With summer creeping by and the thought of getting away, the word vacation is on everyone's mind. The question is where should we go, and how long will we stay? In today's economy, more and more people are finding it increasingly difficult to truly enjoy the typical weeklong trip to 'somewhere exciting'. Rising fuel prices have caused the travel portion of vacation to be a true challenge. Because of this more and more people are deciding to replace their vacation with a 'stacation'. That is right, they are staying home, and finding things in their own backyard that will take the place of the visit to the theme park or trip to the beach. Whatever you decide to do, the best thing you can commit to is a debt free vacation.

Just like any other vacation, a stacation requires a plan. The first thing you need to determine is how much can you afford to spend. That means how much money can you allocate to this event, without taking on more debt. Taking time to relax doesn't have to come with debt. You will just need to be more creative than normal. This may mean that you nerds will have to let your free spirits have a little bit of breathing room, remember the goal is to have fun without going into debt. Here are a few ideas that will help you enjoy your stacation:

• Go to the park- Most parks have soccer fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, etc. Take a day and become a kid again. Your kids will enjoy some dedicated playtime and we all can use some physical activity. Take a picnic basket and make a day of it.
• Rent a movie- A lot of people will check out the latest movie while on vacation. However, taking a family of four to see the thriller could set you back close to $100, after hitting the consession stand. Instead of following the rest of the sheep to the theater, rent a classic and pop your own popcorn. A six pack of soda and a couple of candy bars and you have a very cheap stacation.
• Waterpark Anyone?- Alright, a waterpark is most likely out of the question, but do you know how inexpensive a bag of balloons are? Go get a bag or two and fill them up and play a game of "Parents vs. Kids" water balloon tag. Other than picking up all of the broken balloons this may be one of the greatest days of the summer.
• Backyard Camping- We loved it as kids, your kids will love it too. Pretend that you really are four hours away in the mountains. You can cook hotdogs and make smores over the gas grill. Just make sure your homeowners association doesn't mind the tent in the back yard.

A vacation doesn't have to be an expensive get away, it just needs to be fun. If you aren't able to get away this year try some of the ideas we have listed here and begin saving now for next years vacation. If you can save a little each month this time next year you can have a debt free vacation that extends farther than your backyard.

If you are having problems understanding where all of your money is going, then you are ready for a budget. Most people feel that a budget is going to keep them from doing anything fun, but in reality a budget will allow you to still do certain things but only when you can afford to do them. John Maxwell says that a budget is a tool that allows you to tell your money where it is going, before you wonder where it went.

The most important thing that you can do to help make living on a budget a success is not to cheat. Once your budget has been agreed on you simply cannot cheat. The only way your budget will work is if you stick to it. It is alright to make adjustments along the way, but you must stop spending more than you make, to have any chance of becoming a good steward of God's resources.

Here are a few ideas that will help you successfully establish and stick to your budget:

• Be Real- Most people underestimate the amount of money they spend. They just can't believe that they spend more money than they make. When you are allocating money to your budget, be realistic. A family of four will find it very difficult to eat on $200 a month. If you unrealistically allocate your money you are setting yourself up for failure.
• Be a Real Man (or Woman)- If you have never truly looked at the amount of money you are spending on your hobby, you will probably be surprised. Go ahead and do it, and then after the shock wears off, promise that your hobby will never again be a bigger priority than your family. You may have to give up a round of golf or not go out with the girls every week for a while. You have to be willing to sacrifice in order to make a budget work. In the book of I Timothy 5:8, we are told that a man that does not provide for his family is worse than an unbeliver. Be a real man, and sacrifice some fun for your family.

We each define success a little bit differently, but when talking about financial peace or financial freedom the definition is pretty clear. When you have no payments and you can use the resources that God has given you the way He wants you to use them, you have achieved financial success. Although that should be the goal of every person, both believer and unbelievers, as Christians that should also be our desire. Understanding that financial troubles generally don't occur overnight, the same is true with getting out of financial trouble...it won't happen overnight. You will need to stay focused and you need to have a plan.

That is exactly what Butch Mawyer has done. Butch has decided that being out of debt is a lot better than being in debt. With no more payments, Butch can be sensitive to God's call and direction on his life. Recently, Butch had some repairs done on his car. When the total came in, it was over $1000. For most that would have been a financial crisis as well as a car crisis. Because Butch has a plan and an emergency fund, Butch simply paid the bill. No worries, and no debt.

"I have already started funding my emergency fund again, and it is up to $400. If people only new the income I live on, and manage to do this, I think they would be surprised."

Good job Butch, you have become a good steward of God's resources.