Get away

One of the challenges of job searching is becoming frustrated and exhausted. The idea of a conventional vacation seems out of reach because of lack of funds, necessity for being on hand for calls and interviews, and the odd twinge of workaholic guilt.

Loose thy chains, people!
I'm a fan of Chris Guillebeau, author of "The Art of Non-Conformity." Beside his trenchant commentary on living one's life without needing to submit to the normal 9-5 grind, I've enjoyed his section on travel hacking.
Back to loosing thy chains.
You can take a vacation for very little money. Sometimes you need a break from your circumstances and job hunting. Here are some ideas to get you on your way to feeling refreshed:

1. Become a tourist in your own town. Some museums offer free days - take advantage of these!
2. I love Airbnb. I recently went on a week's vacation and stayed in a nice apartment for about $18 a night. It was cheaper and much more comfortable than a hostel!
3. When traveling farther afield, skip the restaurants. Hit up a grocery store or farmer's market and see what the locals are putting in their baskets. It's a great way to get a broader cultural perspective.
4. If all else fails, couch-surf at a friend or relative's place. Sometimes just a change of scenery is enough.
5. Keep tabs on transportation trends. This Lifehacker article gives a good tutorial.

Bon voyage!

Comments

  1. FaerunnerSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    This is great advice! I am no longer unemployed (thankfully!) but I'm definitely not rich and for $120 I managed to drive myself two hours out of the city and spend 3 days/2 nights camping, visit a huge fair event (and drive back and forth every day between fair and campsite), and even buy myself some souvenirs. If I'd carpooled (which was possible although it would've taken more arranging) or had a more fuel-efficient car, that cost would have been halved.

    Tight budgets make vacation difficult but not impossible! Thanks for the tips (I'll check out airbnb!)

    ~Dawn

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