David DeFranza's blog
About David DeFranza
A freelance writer interested in using a frugal lifestyle to make more travel possible.
David DeFranza's profile
Posted February 12, 2009 - 05:22 by David DeFranza
Frugal Living, Lifestyle
Here at Wise Bread, we know that couch-sharing services, such as Couch Surfing, can save you money when traveling. As good as this sounds, many have reservations about hosting strangers in their home. After all, house guests can be frustrating, expensive, and even dangerous. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some tips to help make hosting travelers safer, easier, and even cheaper.
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Posted November 26, 2008 - 21:04 by David DeFranza
Frugal Living, Lifestyle
Whether it's an unplanned layover, a means of making an early flight, or simply an attempt to save money on accommodation, the season of sleeping in airports is upon us. I know, I am doing it. With a little planning and preparation, your next night in the airport can be fun and comfortable. I promise.
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Posted November 25, 2008 - 06:47 by David DeFranza
Frugal Living
Here in the United States, Thanksgiving is a holiday governed by some fairly specific traditions. We know that these traditions are mostly modern inventions, but on some level we all invoke the myth that our celebrations are a reenactment of the first thanksgiving. This is fine, but there is still a lot we can learn about frugality from the first Thanksgiving celebration. Here are five lessons.
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Posted October 1, 2008 - 05:08 by David DeFranza
Shopping
Deal-a-day websites like Woot! and Steep and Cheap are great places to go if you need a new piece of travel gear or gadget, these sites can be a great way to find it for cheap. Unfortunately, they also encourage frequent refreshing, procrastination, and impulse buying. Take control of your discount shopping with a Yahoo! Pipes deal tracker.
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Posted September 15, 2008 - 04:10 by David DeFranza
Frugal Living, Food and Drink
Self-catering while traveling is an excellent way to save money. However, cooking on the road poses a whole set of problems and challenges that can seem impossible to overcome. These challenges have put me on the lookout for simple, good, food that can be cooked with a minimal number of widely available ingredients, and prepared in variable portions. Here are five easy recipes for the traveling chef:
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Posted September 11, 2008 - 02:26 by David DeFranza
Lifestyle, Making Extra Cash
By now, anyone interested in budget travel has heard of CouchSurfing. While the site has obvious advantages for travelers looking to meet locals and save money, but it can also be fun for hosts as well. If you are considering becoming a host for couch surfers, be sure to check out these two, slightly different, opportunities.
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Posted September 8, 2008 - 05:13 by David DeFranza
Technology
For the frequent traveler, Facebook is an excellent way to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances from around the world. Is it possible, however, that the popular social network could help budget-minded travelers save time and money when looking for cheap accommodation and transportation? These applications could help you do just that.
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Posted July 1, 2008 - 01:30 by David DeFranza
Cars and Transportation
AirNinja is a niche tool for finding airfares. It specializes in returning the smaller budget and regional airlines large sites like Kayak.com ignore. It is a tool that could, potentially, be very valuable when looking for airfare deals. But, can it really save you money? A comparison reveals all.
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Posted May 30, 2008 - 17:03 by David DeFranza
Art and Leisure, Green Living, Consumer Affairs
From hybrid car rentals to carbon offsets, green hotels to conservation oriented vacation packages, the number of options now available to the environmentally conscious traveler are numerous. While I appreciate these efforts, the reality is that, at this point, much of it is greenwashing. Fortunately, there are a few things to look for that can help you dodge the hype.
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Posted March 28, 2008 - 01:30 by David DeFranza
Lifestyle
I had written off Europe as a possibility for the budget traveler long ago. I did it with great difficulty, because I know from experience there is nothing like the food, history, and atmosphere of Europe. Still, a strong euro and expensive flights seemed to offer no other choice. That is, until I read about a deal to be made on Sunday.
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Posted March 21, 2008 - 02:00 by David DeFranza
DIY, Art and Leisure
At the same time nostalgic and alluring, nothing epitomizes travel so much as the postcard. Whether decorating your home, revisiting old memories, or making new friends, a little fun with postcards is a great way to get in the spirit of travel and stimulate your mind into leading you on an imaginary trip.
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Posted March 16, 2008 - 02:00 by David DeFranza
Cars and Transportation
Low cost airlines are finally taking hold in the United States, offering a greater range of route options and discounts. At the same time, concerns over security, environmental impact, and safety have increased. All of this attention has overshadowed some amazing developments in low cost bus line expansion and improvements. Here are a few reasons you should consider the bus.
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Posted March 10, 2008 - 02:00 by David DeFranza
Cars and Transportation
Frequent flier programs are great, right? I mean, who doesn't like the idea of one day earning a free flight? The only trouble is that most people fly infrequently and use a variety of different airlines, making the achievement of an award almost impossible. Fortunately, there are several tricks for maximizing miles and using them in creative ways to get the most benefit with the smallest credit.
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Posted February 24, 2008 - 01:30 by David DeFranza
Lifestyle
The urge to save money is a defining characteristic of the budget traveler. But is there ever a time when it is actually a good idea to spend money? If it will healthfully support the local economy you are visiting, or help accomplish some of the personal goals of your trip, then yes, spending, within reason, is a good thing.
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Posted February 17, 2008 - 20:17 by David DeFranza
Budgeting
To save money for your vacation you crafted a detailed budget and stuck to it. Now, with your bags packed and ticket in hand, you are ready to put all the of preparation and planning into action and enjoy your travels. When you leave the airplane, it is easy to forget the months of work that made this experience possible. This is a good thing. But, if you are a budget traveler, you cannot forget to pack the budget.
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Posted February 11, 2008 - 03:00 by David DeFranza
Shopping, Lifestyle
I used to be afraid of bargaining. The thought of haggling over a price, or even asking for a discount, was embarrassing. Then I began visiting countries in which haggling is expected. I was forced to adapt. At first it was frustrating, then tiresome, but eventually I learned to embrace the process of bargaining. Once I did, I realized that haggling had taught me a lot.
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Posted February 7, 2008 - 20:26 by David DeFranza
Lifestyle
With growing fears of recession and a dramatically weakening dollar, the scales of reason seem to be tipping more and more in favor of staying at home. I say: don't worry about it.Here are eleven options for free or very cheap travel through volunteering.
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Posted February 2, 2008 - 19:44 by David DeFranza
Cars and Transportation
The Groundhog predicted that we will have to endure six more weeks of winter. This means more snow, ice, and cold that can reduce your car's efficiency by up to 50%. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to make winter driving safer and more efficient.
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Posted January 31, 2008 - 05:00 by David DeFranza
Budgeting, Lifestyle
Bring up class and most people start to get touchy. Unfortunately, it's an unavoidable reality when traveling. Different groups of travelers define themselves and others by class. It sounds nasty, but it is not all bad. In fact, these largely self imposed class divisions are something you can use to make your trip planning more effective.
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Posted January 27, 2008 - 20:11 by David DeFranza
Cars and Transportation
By 2009, passports will be mandatory for all US citizens traveling abroad. If you were planning a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, this could mean a rather substantial additional expense will be added to your vacation. However, if flying is not in your itinerary, a new option could save you almost 50% on your application fees.
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