ClearPoint Credit Counselors Offer Consumers a Free Vacation

When gas prices peaked last summer, many Americans put their travel plans on hold in favor of a staycation – a holiday in their own backyard. That idea is still appealing, even as what is historically the biggest travel weekend of the year approaches. Consumers, chilled by an economy in crisis and a credit market on ice, are opting to stay home. To help them make the most of a budget vacation, ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions has put together a list of free things to do in all 50 states.

RICHMOND, Va. (Business Wire EON) November 21, 2008 -- "A vacation can be an expensive proposition when you factor in travel costs, meals out and accommodation," said Christopher Honenberger, President and CEO of ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions. "Our counselors help consumers budget and trim expenses. In tough times, a holiday away is a luxury many people find they can't afford. We were surprised to find just how much there is to do across the country that won't cost you a dime," he said.

ClearPoint's staycation list is both comprehensive and unique. "When we set out to do this, we asked ourselves what we could find in each state that even people living there might not know about. I think we uncovered a lot of gems, and all of them are free," said Honenberger.

"Just like dieting, it is really hard to stick to a budget that is too extreme and doesn't allow for any fun extras," said Honenberger. "Paying down debt isn't easy. We hope that consumers will look at this list of stay-at-home holiday ideas as a reward for their hard work."

Check out ClearPoint's list of free holiday activities in all 50 states at http://www.clearpointcreditcounselingsolutions.org/budget_vacations.aspx

ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, Inc.™ is a national 501c3 nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. ClearPoint is a system-wide member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). ClearPoint's mission is consumer health through financial education. Visit www.ClearPointCCS.org or call 877-465-2227.