Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Vacationing With The Family Without Breaking The Bank.

Ah yes the vacation season is upon us and people are taking the family out to broaden their minds and horizons. It was always an interesting time back when I was younger and we would pack up the family every summer and either head to the mountains or visit the maternal grandparents in Florida (depending upon who chose the vacation that year). Traveling can be fun for the whole family, but alas can also be very expensive. Here are a few ideas you can use to have fun and not over spend while doing so.

Traveling as a family can really add to the costs. Children are often charged a lot more than seems fair and the overall price of a family holiday can soon get out of hand by the time you factor in all of the food and activities.

Family Camps

An increasingly popular choice for families is the family camp. Accommodation varies with everything from a basic tent to well equipped log cabins with all of the modern facilities that you would expect in a large hotel.

YMCA offer a range of camps such as the Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado that spans 5,100 acres and can host 2,500 people in cabins. Activities are available for children aged 3 and over including skiing, climbing and riding. Adults can enjoy use of the gym and health center or simply enjoy a bit of quiet time while the children are being tired out!

Money Saving Booking Tips

When you are booking with children it is really important to get to know what deals are available. Some companies offer children’s prices right up to 16 years old, others start to charge full price at age 3. Depending on the age of your children, one company may prove substantially cheaper for the same holiday.

Consider your sleeping arrangements carefully. Some hotels will offer adjoining rooms, others will have family rooms that sleep children as well as adults. Most hotels will not allow young children in their own room, so bear this in mind when booking.

If you have more than two children you may find that an apartment offers better value for money and more usable space. A two or three bedroom cottage will often be a lot cheaper than two or three rooms in a hotel.

Use the children as a means of negotiation. For example, ask for a discount on their air fare or accommodation or ask for free entrance to an activity while you are booking.

Keeping a Lid on Spending Money

Traveling with children can be expensive when you add up the costs of activities, food and children’s clubs if they are available. If you are working to a budget then it may well be worth considering an all-inclusive holiday resort. Although these are normally more expensive to book initially, it is easier to anticipate your spending in advance. As meals and drinks are included you will not have to worry about the constant demands from the children for soda!

Find out how much children’s clubs will cost and when they are available, prices can vary substantially, so do your homework if you are not to get stung with a large bill at the end of the holiday.

It may even be worth traveling with another family with children of a similar age, as the adults can then take it in turns to child mind, meaning that everyone gets a break and the children have friends to play with! Also the bigger the group the bigger the discounts, normally, so even if you do not want to spend the whole time with another family, you can still benefit from booking together.

Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.



Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.



Mahalo.



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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Saving Money While Still Having Fun On Your Vacation

Summer is here and again it is time when most people take their family vacations. The kids are out of school and of course it is expected of the parents to use their vacation time then. In these tough and uncertain times (have there ever been easy and certain economic times? I didn't think so either) saving money once you reach your destination is easy if you know some simple tricks. Plus you'll have more money to spend.

When traveling independently you will almost always do better in terms of price and quality if you veer away from the traditional places to eat and shops that the guide books mention. Going off the beaten track can mean you pick up a real bargain.

Restaurants

Follow the locals; if you head for a tourist orientated restaurant or shop you will find that the prices are substantially higher and often the food is not of the same quality.

Another good tip is to visit the local market where the locals shop. Not only will you get fresh products at good prices but you will also enjoy the experience of mixing with the locals. Ask those around you where to go, after all, it is the locals that are best placed to tell you where to go for a good deal!

A good way of working out whether a restaurant is geared towards tourists or locals is to see when it is at its busiest. Tourists tend to eat a lot earlier than the locals in most foreign countries. Any restaurant that is empty until around 9pm and then fills up is probably frequented by locals.

Car Rental

When it comes to rental cars the costs can vary widely and it really pays to shop around. Sometimes you will be offered good deals as part of your hotel stay or airfare, consider these as combination deals will also be a lot cheaper than you could get on your own.

Booking car rental when you have reached your destination is normally cheaper than reserving in advance if you have not got a good combination deal.

Make sure that you have suitable insurance, as any accident could make a huge dent in your holiday budget! There are good ways to save money, but insurance is not an area that you should scrimp on.

Always select the smallest car that is suitable for your needs, this will be cheaper and will cost less in gas. There is also a reasonable chance that you will be upgraded for free. If you are feeling bold, it is worth asking at the counter if there is any chance of a free upgrade, you never know your luck!

If you are booking car hire from a distance, look at the costs of car hire from the airport as well as from the city that you are staying in. Car hire companies will pay more to have an airport franchise and you may find this reflected in the prices that you are quoted.

Always fill up the gas before you get back to the car rental office. Car rental companies will charge well over the odds for any extra gas that they need to replace on your behalf so take the time to tank up before you get back if you do not want a large bill at the end.


Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.



Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.



Mahalo.



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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

OFFLINE GAMBLING...For richer or poorer

We have all heard about how Online Poker and other Online casino sites are riff with scams and illegal actions. And with the recent crackdown by the federal Government on Online Poker Sites, gamblers have been turning back to the old stand by, Offline gambling to get their action fix. The problem is though that scams and ripoffs aren't limited to online sites alone.


Gambling is very popular, from way back when, and more so today. It is a scam itself. In fact the oldest form known. Not only a scam, but very deceptive. Statistics show that about six percent of adults that are involved in gambling are severely addicted to such a "past time" as they call it. People who are hooked on gambling have the urge to bet on almost anything. From horses, cards, and the casino. The number doesn't end there. It continues to expand.



Casino scams are everywhere. High payouts and promising winnings are put up in huge slogans thereby attracting people who want to earn money the fast, easy and enjoyable way. A fact is gamblers waste a lot of their time, in the hope of winning. So they don't give up easily.



Studies show that gambling problems can easily occur in individuals with no self control. It is necessary for one to identify if he has problems, so it can be identified and acted upon promptly.



Here are some questions one should ask to detect if there is a problem:



* After gambling, when you lose money, be it a small or a large amount, do regret it, or feel resentment?



* When you win, do you have a strong desire to win more, therefore you want to go back?



* When you lose, do you feel a need to go back very soon?



* Do you spend a lot of time gambling, usually longer than what you planned?



*If you have problems, do you gamble to forget them?



* Are you spending more time gambling than with work?



*Do you not stop until your very last dollar is taken up?



*Do arguments take place between you and your family as a result of your need to gamble?



*To finance your gambling, do you borrow money from friends or associates?



Gambling addiction can be destructive. Family, friends and your reputation are at risk. It is a condition often times ignored. There are escape gamblers that affect seventy five percent of women from their thirties and up. Usually the reasons for gambling is to escape from the emotional pain that they are in, being bored, lonely, depressed or that they make gambling their hobby or past time. These types of addiction can be cured in three to six months.



The action gambler is much more difficult to deal. Most are men, where gambling for them creates ecstasy like a drug addition. This is much harder to cure, since the individual will deny the fact, when confronted. They will typically not stop until left with nothing, financially.



As gambling creates a lot of scams, it is a fact that still more and more are drawn to it. The primary reason is to win a huge amount of money. But then comes in the most lethal of reasons -- that of feeling a certain euphoria. Scams or no scams, an individual still continues to gamble and is a reason why offline gambling still thrives today.

Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.



Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.



Mahalo.



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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

How to Tell When Gambling Becomes a Vice

AH the lure of easy money. Or maybe it is just a way to feel thrills without risking one's life. Whatever the reason hundreds of millions of people across the globe participate in some sort of gambling. Whether it is just a few nickels in a slot machine or it's hundreds of thousands on on football game, it all adds up to big business. The question is, when does it cross the line from passive entertainment to full blown addiction.

At first, gambling would be a choice of those looking for excitement or challenge, but it would have a very high possibility that one would get hooked, crave for more and get addicted to it. Gambling as a vice would not be that far.

There are different effects caused by gambling, the degree of these effects matter on the length of the time one engages on it. Well, there are people who engage on it without any dash of negative effects or consequences but we could hide the reality which shows that majority of the people who are into gambling are bombarded by various problems in the area of economic security, family issues, community crimes, psychological issues and more.

Economic security

With the urge to win prizes and try their luck, gamblers do not stop betting and venturing on their luck. As proved by studies, in general, those who are poor are the ones who are fond of betting and gambling. This leads to the poor people’s incurring of more debts as they are not really of the capacity to gamble for a long time.

Family issues

Since gambling becomes a vice or an addiction, it would be a subject of arguments for couples. There are studies in the US which clearly shows that there are numbers of wives and husbands being abused by pathological gambling spouses. Communities with casinos are more prone to crimes that affect or involve the family.

Community Crimes

There are a lot of crimes and fraudulent activities that are being caused by gambling. Records would show that in areas where gambling is accessible, crime rates also balloons compared to those where gambling is not around.

Psychological issues

More studies show that there is a great percentage that suicide would be committed by pathological gamblers. Due to the yearning for luck and triumph, once failure bites, depression follows the soonest.


These are just some of the negative effects of gambling to people. Do you choose to be a victim?

Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget.

Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.

Mahalo.

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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

How To Stay On Target With Your Family Budget

In these economic (or any economic times really) the secret to financial independence and peace of mind is to watch how one spends their money. People who spend recklessly in good times are hurt when there is a downturn or emergency situation crop up. But financially smart people prepare a budget and stick to it no matter what the economic times are, and when emergencies hit they are better off to weather the storm.

The always ever increasing cost of living in today's society, wherever you may be, has made budgeting a priority among families. In today's inflationary world, nothing is more important than knowing how to wisely spend the income that you get.

Financial problems usually arise due to lack of proper budgeting skills, or failure to keep to the proposed budget. No matter how much income you may have, it is still important to keep track of your assets and liabilities, your earnings and expenses.

It is ironic but a person who earns thousands will have the same problems with the person who earns by the hundreds. Most often, different kinds of people, with diverse income levels, have budgeting problems. Others who may have been successful in making a budget, usually fail to keep within such a budget.

A budget refers to a financial plan, taking the incoming and outgoing monetary resources into consideration. A good budget should not only mean a balance or equity between income and expenditures. It also means lesser expenses, and making an allowance for savings.

If you earn a thousand dollars per month, you should map out all the necessary expenses you will have to incur during the month such as payment for your house, food and transportation. Of course, this is presuming that your tax liabilities have already been settled. What remains after you deduct your total expenses from your income is your savings.

What you do with your savings will make a difference later on, when the need arises. You can choose to keep your savings in a piggy bank or place it in a bank where there is minimum interest rate but at least your money is safe from you and from intruders. With a bigger savings, you can get the services of a financial adviser who can give you higher-yielding investment options

Here are tips to make sure that you keep within the family budget:

1. Maintain a logbook where you can list your income and expense account on a weekly or monthly schedule.

2. Buy your groceries at one time. To do this, make a list of all the things that you would need for your target period and purchase them at one time. Sometimes, there are discounts if you buy by the dozen so take advantage of this.

3. Avoid going to the supermarket and shops if you do not need to buy necessary items. This will keep you from making unnecessary purchases and keep you from straying away from your budget.

4.Think twice before you buy something. By doing this, you will realize that it is not really a necessity but a whim.

Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.

Mahalo.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Plan Your vacation and Save Money While Having Fun

Ah Spring time is here and many of us are already looking forward to summer and the vacation season. In these tough economic times everyone is looking for ways to save money without sacrificing fun and adventure. It is easy to do with the proper prior planning.

Planning is the key to success when it comes to getting a budget holiday. There are many things that you can influence such as when you book, how you travel, whether you go package or build your own agenda. All of these things can have a significant impact on the price you pay. Above all, each of these things are within your control!

Most people know exactly when they are intending to take a vacation. This can be used to your advantage when it comes to planning.

Deciding on when to book is a bit of a gamble. Whilst many tour operators will offer cheaper prices and early booking discounts, you may find that last minute deals are also available which will prove better financially.

There are many factors that you should take into account when deciding on when to book for maximum financial gain:

Are you flexible in terms of dates that you are prepared to travel?
Are you flexible in terms of destinations that you are prepared to travel to?
Will you be buying a package deal or will you be building your own package?
Are you considering a popular destination where many tour operators or flight companies travel?

Firstly, if you are flexible in terms of location and dates then you will almost certainly benefit from waiting until the last minute to book your holiday. Last minute deals are, of course, something that you cannot rely upon and if you are set on going to a certain destination at a certain date then last minute is far too risky.

If you are planning on creating your own package then you need to be aware that you are taking multiple gambles. For example, you need to consider your airfare, hotels and transport. Whilst you may get an excellent last minute flight, you may not be so lucky when it comes to the hotel or car hire. In fact, you may find that paying a premium for other parts of your holiday will end up out-weighing any last minute savings you have made.

As a general rule, if you are looking to go on a specific holiday, a cruise, for example, with a specific company or a destination that is only offered by a few operators, you may find that last minute bargains are simply not available. Cruising is a classic example of this. A cruise line will offer holidays for a certain price, whilst they may offer their holidays through different agents who may individually offer discounts, the actual price of the cruise is likely to remain very similar no matter who you go to for your price.

Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.

Mahalo.

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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Coming Up With The Right Investment Strategy

You finally have your financial situation worked out where you have a few extra bucks to invest in your future. But before you do you need to understand exactly what is you need to do and what are your desired results from your investments.

Because investing is not a sure thing in most cases, it is much like a game – you don’t know the outcome until the game has been played and a winner has been declared. Anytime you play almost any type of game, you have a strategy. Investing isn’t any different – you need an investment strategy.

An investment strategy is basically a plan for investing your money in various types of investments that will help you meet your financial goals in a specific amount of time. Each type of investment contains individual investments that you must choose from. A clothing store sells clothes – but those clothes consist of shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, undergarments, etc. The stock market is a type of investment, but it contains different types of stocks, which all contain different companies that you can invest in.

If you haven’t done your research, it can quickly become very confusing – simply because there are so many different types of investments and individual investments to choose from. This is where your strategy, combined with your risk tolerance and investment style all come into play.

If you are new to investments, work closely with a financial planner before making any investments. They will help you develop an investment strategy that will not only fall within the bounds of your risk tolerance and your investment style, but will also help you achieve your financial goals.

Never invest money without having a goal and a strategy for reaching that goal! This is essential. Nobody hands their money over to anyone without knowing what that money is being used for and when they will get it back! If you don’t have a goal, a plan, or a strategy, that is essentially what you are doing! Always start with a goal and a strategy for reaching that goal!


Come back next time for more tips. Tricks and techniques to assist you in Living the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for you.



Mahalo.





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