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You scroll through Instagram stories. Friends are in Greece. A colleague is in the mountains. An influencer you follow is at a luxury resort.
Smiles. Appetizers at sunset. Matching outfits for the whole family.
Everyone seems to be having a perfect summer.
And you?
You are yet again faced with a higher utility bill, dental bills, the mortgage, the cost of your children's summer camp, the weekly shopping to make ends meet.
"But am I the only one who can't afford to leave?"
It's a question that comes up every year alongside the sunscreen commercials and TV reruns, because even TV shows go on vacation.
Summer on social media is a whole different story.
It reflects what we want to show, not what we can really afford.
The truth is, you're not the only one who can't go on vacation. It's just that we tend to notice more the lives that seem extraordinary to us, the "normal" ones that few people recount are less Instagrammable.
Sometimes, in order to 'be there', we tap into a mechanism we know well:
- installments to make the reservation,
- the card to have fun,
- and the stress on the way back to pay it all.
But does our appreciation deserve a financial and mental well-being (and perhaps the subtle pleasure of arousing envy)?
"This summer I'm staying at home again. Do I feel guilty?"
Maybe. I feel “behind”.
That's because we have come to believe that the value of a summer vacation (and therefore of a person) is measured by the kilometers traveled, in flags stuck on the list of places to visit, in meals photographed.
But our well being, the kind that lasts, is also built by protecting your own economic peace of mind.
Standing still, postponing or simply saying "not this year" out of caution is not giving up. It means choosing, with self-respect, to experience a different summer, one that can still offer levity, discovery and authentic moments.
Finding the little things that don't hurt your wallet.
If this summer doesn't include any big departures, here are some ideas for rediscovering the value of what's close to home, without chasing after what (for now) we can't afford.
Enjoy your surroundings like a tourist
Have you ever visited your city? Some local councils offer free or reduced-price admission for residents or for the summer period to visit museums and other places of historical/artistic interest, organize festivals and open various places for citizens to socialize.
Organize a picnic or dinner together
Even the patio or terrace of a block of flats can become the setting for a different and pleasant evening. Share a cake, a cold dish and a chat. If your city has public spaces such as parks, picnic areas, beaches, squares, use them at a time when they might be less busy.
Discover the libraries, festivals, summer halls
Free screenings, open-air readings, creative workshops take place in many cities. Find out more on municipal websites or social media.
Discover nature outdoors
Beaches, lakes, hills, trails just hours from home. A sandwich in your backpack and you're done: regenerate your body and mind without running out of money.
Spend quality time with loved ones
No need to book anything. Sometimes you just need to sit on the balcony with the right person, hang up the phone and talk.
Not everything we see is the truth.
And not everything we can't afford today... will always remain inaccessible.
Financial wellbeing also means knowing how to stop when everyone else is going fast, without shame or guilt.
