People spend their highschool days dreaming of the memories they’ll make in college from tailgates, to parties, to spring break. We’ve all spent our childhoods watching spring break movies where college students spend their week letting off steam on the beach, and so we expect nothing less. However, when the reality of being a broke college student sets in for most of us, a spring break beach vacation may not be practical. So instead of robbing a diner to fund your spring break (@ Spring Breakers), here are five affordable ways to spend your spring break.
- Self Care Day ?
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After cramming for exams, you may not be able to relax and unwind on the beach with piña coladas and cocktail umbrellas, but you can relax and unwind in the comfort of your own home! Lucky for you, self care can be practiced almost anywhere. All you’ll need is your favorite nail polish, a face mask, a lip scrub, and the next episode of The Bachelor. Climb into your bed, which has been awaiting your return since, well, this morning, and take a mental break from all of the exams you just aced. (Your body will thank you later.)
- Gym Grind ?
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Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Spring break is a time to destress and relax, but think about this. REALLY, think about this. There is no better feeling than an empowering workout to lift your mood and help you stay healthy. So, grab your dumbbells and hit the gym with determination. Leave your favorite comfort foods in the past, and say hello to thirty minute abs.
- Create a Travel Board ?
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So yes, maybe a vacation with your girl gang to Cali isn’t in the budget. But, that makes this spring break the perfect opportunity to plan your next vacation after you’ve saved up some $$$. And what’s a better way to brainstorm and get excited for your next vacation like a travel board? Creating a travel board is similar to creating a mood board, as used in offices for brainstorming and presentations. All you need is a bulletin board from your local craft store and a few magazines from your mom’s junk drawer you thought you would never reopen. Get your favorite Cosmopolitan or Seventeen magazines and cut out all of the Instagram worthy vacations. You can also research places that you’ve always wanted to visit on Pinterest or from cyber-stalking your favorite influencer. Gather all of your pictures and hang them on your bulletin board with thumbtacks or another adhesive. Voila! You’ve successfully begun planning your next vacay while killing time during spring break without killing your wallet.
- Visiting Friends ?
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You might not be able to take the week long vacation that you’re seeing all over your Instagram feed, but day trips can be just as fun and come at a lower cost. Get a couple of your besties together and pay a visit to some of your friends at their schools because chances are you won’t have the same spring break. Load your car with your favorite snacks and queue every Khalid song you know. This will give you the opportunity to take a mini vacation and catch up with old friends.
- Room Redecorating ?
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There is no better cure to boredom than a room makeover. (It’s scientifically proven!) Therefore, there’s no better time to take down the curtains you’ve despised for years than spring break. Make a visit to your local Target, Home Goods, or home decor store and treat yourself to the room makeover you deserve. If you’re not splurging on an expensive vacation, a few throw pillows can’t hurt, right? Grab the biggest shopping cart you can find and purchase all of the throw blankets, house plants, and area rugs you could possibly need to transform your old bedroom into a dream room worthy of being in an Urban Outfitters catalog.