Search Results for: blog first trip to the er

Ways to Help Your Child Understand Business

Do your children understand the value of a dollar? Many kids do not. There are things that parents can do to help their children, and teenagers, to get a basic grasp of money. They can also learn a little bit about business. Forbes has a really interesting article titled “13 Ways to Help Your Children Understand Business”. It was written by Dan Matthews, and posted on May 30, 2014. He gathered tips that will help parents to encourage their kids to become interested in finance and business. Each tip came from someone who is involved in business. One of those … Continue reading →

Sail Into Super Savings

The new week has generated a tidal wave of savings for cruise fans.  If you are a veteran high seas voyager or you’re looking to take your first major sail, now is the time to act. Norwegian Cruise Line just announced a new promotion which issues free upgrades to passengers with new bookings.  The “Upgrade and Go” sale allows travelers to book a balcony cabin for the price of an oceanview cabin, or an oceanview cabin for the price of a windowless interior cabin. The sale is applicable to Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Hawaii and Europe cruises.  In addition, customers booking … Continue reading →

Summer Adventures in Asheville

For many, summer means visits to theme parks, beaches and baseball stadiums.  However, if you are looking to travel to a family-friendly place that offers more than coasters, crabs and Cracker Jacks, head to Asheville, North Carolina. Stroll through the picturesque downtown and you immediately sense that very few people have been able to resist the pull of this Blue Ridge beauty.  After all, it’s not every day that you can immerse yourself in a city that boasts an eccentric hodgepodge of architectural styles that change from block to block. Asheville features everything from traditional southern homes with grand sweeping … Continue reading →

The Summer Fun Calendar

Today I am spending some time working on our summer fun calendar. School will be out  soon, so I want to make sure that we prioritize the fun things that we want to do. Of course, we are on a budget. First I start doing my research to find out what free activities and events are available. There is our town website, the “catalogue” of summer activities from neighboring towns, the events for any museums we are members of, library programs and more. I start with these events, since they often have specific activities with dates (make your own glow-in-the-dark … Continue reading →

A Cheap Meal Out (and a Winter Coat for 85 Cents)

Last Saturday, we decided to take a trip up to a tourist spot, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Many people vacation there because Lancaster has a large Amish community. Sure enough, there are plenty of fun things to do and buy. There are handmade items, such as quilts and furniture and plenty of yummy pies, cakes and bread to purchase. While we can’t resist picking up a pie, our usual stops in Lancaster have nothing to do with the Amish tourist trade. Instead, we focus on where the value is. Our first stop is an Amish-run natural food store. The store is tucked … Continue reading →

Using the Library to Lower My Grocery Bill

We’ve been going to the library a lot lately. I think the fact that the weather is no longer snow and ice but not yet nice enough to stay outside long may have something to do with it. Either way, our library cards should really be sporting racing stripes. Today, rather than picking up the latest novel, I decided to browse the cookbooks and flip through the recipes. As you may know, one of my major goals this year is to keep the food budget under control, no more than $100 a week, with $80 being ideal. Since we don’t … Continue reading →

Free Vacations for Teachers

  It’s said that teaching is among the most underpaid and underappreciated careers in the world.  The men and women who help shape our children’s futures are often overworked, and in a time when the economy is incredibly dismal, the idea of an educator spending precious cash on a luxury vacation is almost laughable. Well, if you are a creative leader in the classroom, who has always dreamed of traveling to the ends of the earth, get ready to smile. Thanks to Hilton HHonors, you can jet-off on a vacation to remember for FREE.  This year, the company is giving … Continue reading →

The Budget-Conscious Cruiser

You can learn a lot from penny-pinching travelers who enjoy cruising the high seas.  These budget-conscious voyagers know what it takes to get the most bang for their buck.  When it comes to stretching your dollar on a fun-filled cruise, consider the following: Seek Out Sales:  Many large cruise companies, such as Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean offer special deals throughout the year.  Some of the most popular promotions include: reserve one full fare booking and get a certain percentage off the second passenger or reserve a 14-day cruise and get seven days free.  The deals can save you up … Continue reading →

Overcoming Roadblocks

When it comes to fitness, there are all kinds of roadblocks that can try to deter us from what we are attempting to accomplish.  Whether it’s losing weight, toning up or just becoming more active…there is always something ready to stand in the way of our efforts. Let’s consider some of the common roadblocks that we face.  The first is getting started.  Believe it or not, many people struggle with starting an exercise program or regime. Not knowing where to start can prevent some people from doing anything at all.  They feel stuck and so they remain there (after all, … Continue reading →

Seven Ways to Save $1,000 for Your Emergency Fund

Dave Ramsey, financial guru who has helped so many families get out of debt, recommends that most of us start on the path to financial solvency by first saving up $1,000 toward an emergency fund. By having a solid emergency fund, we are less likely to go into debt, should the unexpected happen, such as the home furnace needing to be replaced, the car needing to be repaired, or the experience of a medical crisis. Saving that $1,000 is the first step of Ramsey’s overall get-out-of-debt plan. How can you save that much when there doesn’t seem to be any … Continue reading →