How To Pack For Your Next Trip! Plus FREE Printable Travel Packing List!

Road TRIP!! The best road trips are with families – it’s one of the best ways to make memories that last us our entire lives. Heading to the beach or going out of the country are just two of the ways to spend a family vacation.

We look forward to being able to get away and enjoy some downtime, but, packing for the whole family is not so fun, right? Packing can be a huge drag.

THEN after we pack and get on the road, we spend our time thinking “Did I bring this..” “Did I forget that?”. We’ve all been there.!

That’s why we put together this How To Pack For Your Next Trip with your own FREE Printable Travel packing List. This packing checklist will make the work of packing the family up for any trip easier. You won’t have to worry that you’ve forgotten something and you can relax and enjoy your time!

Before we get to the list – there are a few things we should think about first when planning a vacation:

Before you start packing, check the weather so you’ll know what to bring. You can grab an app like the YoWindow or Forecaster so you can have it on your mobile device. Of course you can always search the internet, too. I always find it hard to find exactly what I want that way, so an app works best for me.

Most of us use credit cards when we travel to be safe and make it easier. But, they can have hidden fees and that’s the last thing you want when you get back home, to find out that your vacation cost more than you had planned.

Be sure to read our post about the Best Travel Credit Cards To Use For Your Next Trip:

If you are traveling by car gas prices will affect your trip in a huge way. We plan for gas and hotel prices, but, gas prices are hard to predict in other cities and states.

Check out our post How To Vacation Inexpensively, too. It is jam packed with great tips for your next trip.

We use Gas Buddy to help us with our gas prices on our trips. Gas Buddy is our go to for gas prices. We enter in our destination, our car make and model, and Gas Buddy will tell us what route to take and where to stop and buy gas for the best price.

If you will need gas but, there’s a better price ahead, it may tell you to stop and put in a certain amount but, not fill up until you get to the better priced station. It has been extremely helpful on all of our trips.

Be sure to also check out our post on How To Save For A Vacation:

On to the packing list! Here is your travel essentials checklist, and below you can choose to download and print your own FREE copy.

Clothing

Toiletries

Medicine

Essentials

Credit or Debit cards
Cash
Travel size first aid kit
Camera or Video camera
Towel
Umbrella
Everyday bag for carrying day items in the beach
Sunglasses
Laundry bag
Cell phone
Cell phone Charger

Important Documents

Tickets (airplane, train, boat)
Itinerary
Hotel reservations
Car rental reservations
Directions to the hotel
Passport
Identification Card
Address book
Guidebooks
Map

Amusement For the Kids

To download the FREE Printable Travel Packing List <— click here

Choosing Your Luggage

Wherever you and your family are planning to go, you need to be careful when choosing your luggage. Your luggage should be versatile, lightweight, and yet spacious enough to carry all of your essentials.

Some people might not think about it, but, it is important to choose a bag that comes with a warranty. Traveling with a luggage that has a broken wheel, zipper or handle is the worst!

Brands that back up their bags with warranties promise durability. Find a travel bag that is as versatile as you need it to be, yet, fit all of your stuff and be easy to carry.

Check these out:

Travelers Choice Amsterdam Luggage Set

This 2-piece carry-on luggage set is perfect for packing your clothing and travel accessories. It includes an upright case and a zippered travel tote for your belongings. The rolling upright is designed with a large main compartment with elastic tie-straps to secure your garments neatly. It also features separate pockets to keep your shoes and other essentials. With an expandable design, this luggage set offers 25 extra storage space to pack for long trips.

Olympia USA 8-Pocket Rolling Duffel

This Olympia USA 8-Pocket Rolling Duffel is made of supreme Protecflon polyester to ensure that your belongings are safe inside. No matter how heavy your weekend bag is, it is easy to carry thanks to the recessed in-line skate metal ball bearing wheel system and hideaway pull handle. It also has 8 convenient pockets for maximum packing versatility.

Organizing Everything

If you have different types of activities scheduled, that means you have different gears packed in your bag. Keeping everything in order can be a challenge.

One of the best things that you can do when you are planning a trip, especially if it requires you to pack a lot, is to use packing cubes.

Keeping your luggage organized with packing cubes means that you not only know exactly where everything is, but, your clothes and other belongings are also arranged and compressed to be able to fit more in your bag.

Why do you need to spend more time packing and unpacking when you can quickly unpack everything by sliding your packing cubes directly into the hotel drawers. You can also pack them up quickly and seamlessly from one place to the other without worrying about rearranging your entire bag every time.

These Bago Packing Cubes, come in a 10 piece set or the 7-piece Packing Cubes from Free Rhythm. These zippered organizers make it easier to keep your bags neat and provide quicker access to different things you’ll need during your trip. It also reduces the volume in your bags by almost 80%! All while keeping your clothes neat and folded.

Have Fun

Wherever you’re headed, make sure you’re planning on having fun! These are memories that will last a lifetime – for you and your family and friends.

I hope this information about How To Pack For Your Next Trip was helpful and that you enjoy the FREE Printable Travel Packing List we made for you. You can print it out or use it on your mobile device.

Staycation Ideas

by Dian Leave a Comment

Staycation Ideas

Have you ever thought about a staycation? Vacations can get over expensive in a hurry. There are many ways to save for and on a vacation and many resources, too. But, sometimes a staycation makes more sense. Less stress in planning, less financial burden on the family, and more time to actually “cation” since there’s no travel involved in a staycation.

Sometimes we are so involved day to day in our own lives that we have to have someone on the outside from another place to remind us that there are awesome things to do in our own town and surrounding areas! Local history museums, national parks, amusement parks, landmarks, local attractions.

It just takes a little planning – which you’d do anyway if you were to take a vacation away from home. It might also take a little budgeting, so be sure to click here to get your own free printable Monthly Budget Worksheet.

Let’s take a look at how you can plan an inexpensive staycation.

Friends And Family Movie/Game Night

Allow everyone a certain number of guests they can invite and plan a movie and/or game night. Have everyone bring movies and games, snacks and drinks and enjoy! You can also order pizza if that’s more your thing. Maybe even rent a suite at a local hotel to host your night!

Midnight Pool Party

We used to do this for our kids birthdays. They loved it – we’d have a sleepover and rent the local pool at midnight for a late night swim!

Shaving Cream Fight

Another favorite of our kids. I always kept a stash of shaving cream (super cheap just don’t get menthol… not the best for this use 🙂 ) in the house. We never knew when a shaving cream fight might break out. I remember my brother and nephew were visiting during one such time. One son came running down the stairs with the second chasing him… the second had a face full of shaving cream – out the front door they went – the fight was on! The rest of us grabbed more cans and headed outside. My brother and nephew weren’t quite sure what to think. When it was over our nephew – 7 – was covered head to toe…. so, my teen boys lowered him into the pool a few times to “rinse”! lol Those are times I know they’ll remember as much as or even more than the vacations we took. Make some memories.

Turn Off All Devices

Oh MY! This will be the test of who can last without them. But, after a few hours or days with no devices, including computers you might be shocked at how refreshed you’ll feel.

Try New Things

Try bungee jumping, zip lining, sky diving, take a cooking or dancing class. Step out and of something new. You might find a new activity you can’t live without!

Ask Friends And Family For Ideas

Some of their everyday activities or places to visit might be some place you’ve never been.

Check Out Local Tourist Attractions

Find your local areas tourist attractions. Historic local places can be a great way to learn more about and fall more in love with where you live. be sure to check deal sites like Groupon to find the best deals on those local attractions, too.

Make It A Themed Staycation

Let each member of the family choose the theme and activities for that day. Whether it be all day at the movies, shopping, museums, bike riding and picnic. That way each member of the family is invested in having fun. Don’t forget the camera – there are memories waiting to be made and recorded!

For Adults

Tour Your Local Eateries

Plan lunch (to help keep costs down) at all of the places you’ve been wanting to try, or at places you’ve never heard of or been to before. You might find a new favorite place or two!

Do A Happy Hour Pub Crawl

During happy hour most pubs offer great deals on food and drinks. this is a great time to try out new places, too.

Tour Local Winery Or Brewery

It can be fascinating to see how your Happy Hour beverages are produced. Some come with great history for the area, as well as tastings, of course! When you’re at your favorite pub it’s fun to see the local beverages on the menu.

Try A Coffee Shop Crawl

Check out coffee shops you’ve never been to before – you might find a new favorite Cup of Joe!

Book a local hotel stay

I remember one time we went to a local hotel about 30 minutes away and it was an area we don’t frequent so, it was very much like being out of town.

What would your staycation look like? Leave your ideas in the comments below.

Save Money Traveling At Home Or Abroad!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Save Money Traveling At Home Or Abroad!

We’ve all heard that Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The costs needed to cover both transport and accommodation in the city are demanding, so it’s not hard to see why.

But, like traveling anywhere in the world – at home or abroad, there are ways around it. You can ‘beat the system’ and be frugal in your travels wherever you want to visit, even in the ‘one of the world’s most expensive cities‘.

Here are a few ways to help you save money traveling abroad:

Image source

For the purposes of this post we’ll discuss traveling to and in Singapore since it is considered one of the most expensive cities to visit in the world. You can apply these tips to traveling anywhere at home or abroad.

Your attempt at being as frugal as possible on your traveling experience to Singapore should start when you are deciding when it is you will be going. You should be aware that the city isn’t necessarily a holidaying destination, even though many do choose it as their holiday destination every year. It is a city.

Furthermore, it is a city that is vibrant, bustling and thriving all year round. Because of this, you can literally go at any point in the year and still experience the full potential that Singapore has to offer. But this doesn’t mean that you should go at any point of the year without doing research beforehand.

There are certain times that should be avoided as they induce high seasons for the hotels. For instance, in June and July the city is inundated with foreign tourists flocking there because of their summer holidays. And in November and December many Malaysians will, quite rightly, spend their national holidays in the city too.

When more people are there, it will mean the accommodation available will be few and far between and more expensive than it needs to be. So, when planning a trip to Singapore you should aim to not go during the times we mentioned above.

During this planning stage you should also make sure to get your transportation worked out. By organizing Singapore airport transfers to pick you up as soon as you touch down you can make use of their ‘all inclusive’ and fixed prices. This means you won’t be left having to pay the ridiculous prices charged by a taxi driver that is looking to make a quick buck off of a tourist.

But, don’t think just because you got past the transportation issue when you first arrive that that’s the end of it, it’s not. To save yourself having to pay for bus and train trips over and over again, which will definitely add up, you should purchase an EZ-Link card. This card costs roughly S$12 but can be used for your entire stay and will give you cheap and quick access to transportation.

But it’s not all about the transportation, it’s about where you’ll sleep, too. Now, you’re probably not after five-star accommodation, but you don’t want to be sleeping in a cheap dive, either. This is why you might want to look into any one of the number of hostels that fellow travelers have recommended. They have been ranked as both safe and cost effective by those who have come before you: budget backpackers. And to further your attempts at being as frugal as possible, try to ditch paying for drinks at shops and restaurants and simply stick to water. The water in Singapore, unlike in other counties in Southeast Asia, is completely drinkable!

Who’s to say you have to experience the most expensive parts of Singapore to enjoy the city as a whole? Who’s to say you have to stay in the most expensive hotels? Nobody. That’s who.

You can experience and enjoy a trip to Singapore even when you’re on a budget. After a frugal trip to Singapore you will be much happier than if you had spent big on the trip, because after your frugal trip to Singapore your travel wallet will have some leftover!

The Best Travel Credit Cards For Your Next Trip

by Dian 1 Comment

The Best Travel Credit Cards For Your Next Trip

When planning an international trip you want to make sure that you get the very best deals. Deals on hotels and travel and food. But, have you taken into account the benefits a travel card will give you? Or the extra fees you might encounter by using your debit or credit card internationally?

Did you know that you could be paying foreign transaction fees, currency conversion fees, and out of network ATM fees?! Holy cow! How do you account for all of those extra fees?!

The best way to avoid or lower these extra costs and fees is to make sure you are traveling with the best card(s).

Let’s talk about the cards you can use to save you a ton on your international trip(s).

First of all let’s look at the nasty foreign transaction fee and see if we can just eliminate that altogether.

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card

This one works for students or those who have never had a card before or those who don’t have a lot of credit history. It also has no annual fee and can help with credit history issues.

Capital One does not charge a fee for using your credit card for foreign currency transactions. Foreign purchases will be converted at the foreign exchange rate in effect at the time of processing the charge.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Back Rewards Card

This card has no annual fee and offers cash back rewards on purchases. The cash back offer pays 1.5% on each purchase PLUS you get a 1 time $100 bonus when you spend $500 in the first 3 months. There’s no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

This card offers a sign up bonus of 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points! You’ll need to spend $4,000 in the first 3 months to get that bonus, but there are ways to get there.

Pick up the tab when you go out – the staff will appreciate not having to split the bill. Just have everyone pay you.
Buy gift cards to pay your regular expenses – you can buy discounted gift cards to save money, too. If you budget $400 a month for groceries, buy a gift card(s) for the store where you’ll be shopping and use the gift cards to pay. Target, Walmart, and most grocery stores offer gift cards and stores like Kroger often offer Fuel rewards points when you buy them, too.
Pay your bills ahead
Send money to family and/or friends and have them give it back to you.

This card also offers 2 points for every dollar spent on travel and dining, and one point on everything else. There is no annual fee for the first year, but, it is $95 a year after the first year.

Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. When you use points to redeem for cash, each point is worth $.01 (one cent), which means that 100 points equals $1 in redemption value. Each point you redeem for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards is worth $.0125 (one and a quarter cents), which means that 100 points equals $1.25 in redemption value, and points are worth 25% more than if redeemed for cash. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 towards travel, or $500 when redeemed for cash. The cost of travel is based on the rates and fares available through the Ultimate Rewards website and travel center, and may not reflect all rates and fares that are available through other sales channels.

Don’t want to use a credit card? You can use a debit card to travel and save on fees, as well. As long as you use the right card for you and use it wisely, you’ll be fine.

The Charles Schwab Debit Card

With this debit card there are no ATM fees, at all, no foreign transaction fees and no monthly fees. PLUS, if another ATM charges you a fee this card will reimburse you for it! Nice!

If you decide to go with a debit card when travelling internationally, here are some tips to help you use it more wisely:

Don’t exchange currency especially at the airport. The rates are much better with debit or credit cards.

Use ATM machines at banks, not the hotel, or convenience stores for the best rates

When withdrawing cash always do so in the local currency as it gives you a better rate.

So whether you’re headed for Aruba or Jamaica, Cancun, or anywhere else in the world, be sure to use the right card(s) and use them wisely so there are no surprises when you return from your trip(s).

Have more tips? Please share them in the comments below.

How To Save Money For A Vacation

by Dian Leave a Comment

How To Save Money For A Vacation

When you’re having trouble making ends meet or you feel like you are just barely keeping your head above water how in the world can you even begin to think of saving for a trip and taking a vacation?

I used to think like that. I felt we were barely surviving and the thought of taking 4 kids on any trip and saving for vacation just seemed like a luxury we couldn’t afford.

But, I cherish the memories of the few trips we were able to take when the kids lived at home. We got through the times when money was tough and I barely remember each of those circumstance, but, I very vividly remember the trips we were able to take.

Don’t rob your family or yourself of those memories. With a vacation savings plan or travel savings account and some tightening of the belt you can make it happen. You may or may not make it all the way to Disney but, there are plenty of great family trips that don’t include an over priced theme park :). You can start off by taking control of your finances with budgeting tools. You can find several different easy budgeting ideas here: 6 Ways To Start A Successful Budget Plan You can also download this free printable Monthly Budget Worksheet to help you get started.

Exactly what sort of planning you ask? What is the best way to save money for a vacation? Well, let’s dig in and find the best way for you to make that vacation happen!

Tighten Your Belt

Of course the first thing we all look at is tightening our belt. Which could mean:

Car Pooling/Ride Share

Gas is not the cheapest thing these days and it’s definitely an area where we can cut costs. Find a car pool for the kids for school or for you for work, or look into a ride share in your area. Cutting a few days of gas costs out of your budget a week is a great way to save. Just add that to the vacation savings plan or travel savings account each month and watch that fund grow!

Lay Off The Expensive Latte

You know it’s the first thing we should go to when saving for anything: that expensive latte, so we’ll just leave this one right here… 🙂

Cut The Cable Bill

You don’t have to go completely off cable, you can just fine tune your package. Maybe you only watch certain shows on certain premium channels, so in the months when it isn’t airing cut it off and get it back when it is.

You can negotiate pretty easily with them, too. Especially when you call in to cut some part of your bill they can often find you a great deal to make it less than you were paying. BUT, be SURE to mark the end date of your new deal on your calendar and call back in and renegotiate before they hit you with full price and you get caught in a trap!

Lower Your Cell Costs

There are also many ways to lower your cell costs. Make sure your using all that you’re paying for each month or cut it out of the bill.

It’s important to check every few months and make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Just call in and tell them you’d like to find a way to lower your bill. They have specialists that can search and find you any specials they have running that you are eligible for or they can tell if you never get near your data limit and you can drop down to the next package.

Utilities

This applies also to cable and cell. Just like I said above make sure to call in every few months and make sure you’re getting the best deal. Here in Texas the electric companies are constantly trying to out do each other and often offer great deals. If you do take them up on a package know that it is for a limited time and you need to mark your calendar and renegotiate before that limited time is up.

We missed it once last year and our electric bill was sky high. We called in and they said we were paying full price because our “deal” was over…. It was more than tripled. They helped us find a new deal and you can believe we’ll never let THAT happen again!

Check out Energy Ogre – they find the best price for your situation and continue to improve it all the time. A new reporter here showed his bill was just $56 after signing up with them.

Grocery Bill

You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to save money in this department. It’s actually pretty easy. You can do it with or without coupons, too.

The main thing, if you prefer not to use coupons, is to know when things are on sale and buy them then. Also know if your store price matches and find the best deal in the area on what you want to purchase and price match it at that one store and not have to worry about running around town to get all of the deals. When you DO buy on sale, buy enough to last you until that item goes on sale again.

Prices on the things you buy fluctuate between 6-12 weeks normally. Somewhere in that time there will be a “rock bottom” price – that’s when you buy, with or without coupons and buy enough to last until that happens again. You don’t want to get caught paying full price because you ran out the week before it hit rock bottom.

Make Money

Ok, so that’s where the mind naturally goes, right? Lose all the things we like – the perks we give ourselves to be comfortable. Can we do without them? Mostly. Do we really want to – even for the sake of saving for a vacation or get away… not really, if we’re honest.

So, let’s take a look at some ways to MAKE extra cash and save THAT! Now, of course, we can do both the above and the following and supercharge our savings and get there quicker!

Making extra cash is pretty easy these days and it all adds up. Here are a few ways:

Groceries – YES, Groceries

There are a NUMBER of grocery apps that will PAY you to buy your groceries! They are super simple and with a little planning you can find that rock bottom price we talked about AND get cash back afterwards often making the item free or more than free! Here are my favorite money making grocery apps <— Click here to learn more about each one – they are all simple and free!

Online Surveys

There are companies that will pay you to be online and take surveys. Many people make good money doing them! Here are some of my favorites, they are all free:

Opinion Outpost

Pinecone

Harris Poll

Receipt Scanning

This one is awesome, too! You can scan your receipts for anything you purchase on these apps and save up points to purchase gift cards for hotels, restaurants, attractions! They are free and simple”

Receipt Pal

Yaarlo (please use referral code: DIANHARR862 – I get a referral fee) That’s another way to make money refer it to your friends with YOUR referral code and get paid that way, too!

Receipt Hog (waiting list)

Sell unwanted Items

There are plenty of places to list your unwanted items. You can list them on eBay and ship them to your buyers. But, there are also local places you can work through and meet up with people to sell. Facebook has a marketplace that’s free. OfferUp and 5Mile and other apps offer these services as well. You can clean out the garage and make some cash without having to haggle at your own garage sale.

Speaking of which – Garage Sale – have a garage sale and clean it all out in a day or maybe a weekend!

Drive

Now there are delivery places and car services you can drive for in your spare time and make some money. You drive on your own time and make your own schedule! So, you are the one who determines how much you make and how fast.

Check out:

Uber
Lyft
Amazon

Create An Extra Job

If you’re a stay at home parent you can babysit. I did that for years and made a nice bit of money and my kids had playmates, I also drove kids home from school and babysat after school. Think outside the box!

If you’re a crafty soul then you can make things and sell them on Etsy or eBay. I have seen people make an entire business out of hairbows or hair ties! Put on your creative hat – the sky’s the limit here.

My daughter and her husband make a very nice full time living from buying things and reselling them. She has learned to refurbish almost anything. They watch on the apps and online for things being sold cheap or for free, then they pick them up, fix them up, and sell them for a nice price. They also charge for delivery if their customer wants it delivered.

I had a friend who loved to bake cakes. She went to Putt Putt and asked if she could do their bakes for their birthday parties. They hired her, she worked from home and made and delivered the cakes.

In the past I have done hair on the side (I am licensed), answered phones, freelanced to companies to optimize their office pc’s, babysat, sold in a craft mall, was a PowerSeller on eBay, started my own home repair business – I found the work and hired the professional – I was the middle man.

I am sure you can think of something you like to do or are qualified to do and offer your services.

Everyday Ways To Save

There are ways to save what you use everyday, too.

Save Your Change

We all kind of ignore change, it falls in the bottom of the purse, ends up in the cup holders or floor of the car, or often just lost. This is a place where every little bit helps and it DOES add up. Make yourself a change jar somewhere prominent you will remember and let everyone contribute their change. It will help the kids feel like they are contributing for that vacation, too!

Save The Change In Your Checkbook

This is something I have done for years. (It also helps cover you if you make a mistake in your calculations) When you write in your ledger that you spent $5.57 – instead round it up to $6. At the end of the month figure out the overage and move it over to your vacation fund. That REALLY adds up, as well!

I hope this list of ideas helps you figure out How To Save Money For A Vacation. Sometimes we get stuck in our thinking and we can’t see beyond our situation. There’s plenty of ways to find, make, and save money for a family trip – again it doesn’t have to be elaborate, just a time when you all get away from everyday life and make those memories!

If you have any more ideas, please share them in the comments below!

Vacationing Stress-free After Breaking These 5 Bad Money Habits!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Vacationing Stress-free After Breaking These 5 Bad Money Habits!

We all have spending habits that make it challenging to save up for that next vacation. It certainly helps to be a couponing ninja! If you aren’t couponing yet, get started in 4 easy steps.

Whether it’s an extra cup of coffee a day or paying huge amounts of interest on a credit card, when you break these 5 bad money habits it will definitely make it easy for you to start saving up for that next big adventure.

Set up an automatic savings account

Setting up an automatic savings account can keep your savings on track without a lot of active thinking. A small amount of money adds up quickly, so do what you can, and let the bank take care of the rest. Each month, your savings will grow, and you won’t even have to think about it.

Even better, set your account to deposit into your savings right after you get your paycheck, that way the money you’re saving isn’t cutting into what you see that you have to spend. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to the Swiss Alps or Kilimanjaro.

Minimize spending on superfluous items

We get it, that extra medium to large size coffee drink is delicious. However, many of us spend a lot of extra money on things that we don’t necessarily need.

Coffee, restaurants, and the small, everyday expenses really start to add up to a lot of stress on both you and your bank account.

That money could be used to buffer your savings so that when you take that trip, you’ll be able to eat out worry free because you skipped a few of those cups of coffee and the occasional dinner out in your everyday life.

Check your data usage on your phone, do you use all of it? If not, consider changing your plan so it’s cheaper and uses less data. What about your cable? If you have a streaming internet TV service you likely don’t need cable.

Take that money, and set it aside in your savings, and you’ll be able to afford that really awesome hotel you’ve been looking at (yeah, the one that’s floating on the ocean in Fiji).

Manage your credit card debt

Credit card debt is taxing on you both personally and financially, but it doesn’t have to be an intimidating part of your life. You likely pay a very significant amount of interest on your debt each month. Prioritize paying off credit before you do anything else, and make sure that you are using a card that has the lowest APR that you can get so you’re paying as little interest as possible.

In addition, see if your card has a rewards system set up. You can often earn mileage for using a card and transferring your balance. Sometimes this is enough for you to fly across the country.

And, this one is pretty obvious, pay off as much of your credit card debt as possible. You will want a card that is not maxed out on your next vacation.

Read Your Monthly Bills And Renegotiate

Often bills change and we don’t really notice. Offers we may have signed up for have expired and now we are paying more. Make sure to always read your bills and call in every few months and ask how you can lower your bill (you might want to casually mention switching to a competing company, sometimes that gets you an even better deal). Companies are ready and willing to help you reduce your monthly bills, they often have new specials you qualify for and you can get those deals. Check out these 8 Ways To Save On Monthly bills NOW.

Take small steps

Financial change doesn’t happen overnight. There are a lot of really small steps that you can take. Changing the way you view and approach money can be one of the biggest ways to get out and stay out of debt.

Stay positive with yourself

Saving up for a vacation can be a daunting task, but establishing new habits and taking small steps can make this a breeze. You are human though, and sometimes you need that delicious drink, or you spend more on your credit card than you intended to.

That’s okay!

Don’t sweat the small stuff, and don’t get caught up in the slip-ups. Just make a note, figure out how to get back on track and move on.

In no time you’ll be kayaking the San Juan Islands with Orcas thinking about how awesome it was that you made a few small changes and now you’re able to enjoy your vacation stress free!

Here’s more info on How To Save For A Vacation!

Doug writes about Travel, Budgeting, Homebrewing, DIY projects, and Food. Follow him on Twitter @diydoug.

Clean Up Your Credit Report Yourself

Revlon PhotoReady Primer Review From The H-E-B Beauty Roadshow!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Last week H-E-B had their annual Beauty Roadshow.

They bring “us” (the H-E-B Beauty Bloggers) in for this RoadShow.

We really have a great time as we learn about new products coming out and some that have been out for a while.

We get to try the products and talk to the reps from the companies to learn all we can and share with y’all!

Courtney from My Crazy Savings get her nails done!

We got to spend special time with Revlon and Conair. Shortly, I will do another video on some of the Conair products, too.

Today, I decided to show you the Revlon PhotoReady Primer they told us about.

I am liking it, so, I wanted to show it to you. I had heard of primers, but, had never used one.

Fair warning: I start from scratch – no makeup!

Have you used a primer before? Did you like it?

Staycation Or Vacation In Arlington, Texas!

by Dian 50 Comments

Staycation Or Vacation In Arlington, Texas!

Well, it’s that time of year, when we have been thinking about vacations and staycations.

Well, here’s a list to help you whether you live near Arlington, TX which is a “suburb” of Dallas/Fort Worth, or plan to vacation here or nearby!

Be sure to check out the list of other great places across the country to visit at the bottom of this post!

Also, Here’s more info on How To Save For A Vacation!

Decorator’s Warehouse

Decorator’s Warehouse, Texas’ #1 Christmas Store, is the largest Christmas store in Texas, and one of the largest in the world. This Christmas wonderland features more than an acre of beautiful Christmas décor and amazing displays including life-size Santas and bears. A visit here is like a stroll down memory lane, a Christmas oasis, a place to escape into a magical world of candy canes, gingerbread houses, lights and Santas, where people and families can celebrate the meaning of Christmas in their own special way.

COLLEGE PARK CENTER UTA

College Park District is the most ambitious project in UT Arlington history—practically a campus in and of itself. Spanning more than 20 acres, the $160 million development is a place where students, neighbors, and visitors can intermingle while enjoying stellar entertainment, sports, and restaurants.

AMERICAN AIRLINES C.R. SMITH MUSEUM

The C.R. Smith Museum takes visitors on a flight through American Airlines history, with interactive exhibits that entice participation by all age groups. The museum features hundreds of historical artifacts, photographs, full-scale aircraft engines and a rare Douglas DC-3 airliner. In addition, the museum’s state of the art digital theater features The Spirit of American, a film, featuring the history of commercial aviation as well as breathtaking aerial photography.

CHESTER W. DITTO GOLF COURSE

Chester W. Ditto Golf Course, located in north Arlington, is one of the most sought after courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. This challenging, 18-hole, par 72 golf course, offers plush tiff fairways narrowed by trees and accented with white sand bunkers and ponds. A driving range, a practice putting green and a chipping area are offered to complete one’s golfing experience. The clubhouse offers snack bar concessions and a full line pro shop with today’s most popular equipment and apparel. C.W. Ditto also offers tournaments and private and group lessons taught by PGA Professionals and Apprentices.

Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center

The new Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center incorporates many unique features designed to resemble the agrarian style of the small region of Germany. The European theme is evident in the clock tower, large wooden columns and overall design. The center has an interactive spray pad, shallow water play pool, 25 meter four-lane swimming pool, a one-meter diving board, two water slides, pavilions, restrooms and showers. The center offers swim lessons and can be reserved for birthday parties and rentals for special occasions.

Symphony Of Arlington

The 15th Anniversary Season will feature guest artists such as Cliburn contestant Lindsay Garritson performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, pianist Juan Moreno performing Turina’s Rapsodia Sinfonica, Op. 66, flute soloist, LeeAnne Thompson performing Liebermann’s Flute Concerto, and violinist/Concertmaster Susan Demetris performing the Barber Violin Concerto. Symphony Arlington will also feature Paul Silverthorne, Principal Viola of the London Symphony this season performing Paganini’s Sonata per la Gran’ Viola è Orchestra and Berlioz – Harold in Italy!

LOUIE LOUIE’S DUELING PIANO BAR

Imagine a high-octane party where you’re clapping, shouting and singing along with hundreds of your soon-to-be closest friends. Because at Louie Louie’s, YOU are the show! Our “talented” piano players will play your requests for you…anything from Garth Brooks to Metallica, or Def Leppard to Sublime. Write your favorite song on a napkin, slap it on the piano, sit back and enjoy the wild ride! And, whether it’s a birthday, graduation or anything you want to celebrate, bring your friends and family to Louie Louie’s and we will be happy to help you paint the town red. So don’t bring your worries, just your playlists and enjoy an exciting night in Arlington’s Entertainment District.

River Legacy Living Science Center

River Legacy Living Science Center serves as the gateway to River Legacy Parks.

Nestled into a clearing of existing land contours and oak groves, the 12,000-square-foot nature center has a sustainable design that has a minimal impact on the environment.

River Legacy Parks

River Legacy Parks is a 1,300-acre urban oasis that follows the curves of the Trinity River in north Arlington.
The Parks’ ecological diversity of bottomland forest, wetlands and prairie provides abundant habitat for countless birds, fish, mammals, and native plants.

Outdoor Summer Concert Series

Levitt Pavilion in downtown Arlington’s Founders Plaza

The Levitt Pavilion has become the place where families and friends of all ages and backgrounds gather to experience 50 nights of FREE music, dance and performing arts every year. The Levitt Pavilion brings the magic of music and the performing arts to Arlington in a whole new way – under the stars! Our performance schedule includes artists from all around the world and right in our own backyard, from jazz to hot Latin rhythms and world music to children’s artists.

The International Bowling Museum

The International Bowling Museum’s 18,000-square-foot facility is located on the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, TX. It is loaded with history and brimming with fun. Come visit us today.

Trader’s Village PREMIER FLEA MARKET

Since Traders Village opened in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Grand Prairie in 1973, millions of people have browsed, shopped and traded within the acres filled with thousands of dealers offering a little bit of everything, all at bargain prices.

Only at Traders Village can you stroll through literally thousands of shops, wheel and deal with the shop owners themselves and get the bargain of a lifetime. From paper clips to bulldozers, on any given weekend, you can find it at Traders Village

Arlington Museum Of Art

The Arlington Museum of Art exists to champion creativity and provide access to art for the cultural enrichment and economic development of our community.

Tails and Trails Dog Park – Don’t forget the Dog!

Features

5.7 acres

Benches

Large Dog Off Leash Area

Shaded Areas

Small Dog Off Leash Area

Walking Nature Trails

Water Fountains

Ice At The Parks

Ice Skating

A great place to come join your friends and skate, play hockey, have a skating party, or learn to skate from one of our many highly qualified instructors, enter into a figure skating competition or skate in one of our annual seasonal skating shows. Our professional staff of coaches and instructors are anxious to assist you along the way.

Six Flags Over Texas

There is always something new at Six Flags Over Texas. You and your family can experience our expanded kids area, Bugs Bunny Boomtown. During the summer, BATMAN™ The Ride celebrates 15 years by doing a gravity-defying role reversal — ride it BACKWARDS! Our popular Membership and Season Dining Pass programs are returning too.

Cowboy Stadium Tours

There are now two exciting ways to tour the Cowboys Stadium. If you are interested in touring the entire stadium, and going home with a head full of facts and figures about the world’s largest domed structure, then the VIP Guided Tour is your best option. If you’d rather take your time and explore just the most popular highlights on the Event Level, then the Self-Guided Tour is for you.

AMF Spare Time Lanes

AMF Spare Time Lanes offers traditional bowling on 40 lanes along with a separate lounge area and an on-site Pro Shop. Watch your favorite sports on five flat-screen TVs or challenge your friends to some family-friendly arcades or a game of billiards.

Alley Cats

Activities:

Food

Bowl

Billiards

Laser Tag

Rock Climbing

Arcade

Arlington Music Hall

Welcome to the historic Arlington Music Hall, where elegance meets excellence in entertainment. The Arlington Music Hall renovation is now complete and provides audiences with a truly unique entertainment experience. The 1,100 seat auditorium includes state-of-the-art sound and lighting, an expanded stage and a classic new décor that enhances the hall’s sophistication and style. Watch for updates and join us as we turn another page in the history book of this great hall.

Ranger Ballpark

On April 1, 1994, a new era for the Texas Rangers began with the opening of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The beautiful baseball-only facility serves as the centerpiece of a 270-acre complex which solidifies Arlington, Texas as an entertainment giant in the Southwest.

Studio Movie Grill

Start a NEW FAMILY TRADITION with KidToons every week-end at 11 am for only $1 kid’s tickets & $2 adult tickets. And, for families caring for CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SMG is offering Special Needs Screenings of family friendly movies, free to all children with special needs & their siblings.

Putt-Putt

54 holes of beautifully landscaped Putt-Putt Golf

Arcade with over 70 of the latest video games and simulators

Batting cages with a speed that’s right for you!

Bowlingo – miniature bowling alleys

Visit our restaurant for fresh-baked Funzino’s^tmpizza, Blue Bell® ice cream, cold soft drinks, nachos, and much more!

Lake Arlington

Paddling Trail

This 10.9-mile paddling trail is the first lake paddling trail and the first trail in the DFW metroplex. Enjoy paddling along the shores of a beautiful lake to enjoy a taste of nature in the middle of this urban center.

The Historic Fielder House

The Fielder House, located at the corner of Fielder and Abram streets, was built for Mr. and Mrs. James Park Fielder, Sr. as their private residence in 1914. The two-story house, surrounded by magnificent oaks was one of the first brick homes in Arlington. The galleries at the Fielder House are used primarily to exhibit themes and topics relating to the history of Arlington and its surrounding communities.

Past exhibits include “Faces of Arlington” WWII – A series of exhibits showcasing the community, its residents and the hometown hero’s of WWII.

Permanent exhibits include the Fielder Kitchen, Fielder Room, Children’s and Media Room, Dr. Zack Bobo’s Office, the Cooper Gallery, Watson Bedroom and Collectables in the basement.

CATS

Creative Arts Theatre & School The success of CATS’ programs is ultimately judged by the community response to its classes and shows—and by the successes of its students. Many CATS alumnae have been accepted into prestigious theatre programs at such schools as Florida State University, Southern Methodist University, Boston Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.

UTA

Daily Campus Tours (not offered on major holidays)

Daily campus tours are led by UT Arlington students called MavElite. The campus tour is a walking tour and lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. The tour includes stops inside several academic buildings, a visit to our dining center called Connection Cafe to experience the sights and smells of eating on campus, a visit to the Fine Arts and Architecture galleries, stops in the Maverick Activities Center, the Main Stage Theater, a ride on the Mav Mover Shuttle bus to see our Studio Art Center featuring student art and our award-winning glassblowing studio and much more. The tour is a walking tour, so please wear comfortable shoes. Also, please be aware of current weather conditions and dress accordingly, as our tours still take place in the rain or cold weather, unless conditions become unsafe.

Hurricane Harbor

Warning: you are about to be abducted (and splashed).

Yes, it’s a UFO (Ultimate Fun Object), with two 500-foot tentacle tubes from an ominous black flying saucer. They send you on special inner tubes that zoom through the inner darkness of the tentacles, all the way down to a splashy ending.

If you are around here and think of any others – please comment and share with us all! Remember, tomorrow I will share the links with you for all of the posts from all over the country!

The Knapp Heritage Park

The Knapp Heritage Park, located at 201 W. Front Street in downtown Arlington provides a glimpse of pioneer life. The park consists of a one-room schoolhouse, a one-room cabin, a dog trot cabin, and the Bardin barn. There is also a general store located in James Knapp’s law office and is recognized as a landmark from the Arlington Preservation Society. Audio MP3 tours coming soon!

Arlington Highlands

Arlington Highlands grew from a vision formed in 1950. Today, it’s a place built to create experiences that capture the spirit of Arlington embodied in you. We’ll capture your experiences and display them throughout the seasons in this our Arlington Highlands “experience gallery.”

Top O’ Hill Terrace Known as “Vegas Before Vegas” Speakeasy (located on the Arlington Baptist College campus)

Beulah Adams Marshall bought land here along the Bankhead Highway in the early 1920s and opened a tea room, hosting teas and serving dinners to Dallas and Fort Worth patrons. In the late 1920s, Fred and Mary Browning purchased the property and shortly began converting the facilities into a casino, adding an escape tunnel and secret room for hiding the gambling paraphernalia during raids.

Known as Top O’ Hill Terrace, the popular spot attracted gamblers as well as visitors who were often unaware of the gaming activities. The restaurant, along with the tea garden that exists today, was a legitimate business, operating alongside a brothel as well as the casino, which benefited from the nearby Arlington Downs Racetrack.

Check out all of these great destinations for your vacation or staycation this year! Bloggers from all over the country explore their towns with you!

A – D
Phoenix, Arizona — Saving For Someday
Fresno, California — Living A Frugal Life
Orange County, California — More With Less Today
San Diego, California — Southern Cali Saver
Denver, Colorado — Bargain Blessings
Washington, District of Columbia — Kidventurous

F – I
Disney World, Florida — The Happy Housewife
Jacksonville, Florida — Saving The Family Money
Orlando, Florida — Coupon Mamacita
St Augustine, Florida — Simply St. Augustine
Tallahasse, Florida — SwagGrabber
Tampa Bay, Florida — LaToyaEdwards.net
Atlanta, Georgia — Pretty Frugal Diva
Dahlonega, Georgia — Kathys Cluttered Mind
Savannah, Georgia — This Mommy Saves Money
Aurora/Chicago, Illinois — A Savings WOW!
Chicago, Illinois — Entertaining Chicago
Indianapolis, Indiana — Chaos Is Bliss

K – P
Lexington, Kentucky — Homeschool Village
Louisville, Kentucky — The Kennedy Adventures
Northern Kentucky, Kentucky — Simply Sherryl
Carroll County, Maryland — Looking at life CreativLEI
Boston, Massachusetts — Maven of Savin
Battle Creek, Michigan — Pichea Place
Grand Rapids, Michigan — Give Me Neither
Metro Detroit, Michigan — Saving Dollars and Sense
Kansas City Area, Missouri/Kansas — Redefined Mom
Omaha, Nebraska — Family Fun in Omaha
Central, New Jersey — Our Good Life
Cincinnati, Ohio — Adventure Mom
Cleveland, Ohio — Kosher on a Budget
Columbus, Ohio — Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio — Savings Lifestyle
Mansfield & Richland County, Ohio — The Traveling Praters
Miami County, Ohio — Something 2 Offer
Northeast, Ohio — Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
Portland, Oregon — Frugal Living NW
Harrisburg/Central, PA — Family Balance Sheet
Erie, Pennsylvania — Growing Kids Ministry
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Moms Need To Know
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — The Coupon High

R – W
Arlington, Texas — Grocery Shop For FREE
Fort Worth, Texas — Coupons and Freebies Mom
Houston, Texas — Melissa’s Bargains
Katy, Texas — Moms Confession
San Antonio, Texas — How to Homeschool My Child
Tyler, Texas — iLoveMy5Kids
Charlottesville, Virgina — How to Have it All
Norfolk, Virgina — The Talking Suitcase
Richmond, Virgina — Vacation Maybe
Seattle, Washington — Thrifty NW Mom
Tacoma/South Puget Sound, Washington — Queen Bee Coupons
Oshkosh, Wisconsin — A Little Bit of This and That

Further With Ford Trends 2014 Conference! #FordTX

by Dian Leave a Comment

Further With Ford Trends 2014 Conference! #FordTX

I just spent three days in Detroit, Michigan attending the Ford Trends conference. I was honored to be asked to attend and couldn’t wait to experience all that lay in store!

I have never been to Detroit before, I also have never stayed in a hotel that was attached to the airport (this is only the 3rd time I had ever flown). So, when Hubby asked me after I checked into the hotel how Detroit was, I said I don’t know I haven’t left the airport yet! lol

I was invited by Ford to the conference and the new 2015 Ford Edge reveal!

I love the colors! It is very sporty on the outside but very roomy and comfortable on the inside.

The next morning at breakfast they had ANOTHER reveal!

The new 2015 Fisher-Price F-150 Power Wheels! They are too fun! They will be available in September, but you can pre-order them now! They retail for $349.99.

We headed off to the Ford World Headquarters for several sessions that were very informative after breakfast!

They taught us about innovations, and sustainability among other things. We got to enjoy a few tours of many of their facilities, too:

I think my favorite session was where we learned the benefits of gaming. In my house my kids were always very into gaming, as are Hubby and I. I can tell you that 1 of my kids’ small motor skills improved rapidly when he got his first video game. We learned many stats about gaming, too – one that kind of surprised me was that 92% of 2 year olds play games such as on a tablet or cell phone.

The next day we were off to the product review center where we got to test drive some vehicles – I always love that part!

We got to drive the Ford Transit Connect, AKA the “Unminivan”.

It handled very well and has a ton of overhead space. The roof is much higher and has storage space in the ceiling!

We also got to ride in a vehicle driven by a robot! The robot was being controlled from 30 miles away! This is how they put the car through rigorous testing faster. The pot holes they design to run the cars over are very deep and they place them very close together so, it makes it hard on a human to be able to spend many hours test driving vehicles over such terrain. The next best thing? A robot being controlled 30 miles away!

After our morning of test drives we were taken to the Ford Truck Plant where we got to see how they assemble them!

It’s a HUGE plant! Did you know:

We learned quite a bit about the F-150, too.

It is the most patented truck in history with more than 100 new patents. It has a motorized tailgate release and tailgate step. It has a 360-degree view with cameras everywhere, it even has a camera lens washer to keep it clean so you have a perfect view! Now, you don’t have to worry about backing into a parking space or how close you are to anything next to you!

It is equipped with LED spotlights on the side view mirrors that you can use to help setup a campsite or finish a job after the sun goes down, that is a cool feature, if you ask me!

I had a fantastic time at the Ford Trends 2014 Convention and am so thankful I was able to attend and learn so much! Thanks, Ford!

Save Big At The Pump With Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program!

by Dian Leave a Comment

Save Big At The Pump With Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program!

Here’s a great opportunity to Save Big At The Pump With Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program! Who doesn’t want to save money whenever they can? With Shell’s Fuels Rewards program you can save money this summer on gas whether you are staying close to home or taking that great family vacation you’ve been planning!

Do you travel in the summer? Do you do the whole family vacation thing each year? We had 4 kids and we never thought we could afford it. We were Youth pastors, so every year our family vacation was Youth Camp! lol We took the whole family to camp, young and old. That was pretty much it for family vacations in our house. It’s sad now that I think about it and now that I realize how inexpensive it can be.

Now that the kids are grown, Hubby and I do a little traveling in the summer mainly to blogging conferences and we always drive. We definitely like to see the sights and take some side trips and that’s why we choose to drive instead of fly. I have shared before how we have learned to travel inexpensively. There are many ways you can cut costs when traveling, it just takes a little time and planning.

One of the ways we save when we travel is by using fuel rewards, such as Shell’s Fuel Rewards program. The Fuel Rewards program is free, you can stop by any Shell station and pick up your card to get started or you can sign up online. Once you have signed up, just link up your debit and/or credit cards and start earning money off your gas purchases by doing your normal shopping and dining out!

You can even link up your grocery store rewards card and earn money off your gas purchases! You can shop online as well as use ecoupons and earn. This is a great program to cut down on what you pay for gas throughout the year. Why pay more for anything? You can even earn by sharing with your friends and showing them how they can save on their gas purchases, too.

When you’re ready to redeem your rewards just insert your card at the pump and redeem your savings! You can login on your pc or text FUELREWARDS to 67463 to see your savings at any time. Shell’s Fuel Rewards Program makes saving big at the pump so easy there’s no reason not to sign up and get started saving today.

Whether you are vacationing or Staycationing, be sure to sign up for free to save money on your gas purchases!