At dinner the other night, I overheard a girl at the table next to me squealing about how she convinced her father to pay for her Spring Break trip to Cabo.  I'm happy for her, but what about the rest of us? I don't know about you guys, but I know that I can't quite afford a trip to Mexico to drink overpriced margaritas on the beach on my part-time income.  While it would be great to spend a whole week basking in the sun with hundreds of other rowdy twenty-somethings, it's just not always an option. I'm sure some of you feel me on this one.  So does this mean we have to spend our Spring Break sitting on our couch at home catching up on reruns? No way, Jose. Consider the following less-expensive options instead of that all inclusive, bank-breaking beach getaway.

1.) Relatives: Think about it. Family members or family friends can be a great asset in this situation.  Your Aunt lives down in Florida and you only see her once a year when she comes to visit for Christmas? Why not pay her a visit? She may not live in a luxury resort, but it's somewhere new and different to explore for a few days. Grab a friend or two and pay Auntie a visit. And even better, staying with relatives automatically eliminates accommodation costs. Who knows, maybe they'll provide food and transportation too.

2.) Friends: Not all Spring Breaks are during the same week, so consider road tripping to visit an old friend from high school at their respective college or University.  Again, a lot of things will already be paid for. Exploring different college scenes is always fun. It's like being in college with all the partying and none of the annoying school work. Then again, some of you do that already.

3.) Camping: Yes really.  Camping is one of those things that you have to say you did at least once in your life. So if you have yet to cross this off your list, try it.  If you just can't fathom the idea of sleeping in a tent, then look into cabin rentals. It depends on where you live of course, but for one, camping during the Spring is sometimes nicer than camping during the overbearing Summer heat. Cabin rentals are also considerably cheaper during this time as well. Get a group and split the cost of food, drinks, and entertainment. Sounds like a good time in the making.

4.) Volunteer: Okay, I know this option doesn't seem too exciting right off the bat. But don't knock it til you try it.  Organizations like Habitat for Humanity are becoming increasingly popular during Spring Break, believe it or not.  This is a good option to consider if you've already done the whole College-y Spring Break trip a time or two.  It's something different and it's rewarding. While everyone else is crying about what they caught in Cabo, you can sit pretty knowing that you made a difference, made some new friends, and didn't make an ass of yourself. For once.

5.) The Road Trip: It may be cliche, but it's cliche for a reason. The road trip never really gets old. Try looking up some tour dates for your favorite band or artist and buy tickets for a show in a town or state nearby that you've never been to.  Book a cheap hotel to crash at for the night, grab your concert gear, pack a car full of friends, and you have yourself a weekend getaway.

So you may not be as lucky as that biotch getting a free ride to Cabo, but work with what you've got. A trip down the street could be just as memorable if you get a little creative and make the best of it.