Tag Archives: budgeting

Ideas To Save Money While Traveling

Are you looking into taking a much-needed vacation? Good for you! You’ve earned it and you deserve the best break possible with these tips in mind. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on a trip. Here are some tips for saving money while traveling.

  1. Pack light

Many people tend to over pack, whether it is for an over-nighter or a two week vacation. Don’t make that mistake. Save a bundle on airfare for luggage. This means, lay out each outfit so that you can re-wear and mix and match. After all, most of us only wear our very favorite clothes when out and about. We want to look and feel good, so naturally we only wear the best jeans and dresses from our suitcase. You can also wear heavy clothing items on the plane or in the car so you don’t have to fit it in a smaller suitcase.

Forgo packing any toiletries. They will come with your hotel or wherever you stay, and you can always buy some for cheaper than they fly. Make sure to pack light so that you don’t have to ship things home when you’re staying in different places and trying to take your things with you. Along with this, pack a few essentials in case you get stuck at the airport, like a good book and music with as adapter to charge in other countries.

  1. Stay And Eat Cheap

Forget the hotels for a few nights, and find a friend or relative to stay with. This can save and become one of the best parts of your vacation. At someone’s home you will have the comfort of a home with linens that have assuredly been washed, free food and shampoo, and even free or split-cost meals. This is not the cheap way to go. It’s frugal and can help build up old relationships.

The important point to remember with this money-saving tip is to say thank you for someone who goes out of their way to help you save a few bucks. If you stay with an old friend you can send something like Mrs Fields Thank You Gifts for their generosity and hospitality. With a solid sign of appreciation you can be invited back and avoid feeling guilty for crashing at someone’s place. There are so many gifts to choose from, so you can find what is in your price range, and personalize your gratitude. After all, what is sweeter than a load of cookies and brownies famous fro their goodness?

  1. Research Your Destination

With a little bit of work spent researching the area you’ll be in, you can save lots. Look up museums and attractions as well as how to get to them. You can find the least expensive way to go and maybe even some coupons or Groupon’s to help out. This way you can maintain the flexibility of what you’re in the mood for while being prepared with a list of things to do.

So save money on your trip today with these simple tips. They can help you not only save money but also end up with a more rewarding and enjoyable vacation by planning ahead and getting out to see things that you wouldn’t otherwise have seen. It can also help you re-unite with those friends you’ve wanted to catch up with but haven’t for a couple of years.

 

 

Are You an Impulsive Buyer?

I actually make a list of the things that I want to buy at the grocery store but I always have this buying style where I usually go through each isle and pick some items that I like. I also buy things that I didn’t know I wanted until I saw them on display in a store that’s why I ended up having lots of shoes, bags, and clothes stuck in my closet. I know it may be oversimplifying things but I think I am an impulsive buyer.

This is not a good thing I know because it will prevent me from saving for important things . Although I don’t buy those expensive things but I must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don’t matter in the long run.

Impulse spending will not only put a strain on our finances but on our relationships as well. So to overcome the problem, the first thing to do is learn to separate our needs from our wants. By following through this simple solution, we will surely mend our financial fences.

How about you my friends? Are you also an impulsive buyer? How do you able to manage it?


 

Managing and Handling our Finances

I was offline in the blogosphere for several days because I was so busy in managing and handling our finances in preparation for our Church Anniversary. I am the treasurer of our church and I am also in charge on every single expenses that we need to buy for the said activity. Aside from handling Church funds, as the mom of the family, I’m always in charge on every payable, expenses,budgeting etc. and other money matters.

I admit that I may be financially capable but I still need to be aware of our expenses so that I can properly manage our money. Handling finances actually requires Self Development and in order to manage our finances appropriately, it really needs Self Development towards my attitude in handling finances and this includes budgeting money wisely by preparing a budget planner, biweekly or monthly where I should write down the actual income and the expenses and calculate the difference. I just have to buy the things that we need most and make sure to list all the things that I need before going to a grocery store to avoid excess spending.

Self discipline is also important to make it sure that our hard earned money will be spent to rational expenditure. I actually make a list of our needs and wants and I always remember that the needs always come first when it comes to financial plan.

Being Able to Handle Money Properly

My grandmother was the one who raised me and took care of me because my mom left me to work abroad. When my grandma died last 2000, I started to live my life independently. I was 3rd year high school at that time. Life was so hard for me even if my mom was there to support me financially but its so hard being alone. But I have to stand up and continue my studies so I can finish my high school and pursue my degree in college. And because of that, I learn how to manage my money to budget everything. I was never an over spender where I just buy anything that I want. I am even ashamed to ask money from my mom. I always think that the money she sent to me was out from her sweat and hard work .

After I graduated in college, I got married and decided to start a business. With the help of my mom, I had able to start up an internet cafe business. Me and my hubby are the one who manage it and until today, this is still our primary source of income. My hubby also accepts computer repair, reformat and maintenance which is also a great help for our needs. While I also sell some of our stuffs in ebay, and of course I also earn money out from my blogging career and also from other money earning sites.

My in laws has a curtain making business for several years now and I am thankful for my hubby since he also got the skills and talents in sewing huge curtains for hotels and rich people here in our place. He helped his father and he also receives some “moolah” out from his work.

As the mom, I am always in charge of all the expenses, the marketing, the budgeting and everything. It’s not actually tough job for me since I already know how to manage it because of my experience being an independent woman at a young age.