Category: Travel

Save money when traveling for business or pleasure

Cars, Entertainment, Food, Home, Personal Finance, Shopping, Travel

8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money

Writing about saving money is a feel-good way for me to share my knowledge with all of you. Since I’ve started, I’ve covered a number of ways that you can cut your grocery bill, home energy costs, shopping expenses and many more areas where we regularly spend our money. Some are smaller ways, and others help you to save big money, like shopping around for car insurance.  But I wanted to share some other ideas with you. Each of them is different and if you make them into regular habits, you can save a substantial amount.

8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money

Bold Ways to Save Big Money

1. Give Up Your Car

The cost of a car is way expensive. You may have monthly payments in the hundreds, car insurance costs through the roof (here in NJ, it’s the highest in the country), maintenance and gasoline, plus license and registration fees. Continue reading“8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money”

Food, Shopping, Travel

Can You Really Trust Online User Reviews?

As a savvy consumer, you probably do some research before you spend your hard-earned money, whether it’s for a night out at a fine restaurant, a hotel stay as part of a leisurely vacation, or purchasing goods such as electronics or clothing. How often have you spent those dollars only to find out that the restaurant or hotel wasn’t quite what you were expecting? How much time have you spent exploring your plans and checking out online user reviews? Did you trust what you read? That’s the question I’m asking today and what I have learned about online user reviews can help you wade through some of the clutter and get to the real story.

Can You Really Trust Online User Reviews?

There have been many articles written and surveys taken about the reliability of the reviews we see online for various services like hotels, restaurants, contractors, and of course, products. Some are positive and others are negative. According to a survey done by BrightLocal, the results for 2015 show that 80% of consumers trust reviews as much as personal recommendations, but 72% will do so only if certain criteria are met, with 31% needing to believe the review is authentic.Continue reading“Can You Really Trust Online User Reviews?”

Cars, Shopping, Travel

Fall Into Super Savings Right Now!

It’s officially Fall 2015 and we can already tell just by the temperature (49 degrees here this morning!). When the temperature falls, that means savings are in the air as well. So here’s an opportunity to hunt for real bargains that may be on your shopping list. There’s actually double opportunities in October to get great prices…last of the summer merchandise sales as well as the start of fall and winter goods.

Fall Into Super Savings Right Now!

Let’s begin with the big deals for fall savings:Continue reading“Fall Into Super Savings Right Now!”

Cars, Travel

How to Save Money on Car Rentals Every Time

One of the things I do nearly ever time I travel is to rent a car. It sounds like a good idea to get around town more easily wherever I’m visiting and sometimes it’s even an absolute necessity! But then I start to calculate the costs involved. That’s the catch for a frugal person like me, and that is when I begin to look for as many ways as possible to save on car rentals.

How to Save Money on Car Rentals Every Time

How to Save Money on Car Rentals

Here are some important points for any traveler to consider:Continue reading“How to Save Money on Car Rentals Every Time”

Entertainment, Travel

Casino Gambling and Still Frugal???

I know that I post most all the time about saving your money and scrimping each day to accumulate wealth and financial health and yada, yada, yada. But if truth be told, I do have some flaws in my game and yes, I do enjoy a bit of frivolous fun and entertainment that may actually sound as if I’m willing to throw some good money away.

Well, not exactly. I believe if I’m pretty careful, and I give it some serious thought and restraint, that every once in a while I can “entertain” the thought of going to a casino and having some fun without blowing my finances and risking my future! In fact, I can sometimes turn that occasion into a free trip with no expenses and even come home ahead. Although not a certainty, the opportunity to get “comped” is a tough one to pass up and every so often it works out that way.

Casino Gambling and Still Frugal???

Getting comped, for those of you not familiar, is receiving free credits to gamble (slot dollars or table play), free meals, free hotel rooms, free entertainment, free gifts, and/or free parking all because you have spent a period of time gambling in the casino. Continue reading“Casino Gambling and Still Frugal???”

Cars, Food, Shopping, Travel

The Best Days of the Week to Shop and Save

Is there really a science to looking for great deals on a specific day of the week? Well, according to some experts, there actually are better days to shop and save than others! Jot these down and next time you’re in the market for a bargain, try shopping on the best day for that category.

The Best Days of the Week to Shop and Save

Money-Saving Mondays

Buying a new car? Mondays are the best deals around. Why? Pretty simple, they have the least amount of shoppers on Mondays and after what may have been a poor weekend result (weather may have affected sales, or perhaps the staff just didn’t close many deals), the salesman are “highly motivated” to start the week successfully.Continue reading“The Best Days of the Week to Shop and Save”

Travel

Timeshare Vacations: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

While winter is at its height here in New Jersey, I can’t help but think about vacationing somewhere warm and tropical. Vacationing is something I really enjoy, just like most people who like to get away from it all. You could just sit home and relax, away from your job, and enjoy your own backyard. You could take a stroll in the park and admire the flowers, but I much prefer travelling and seeing the sights as well as going to places I have never been before. And one way to do that is timeshare vacations.

Timeshare Vacations

The truth is I’m not going to paint a rosy picture about timeshares for you. They aren’t for everyone and depending on whom you talk with, they can be anything from fabulous to warning, warning, stay far, far away! Continue reading“Timeshare Vacations: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly”