Important Tips:
10 Smart Tips for Better Beach Vacations
1. I was a lifeguard for many years in Vero Beach, Florida. Whenever a young child got separated from his or her family on the beach, we always looked downwind. Why? Because nine times out of 10 a little kid will follow the path of least resistance and walk with the wind. So if your preschooler goes missing on the beach, try following the wind. -Becca from Jacksonville, FL
2. I always bring baby powder if we are going on a beach vacation. I keep it in my beach bag. Sprinkle it on your skin and any clinging sand will fall right off. -Krista from Morris Plains, NJ
3. Having worked for years at the front desk of a hotel, I know that every hotel has a few rooms that are better than others -- perhaps slightly more spacious, or with a nicer view. Making an effort to be nice to the front desk staff when you arrive can go a long way in getting a better room. I always say, "This is a very special trip for us." We usually end up with a wonderful room, and sometimes even an upgrade! -Cecilia from Santa Barbara, CA
4. We love collecting seashells but we have taught our kids not to collect "live" shells such as starfish, sand dollars and sea urchins. In some top shelling destinations (such as Sandestin, Florida) taking a live shell can land you a very hefty fine. -Cheryl from Oakhurst, GA
5. There's nothing my family loves more than a beach vacation, but they can be pricey. In the past few years, I've discovered that we can easily save over $1,000 on our one-week summer getaway simply by heading to a lake rather than an ocean resort. Many resorts on large lakes have gorgeous, sandy beaches and nearly all the water sports you find at the ocean. -Charlene from Charlotte, NC
6. Pack a small spray bottle filled with vinegar in your beach bag. If anyone gets stung by a jellyfish, vinegar takes the sting out. -Nicolette from Tampa Bay, FL
7. Whenever we go away to a popular beach town, I tell my kids to keep their eyes open for coupon booklets in our hotel lobby and at the entrances to restaurants and attractions. We always find discounts for meals and sightseeing, and it ends up adding up to quite a lot of savings. -Marie from Manhattan Beach, CA
8. Beach hotels will often charge an arm and a leg to rent fun items like boogie boards and inner tubes for just a few hours. Instead, when we get to our destination, we stop at a dollar store and buy our own beach toys and then use them as much as we want for much less. On our last day, we pay it forward by giving our toys to another family." -Kerri from Bend, OR
9. When we go to the beach, we always bring a very bright yellow umbrella and set up our towels and gear near a large landmark like a lifeguard station or jetty. It makes it easy for our kids to find their way back to us if they lose track of where they are on the beach, or if they are playing in the water and drift a bit. -Melodie from Fairfax, VA
10. We brought my daughter to Hawaii when she was about 14 months old, and wanted to let her play in the water but also keep her safe. Our solution was to buy a small inflatable baby pool, which we set up next to our beach chairs. We filled the pool with a few inches of water, gave her a shovel and bucket, and let her have fun. She stayed cool and we could keep an eye on her while she played. -Jeremy from Walla Walla, WA
Holiday Shopping Tips
Ten Holiday Shopping Tips
1. Pay cash. No, that's not hopelessly old-fashioned. Recently I was interviewed on a radio talk show, and the host shared her holiday shopping M.O.: She always pays in cash, preferably $100 bills. "The bank teller always looks at me strangely when I ask for hundreds, but it makes you think twice when you go to buy something," she explains. "You really don't want to break a Benjamin." Her co-host on the show does his holiday shopping with a debit card: "When you're out of money, you're out of money."
2. Know thy enemy. If you're going to pay by credit card, use the one with the most favorable terms. That may sound obvious, but many people carry as many as five bank cards in their wallets and don't always know what the interest rate is on each card. Nor do they know that if they exceed their credit limit or pay late their rate could jump to 30% or higher, and they could be slapped with a penalty as high as $39.
3. Keep a running tally of your credit-card spending. When you come home from a day of shopping, immediately subtract what you've spent from your checking-account balance. Not only does that give you a visual record of how much you've spent, but also it ensures that you'll have enough money in the account to pay the bill when it arrives.
4. Have a plan for paying off your bills. If you overspent last year, it's time to cut back. But slashing your budget in half can be like trying to quit smoking cold turkey -- it often doesn't work, and your failure makes you feel worse than before.
5. Get easy gifts out of the way early. I have a friend who sets aside money for cash gifts -- to the paper boy, the babysitter, the hairdresser, the trash collectors, out-of-town nephews -- before Thanksgiving. That way those presents don't have to come out of her December shopping budget.
7. Think outside the gift box. Plenty of alternatives are less expensive, and more fun, than buying a gift for every sibling, in-law, niece and nephew. Instead, have a family gift exchange in which you each choose one name and put more thought than money into selecting a single gift.\
8. Be creative with the kids. Let's say you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World during winter break or spring vacation. Stuff the kids' stockings with guidebooks, maps and Disney memorabilia, and let them plan their excursion. You'll save money on holiday gifts, and they'll enjoy weeks of pleasure without becoming bored.
9. Look ahead to next year. If you came up short on cash this year, start an old-fashioned holiday-club account with a modern twist: an online savings account with a bank such as HSBC Direct or ING Direct. You can easily set up an automatic transfer from your checking account each month, earn a competitive rate of interest, and have a tidy sum when next holiday season rolls around. Customers who bank with Wells Fargo can track their savings goals with an online tool called My Savings Plan.
10. Count your pennies. A few weeks ago I was waiting for my sandwich in a sub shop around the corner from my office. When I bent down to pick up a dime from the floor, a gentleman standing next to me struck up a conversation. He told me he always picks up coins (even pennies) and tosses them into a big jar, along with the change from his pockets every day. That's the money he uses to buy his holiday gifts -- and every year it adds up to between $900 and $1,100.
Holiday Money Saving Tips
-Pocket a super-cheap overseas spending card
-Free app turns phone into international sat-nav for 28 countries
-Use the right cheap flight-finding site
-The codeshare trick: where two airlines sell the same flight
-Beat price hikes with Easyjet's Flexifares
-Ethnic travel agents may be cheaper
-Is your EHIC still valid? Around 5.2m are due to expire this year
-Free Android app translates 90 languages - get it before you go
-Grab the best plane seats
-For 2+ trips abroad each year, get annual travel insurance from £13
-Don't pay airport prices for travel accessories - try pound shops
-Uncover secret bargains on 5* hotels
-Liquids are banned through airport security - not food
-Find WHEN to go for super-cheap budget flights
-Don't trust the hotel star system
-Flight delayed in last seven years? £100s in
-Use TravelMoneyMax for the best rates
-Wear your luggage!
-Don't needlessly buy new sun lotion
-Package holidays can undercut DIY bookings and you get protection if things go wrong
-Get ATOL protection by booking flights + hotel or car hire
-Free flights - if you play your cards right
-Dress kids in bright colours to stop you losing 'em at the airport
-Turn off mobile 3G/4G and data roaming to avoid shock charges
-Ensure your passport's valid
-Pay the right way for extra protection
-Beat budget airline check-in fees
-Always book car hire BEFORE you go
Holiday tips
Here are some things to consider when you're deciding how to thank people, whom you will spend money on, and how much you will spend:
- Your budget: First and foremost, you shouldn’t feel obligated to go beyond your personal budget.
- If your budget does not allow for tips, consider homemade gifts; and if you’re not good with crafts or in the kitchen, remember that words are always a great way to express your thanks for a year of good service.
- Any gift or tip should always be accompanied by a short handwritten note of appreciation. (Two or three sentences will be enough.)
- Do you already tip regularly? If you tip at the time of service, you may forego an end of the year tip, or give a more modest holiday thank you. You may also choose to give a small gift instead.
- The quality and frequency of the service you receive.
- Your relationship with the service provider.
- Location: Tipping averages tend to be higher in larger cities.
- Length of service: The number of years you’ve been using the service.
- Regional customs.
- Type of establishment: Is it deluxe or moderate?
- When in doubt, ask: Call the front desk and ask what is 1) accepted by the company, and 2) typical for what they see from other customers.
- Common sense, specific circumstances and holiday spirit should always be your guide.
- Don’t buy into the thought that if you don’t tip you won’t get good service for the coming year. If you think you've had bad service for this reason, you might want to consider changing companies or speak directly with a manager.
