2010 More Everyday Ways to Save Money

September 2010:

 

Tara Aronson, Lifestyle Expert

Tips from Lifestyle Expert, Tara Aronson.  According to CareerBuilder.com, 61% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and trimming your budget is the first line of defense to help ease those monthly budget burdens and there are some everyday ways to save money that really add up.   When cash is tight, you might be tempted to look for “big” ways to start saving, but cut backs don’t have to be drastic to save literally thousands of dollars a year.

Two Simple Ways to Save $2500 a year.
Brown bagging it can save $1700 a year over eating out and cutting down that daily cup of coffee (also known as the latte factor) could save you almost $800 a year.  That totals $2500 for the year!

Look for Promotions.
Another great way to save is to look for the latest promotions from retailers.  Here’s one that’s happening October 3rd through November 13th that’s great if you have a business, you work at home or you have school projects for the kids. You can get 50% back in rewards when you spend $25 or more with Staples Copy & Print,  This includes anything from business cards, stationery, envelopes, invoices, holiday calendars, whatever you need – it’s so easy to save. There are a few restrictions, but basically all copy & print services are included. Just pop into any Staples store for all the details.

Cashback Reward Programs.
Now more than ever it’s important to know how to leverage money you’re already spending in order to get more bang for your buck and one easy way to do this is through a credit card rewards programs.  Here’s a program I’ve recently discovered that is simple and delivers a lot of value.  With Discover Card, you can get 5% cash back for every dollar you spend on clothes and restaurants from October through the end of the year with their 5% Cashback Bonus program.  This is the only card that allows you to redeem rewards for more than their face value with gift cards from over 100 merchant partners, like Bed, Bath, & Beyond and TJMaxx.  For example, You can turn $40 in a Cashback Bonus into a $50 gift card at Gap or Banana Republic.

Save on Utilities.
Here are four great ways to save on utilities.  First, unplugging small appliances when they’re not in use can save up to 26% off your total electric bill.  Second, replacing your light bulbs with energy saving CFLs can save $30 per bulb over its lifetime.  Third, if you still have a landline and don’t use it because of your cell phone, then get rid or the landline and just use your cell phone.  That could save you $600 to $1200 a year.  Finally, this is not going to be popular, but I currently pay $110 a month on cable.  So consider cutting your cable bill down to the basic service that could save you another $600 per year or more.

How to Get the Kids on Board.
At the grocery store, make it a game with kids to find the best deals.  You can have them help you find the best price on items on your grocery store list.  You can also have them help you find great deals with coupons.  By involving them, you’re also teaching them how to be smart shoppers.

2010 Travel Tips for a Last Minute Summer Vacation

July 2010:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom, on location in Ft. Lauderdale.

Trying to squeeze in a last minute summer vacation before the kids go back to school but haven’t made any travel plans? Don’t worry.  If your budget is tight and you’re concerned you’ve missed out on travel deals, you’re in luck. The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman, has some creative ways to take a last minute summer vacation without breaking the budget.  Many people may think they’ve missed out on travel deals for the summer, but it’s  not too late to plan your summer vacation.  Although you can definitely save by planning your vacation in advance, especially when it comes to airfares, Emily says she’s been seeing a lot of great last minute travel deals online every day.

TIP # 1 – Get Great Travel Deals in Destinations Where Summer is Actually the Low Season. The summer is a great time to get really good rates at the best hotels and low airfares when you think about vacationing in destinations where summer is the low season.  One of Emily’s favorite vacation spots in sunny Greater Fort Lauderdale where there are 23 miles of clean, beautiful beaches overlooking the very blue Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast of Florida.  It’s gorgeous in summer and you can see for yourself with their Live Beach Cams on the destination’s website at sunny.org.  You can also save 50% on admission to museums, spas, and lots of outdoor activities including golf and kayaking with their special two-for-one  “Vacation like a V-I-P” card.  That’s just a sample of how you can get good deals at off the beaten path summer destination.

TIP # 2 – Save 50% Off Your Vacation by Taking a Mini-Vacation. One way to save on your last minute vacation is to take a shorter vacation or a mini-vacation.  It can cut the cost of your trip in half, especially if you do a road trip to a destination not more  than a half-day drive from your home.  Mini-vacations don’t require weeks of planning but still provide the same basic essentials of any trip: the chance to recharge your batteries, get your mind off of work and take a break from your regular routine.   Also, when you’re traveling with the kids, look for a hotel that is reliable, kid-friendly and has all the amenities they need, like the Hilton Garden Inn. Between now and September 6th, with the HHonors ‘Great Getaway Promotion’ you get 20% off the Bed ‘N Breakfast rates plus get a delicious cooked-to-order breakfast for up to four adults staying in the same room. And kids 12 and under eat breakfast for free.   HGI.com has a list of participating hotels all the details.

TIP # 3 – In the World of Travel, Loyalty Has its Rewards so “Be Loyal.” If you’re looking for a last minute getaway, check into your loyalty reward programs as you might have enough reward points for a mini-vacation.  It’s important to be “Be Loyal” since hotels, airlines, cruise lines and rental car companies all reward their loyal customers with great travel perks. Loyalty means free upgrades, priority check in, preferred seats, free baggage check and dedicated telephone numbers for faster service.  Cruise Lines even host special events on board for their loyal members and are given priority tender tickets and priority dinner reservations.

TIP # 4 – Road Trips are Easy and Less Expensive Last Minute Vacations. A road trip is probably one of the easiest and least expensive last minute summer vacations you can do since you can save by not paying a huge airfare.  The most important thing to remember is to book your hotel in advance and make sure, in addition to your GPS system, that you carry real maps with you as they can really help if come across unexpected construction and need to take detour in an unfamiliar area.

TIP # 5 – Official Tourism Websites are a Great Source for Travel Deals at Your Destination. Check with the official tourism site where you’re visiting as you can almost always find great deals there with discounts on attractions, dining deals, hotel deals and so much more.

2010 40th Anniversary of Earth Day

April 2010:

Tara Aronson, Lifestyle Expert

Tara Aronson’s Ways to Go Green & Save “Green” & Save Our Ailing Planet.  It’s the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010 and our world is in greater peril than ever, but there is also unprecedented opportunity to build a new future.  Earth Day 40 is a pivotal opportunity for everyone in America, along with corporations, and governments to join together to create a global green economy. Whether you’re trying to save money or trying to save the planet, going green makes a lot of economic and environmental sense. There are so many ways to save energy, make environmental decisions in every day activities and even when you travel. It’s so easy to be green. All it takes is making simple changes in your home, office and daily habits. There are hundreds of ways to go “green” and save the “green” and Lifestyle Expert, Tara Aronson, is on a mission to make the environment better NOW and here are some of her green ideas, not just for Earth Day, but for every day.

Give your home a green makeover.
Many people don’t realize how easy and inexpensive it can be to give your home a simple green makeover.  Not only will it help save the planet, it will save you money.

• Unplug appliances you’re not using and save up to 26% off your total electric bill.
• Replace your standard light bulbs with energy saving CFLs and save about $30 or more in electricity costs per bulb over its lifetime since CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
• Conserving water by taking a shorter shower and only doing a wash when you have a full load will reduce your water bill measurably.
• Carpool to work. If you carpool, you can save around $780 a year!  You may be able to find people looking to carpool on Craigslist or in your local paper.

You know, you can find more of these “40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living” tips online from The Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program. It’s a 40-days, 40-ways calendar that offers an eco-friendly tip or idea each day, such as bike to work or school or turn off the lights. It’s a great way toget your family involved. You can download the calendar at elmersgluecrew.com.  The 40 Days calendar is just one way the company helps teachers and parents educate children about taking care of the environment. The program also includes a national classroom drive to collect and recycle millions of empty glue bottles and sticks each school year.  Last year, Elmer’s Glue Crew recycled 2 million empty glue bottles and glue sticks, and program participation reached 1.2 million students, 16,000 teachers and 83,000 classrooms.  Again, you can find out more at elmersgluecrew.com.

Buy Products from Companies that Practice Earth Friendly Choices.
One of the ways to really make a difference with our environment is to make “green” choices when you shop.  This means supporting companies that make “Earth Friendly” choices.

Green Giant vegetables is committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Last year, they replaced their packaging with unbleached recycled paper board reducing their green house emission by approximately 80%.  This also saves around 54,000 trees annually.  Also, for almost 80 years Niblets corn is vacuum packed so the same amount of corn is in this smaller 11-ounce can as in this 15-ounce cans. This uses less water, less metal and less fuel in shipping the product.  This Earth Day, they announced a program with The Nature Conservancy and are giving $200,000 to encourage and promote greener farming practices in and around their growing region.  You can learn more or make a donation to The Nature Conservancy at GreenGiant.com.

You know there are so many companies that understand the importance of being “green” and they’re initiating great earth friendly programs.  Here’s a company that’s really making a difference.

We’ve all heard of Underwriters Laboratories – they have been a pioneer in safety standards for more than 115 years. You know that “UL in a circle” on the back of products: did you know that the average home has more than 125 products with the UL Mark on it? That Mark signifies that the product has been tested and meets rigorous safety requirements.  Underwriters Laboratories also focus on environmental concerns where Moms have a chance to win an eco-friendly Imagination Playground designed to encourage creativity and sensory play critical to a child’s development for their own neighborhood or community center. This is all part of a “Save Play” program that encourages Moms to pledge support for local play areas through a Playspace Finder – a playground locator available at SafetyAtHome.com where they can also enter to win that Imagination Playground.

Don’t forget some non-traditional ways to make your home a greener place.
There are so many ways that you can make green choices in your every day life and they are so simple.  Here are just a few.

• Skip the bottled water. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but generates large amounts of container waste.
• Make your own cleaning supplies. This is another earth friendly money saver that also eliminates waste on packaging of cleaners and that is to make your own earth friendly cleaning supplies.  All you need is a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, bleach and lemon.
• Find new uses for old things. Before you toss something in the trash, consider how you might reuse it. An old tissue box is a great way to store plastic bags.
• Make earth friendly choices when you travel. Hotels and cruise ships are becoming increasingly aware of being more eco-friendly.  One very simple way to conserve water when you travel is to not have your sheets or towels every day on extended stays at a hotel or while you’re on a cruise.  More tips on earth friendly travel ideas are at BestTravelDealsTips.com.

Remember, it is essential to teach your kids about every day ways to protect the planet, after all – they’re inheriting it from us.

2009 Five Ways to Save on Holiday Travel

November 2009:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

Did you know that an estimated 41 million Americans took a trip last Thanksgiving, despite record prices for both gas and airfares?  The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are amonth the most popular times for Americans to travel. So will better deals on travel be availabel this year or are we in for a pricey holiday travel season?  Though airfares hit record highs last year, during the 2009 holiday travel season travelers should see significant relief on prices.  Now more than ever, travelers are seeking more value for thier money, but if you think peopel are shying away from travel for the holidas because of the current economy, think again.  Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom, has five ways to save on holiday travel.

Tip One:  The Internet is always your best source for last minute travel deals. The internet is always going to be your  best bet for last minute travel deals as inventory remains open during the season, hotels and cruise lines will start slashing rates to fill empty hotel rooms and cbins.  If you Google “last minute travel deals,” you will get a choice of great websites that have great last minute deals.  Though it may be tough to get great airfares for Thanksgiving, you can still find some deals in time fro Christmas and driving to your destinations that are within a day drive can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars in some cases.

Tip Two: Think ”off the beaten path” for Holiday Travel Deals. You want to think “off the beaten path” for the best holiday travel deals. East Coast Beach Destinations near Charleston, South Carolina, for example, where it’s off-season but temperatures may still be in the sixties offer great hotel deals.  Las Vegas before New Year’s has incredible deals.  You can get a Vegas hotel room for just $31 a night and the Excalibur has $29 24-Hour VIP Pass which allows you unlimited access to their buffet so you can eat for under $30 a day in Vegas.

Tip Three:  Avoid getting sick on your holiday trip or it will cost you. There are a lot of things that can derail your holiday travel budget and getting sick can ruin your holidays and cost you not just in possible medical bills, but in opportunity cost since you’ve spent the money on your travel, but can’t enjoy your holiday. First, understand that you need to take defensive measures when you travel since you are in close contact with passengers in airplanes, buses, trains and even cruise ships which increases the chance of coming into contact with someone who is sick with a cold or flu.  Since flu is often transmitted hand-to-hand, you need to wash your hands often and avoid rubbing their eyes or nose.   Also, on a plane, don’t put your face directly on airline-supplied pillows or blankets that haven’t been cleaned. Now, if you do get sick while traveling, many doctors are now recommending homeopathic medicines to combat the first signs of flu or flu-like symptoms.  Here’s one I always travel with called Oscilloccocinum.  You take at when you first feel symptoms like feeling run down, headaches, body aches, fever and chills and it will reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.  There are no side effects like drowsiness or drug interactions.  And you can give it to kids age 2 and up.  Whether you’re on the road or at home, you can nip flu-like symptoms in the bud having it on hand.  Keep it in your travel bag, backpack or purse and more info is available at Oscillo.com.

Tip Four:  The latest trend is added value programs and travel packages where kids stay free, eat free and even sail free. The latest travel trends involve added value to your travel package that includes everything from kids stay free, eat free and even sail free on cruises. Here’s a couple of current trends and deals:  Holiday Inn has a kids eat free program; several Cruise lines have a kids sail free program when traveling with 2 full fare adults and staying in the same state room including Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Costa; and another trend in cruising is offering free upgrades, ship board credits and even prepaid gratuities which can save you hundreds of dollars.

Tip Five:  Use technology so travel delays don’t cost you more than they have to. Here are a couple things you need to know so that travel delays don’t derail your budget. First, always keep a list of important numbers in your cell phone in the event that you’re delayed or a flight is cancelled. This includes a travel agent (if you use one), a number to the airline directly as it may be easier and quicker to get them on the phone than stand in long lines with other delayed passengers, and your hotel or local contacts that can assist you with re-routing your trip or avoid charges if you can’t get to your hotel. Keep in mind that airlines are not necessarily responsible for putting you up in a hotel due to weather delays, etc. One final thing that is always a good idea is travel insurance which can pay for a lot of additional fees depending on the policy that may include buying clothes if there’s a luggage mishap.

2009 Top 5 Busy Mom Time Management Makeover Tips

October 2009:

Tara Aronson, Lifestyle Expert

Tips from Lifestyle Expert, Tara Aronson. 72% of moms with children over one-year-old work and moms with a full-time job spend 13 hours each day working at the office or at home completing family chores. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, or a working mom, you probably feel overwhelmed and as though you are always running out of time. Between managing jobs, the kids schedules with school and play, cooking, and cleaning, getting organized and under control doesn’t usually come naturally and busy moms need help. Working Mom and Lifestyle Expert, Tara Aronson, wrote the book on helping moms get control of their homes and their lives with Simplify Your Household and Mrs. Clean Jeans’ Housekeeping with Kids and she has smart time management tips for busy moms  Here are her top five tips for a Busy Mom’s Time Management Makeover.

TIP # 1 – Eliminate Morning Madness. Simplify your mornings by doing as many things as you can the night before.  Sign off on homework and school papers, pack lunches, pack up backpacks and station them near the door and lay out school clothes including shoes, socks and hair bands.  Finally, make sure kids set their own alarm clocks as it encourages them to be responsible for their own schedules.

TIP #2 – Conquer Clutter and Cleaning to Prevent Chaos. You can conquer what I call important clutter like receipts, mail, permission slips and other important items by creating a temporary holding area with what I call clutter-buster baskets.  These are not a permanent dumping grounds because you will check them daily and distribute the contents. Now, here’s a cleaning tip most people don’t know about.  Many kitchens can get foul odors if the dishwasher and garbage disposal are not properly cleaned as directed in their Use & Care guides.  In fact, dishwashers in particular can be a problem when dirty dishes sit for several days or when food residue is not completely rinsed away.  I recommended something that is brand new on the market from Whirlpool for a cleaner, fresher dishwasher and disposal, Affresh™ Dishwasher and Disposal Cleaner.  You use this once a month or as needed and it’s the only national two-in-one product available that removes odor in dishwashers and garbage disposals.

TIP #3- Make A Family Calendar to Save Time by Organizing Schedules. Everyone in the family has activities so it’s important to make a family calendar.  This can help you figure out things like what errands can be combined and if you can arrange car pools that can be real time savers. Also, establish routines with set times for homework and playtime so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel each day.  Now, with school in full-swing, several play dates for your toddlers in the afternoons, and soccer games on weekends, kids can get some tough stains on their clothes that can be time consuming to get out.  To tackle these messes, here’s another new product, Tide Stain Release.  It’s an in-wash booster designed to help remove the toughest fresh and dry stains.  Just drop one of these duo pacs into your washing machine, along with regular detergent, and Tide Stain Release will help lift tough stains like grass to ketchup on everything from your clothes to your favorite linens.

TIP #4- Get the Kids Involved to Save Time Cleaning. Make family participation in household cleaning and maintenance the rule rather than the exception.  On Saturdays, have your whole family engage in a 60-minute cleaning routine.  This is a round the room and through the home cleaning and organizing system.  The goal is turn housework into teamwork, with each member of the family helping to get it right and fast.

TIP #5- Learn the Art of Delegation to Balance Work and Family. Working mothers of all kinds need to know that getting your entire family involved with effective time management is the key to overcoming overwhelm and balancing work and family. Too many times, moms try to do it all by themselves.  They need to look at their family to as a support system.  Start getting kids involved early with age appropriate chores to lessen your load.  The more the kids pitch in, the less Mom and Dad have to do, and the more free time everyone has to go to the movies, eat out at a favorite restaurant or take afternoons off to head to a park or a beach.

2009 Top Five Money Saving Travel Secrets in Any Economy

September 2009:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

Most people don’t know that we’re coming into one of the traditionally least expensive times of the year to travel in a good economy known as the shoulder season but the recession is creating travel deals bigger and better than ever. Hotels, airlines and tour operators hurting for business have lowered rates, cut fares and added extra values to entice travelers and it’s worked.  The travel industry grew one trillion dollars last year in a down economy as those who love to travel have been taking advantage of the travel deals.  But in any economy, insiders like The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman, have secrets that every day travelers don’t.  Here are the top five.

TIP # 1 – Travel in the Off Season

Ft. Lauderdale Beach

Traveling in the off-season has been an insider secret for decades. When you travel off-season (or shoulder season), you can avoid long lines, crowds and higher prices. Try the Caribbean or Florida in the fall instead of winter. Now is also a great time to take advantage of the lowest airfares of the year, plus great deals and packages at top beachfront hotels and resorts.  For example, you can experience Luxury for Less in Greater Fort Lauderdale during September, October and November with three great programs.  Lauderdale Spa Chic allows you to relax and pamper yourself at top spas with $99 treatments and Dine Out Lauderdale offers special $35 three-course prix fixe menus from the best restaurants. If you’re taking a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale, make sure you plan a couple of extra days to take advantage of their “Cruise & Play” program with special offers for hotel packages and discounts at attractions and restaurants.  Don’t forget to take time to enjoy some of the gorgeous 23-miles of Blue Wave beaches and go to sunny.org for more information.

TIP #2 – Go Where the Dollar Takes Your Further

You need to travel where the U.S. dollar has the most punch and combine that with some of the travel savings programs out there so you can really stretch your travel dollars.  Here’s what we’re talking about.  American Express just launched a program called Destination Family that specifically provides family-tailored travel benefits and offers for its Cardmembers.  This program offers all kinds of benefits from kids stay and/or eat free offers to 50% off of a second hotel room to free car seats when you rent a car.  The offers are available at some of the best travel brands out there like Hyatt Hotels, Royal Caribbean, Avis Car Rentals, and many more.  Cardmembers can take advantage of the program by going to americanexpress.com/familytravel where you can also find travel agents that specialize in arranging and customizing family vacations.

TIP #3- Get More Bang for Your Buck When You Live Like a Local

A great insider tip to saving money is to “live like a local” and avoid tourist traps by eating at neighborhood restaurants where the locals eat.  Just go up to someone on the street and ask them to recommend a restaurant with a local flavor.  A great place to do this is Baltimore since it’s a very walkable city and it’s easy to get to by plane, train, or car for a great fall getaway.  Before you go, you’ll want to download coupons for local attractions, restaurants and hotels at baltimore.org where you can also find great hotel deals and packages  Also, October feaures Free Fall Baltimore where you’ll find 300 free arts and cultural activities in the city including free admission to museums like BMA. Now for something really unique, you don’t want to miss the 200th Anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday with actor John Astin’s re-enactment of Poe’s funeral complete with a candlelight vigil.

TIP #4- Don’t Book Your Flight Too Far in Advance

The best time to start comparison shopping for flights is about 45 to 60 days before you would like to travel. You may not know that airline computers are intentionally set up not to give you a deal outside that time frame because they are looking at the law of supply and demand.  However, with airlines cutting back on flight schedules, don’t wait too long to book your ticket or you could get locked out of travel dates even in an off-season.

TIP #5- Carry a First Aid Kit with OTC Products

Don’t let your health or your budget get derailed when you travel.  Many people don’t think to pack a small first aid kit when they travel and a vacation can be ruined with headaches, allergies, sunburn, upset stomach, motion sickness, a cold or worse. You need to bring a simple kit to ensure that if you do get sick, you have what you need to treat your symptoms and still enjoy your trip.  This is especially important if you’re traveling internationally as many of the products you can get over the counter in the U.S. are not available in foreign countries and it’s difficult understanding labels in a language you don’t speak (if not impossible).

2009 Mini-Vacations, Family Fun on a Budget & Last Minute Summer Travel Tips

June 2009:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

Just because budgets are tight doesn’t mean you have to say “no” to family fun!  A vacation doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate to give you a much needed break from the stress of your everyday routine.  And a change of scenery and spending quality family time does not mean breaking the budget.  The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman has tips on how  a little creative planning can go a long way when it comes to stretching your vacation budget.

 

Mini-Vacations are better than Stay-cations. We are definitely living in challenging times, but research and health professionals point towards the health benefits of taking a vacation.  When times are tough, a vacation is essential therapy, and mini-vacations are an easy and less expensive way to get away.  They don’t require weeks of planning and can shave thousands off the vacation budget, but they still provide the same basic substance of any trip:  the chance to recharge your batteries, get your mind off of work, and take a break from your regular routine.  Right now, there is no easier or more affordable way to get away than on a cruise as there’s nothing to plan as everything is done for you on a cruise.

CLIA, the Cruise Line International Association, has a summer-long “You Deserve a Cruise” promotion where you can take advantage of unprecedented cruise values and savings including two-for-one cruise pricing, significant fare reductions, free air transportation, kids sale free offers, as much as $2000 in shipboard credits and even free upgrades and shore excursions.  These special offers are for 2009 and 2010 cruises throughout the world.  Go to cruising.org for a complete list of special cruise offers and to find a CLIA-certified travel agent.

Look for Rewards and Hotel Deals on the Internet Loaded with “Extras.” The internet is always the way to go to not just find the deals, but also extra value every time you travel.  This Fourth of July, hotels.com is offering free nights plus up to $75 on a pre-paid MasterCard so that you can afford to enjoy the holiday with a weekend away from home.  More than 900 properties are available in the Fourth of July Sale in great local getaway destinations including Anaheim, Myrtle Beach, San Antonio, Miami, Chicago, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. to name a few.  Also, all properties in the sale are also eligible for credits with their welcomerewards loyalty program where you get a free night stay when you reach 10 total nights booked on hotels.com.  You can earn and redeem rewards at 53,000 different hotels, condos, and bed & breakfasts with no blackout dates or restrictions.  Here’s a little known tip: Tuesdays are the best days to book amazing travel deals at hotels.com.  Every Tuesday at 12:01 am, the site posts approximately 200 new deals and they’re only listed for 24 hours, so the earlier you log on, the better your odds of snagging a discount. You’ll primarily find bargains in the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Canada.  The best part?  Offers are for rooms that can be booked through the year.

Other last minute deals. If you find yourself needing a last minute getaway, you can always just fill the car with a tank of gas and drive a half-day or so for a local getaway.  If you’re on the East Coast, check out the historic state of Connecticut at CTVisit.com and Baltimore, near the nation’s capitol is loaded with family fun ideas including 50 things you can do for free!  If you’re in the MidWest, you might want to take a new look at the Twin Cities, including Minneapolis with amazing international cuisine that rivals New York City.  And if you’re out West, the Grand Canyon and treasures of Yosemite National Park are a short drive away.  Check out hotels.com for the best deals on hotels before you hit the road.

2009 Money Saving Tips for Your Summer Vacation

April 2009:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

You can’t escape talk of a gloomy economy and it comes as no surprise that many American families are scaling back their summer travel plans.  But the truth is that savvy families can always find ways to shave pennies, dollars, and even hundreds of dollars off their travel spending so that they can still take a vacation instead of a staycation.  The recession is actually creating one of the best times to save big bucks on a  vacation that hasn’t been seen in decades.  Airlines are offering deeply discounted tickets shaving 25 percent to 50 percent off the high fares of last summer, hotels are slashing prices and including extras like free breakfasts and free nights, and The Travel Mom, Emily Kaufman, has some tried-and-true strategies to help you take full advantage of recession induced travel bargains.

Think Outside the Box to Save!

Family vacations can be expensive when you add up food, lodging and airfare and even extra baggage fees but here’s one way to “think outside the box” and save.  Instead of staying at a typical hotel where rooms can be small for families, look for an extended stay hotel that has lots of room and has lots of free “extras.”

Staybridge Suites hotels have one and two bedroom suites that can sleep up to seven people.  Suites include in-room DVD players, full kitchens and there are even outdoor grills so that you can cook your own meals saving hundreds when you travel.  They also include a free breakfast buffet everyday to save even more.  You can pack less and save on extra baggage fees by using heir free laundry rooms.  With 150 locations and growing, some are offering up to half off on weekends through the end of summer so check out the savings at Staybridge.com.

Think Off-Season and Get Great Travel Deals.

If you think “off-season” and go off the beaten summer vacation path, you can really save.  Everyone thinks of going skiing when it’s snowing or the to Caribbean in the winter or spring but don’t know that there are some of the best deals in the summer to go to popular off-season destinations.  And “deals” aren’t all about the price, but all the “extras” where you can really save with value-added promotions.

Caribbean waters off Aruba.

Now you can really save with packages to places like Aruba and their “One Cool Family Vacation” promotion where kids stay free, eat free, and get free daily activities at participating resorts.  In addition to the sun and beautiful beaches, the island has activities for everyone in the family that include Jeep Tours, ATVs, Snorkeling, Wind Surfing, Kite Surfing and even some off the beaten path things to do like visiting there unique Butterfly Farm, Ostrich Farm and even a Donkey Sanctuary.

Aruba’s average temperature is 82 degrees year round and it’s located OUTSIDE of the hurricane belt.  Thirteen U.S. cities have direct flights daily.  You can book your entire trip including the deals we’ve mentioned at Aruba.com.

Think About Protecting Your Vacation Investment.

Also, once you’ve found your perfect travel deal you don’t want things like flight delays, a medical emergency, lost luggage or even a lost job to ruin your vacation, so you need ot protect your travel investment with a flexible travel insurance plan.  TravelGuard.com offers a number of plans to meet your specific travel plans – no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing on vacation.  Travel Guard’s Gold Plan even includes some great travel services like emergency flight changes, doctor referrals, and concierge services like restaurant reservations or golf arrangements.

Think Family Values and Save.

There are all sorts of ways to save hundreds with family “values” including booking an all-suite or extended stay hotel that include extras like we mentioned, choosing family friendly destinations with lots of free activities like hanging out at the beach.  And also, almost every destination has a free website that has special local deals.  For example, Connecticut‘s CTvisit.com has great ideas of FREE things you can do when you visit, plus lots of savings tips on attractions.

2009 Everyday Ways to Save Money on Tight Budgets

March 2009

Donna Corwin

When cash is tight, you might be tempted to look for “big” ways to start saving each month, but Lifestyle Expert, Donna Corwin has money saving tips that don’t mean drastic cutbacks. Here are tips to cut back in “little” ways so you can save several hundreds to thousands of dollars this year.

SMALL WAYS TO SAVE BIG ON UTILIITES:

UNPLUG WHAT YOU’RE NOT USING: According to the government’s ENERGY STAR program, 40% of the electricity that home electronics use is consumed while the products are actually turned off. The impact of this on your energy bill will depend on your particular situation but a Berkeley study suggests that the savings could be six-to-26% off your total bill.  This means Tivo, cable boxes, DVD/VCR players, coffee makers with clocks, computers, computer printers and more.

LIGHTBULBS: If you replace your light bulbs with energy saving CFLs you’ll save about $30 bucks in electricity costs over its lifetime since CFLs use 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

ELIMINATE YOUR LANDLINE TELEPHONE: Eliminate your landline and rely exclusively on my mobile phone.  For many households this will save $1200 a year.  Check out mobile phone companies for the best value on your plan.  Sprint has these “Everything Family” plans that can save between $240 to  $1000 or more a year compared to many other plans.  $240 is a car payment or a week’s worth of groceries.  Go to Sprint.com for more info.

CREATIVE WAYS TO STRETCH DOLLARS YOU’RE ALREADY SPENDING: One of things a lot of people don’t think about is how to turn the money they’re already spending on things like groceries, household bills, and clothes into a way to pay for additional items they need without spending any extra money.  Credit card reward programs allow you to leverage your budget to get things for free that you normally have to pay for and many people have points they haven’t used so now is the time to use those points.  American Express has several new options in the Membership Rewards® program that offer VERY practical rewards for these tough economic times.

REPLACE BROKEN APPLIANCES FOR FREE: For example, if something breaks like a washing machine, you don’t have to use cash, but you can use points to get a new one.  You can also get household items like coffee makers, blenders and more.

DINE OUT FOR FREE: You don’t have to forgo dining out when you can treat the family to eating out at a wide variety of popular restaurants including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, P.F. Changs, California Pizza Kitchen and many more.

FILL YOUR GAS TANK FOR FREE: The Express Rewards SM Gas Card which allows you to use points to fill up your gas tank.  You can get them in $50 denominations for as little as 6,500 points  Find out more details at AmericanExpress.com.

LOOK FOR AFFORDABLE QUALITY ITEMS TO REPLACE LUXURY ITEMS: You don’t have to stop pampering yourself even on a budget, but skip pricey perfumes, which can cost between $25 to $125. Instead, look for affordable everyday luxury products for less.  Products like Dove’s Go Fresh Body Mists can replace expensive perfumes and it’s even small enough to fit in your purse or gym bag.  They’re actually in the deodorant aisle and are only $3.89 and have a great fragrance that can save you a lot of money.  Find out more at dove.com.

DON’T LET SICK DAYS DERAIL YOUR BUDGET: One half of all U.S. workers do NOT get paid sick days so now more than ever, you need to protect your health or it could cost your budget hundreds even thousands of dollars so prevention is key.  One of the most common ways we get sick is that we touch a surface with a virus and then we touch our face.  One of the easiest and inexpensive ways to prevent sickness is to simply wash your hands, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t do this and it can cost you several days of lost pay.  Also, keep surfaces in your home and office clean by wiping them down with cleaners that kill the cold & flu germs on doorknobs, phones, remotes, computer keyboards and everywhere germs may be shared.

WHAT TO TELL KIDS ABOUT THE RECESSION: The most important thing to let kids know is that you’re all in this together.  Focus on quality time with the family with activities that don’t cost a lot of money but are lot of fun, like board games and outdoor activities.  You also don’t want to hold back on information with older kids and use this as an opportunity to teach them about living on a budget and within your means.

Look for Donna’s new book coming later this spring!

2009 Recession Proof Your Spring Break

February 2009:

Emily Kaufman, The Travel Mom

Just because money may be tight that doesn’t mean you have to cancel spring break this year for you or the kids.  Emily Kaufman, the Travel Mom, has timely advice for these economic hard times to keep your spring break travel plans in full motion with three great tips to recession proof your spring break:  1) Find Family Values; 2) Go Surfing; and 3) Arm Yourself with Information.

#1-FIND FAMILY VALUES

The first thing you need to do is book your vacation “smart,” so you can really pack a lot of extra value into your vacation dollar.  You need to look for free extras when you plan your trip as the extras can add up to big savings.  For example, look for buy three nights, get one free offers from hotels and look for hotels that offer a free breakfast that can save hundreds of dollars for families, and packages that include extras like free admission to local attractions and more.

Also, look for destinations that have a lot of extra savings and extra value.  Emily has two great picks for family getaways this spring break right here in the U.S.  They’re both affordable and easy and probably just an Amtrak train or a short road trip away which can save hundreds of dollars in airfare.  The State of Connecticut and the city of Baltimore are two destinations packed with history, fun and savings!

CONNECTICUT HAS HANDS ON HISTORY FOR KIDS & WATER PARK FUN AND SAVINGS! Check out Connecticut and Mystic Seaport‘s recreated 19th-Century village and historic vessels at the waterfront.  Kids love hands on history and there’s an amazing interactive Indian village at the Mashantucket Indian Museum where history comes alive for kids as they see how tribe’s lived.  And don’t miss the new indoor tropical-themed water park at Coco Key in Waterbury connected to the Holiday Inn with a Splash & Stay Package for as low as $189 for hotel and four water park passes.  Go to CTVisit.com for lots more info and savings.

#2-GO SURFING:  THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH VALUE ADDED DEALS

BALTIMORE’S HARBOR PASS AT BALTIMORE.ORG SAVES YOU 20%!

If you like to walk and really get a feel for a city, you’ll love Baltimore, a walkable city ideal for families on spring break and weekend escapes.  First, you have to get a Baltimore Harbor Pass which will save you and the kids 20% on tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Science Center and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. Families on a budget will also love the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum which have FREE Admission.  To help plan your trip, use the Deals and Discounts section at Baltimore.org where you can also buy your Harbor Pass online and get many value-added packages.

#3-ARM YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION

PROTECT YOUR VACATION INVESTMENT THIS SPRING.

The recession has not only created a deal-dominated travel environment, but has also focused attention on cruise vacations, whose all-inclusive nature make them perfect for budget-conscious travelers.  The majority of cruisers now book their own air transportation – separate from the cruise line – to save even more money, but many don’t realize new Department of Homeland Security rules require cruisers to board their ships earlier than in past years.  Also, cruise lines will not work to resolve air-related problems for guests who booked their arrangements separately so if you miss your cruise departure due to airport delays, you have to fend for yourself.  This means possibly spending thousands of dollars to re-book flights, make hotel reservations, and added meals as you try to “catch” your ship at the next port.  Most people don’t know that even cruise-line insurance doesn’t cover your flights if you book hem separately.

TravelGuard.com, a travel insurance and assistance provider, can help safeguard your cruise vacation investment.  Their “My Travel Guard” policy includes coverage if you’re forced to cancel your trip, but also protects you against the far too frequent occasions that can derail your vacation plans like flight cancellations, delays, or lost luggage.  Imagine missing your flight cruise departure in sunny Miami because of snow in Chicago?  Travel insurance will help.  Vacationers covered by “My Travel Guard” also receive a variety of protections and services at no extra charge including 24/7 live assistance with emergency or last-minute travel changes (including re-booking and canceling previous reservations) or help with something as nice as locating a restaurant and making reservations.

Additional Cruise Travel Tips from Travel Guard

Use the Internet to Save Time. Check in and print your boarding passes online to bypass long airport lines.  Many cruise lines also offer online check-in, which can save valuable time once you reach the pier.

Arrive early. New Department of Homeland Security rules require guests to arrive at the pier 90 minutes or more before your ship’s scheduled departure time.  It’s also best to always assume there will be delays at the airports and arrive at least two hours before your departure time for outbound and inbound flights.

Bring your numbers. Bring the phone numbers of your travel agent and the travel assistance hotline of your travel insurance provider and program them into your cell phone as well.  This will be your lifeline to helping you through unpredictable situations such as flight delays, cancellations, airline strikes, etc.  If you’re staying at a pre-cruise hotel or you are renting a car, bring these contact numbers as well in case you need to re-adjust a booking or alert the company to a delayed arrival.

Make copies. Make photocopies of your passport and other identification to keep separately from the actual documents to protect you against their loss while traveling.  It’s also a good idea to leave a copy of your passport with a family member that could fax it to you should you need it.

FINAL TRAVEL & MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR SPRING BREAK:

What you need to know about what’s going on in the travel industry right now is that this is a great time for travel deals.  The internet is loaded with deals as the travel industry is looking to fill cruise line cabins, hotel rooms, airline seats, rental cars, and more.  So whether you’re looking for a getaway close to home or a popular destination, big savings are almost everywhere right now.  Finally, Emily highly recommends that teenagers under 19 never on Spring Break un-chaperoned.  Have a great spring break and enjoy the deals!