If you're not taking a vacation this summer you're not alone.  Almost half of the Treasure Valley will skip the trip in favor of staying at home for the next three months and there are three big reasons why.

Money.  Family.  And Work.

Bankrate.com took a poll and discovered that 49% of Americans aren't planning to take a summer vacation this year, and of those folks that are staying at home, one in four made the decision because they just can't afford to book a trip.  Money IS an object.

Higher gas prices have something to do with it, but even if gas prices were lower, it might still be hard to pack up the family and go anywhere for less than $3000 to $5000, and that's too steep for a lot of us.  Taking a family of five to Disney World might run us $10,000 or more counting airfare, hotel, park passes, and all of those Mickey ear souvenirs.  That's a lot of grocery money.

If it's not money, it might be family obligations holding us back. USA Today points out that 12% of people not vacationing this year say family obligations are the main reason they're staying home. That's code for "We spent most of our money on summer camps for the kids."

And 11% say they are too busy at work and can’t take time off. Vacations are supposed to make us happier and more productive in the long run, right?   If we could just pull that plug. Or rip it like a band-aid.  Happiness and productivity await.

Don't forget you've got the chance to win up to $5000 right here, three times every weekday, and then that vacation decision becomes a whole lot easier.  Instead of the neighborhood pool, you find yourself at a tropical resort in Mexico surrounded by hot guys and palm trees, sipping on drinks with umbrellas and not thinking about the laundry for a few days.

Win some money and pull the plug!  Whether it's a staycation or a go-cation, you deserve some fun this summer.

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