Summer jobs and internships are extremely beneficial; however, working isn’t the only great thing to do during the summer. If you can afford not working for a summer, then you can enjoy plenty of opportunities. Realize that you are only going to be young once, and you should appreciate the times you have.

So, what are you going to do if you’re not working? Certainly you shouldn’t laze around the house all day, waking up at two and waiting for a friend to hopefully call you. Unfortunately this is what most non-working college students do during the summer. Though being lazy is easy and halfway fun, you will regret not taking a more active role in shaping your summer. There is nothing memorable about it, but if you take the time to organize a camping trip with friends, the memories will surely last a lifetime.

Traveling is extremely popular for college students, and people of all ages. It is also a great and memorable way to spend the summer. For ambitious students, go abroad for the whole summer. Travel to a country that you have always wanted to visit, and immerse yourself in the culture for a couple of months.

Reed Mankins, a student at the University of California Santa Barbara says if he could go anywhere he wanted, he would “travel to Amsterdam and experience the culture.” This can, of course, get very expensive, very quickly, but there are ways to cut costs. Travel to a country where you have a relative, or know a friend that can house you. Housing is the most expensive part, so if you can get it covered, then you should be fine.

If you are planning on living in a foreign country for an extended period of time, make sure to check the country’s requirements for visas and how long you can stay in the country. Also, since you’re going to be gone for a couple months, secure a summer job in the foreign country. True, it might be more difficult because you are in a foreign country, but working can be a great experience. You also might be surprised at the eagerness to hire American employees in foreign countries.

While there are many websites dedicated to finding jobs for foreigners, especially in Asian countries, beware of scams. Most of these websites will take up your time and offer you nothing in return. Avoid any websites that make you pay money, and realize that even the free websites are most likely not going to find any real suitable jobs. The best way to obtain a job is to go into the desired company in the foreign country, impress them with your English skills, and leave them your name and number.

Then again, for some people, this is not a feasible option. If this is true for you, whether it be because of money or family or school, then travel for a short period of time. It will certainly be cheaper, and you can still have a great time living in a different country for only a couple weeks, or even days.

For those of you who do not want to, or cannot, travel out of the country, there are still great ways to live in your home country. Plan trips with friends for several weeks out of the summer. Go camping and enjoy the outdoors with close friends. Gather up your buddies and go on a road trip, either to a different state or across the country. You will come out of it with memories you would not sell for any price. See your favorite band in concert, even if the band is playing more than six hours away. Spend a weekend at the beach with your significant other.

There are hundreds of ways to enjoy the summer, just make sure you take the opportunities presented to you. There is nothing better to spend your money on than your life, experiences, and memories.