Why You Shouldn’t Cancel Your Holiday Plans—Even if Your Wallet is Crying

So, your bank account’s looking a little... sad 😢. Rent went up, groceries feel like a luxury item, and every time you fill your gas tank, you wonder if your car secretly eats dollar bills. We get it—money’s tight. And you’re probably thinking, “Maybe I should skip the vacation this year.”

But here’s the twist: now is actually the worst time to scale back your travel plans.

Despite recent reports that more Americans are cutting back on travel in 2025 due to rising costs and economic uncertainty, there’s a strong case for packing your bags anyway (even if you're packing peanut butter sandwiches instead of fancy outfits).

Let’s break it down—and don’t worry, we’ll keep it fun and wallet-friendly.

Your Mental Health Deserves More Than Netflix and a Sad Desk Lunch

When life gets stressful, most of us try to “push through.” But burnout doesn’t care how productive you think you're being. A quick trip—even just a couple of days away—can give your brain the same kind of reset as a factory reboot. Think of it as therapy, but with better scenery.

And unlike that $12 green juice or the fourth streaming subscription you never use, travel gives real returns in the form of memories, clarity, and the kind of peace that only comes when you’re not checking your phone every 10 minutes.

You Don’t Need to Fly to Europe to Feel Free

In fact, traveling within the USA on a budget can be just as magical (and much more financially kind). There’s adventure hiding just an hour away from your front door.

Explore your local state parks, small towns with weird museums, quirky roadside diners, or scenic hiking trails that your social media somehow hasn’t discovered yet.

Forget Fancy—Go Frugal and Fabulous

Who says travel has to be expensive? Here’s how to keep things low-cost but high-vibe:

Travel Off-Peak

Want to feel like a VIP? Go places when no one else is going. Mid-week getaways and shoulder-season trips are cheaper, quieter, and way less sweaty (we’re looking at you, July Disney crowds).

Stay Smart

Hotels are cute and all, but have you ever tried house-sitting, or hostel life? You meet more people, spend way less, and sometimes even get a pet to cuddle. I’ve stayed in hostels and the people I’ve met stayed in my memory forever, but can I remember the last hotel I stayed in? Uh NO!

Eat Like a Local (Or a College Student)

Skip the $35 tourist brunch and hit up food trucks, local markets, or that dive bar with the best nachos in town. Or—get this—cook! If your place has a kitchen, grab groceries and turn dinner into a DIY date night.

Take the Scenic Route (Literally)

Ditch the rental car and hop on the bus, light rail, or even a bike. It’s cheaper, more fun, and you might accidentally discover the world’s best thrift store or taco stand.

Budget Doesn’t Mean Boring

Some of the best things in life really are free: stargazing, swimming in a lake, hiking up something mildly terrifying, or dancing like no one's watching at a local festival.

All you need is dark skies, and a phone or camera.

And if you're lucky, your town (or the next one over) has some funky free museums, art walks, or live music events that cost absolutely nothing but deliver pure joy.

Some of my best memories over the last 5 years are not the overseas trips we’ve taken but watching the sunrise in Yosemite, and seeing the new moon rise over the Golden Gate Bridge, with my family. Having those memories are worth more than any fancy hotel.

Watching a full moon rise can be done anywhere.

Your Future Self Will Thank You

You can always earn more money. But you can’t go back in time and watch that sunset, laugh until you cry on a road trip, or finally have that long-overdue heart-to-heart with your best friend at 2 a.m. in a cheap motel.

Traveling on a tight budget doesn’t mean cutting the experience short—it just means being more creative and intentional. And often, those trips are the ones you remember forever.

Don’t Wait for “Someday”

Spoiler: there’s no perfect time. There’s just now. And now might be tight, but that doesn’t mean it’s empty.  We’ve seen first hand that life can be short, regardless of old you are!

So go on—plan that weekend getaway. Pitch a tent. Book the offbeat Airbnb. Explore your own backyard like you’ve never been there before.

Even if you’re broke(ish), your soul doesn’t have to be.