I do plenty of research before the trip (sometimes that's almost as fun as the trip itself). Hunting for the best hotels on sites like Kayak and Hotels.com, then checking out the hotel's own site because they often have as good or better deals.
Another good lodging option is AirBnB. They connect travelers with folks who have homes or rooms to share. It's often cheaper and nicer. Plus, you get the inside info from someone who knows the area.
One "trick" we use when booking lodging for international travel is to use web sites from WITHIN the country we are traveling to. More than once, we've saved a lot of money from what we would have spent via a USA-based website.
Meg, it's definitely one of the perks of living on the East coast. There's a BYOB pizza place right down the street called,"Bite Me," and I can't decide which I like more: the pie or the name of the joint.
I'm motivated to save for two reasons, the first is so that I am prepared when the inevitable situations that arise where I need a lot of money (ex. health issue, car issue, etc.). The second reason is so that I can afford to do things that I consider fun and enriching like travel or take classes.
The University of California olive orchard growers say that Kirkland brand of EVOO is at the top of their list for quality.Some brands are not EVOO, but state they are. There is a list they put out of which brands to avoid.
We rent timeshares, so we have access to a kitchen. We bring some of our own food/wine/snacks. We either plan far ahead to take advantage of the best prices, or sometimes wait until the last minute to take advantage of bargains. We do one 7-day trip a year and then take a few 3-4 one to two night getaways, usually driving to destinations within four hours drive. This helps us feel refreshed and reconnected without the expense of a long vacation.
Couchsurfing.com has been my travel savior, not just in terms of accommodation but in terms of experiencing a destination more intimately. When not traveling, it has been a pleasure to host other couchsurfers coming through town to further explore my own city and to be introduced to different cultures. Of course you don't have the privacy of a typical hotel room, but if you put the time into finding the right host and sending requests in advance it can be a very rewarding travel experience.
I subscribe to Groupon and Living Social deals for the cities that I am going to visit. They have a lot of great deals for restaurants, hotels and awesome touristy things for you to do. For example: You can get a sightseeing tour for half of the price.
I put hotel gift cards on my birthday and Christmas lists and save those up for vacation. I also go to the websites or toll-free numbers of the state and city I'll be visiting and request the free info packs which often contain coupons for hotels and attractions. I go on road trips more often than I fly, so I use gas coupons whenever possible to fill up the tank. Also just making sure that my car is in working order (tires properly inflated, oil changed on schedule) helps with fuel efficiency. I print out maps before I leave so I'm less likely to waste gas/time/money driving around lost. For a month or so before vacation I really make an effort to be more frugal in my daily life by not dining out or buying frivolous things. It helps me save up for things I'd rather do and buy on the trip.
It's very easy to eat well and inexpensively on a vegan diet!
There is a tidal wave of consciousness sweeping across the land. Here are two uplifting videos to help everyone understand why so many people are making this life affirming choice to become vegan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE and http://www.veganvideo.org
Having just watched "Forks Over Knives," this is a timely and helpful article. We may not go all the way vegan, but even as we take a step in that direction, these ideas will help.
This isn't quite as extreme, but when I've looked for work in the past, I've had a lot of success including something small and uniquely memorable on my resume, even if it didn't have to do directly with the job (although in general, I think it's best to target your resume to the specific gig you're applying to). For example, my most recent resume had "puppetry" listed under Special Skills, and when I was still starting out in the working world, I made sure to include my high school experience working as Cinderella at an amusement park. (Yes, I know I'm a brunette. They didn't care.)
When I lived in Philly, there were scores of BYOB restaurants. There aren't so many here in LA, and I definitely miss them -- being able to get an awesome meal with friends while enjoying reasonably priced booze was awesome. One of my favorite get-togethers consisted of getting mix-and-match six packs of beer and going to Tacconelli's, one of the best pizza places in the city. Oh man, I miss that pizza.
"the advent of 24-hour news, channels are always looking for stories"
This is very true. The media is always hungry for stories. If you do anything that is half way creative you can get noticed, if not on TV, then at least by a credible news website or blog.
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/172140232811094016
i try, with deals, cheaper hotels, coupons, and packages (after research of course)
I do plenty of research before the trip (sometimes that's almost as fun as the trip itself). Hunting for the best hotels on sites like Kayak and Hotels.com, then checking out the hotel's own site because they often have as good or better deals.
Another good lodging option is AirBnB. They connect travelers with folks who have homes or rooms to share. It's often cheaper and nicer. Plus, you get the inside info from someone who knows the area.
https://twitter.com/#!/linjiunhan/status/172128645731721217
Bring your own drinks and food for the time spent traveling so you can spend money on food when it counts.
One "trick" we use when booking lodging for international travel is to use web sites from WITHIN the country we are traveling to. More than once, we've saved a lot of money from what we would have spent via a USA-based website.
Call hotel directly for best rate, use public transportation and research food options before leaving home.
I left a message on Facebook, but there was no post to "like" and comment under that I saw. :) Loving to be frugal!
I can't afford to travel, so I stick to places within an hour's drive or so away. Luckily I live somewhere with beaches and state parks nearby.
Meg, it's definitely one of the perks of living on the East coast. There's a BYOB pizza place right down the street called,"Bite Me," and I can't decide which I like more: the pie or the name of the joint.
I'm motivated to save for two reasons, the first is so that I am prepared when the inevitable situations that arise where I need a lot of money (ex. health issue, car issue, etc.). The second reason is so that I can afford to do things that I consider fun and enriching like travel or take classes.
The University of California olive orchard growers say that Kirkland brand of EVOO is at the top of their list for quality.Some brands are not EVOO, but state they are. There is a list they put out of which brands to avoid.
travel to and from the airport via public transit, most large cities have airport buses or metro that costs only a fraction of the cost of cab fare.
We rent timeshares, so we have access to a kitchen. We bring some of our own food/wine/snacks. We either plan far ahead to take advantage of the best prices, or sometimes wait until the last minute to take advantage of bargains. We do one 7-day trip a year and then take a few 3-4 one to two night getaways, usually driving to destinations within four hours drive. This helps us feel refreshed and reconnected without the expense of a long vacation.
Couchsurfing.com has been my travel savior, not just in terms of accommodation but in terms of experiencing a destination more intimately. When not traveling, it has been a pleasure to host other couchsurfers coming through town to further explore my own city and to be introduced to different cultures. Of course you don't have the privacy of a typical hotel room, but if you put the time into finding the right host and sending requests in advance it can be a very rewarding travel experience.
I am motivated to save so that if I really want to get something I can. If I am frugal with my money now then I won't have to worry as much later
I subscribe to Groupon and Living Social deals for the cities that I am going to visit. They have a lot of great deals for restaurants, hotels and awesome touristy things for you to do. For example: You can get a sightseeing tour for half of the price.
https://twitter.com/#!/KelRo1/status/172082218041217026
I put hotel gift cards on my birthday and Christmas lists and save those up for vacation. I also go to the websites or toll-free numbers of the state and city I'll be visiting and request the free info packs which often contain coupons for hotels and attractions. I go on road trips more often than I fly, so I use gas coupons whenever possible to fill up the tank. Also just making sure that my car is in working order (tires properly inflated, oil changed on schedule) helps with fuel efficiency. I print out maps before I leave so I'm less likely to waste gas/time/money driving around lost. For a month or so before vacation I really make an effort to be more frugal in my daily life by not dining out or buying frivolous things. It helps me save up for things I'd rather do and buy on the trip.
Like you on FB.
It's very easy to eat well and inexpensively on a vegan diet!
There is a tidal wave of consciousness sweeping across the land. Here are two uplifting videos to help everyone understand why so many people are making this life affirming choice to become vegan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE and http://www.veganvideo.org
Having just watched "Forks Over Knives," this is a timely and helpful article. We may not go all the way vegan, but even as we take a step in that direction, these ideas will help.
This isn't quite as extreme, but when I've looked for work in the past, I've had a lot of success including something small and uniquely memorable on my resume, even if it didn't have to do directly with the job (although in general, I think it's best to target your resume to the specific gig you're applying to). For example, my most recent resume had "puppetry" listed under Special Skills, and when I was still starting out in the working world, I made sure to include my high school experience working as Cinderella at an amusement park. (Yes, I know I'm a brunette. They didn't care.)
When I lived in Philly, there were scores of BYOB restaurants. There aren't so many here in LA, and I definitely miss them -- being able to get an awesome meal with friends while enjoying reasonably priced booze was awesome. One of my favorite get-togethers consisted of getting mix-and-match six packs of beer and going to Tacconelli's, one of the best pizza places in the city. Oh man, I miss that pizza.
"the advent of 24-hour news, channels are always looking for stories"
This is very true. The media is always hungry for stories. If you do anything that is half way creative you can get noticed, if not on TV, then at least by a credible news website or blog.