So you don’t have enough money to do the typical spring break thing and go to Cancun? No problem. With a few simple tips, you can have just as much fun (and without a hangover!) at home.

Nobody wants to go back to school and see all of her friends tanned to perfection and then look in the mirror to see paleness staring back. So, while you’re hanging around your hometown, take a quick trip to the store and pick up some self-tanning lotion. You’ll look just as good, and it’s much healthier than heading to the tanning bed.

While you’re at the store, you can snag some facial masks and nail polish, and you’re all set for a spa day at home. Recruit some friends if they’re around, recruit your mom, or just have a relaxing day alone. Assal Parvizad, a junior at Towson University in Maryland, says an at-home spa day is an immediate pick-me-up. “You don’t have tons of time to take care of yourself while you’re so busy with school. So I like to take a day and just dedicate it to feeling good.”

What’s better about the start of spring than spring sales? Because money is limited, this is the perfect time to go shopping because you can find a ton of last season’s stuff for a lot cheaper than it normally is. Remember that top you really wanted but didn’t buy because it was too expensive? Get it now, and save it for next winter. A lot of winter clothes are lightweight enough to wear throughout the spring too, so pick some up, and you can show off your new, inexpensive wardrobe when you get back to school.

If you don’t go to the same college as some of your friends, spring break is the perfect time to visit them. You don’t have to miss a fun weekend at your college, and you get to visit old friends and take part in their college experiences. Holly Brown, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says this is a great and cheap way to spend your time while you’re home. “All you really have to pay for is gas, and you get to hang out with your best friends for a night,” she says. “Sounds perfect to me.” Before you leave to go back home, pick yourself up a nice T-shirt from the school store. Everyone needs a fun souvenir from her spring break trip!

Finally, just take the week to do what you want. This is a long length of time that you can spend on you, and just you. Catch up on that old book you never had time to finish because you got so wrapped up in schoolwork. Go see that movie you wanted to see but never got a chance to. Go on a nice, long run, and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s what you want to do. This is your time, so have a wonderful spring break!