
My job decided to pay my share of my health insurance then decided to take it back by deducting it from my July checks. Funny thing is, my vacation is in July, so now I’m too broke to enjoy myself with the things/places I planned to do/go…. Long story short, instead of pouting and wasting my time in front of the tv and computer, what can I do instead?! I already played tourist last month when I had my other vacation, so that’s out.
Duh, forgot to mention I live in a tourist city: CHICAGO! LOL
If I “skip” all my bills/rent, I’d have plenty money, but the responsible person in me says it makes more sense to keep my lights and gas on and a roof over my head than go to a resort!
Lawrence
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 am
Marie
sight see
July 25th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Grace
i’d walk around and enjoy the view!
i’m goin to puerto rico on friday, and i don’t got no cash
but dats ok cause i love the sights!
especially the beaches!
they’re so beautiful, and free! lol
YEAH
SO JUST ENJOY UR VACATION
even if u can’t buy anything
have a great trip! : )
July 27th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Franklin
the beach is always free…
July 30th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Gary
Beach
August 1st, 2009 at 3:35 am
Nathan
not much, Read a book from a library or go to a park or watch tv.
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Samantha
camp in your backyard?
August 5th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Loretta
Visit all of your local museums and art galleries, local botanical gardens and farmer’s markets.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Marlene
Maybe do some fishing?
August 7th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Virginia
spend time with family & friends
August 8th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Jamie
I would relax at the beach with friends or something. My friends rented a beach house, and I’ll be staying with them for two weeks. So if you have a beach nearby, I would suggest that. Although it depends on were you live. If not the beach, maybe a lake or something!
August 8th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
April
hitchhike and people watch… other than that not much to do without $
August 11th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Tim
what did cave men(women)do?Enjoy life don’t ever get caught up in the money game to where you forget what life is about.
August 12th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Harold
The best things in life are free. Look around and see the scenery.
August 12th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Melvin
oh! i am feeling sorry for you. but don’t worry everything will be fine. you should talk to the HR department and may be your problem will be solved. i wish u luck
August 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Gina
that might be against the law. HURRY AND CALL THE LABOR DEPT. and see if that is legit! but i know the feeling. my vacation is tomorrow and i will be broke to. but i am going to participate in some researchs i found on the craiglist that are safe and they pay you. try that. at least you are making a few duckets
smile cheer up you are not the only one. you need more info check me at rather email me direct 
August 15th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Alicia
go to a quiet place
August 18th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Gregory
I once had to spend a day in a strange city while my car was being repaired and the car repair took all my money. I stopped at the local chamber of commerce to get a list of all the free things to do in town and did them all. It turned out to be pretty good. I spent most of the day at their town museum, also visited the library, several churches, and saw some monuments they had to locally famous people.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Ella
Have picnics in the park, lake, seaside, or ocean (depending where you live at). Go to the movies and window shopping. Just think of something you really enjoy doing (that is free)and indulge yourself.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Victoria
You could camp out at the beach. Invite some friends and have a barbecue. If you do this around the 4th of July, you could also set off some fireworks. It would be a great way to spend a vacation. Maybe I should do that.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
April
go on a camping trip. it dosen’t cost that much and it is alot of fun. that’s if your an outdoors person.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Victoria
I am not sure if you like this, but I have two suggestions and both require very little money. You could go camping with some friends and share the cost of food and transportation. Last year I did this and the cost was very low per person. One of us knew how to play guitar and we had lots of fun. If camping is not your “cup of tea”, you could take a Greyhound bus to a nice place and stay at a Youth Hostel. I stayed with them in Key West and had a very good time. Lots of young people backpacking from all over the world. In the evening we would sit outside chatting and I learned a lot from everyone. I hope you have a grea summer vacation whatever you decide to do.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Eugene
Depending on your where you are vacationing, there is plenty to do without spending $ or very little. Camping, fishing, hiking, sightseeing and swimming are some of the things i love to do with my family. And like i said no money needed or very little.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Vicki
Well swimming and hang out with friends you can make a plan to put back 20-50 dollars per paycheck in case something like this happens again you don’t want to be stuck with no money and nothing to do. You could also think of all things that you were unable to do when you were working that don’t have to deal with money and get them done. Pamper your self bring out some of those candles or special scents and take a long hot bath do your own pedicure or your nails.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Mathew
get a loan…borrow some $$ from a family member or friend
September 1st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Viola
Get lost & write a story about it.
Use your imagination.
Talk to the locals.
It depends where you are located/where you want to go.
September 5th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Edna
Well, most of the people mentioned some good ideas. The beach, the zoo, Go to the park on the weekend and watch the soccer guys play (near Montrose on the north side and near the Museum of Science and Industry on the South). Buy a kite and fly it. Go to the Chicago Cultural Center at noon. There’s always some free concert and an exhibit going on. The museums are free on Tuesdays I believe. If so, you can plan a whole day around that. I think Second City is free after midnight on Saturdays; they use that time to try out some of their new material. Give them a call to find out. And there are some free shows during the week at the Improv Olympic down the street from Wrigley Field. You could go to the Mexican Museum of Fine Art in Pilsen. They ask for a donation rather than a flat fee so that’s kinda cheap. Their current exhibit is about the relationship between African and Mexico.
And grab a Reader or New City. There are always a ton of free gallery art show openings with free food and free drinks. You can scam a meal there and roll with the chi-chi crowd.
Oh, and there’s a free concert coming up tomorrow (Thursday) at Millenium Park with a guy named Seu Jorge. He’s a Brazilian performer who has acted in a movie (”City of God” about Brazilian street gangs) and he sang on the soundtrack for a Bill Murray movie (he did cover version of David Bowie songs). It’s free, so there ya go…
September 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Maureen
go see linkin’ park live…lol… i don’t know… be creative
September 10th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Laura
Try visiting millenium park. Sometimes they have free concerts. Packing a picnic is fun too. You can also watch street performers. If there are none in millenium park, there are usually some outside the art institute. If none of that interests you, you can always check out the giant shiny bean. That never gets old.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Holly
Relax and enjoy the freebees …
The Chicago parks are wonderful in summer…Take walks along the Lake at the near north side beaches…go for a swim
Visit the museums…
Go to Brookfield Zoo
Visit the Ba’Hai Temple it gives a sense of beauty and peace…
Read a good book, or two….
Write a letter to someone you care for…
Visit family and old friends …or make some new friends!
Check out the “What to Do in Chicago” (there MUST be a website). And find out what is free or inexpensive.
I remember one summer many, many years ago…going to a wonderful concert at the southside university campus and enjoying Haendel’s Fireworks Music while sitting under the stars on a blanket with a group of friends!
September 11th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Betty
Window shop, museums, parks, picnics…