Spring Break Doesn’t Have to Leave You Broke!

Spring Break is right around the corner! Although I am not currently in the classroom, I still know what this time of year signifies for teachers.  Arriving at Spring Break means the hardest months of the year are behind you and summer is rapidly approaching.  Spring Break is a time to exhale and attempt to recharge the batteries for the final end of year push.  It can also be a slightly depressing time.

Student talk of family trips to tropical destinations and countless TV advertisements of happy people having fun on some island paradise can leave you blue. The longing for warm sun and good times can lead to impulsive credit card purchases that you may regret later when the bill arrives. If you opt to stay home you might get the blues because you feel like you are missing out, but Spring Break doesn’t have to leave you broke or depressed.   In this post we will like at some affordable last-minute travel options as well as some great ideas for your very own Staycation.

Affordable Travel Options For Teachers

1. The Educators Travel Network: Educators Travel Network is a membership based travel network for friendly, congenial people who work or retired from the field of education. This is a great way to travel both in the United States and abroad without having to tap into your retirement fund. There is membership fee of $36 per year and one time processing fee of $10 to become a member. Once you are a member you can travel for $45 a night for two people and do a Homestay for $55 a night, not bad at all! To learn more about how it all works, click here.
2. TeachersTravleWeb.com: (Very similar concept to The Educators Travel Network, but this company is based in Belgium) Open to all educators, trainers and school staff. As a teacher, educator, trainer or counsellor you can become a member. Your partner is included. You’re also welcome if you’re retired or used to be a teacher. Other school staff are invited too. Wherever you go, you’ll meet people with a similar background and interests. Being a European company you will be paying for everything in Euros, but membership fee and travel accommodation options are very reasonable. There is a 15-euro ($20) membership fee and accommodation prices vary by option. To learn more, click here.
3. STA Travel: Through STA Travel teachers can purchase the International Teacher Identity Card. With those long summer holidays, teachers have the best opportunity to get out there and travel! The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) gives teachers thousands of travel, online and lifestyle discounts at home and in over 133 countries worldwide. Start saving money on your holidays and buy your card for just $25. Click here to learn more.  To learn about some of their Great Spring Break opportunities click here.

Staycation Ideas

Besides the obvious options of: unplugging your alarm clock and sleeping in, catching up on your favorite Netflix series, reading a book for your own enjoyment, and catching up on neglected laundry and cleaning chores, there is a lot you can do close to home. (If movies and well deserved couch time is your preference, I have a lot of movie recommendations for you. Click here to learn more.)

1. Adventures Close To Home: If you live on the East Coast chances are you are not too far from the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine. One of the oldest organizations that maintains the trail and offers unique experiences to its members is the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Once you become a member a world of opportunities opens up to you. You can spend time hiking the trail, visit one of their many lodges for great food and stay the night, learn about trail work, go on amazing trips both in the US and abroad and so much more. Click this link to learn more about membership opportunities.  (If you don’t live near the Appalachian Trail and a AMC branch, chances are that there are similar organizations near you, just Google it!)
2. Tackle Your New Years Resolution of Getting Fit:  Starting and committing to a fitness program can be really difficult if you go it alone. Why not link up with others in your area and workout together? Added bonus: Group workouts and outdoor activities are often free or are very inexpensive. Check out the following links for some inspiration: ExerciseFriends.com, Meetup.com, and Fitlink.com.
3. Get Your Financial House In Order:  I know that does not sound like a fun or attractive Spring Break plan, but chances are you will feel better, have less stress, and sleep more soundly when you have a good financial plan in place. Spend time with a representative at your local bank or credit union, make an appointment with a financial planner or with someone with financial experience that can advise you on your savings and retirement plans. There are also numerous personal finance websites that can help you achieve your goals without having to spend any money.  Lifehack.org  assembled a list of their 10 free favorite picks, read about them here. Millions of people have put their financial homes in order and got free from debt with the help of Dave Ramsey, through his many books and personal finance programs.  To learn more, click here.  You can also spend some time catching up on anything you might have missed from teachercents.com.

Thank you for reading and for sharing this post with friends and colleagues. If you have any comments or additional Spring Break ideas that won’t break the bank tells us below in the comments section. Hope you have a Happy Spring Break!