Between travel delays, foul weather, and rising costs, it’s easy to return home from your vacation feeling like you need a vacation. This year, avoid the agita by taking a stress-free (and wallet-friendly) staycation. Instead of schlepping your suitcase, use your work-free week to enjoy the sights, activities, and dining around in your hometown. Here are our tips for a successful staycation.

1. Take the time off. Set a start and end date just like you would with a regular vacation.

2. Unplug. During your staycation, hide the BlackBerry, turn off the computer, limit your phone calls, and most importantly, let your coworkers know you are just as inaccessible as you would be if you were out of town.

3. Set a budget. It’s easy to fall into familiar patterns when you’re close to home, so having a budget will give you permission to indulge (as well as set a limit on your decadence).

4. Hide the to-do list. Your staycation is for fun and relaxing activities only; fight the urge to cross off those to-dos. Make your chores easier to ignore by scheduling a cleaning service for your home just prior to your staycation.

5. Plan your itinerary. Activities are at the heart of a successful staycation. Plan at least one per day, preferably out of the house. Set your activity radius at a one-hour drive so you’re not wasting precious time (and gas money) in the car. Now is your chance to visit that museum you’ve been meaning to check out or to hit that flea market. Your newspaper is a great resource, but so are the local travel books you would normally overlook. If your town has a tourism board, check with them for great ideas and discounts.

To really make your staycation truly memorable, focus your activities on one theme for the entire week, like hiking, amusement parks, beaches, or culture (e.g. museums, concerts).

6. Build in downtime. Designate a day or a time of day for nothing but pure relaxation. Make sure you still have something to do during this time—like reading a trashy beach novel, taking a walk, or playing a board game—so you don’t fall into old habits.

7. Pamper yourself. Sleep late, get a massage, or go to the gym. This is your time to unwind.

8. Dine out. One of the best parts of vacation is not cooking, so put the pots and pans away during your staycation. Not all meals have to be fancy, but make it a goal to try a new restaurant for at least one meal per day.

9. Take photos and videos. Recording your staycation will make it feel like a separate, special time, and not just another week at home.

10. Go shopping. With all the money you saved in airfare and hotel bills, you can afford to splurge with a shopping trip. Think of what you buy as souvenirs from your staycation!