June 11, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 2:09 pm
Investment is important for anyone taking in an income. Investing in something long-term is also pretty important for someone who is looking out for retirement and their future. Here are basic tips to making that easier.
Sell the Losers, Let the winners Ride! It may be hard to let it go, but sometimes it needs to be done. And the winners flourish when they go a long way, so keep it going rode. Think about the future. Don’t chase all of the “hot tips.” They are often hot for a moment and cold for another. Do your own research and you’ll know better.
Your psychology is important to investment so don’t sweat the small stuff!. Your mind is your money. Don’t over emphasize the P/E ratio. This is a classic mistake and can lead to more mistakes. Avoid this one! Resist the lure of penny stocks. I know it can be hard, but they can often lead to uselessness or even worse. Resist!
Stick with the strategy you choose I know it can be hard. But if you stick with it, it will pay off. Just keep trucking and don’t get pulled away.
Concentrate on the future and be patience. The future is coming, I promise. Just hold off. The more focused you are, the better things will be. Adopt a long-term perspective. It’s not too hard to do, considering you’re doing number seven on this list. Keep it real and remember how much time you’ve got. Long-term is the key to success. Stay focused.
Select companies with an open mind. It may sound self explanatory, but like investopedia.com says, Some great companies are household names, but many good investments are not household names. Thousands of smaller companies have the potential to turn into the large blue chips of tomorrow. In fact, historically, small-caps have had greater returns than large-caps: over the decades from 1926-2001, small-cap stocks in the U.S. returned an average of 12.27% while the S&P 500 returned 10.53%. ”
Don’t put taxes up too high in importance. Yes they’re important, but that as important as some think. Taxes…yum, don’t you love them? Who doesn’t? In all honesty, American’s hate taxes. Since the beginning of taxation, people have hated it. It is necessary for national defense and other things, though. But still…is there a way to beat it? According to smh.com, “Assuming they are eventually passed by the Senate, lower tax rates and the abolition of the superannuation surcharge will change the rules for many taxpayers. Some strategies need to be put in place now to make the most of the new rules; in other cases it may be better to wait until after June 30. But if you want to save on tax, you can’t afford to ignore the looming end-of-year deadline.” What about inflation? It seems like it’s impossible to win in a situation where you cannot have control. There are certain things you can do, though. You can always talk to your tax guy, and if you don’t have one, you can call a certified CPA for advice. There’s always something you can do, just keep looking.
For more information on any of those things, go to the web and look for advice. The fact of the matter is whether you like or recognize it, the danger posed by inflation is real and present, an investor has to take steps to safeguard your interests. In other words, you need to bring a fresh perspective to your investments. There’s more information out there to be found as well. For even more help, call a CPA. They are the trained experts in money!
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June 4, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 1:53 pm
Do You keep saying to yourself that you want to save, but sick of living the way you are—broke. To stop living from paycheck to paycheck one of the following simple solutions may help you:
List all your monthly expenses, how much money you need. If you do not have money for your rent, food, clothing, and other basic necessities then the first step is to find a way to bring In more money, then allocate money for all of the priority expenses first and also save yourself a reasonable amount of “fun” money.
Generally you will spend about 25% less at the grocery stores if you don’t shop when hungry. You will also purchase healthier food which lasts longer if you shop on a full stomach. Along with that, it is smart to bring a list because you will then save on transportation expenses by not having to go back to the store.
If you can shop with debit cards instead of credit cards. That way you know exactly how much you have spent and you will not spend any more than that. If you are contemplating purchasing an item on credit make sure you are able to make at least a minimum payment every single month.
Have a emergency fund. That way you won’t panic when your car breaks down, you lose your cell phone, or your kid is rushed to the hospital. This may be easier said than done, but when done it can save you a heap of trouble. All it would take perhaps to create an emergency fund is a few less bottles of soda, packs of gum, or children’s toys (yes, your kids have enough in most cases.)
Make sure you check your bank account before you pull out more money to go shopping. Always keep track of spending. It will save you in the long run, especially from bank overdraft fees. That extra money you save keeping track of your money can be put to much greater use, such as being put away for emergencies or invested for a profit.
Steer clear of taking out payday loans. Although these have helped some people in a jam it can lead to an addiction. Soon you could be committing your whole paycheck to money you have not even seen yet if you get into this habit that is very hard to break. Not to mention, interest on these types of loans is usually 20% or more. If you need further assistance with money management it is recommended that you contact a budget counselor. The Internet is also packed full of money-saving tips for individuals and families.
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May 30, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 1:32 pm
At no other time in history when so many people have been so dedicated to conserving energy and reducing their utility bills. Rising energy costs and global warming, conserving energy has never been more important. If you are dedicated to cultivating a greener lifestyle and lowering your utility bills in the process, here are some ecco tips and bits of advice that can help you cut down on your energy use.
Firstly dial down your thermostat? Dialing down your thermostat in winter refers to the act of reducing the temperature in your home in order to conserve heating fuel. This concept is simple enough: the best way to conserve energy is simply by not using so much of it. You would probably be surprised how much you can save simply by dialing your thermostat two or three degrees from your normal temperature. Simply dialing down your thermostat one degree makes a difference. If you dial down one degree in winter, this will generally result in about one to three percent less fuel use, which corresponds to about one to three percent less fuel use which is reflected on your utility bill. In order to stay comfortably cool in the winter, slip on a sweater. At night, cover up with more blankets. This form of personal insulation is a great and efficient way to retain your personal body heat.
Precisely as you might dial down during the winter, the idea of dialing down can be simply reversed for the summer months. Dialing up is a great way to help conserve energy and reduce the cost of cooling your home during the hot summer months. As with the cold winter months, you want to dial up a few degrees and adjust your clothing for the warmer weather. Make sure to dial up your thermostat for when you plan to be away from the house.
When you have a larger home or many rooms in your house that aren’t currently being used, make sure to shut the doors to rooms. This can help reduce the demand on your heating and cooling system and help keep the rest of the house at a moderate and comfortable temperature. Remember that the less space that needs to be supplied with cool or warm air, the less you will need to spend on energy costs.
If your home is not well-insulated, you may easily be losing hundreds of dollars or more each year on keeping your home warm or cool. Check for cracks in the foundation, thin walls or other features that may be keeping your home from staying cool or warm. You can have an expert perform an energy audit on your apartment or home and give you tips on how your specific living area can be better insulated for retaining a comfortable temperature.
Most of us already know about the benefits of switching to fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs are long-lasting and can save you hundreds of dollars on your electricity bill over a year. Another great option that you can take advantage of is solar lighting. If you like to keep your house or yard lit throughout the night, consider switching to solar lighting. These lights use the sun’s warmth and energy to stay lit for several hours and can help save you money on your energy bill. The environment is your back yard so give some thought to the energy you use.
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May 18, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 11:09 am
Budget balancing means taking responsibility for your finances, living within (or maybe below) your means and coming out of it with your sanity intact. Here are some tips for living the budget balancing act and coming out in front. Putting your budget into numbers makes it more real.
We can make the mistake of thinking of our budget in abstract terms. “We’re on a budget,” you might tell a friend who asks you to go along with her on vacation, or to an expensive show. Some of us are on a “budget.” But what does it really mean? Take your budget out of abstract terms and make it real. Sit down and do the math, as hard as it can be. Most of us avoid taking a good long look at our finances because it can be too hard, especially if we suspect we are deep in the red. It’s time to take control, and taking control means having the courage to sit down and take a good look at your finances. Take out your bills. Are you in debt, and if so, how much? Be honest and don’t overlook any accounts. Lying to yourself about debt is not helpful or necessary. If you are not in debt, but perilously close, figure out why. Most numbers don’t lie. Are you spending too much on housing? Is that extra car payment eating away at your budget? Are your child care costs soaring? Know your budget inside out-what you can and can’t afford, how you pay for things, your debt and credit score, and savings.
If keeping a log book sounds too technical for you, just think of it as a notebook where you keep your records. Make a note of your earnings, saving, debt and purchases. Think of your log book as a place where you can do your math. Your log book should be private and a place where you feel free to jot down notes, calculate interest rates and keep financial notes to yourself.
Almost every bank in the world now allows its customers to keep an online account. So If you haven’t already, set up your account. This is an easy way to manage your accounts, check balances and make payments online with an automatic bill payment. This is an easy way to make sure that your payments are always made on time.
Debit cards are a convenient and safe way to pay for everyday purchases. They can also be very dangerous if you are on a strict budget and you are trying to save. If you are serious about saving money, forgo your debit card for a while. When you have organized a good solid budget, on pay day, head to your local bank or ATM machine. Withdraw enough cash to make necessary purchases and then tuck your debit card away somewhere safe. This is a surefire way to stick to your budget.
If you have credit card debt, check there interest, you must know how much you are paying in interest? Especially if you are juggling several accounts, it can be easy to forget or overlook interest rates. How much exactly are you paying on each transaction? Check with your credit card for this information. If you have long-standing accounts in good standing, try to negotiate a lower interest rate.
So are you living the Budget Balancing Act and are you Coming out Ahead?
ebook on How to Set Up a Family Budget
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May 17, 2010
Filed under: Web Business — Jean @ 7:53 am
Make money online instantly, I made a million dollars in 6 weeks, make money with a web business and retire in 12 months. We all seen those wild claims you see it all out there on the web but you know that the only way to make money is to work for it, and much better to work for yourself than swop hours for money.
Starting your own home based web business is not for everyone. People who have made Online Home Business Opportunity work for them usually fall into one of the following:
Tired of 9 to 5: If you love your day job, then hold off on starting a home based, web business unless you just want a little supplemental income. You will not be motivated enough or willing to spend the time to do things right.
As you’re retired and have decided you would like to explore a topic of interest while creating a supplemental income. Creating an Internet home business is ideal for you. Yet if you know nothing about computers and the Internet, special software programs such as Site Builder can remove every technical detail out of creating a home based web business, allowing you to focus on creating the content. What if you’re retired and want to write about something of interest to you, starting your own home based web business is by far the best way to go about generating a nice supplemental income by working from home
Unemployed and don’t want to work for others again, with some work and motivation, you can get a home Internet business up and running in under two months, with some income showing up a few months later. Since it costs virtually nothing to start a web home business (or thinks they soon might be), should seriously consider a web home business opportunity quick info tour
Strange as it sounds, You Need Something to Do. if you just want something to do, regardless of monetary considerations, a home based web business is the way to go. After all, you can freely create a web site however you want to, put whatever content on it that interests you, and still have the ability to make some money on the side. Beats working to build someone else business.
Work At Home Mom’s have found this is about the best business around for working at home. You can stop when the toddler cries, then pick up where you left off when time permits. As a parent, you have a MILLION topics you can literally explore through a web site
find your small business idea
Want to be an Infopublisher? Maybe you or friends have a book in you, InfoPublishers also make money through the sale of information (such as brochures, short information books, that sort of thing, you might try info publishing site
In the end, it boils down to whether you want to have your own business enough to put the required work into it to make things work, please remember, an home based web business is just that – a business.
To succeed with any home based business you need to put the work into it. Creating an ugly web site with a couple of banner ads will not bring you much in the way of income, if any. Instead, any person willing to try to start a home web business needs to have a consistent purpose that will keep them working on their web site through those times when doubts undoubtedly arise. Motivation and consistency are of absolute importance!
But if you have the motivation, a web home business opportunity is like nothing else. You can literally create something (a web site full of content and individual products of your choice) from nothing with virtually any costs.
So, now that you have a better idea of who is likely to succeed in starting their own home based Internet business, so let’s check out
Magic video
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, but do something.
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May 14, 2010
Filed under: Web Business — Jean @ 11:29 pm
Your web business is like any other business if you have goods then you are a merchant selling good to the public, unlike a traditional business you don’t need thousands of dollars to get started, so any of us have the opportunity to get into business with just a small outlay. So like any retail business you need a shop to present your goods and that’s what your web site is a place to present your good to the world, not just your local market so you have opportunities to make money online without putting yourself in debt.
That was my version of what a web business is but others may explain that creating a web business is by publishing content on a web page. The content that you publish on the web page is then used to sell services or products that are related to the content of your web site. The key is to simply find content that you are knowledgeable about and are interested in. Some suggestions are:
Relationship Happiness
Self Improvement
Pregnancy & Baby Care
Environment & Wildlife Care
Raising Families
Your Diet & Your Body
Web Business Success
Hobbies & Crafts
Women Love Life
Special Family Celebrations
Cooking & Food Recipes
Home & Garden Improvements
Pet Care
Travel The World
All of the listing above are for my web site healthwiseeproducts
And are eBook, Audio book and Business software so come and have a look around.
There are thousands of areas to choose from, it’s up to you decide what area you are interested in, you may have a hobby that other are interested in or a service you can offer, something you are good at, that’s always a good place to start.
When you first start out it is good to choose one or two areas to start with and then you can expand as your knowledge grows. And you don’t have to own your own product. You can team up with a number of merchants and sell their products and it’s all free to join, a merchant through an affiliate program.
What is wonderful about affiliate marketing, and why it is such a good Home Web Business, is that the merchants handle the entire inventory, sales, returns, customer service and everything else related to the actual sale of their product. Thus, the merchant actually sells the product. In a nutshell, a Home Based Web Business uses the content of a web site to sell products or services of merchants that are closely related to the web sites content. You, as a web publisher, then get a fee or commission for each sale of a product that occurs.
Understand this is only one web business model which is easy and cost effective to get you started.
Web Business models have been defined and categorized in many different ways. Internet business models continue to evolve. New and interesting variations can be expected today, tomorrow and in the future. But we all have to start somewhere and now that you know what a Home Based Web Business is, next time we will let you know how to get started.
Cheers Jean
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Filed under: Web Business — Jean @ 1:54 am
Secrets to searching out a little side Internet job that you can work from home. Many online jobs allow you to put in some time once a week or so on weekends, so you can have more money coming in. This can quickly equate to earning an extra $200 plus a month, building as your knowledge grows.
I know and appreciate how overwhelming it is when you start something new, especially as an adult returning to education and if you’re like me, also a little frightened of the technology. Well let me assure you, those feelings will pass and that excitement and enthusiasm you feel will come out more and more to your fore-front, in fact I encourage it – this is your time … your time to * SHINE * … let it be
This is one way to get started quickly with very little start up cost, I was recently told about a new nutritional supplement called RevUp31 and it sounded so good I actually bought it (then discovered the opportunities, more about that later).
RevUp31 contains an antioxidant called Resveratrol that comes from the skin of red grapes. The benefits of Resveratrol have been associated with increasing your life-span, anti-aging, weight loss, lowering cholesterol, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, combating an unhealthy diet, and the list goes on.
Discover the site where I bought it and watch some interesting videos about Resveratrol. They’ve got interviews with the guys who discovered it, interviews on 60 Minutes, and a bunch of other ones.
The main idea about Resveratrol is that it activates gene #31 in our bodies which is termed the “longevity gene”. They say this gene is typically inactive in our bodies, but studies show that numerous benefits have resulted from people who for some reason or another, have a more active gene 31 than the rest of us.
There’s lots of ways that this gene 31 can become activated, and when I read that the Resveratrol in RevUp31 was one of them I bought it.
Now I bought it I was looking around their web site and realized there’s a bit more to it than I thought. If you want to, they will actually pay you commissions for giving away
Special Offers of RevUp31. It’s their way of spreading the word and getting their product out there faster.
Yes it’s totally optional free business site and it doesn’t cost anything. They just give you a free site that’s 100% yours and you can start handing it out to people. I’ve actually been doing it myself and so far, so good.
The company I bought the RevUp31 supplement from is also called RevUp31. My website link that I’ve been showing to a lot of people is below:
Guarantee for an entire 30 days, so you have no worries when you decide to try RevUp3. If you don’t like it just return it for a full refund!
Come check it out, then click on opportunity to see if its right for you!
Please let me know what you think!
Another way to get started is to look at becoming an affiliate; there is no set up fee you can use a blog, facebook or just your email contacts to get started. With Health Wise eProducts we have over 100 eBooks, audio books and software programs you can promote and receive 75% for each sale, so why not check it out eBooks are a good place to start to learn about how a web business works. (If you are attracted to the idea of becoming an affiliate then check out Health Wise eProducts Affiliates
If you have a little to invest and want to start a home based business on the web and are asking where I start then we are going to walk you through this over the next few weeks.
Your first step is to find out what types of home business do you want to start?
What would be a money making business. This can require an extensive thought process. Tips on the thought process as you begun, starting listing ideas you think might work for you and then investigate those ideas. You’ll be able to eliminate some as not practical and during the process you will probably find some other ideas for a home based business you hadn’t even thought of. It takes research and determination.
Whilst you’ve narrowing it down to what works for you and what could be successful, chances are you’ll find you are better off doing it on your own than buying into a home based business scam. Don’t just ask “What home based business should I start?” Do your homework and figure that out for yourself. No one can or should decide that for you. If you are looking for an easy way out or a shortcut, expect to get scammed and expect to lose some of your money.
So get the pen and paper working because if you are going to be successful finding the right business for you is the first step.
Good luck until next time, Cheers Jean
Make Money Online From The Comfort Of Your Own Home
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May 13, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 8:09 pm
Many of us have enjoys a good afternoon of shopping knows well the tension that exists between the things we want versus the things we need. In our materialistic society, it can be very difficult to reconcile this tension. We convince ourselves that the things we want are the things we need. Some of us (especially those of us deep in debt) are very good at rationalizing our purchases. Here are some tips and ideas to help you overcome the urge to buy the things we want, rather than those we need.
What stuff that we wants vs. needs battle does to your budget
Straight away buying what we want (convincing ourselves that what we want is the same as what we need) can be dangerous to our budgets. If you find yourself in debt, there is a very good chance that you have been in a losing battle against your better judgment. But it is never too late to turn the battle around. When it comes to overspending, most of the time it has to do with overindulging. Before you can turn this battle around, you have to convince yourself of one basic truth: all you need is a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food on your plate. You don’t need a particularly fancy roof, expensive clothes or gourmet food. You just need to sustain yourself, and sustaining yourself means treating your hard-earned finances with respect.
The secret of the shopping list and sticking to it
Discover the easiest and time-tested ways to buy what you need, and not what you want: make a shopping list every time you go out. Not just when you go grocery shopping, but every time you leave the door and head towards the store. Eliminate the concept of “browsing.” Browsing can easily lead to overspending. When ever you head to the store, make a specific shopping goal. For example, if you’re going back to school shopping tell yourself: “I need to buy a new notebook, pens, a new sweater and two new pairs of pants.” Be very specific and carry a list. Having your needs right there in front of you, in black and white, can be a powerful reminder of why you are at the store.
Ask yourself: Can it wait?
Outcome from buying only what you need all the time can be difficult and demoralizing. While you are at your favorite store and shopping for the essentials, you are bound to come across something beautiful that you love and want but probably don’t need, at least not right away. Instead of blaming your budget, ask yourself a simple question: can it wait? In most cases, it probably can, and you can even come back for the special purchase when your finances are (more) in order.
Associates: watch who you move with
Sometimes it is easier said than done, this can be a difficult realization to make, but it is essential if you find yourself overspending. Do you have friends or family members who overindulge or overspend? Maybe they can afford such spending behavior (or maybe they can’t), but if you know you can’t, it’s time to take a break from these acquaintances. Constantly eating out, vacationing or going shopping with these friends is bound to do a number on your financial ledger. If you love your friends, but not their financial behavior, resolve to join in low-cost activities. Invite your friends over for a home-cooked dinner, picnic or to the art museum during free admission day. Be honest with your friends if they question your behavior. True friendship can overcome these spending differences.
Discover the secret to creating your own mad money jar
Your results from always scrimping and saving is no fun. Do yourself a favor and create your own private money stash. Sock away stray dollar bills into a mad money jar and forget about it. Six months from the date of starting your jar, use the money for special purchase-something you want but don’t particularly need.
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Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 2:36 am
Before you start boosting your credit score, you need to know the basics. You need to know what a credit score is, how it is developed, and why it is important to you in your everyday life.
Lenders certainly know what sort of information they can get from a credit score, but knowing this information yourself can help you better see how your everyday financial decisions impact the financial picture lenders get of you through your credit score. A few simple tips are all you need to know to understand the basic principles:
Tip #1: Understand where credit scores come from.
If you are going to improve your credit score, then logic has it that you must understand what your credit score is and how it works. Without this information, you won’t be able to very effectively improve your score because you won’t understand how the things you do in daily life affect your score.
If you don’t understand how your credit score works, you will also be at the mercy of any company that tries to tell you how you can improve your score – on their terms and at their price.
In general, your credit score is a number that lets lenders know how much of a credit risk you are. The credit score is a number, usually between 300 and 850, that lets lenders know how well you are paying off your debts and how much of a credit risk you are.
In general, the higher your credit score, the better credit risk you make and the more likely you are to be given credit at great rates. Scores in the low 600s and below will often give you trouble in finding credit, while scores of 720 and above will generally give you the best interest rates out there. However, credit scores are a lot like GPAs or SAT scores from college days – while they
give others a quick snapshot of how you are doing; they are interpreted by people in different ways. Some lenders put more emphasis on credit scores than others.
Some lenders will work with you if you have credit scores in the 600s, while others offer their best rates only to those creditors with very high scores indeed. Some lenders will look at your entire credit report while others will accept or reject your loan application based solely on your credit score.
The credit score is based on your credit report, which contains a history of your past debts and repayments. Credit bureaus use computers and mathematical calculations to arrive at a credit score from the information contained in your credit report.
Each credit bureau uses different methods to do this (which is why you will have different scores with different companies) but most credit bureaus use the FICO system. FICO is an acronym for the credit score calculating software offered by Fair Isaac Corporation company. This is by far the most used software since the Fair Isaac Corporation developed the credit score model used
by many in the financial industry and is still considered one of the leaders in the field.
In fact, credit scores are sometimes called FICO scores or FICO ratings, although it is important to understand that your score may be tabulated using different software.
Similarly, credit bureaus and lenders often look at general patterns. Since people with too many debts tend not to have great rates of repayment, your credit score may suffer if you have too many debts, for example. Understanding this can help you in two ways:
1) It will let you see that your credit score is not a personal reflection of how “good” or “bad” you are with money. Rather, it is a reflection of how well lenders and companies think you will repay your bills – based on information gathered from studying other people.
2) It will let you see that if you want to improve your credit score, you need to work on becoming the sort of debtor that studies have shown tends to repay their bills. You do not have to work hard to reinvent yourself financially and you do not have to start making much more money. You just need to be a reliable lender. This realization alone should help make credit repair far less stressful!
Credit reports are put together by credit bureaus, which use information from client companies. It works like this: credit bureaus have clients – such as credit card companies and utility companies, to name just two – who provide them with information.
Once a file is begun on you (i.e. once you open a bank account or have bills to pay) then information about you is stored on the record. If you are late paying a bill, the clients call the credit bureaus and note this. Any unpaid bills, overdue bills or other problems with credit count as “dings” on your credit report and affect your score.
Information such as what type of debt you have, how much debt you have, how regularly you pay your bills on time, and your credit accounts are all information that is used to calculate your credit score.
Your age, sex, and income do not count towards your credit score. The actual formula used by credit bureaus to calculate credit scores is a well-kept secret, but it is known that recent account activity, debts, length of credit, unpaid accounts, and types of credit are among the things that count the most in tabulating credit scores from a credit report.
You may want to note that your financial information wherever it is keep is out there, so you need to contact the bureaus to get a copy of your credit rating so your in control. Your local yellow pages should have the contact information for your credit agencies or you can do a web search.
Excerpt from “CREDIT REPAIR STRATEGIES”
which is availble as a ebook – just click here.
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April 20, 2010
Filed under: Debt Control — Jean @ 5:07 am
Barbeques, road trips and long-awaited travel vacations that’s what summer is for. But in these hard times, it can be hard to justify a family vacation. Remember that summer fun is never out of style and that a year full of activity and work always justifies a summer vacation. That doesn’t mean you have to go into debt just to enjoy a good summer vacation. Here are some tips for getting your good dose of summer fun without going into long-term debt.
Holiday Vacation in your state
Having a vacation isn’t a contest to see how far from home you can get this summer. Why not choose to vacation in your state or region? Staying within the boundaries of your own state can save you money on transportation and you can probably see many things and visit destinations you have never visited. State parks are usually much less expensive than national parks, and they are just as fun. So pack up the car and head out to explore your own backyard.
Save money by getting a national parks pass to save money
When you and your family are set on visiting one of the country’s premiere national park destinations, go ahead and invest in a national parks pass. Most of the famous national parks will cost you a good $20-25 a pop. If you plan on visiting often or would like to see more than one park, you would probably be better off in investing a national park pass, which gains you admittance to several national parks for one flat fee.
Train travel is fun so why not choose train whenever your destination allows
When your destination allows, choose to travel by train. The savings in gas will be significant, and you will have more time to enjoy the view. Of course, if you are planning a long trip or traveling with little ones, you will probably want to avoid extensive train travel. Use the train for short trips where you can get away with walking, bus and cabs, or break up a longer voyage into shorter legs so that the little ones don’t get restless and so you can get to see more destinations.
Look at buying a package vacation to save money
You will find many great package vacations out there that allow you to save money on air, hotel and attractions. Make sure to do the math before you sign up for a package vacation to make sure you are getting a good deal. Also, you should read all the fine print. Many low-priced package vacations have strict travel restrictions. If you can make it work, you will likely save hundreds of dollars on package vacations.
Family visits instead of theme parks can be a great way to catch up
So you and the family are excited about taking a road trip and aren’t too picky about the destination (after all, the journey is the destination, right?), why not pay a visit to loved relatives that you don’t get to see too often. Instead of driving across two states to go to an overpriced and crowded theme park, take the kids to visit grandma. In the long run, they are likely to have just as much fun without the high costs of theme parks or other tourist attractions.
Bring back the cooler and make your lunch on the road
Next to gas and hotels, eating is probably your highest cost while on a family road trip vacation. You can save hundreds of dollars by preparing ahead of time and preparing your own picnic lunches. Treat yourself to one restaurant meal per day if you like, but be prepared to visit grocery stores in order to make your own fresh and much less expensive lunches.
So take off and enjoy this summer without going into debt.
More Information on Eliminating Debt
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