Organization & Planning

Save Money By Packing Light

Saving money is all about packing right and light. First, I have several packing lists – one for clothing, one for a vacation that includes cooking and one for cruises. Then I select a color theme, so that all can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits.

First you want to know your airlines regulations – do you have to pay for checked luggage, what are the dimensions and weight limit that you are allowed? Not knowing this can cost you money. So packing within the rules always helps my wallet and it’s the way clothing can be mixed and matched to make more outfits out of less. For example, the red sweater can go over an outfit and/or be a top. The black pants can be casual with a golf shirt and can be dressed up with a blouse for an evening. Everything in my suitcase does double duty and that way I can carry less.

If I buy souvenirs / gifts, I have two different ways to do this. If we are in the US, I stop at a post office and use a flat rate mailing box and ship the items home, so that I don’t have to do a lot added carrying. We did this while in Alaska and shipped items home before we boarded the cruise ship. If I know I am going to be buying gifts, I pack a small collapsible suitcase inside my suitcase and then I have an additional suitcase to carry those new items home.

My actual clothing packing involves the color theme. I select pieces with these colors so that all can go together to make multiple outfits. Those black pants can be paired with a t-shirt by day for exploring and at night with a dressier top for dinner. A beach cover up can get from the pool in the day to an evening with the right accessories. That’s how I can pack in one suitcase even for two week trips.

All this starts with planning what you will be doing and buying before you leave for vacation.

Ways To Save While Traveling

You know that one of our passions is to travel, and we do this as much as we can. I wanted to share with you ways that we are able to save money while traveling. This is in addition to using discounts, points, miles and other known ways.

Here are some things that we do:

Food / Drinks – at hotels, we always stay in a room with a fridge and coffee maker. This saves lots, we can buy our own healthy beverage and food choices at a grocery store vs. the hotel gift shop. If we are driving, then we bring everything from home. If we are flying, it’s a little research before you go to find a store near where we are going to be. While at the store, we pick up fruit and snacks for the trip. On some cruise lines, you are able to bring small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages – yes we do this too.

Exploring / Tours – do your research ahead of time. When we travel, I do a lot of research before we leave. When going to a new city, I check out guide books with suggested itineraries, search the internet for free tours, some libraries offer passes to attractions. If you have to pay for something, do a search for cost too – look for coupons and discount codes. Yes, this takes time but it can benefit your wallet. If we are cruising, we use a website that connects us with other travelers on the same cruise. Many times we have shared rides and tours with people we met online. We shared car service from Southampton, England to the airport with two other couples, we’ve split the cost of a cab in Bruges, Belgium with two other couples – all prearranged online ahead of time.

Dining Out – think about mixing things up – have your big meal at lunch instead of dinner (prices are usually less expensive on the lunch menu compared to the dinner one and the portions can be smaller). Check for discounts and coupons to reduce your cost. Also, think about smaller meals such as stopping at a bakery for breakfast or street or farmers market for snacks. Think outside the box and it may save your wallet.

These are some of the ways we save when we travel. Let me know what you do to save money while you are away.

Saving For Retirement

We all want to save for retirement, but there never seems to be enough money left over to save. Does this sound familiar?

The first rule of saving for retirement is, if you are offered free money take it. If your employer sponsored retirement plan offers you matching funds, take it. Contributing to a retirement plan through your paycheck is a great way to get started on the path of regular automatic saving. The earlier you start this habit the better off you will become. On the other side if you haven’t done this, it’s never too late to start now. In this case, free money is a good thing

Next you want to manage your debt. Debt is the enemy to your budget, so you want to avoid it at all cost. I am not saying don’t borrow or use credit, what I am saying is to use it wisely. Don’t become a slave to your debt and that you live paycheck to paycheck trying to keep up with your debt payments.

Charge wisely and only amounts that you can pay off easily. If you find yourself with an emergency and you have to borrow money, evaluate your options and make the choice that is best for you and your budget. Pay back the debt as quickly as possible to avoid as much of the finance / interest charges as possible.

Lastly, gratification – are you someone who needs instant gratification? Do you buy without a payback plan? Look at the food cost (groceries, dining out, take out etc.), shopping, memberships, entertainment etc. These are the expenses, that where the instant gratification that can harm your budget. These are the first defense against the leaks in your budget. Plug those holes to have more money for your retirement.

Think about your finances then make a plan to implement these strategies one by one. Once you master one, start the next. Remember that your finances will not change overnight, be patient and remember it takes time.

Your Emergency Savings Account

What’s your emergency savings account look like? Suze Orman suggests that you have eight months of income in your emergency savings. Dave Ramsey and Jean Chatzky both say 3 to 6 months. Hello Wallet suggest that you think of emergency saving in three ways – minor emergencies, major emergencies and job loss. Bottom line, you need an emergency savings account.

As with any goal, start with a plan – then automate it. When we started our emergency savings, our goal was to save $1,000. That would get us through the unexpected small expense. We started by saving $20 per week to reach that $1,000 goal in one year.

Once you accomplish your goal, I would like you to about your next savings goal. Sometimes unexpected emergencies cost more than you expect, especially if you are a homeowner. I have always thought that the major repair emergency fund should be in the $5,000 range. So then we started on this goal. $100 a week gets you to $5,000 in a year. We divided this between both our paychecks. My husband gets paid weekly so he contributes $50 each week. I get paid every other week, so I put in $100. We then have achieved this goal of $5,000 in a year.

Remember, this is not a save for one year and done type of thing. You may need to use this money, so you need to replace what you use. You can never have too much money saved for the what if’s of life.

Different Types of Refinancing

We’ve all heard the word “refinance”, but what typically comes to mind is mortgages. Yes, you are correct. It also can apply to other areas of your finances such as car loans, student loans and credit cards.

As with any borrowing, you want to pay off the debt as quickly as possible. But sometime you cannot afford to purchase a car with cash, so you take a car loan. You may want to look into refinancing your car loan if you can get better terms – lower interest rate.

For student loans lower interest rate is probably not the answer. You may have several loans and several payments. It might be easier for you to keep track of and have only one payment per month, if you consolidate. Check out your options to determine if this is right for you.

Credit cards are a good example. You may be payoff debt and it may seem like it takes forever. It could if you have high interest rates. Refinancing a credit card balance to a lower or zero percent interest rate will help you pay back what you owe quicker and pay less in finance charges.

As with any financial transaction, do your research and compare all terms and conditions to see if this is the right move for you and your finances at this point in your life.

How To Save Money AND Get Dinner On The Table Fast!!

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From guest contributor www.VickiHeise.com

I’m often asked how I put together quick meals and save money on food. I cook at home and prep ingredients early in the week, so that meals go together super fast. At the end of the week, I use the bits and pieces of leftover veggies, meat and grains to make a quick frittata or soup.

By taking a little bit of time to do some home cooking, you can save money and feed you and your family delicious meals that go together quickly. Check out these 4 tips that you can start using today!

KEY ~ Feed Your Body
How To Save Money AND Get Dinner On The Table Fast!!

Did you know that not only can you save money by cooking at home, but it doesn’t have to be complicated? If you think you don’t have time to add another thing to your to-do list, with a little planning you can not only save money, but feed your family great tasting nutritious food and not spend lots of time in the kitchen.

Here are 4 tips to get you started:

Use whole foods. Buy whole foods, the ones you find around the outer edge of the grocery store. That’s where you’ll find the fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and dairy. Add some things from the bulk bins like grains, beans and nuts (a huge money saver) and if you’re really pressed for time get some canned beans and frozen vegetables.
Prepare them simply. You don’t need lots of recipes with long lists of ingredients. Save the complex, full of ingredient recipes for when you have the time to enjoy the whole cooking experience.
Make large batches ahead of time of the things that take a while to cook like beans, grains and rice. Yes they do take time, but it’s on the stove cooking time, not you actively being involved time. By making these ahead of time, you’ll have ingredients ready when you get home so you can quickly put all the pieces for dinner together. If you’re making soup, make extra to so you’ll have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day or later in the week.
Prep and freeze ingredients to save time later. What do you use often in your meals? Onions, peppers and other veggies? Chop these and put them in meal sized portion freezer bags. You could even cook bacon and freeze it to use as a garnish in recipes. When you’re ready to cook soup in the crock pot, just take out what you need and you’re ready to go! Also consider freezing meat, poultry and fish in meal size portions. My husband and I have different tastes, so I’ll freeze individual portions of beef and pork for him and fish for me. It makes for a drama free meal!

10 Minute Scrambled Eggs

I love making budget friendly 10 Minute Scrambled Eggs for dinner, using one pan and some freezer ingredients. There’s no chopping or prep time!

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~ Saute frozen peppers and onions, in a bit of coconut oil.

~ Add frozen, already cooked, chopped bacon, then fresh or frozen spinach until it’s wilted.

~ Finally add the eggs with a bit of cheese if you want, and scramble it all together.

~ Serve with a favorite fruit and a piece of toast.

This is a dish that you can easily add in bits and pieces of leftovers from the fridge too.

Take a little time to plan ahead to save yourself time and money starting this week!

If you’d like other recipes ideas, you can check out over 1000 of them on my Live Your Healthy Life’s Pinterest page.

If you’re looking for weekly ideas to Live Your Healthy Life, you can sign up to receive my weekly email newsletter.

www.VickiHeise.com

Prep Your Home for Winter

It’s time to get your home ready for the upcoming winter months. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts another snowy winter here in the northeast.

Here are some things that we do at our house:

1. Get all the patio furniture cleaned and put inside if possible. We have a lot – and most comes inside – but there are a few pieces that are too big and heavy. For the pieces that stay out, we put those orange cones atop the table and cover with patio furniture covers. This prevents the water from puddling up. Make sure to secure the covers tightly.

2. Turn off the outside water and drain the lines. You don’t want to have to call a plumber in the middle of winter to fix a frozen line. Remember to bring in the outside garden hoses once you have drained them.

3. Clean those gutters before you have problems. Scoop out the debris from inside (even if you have gutter guards), so that the water can flow easily. Remember to clean out the down spouts too.

4. While you are on your roof… Check for leaks that might need fixing, cracks, and moss growing in the roof (not a good thing as moss holds moisture and that can mean rot). Don’t forget to look around the chimney. All these could become a major problem as we get into winter. As I have told you, it’s easier to fix a small issue now rather than a major issue later. You can either do this yourself or call a professional for help.

5. Get your heating systems tuned up and serviced before winter to make sure it’s in working order. There is nothing worse than waking up to no heat on a cold winter morning.

6. Caulk around the windows to seal up any drafts. You don’t want leaky, drafty windows sucking the heat outdoors. You should caulk every few years as preventative maintenance.

7. Because winter storms can mean loss of electricity… You will want to check up on your emergency supplies – lanterns, batteries, flashlights, battery powered radio, warm blankets, non-perishable food with a manual can opener, bottled water, and matches if you want to cook on the barbecue grill.

It’s much better to prepare ahead of time and do little projects now while the weather is nice. You don’t want to deal with emergency repairs in the winter.

The Power of Vacation

Thought you might find this interesting: These are the Top 10 Dream Trips according to Trip Advisor. We’ve only done 2.5 of these, so the rest will have to go on our bucket list. I can’t wait.

The power of vacation. Yes, there is such a thing.

According to Fox news, 1 in 4 Americans don’t get paid time off. By contrast, France and Italy top the list with employees getting 31 days off each year and Canada giving 19 days. Even of the people in the US who get paid time off, 75% don’t use it.

We are lacking, and all of our hard work is actually hurting our bottom line.

According to Business Insider, the vacationing worker is:

More productive when they return
Relaxed upon their return – I would agree with this one.
Refreshed and rejuvenated – possibly better able to solve problems and come up with answers / ideas. This has happened to me several times. When I step away from something and turn my thoughts to something else a solution or new idea pops into my mind.
Have better relationships with their partners – time away will do this.
Live longer lives

You don’t have to travel far to get the benefits. Time away from work (think stay-cation) will work wonders.

Remember: taking a vacation does not mean working remotely from your laptop or phone. You need to disconnect from email and technology to relax. If I can do this being self-employed, so can you.

How to plan for a dog before buying a puppy

I am passionate about travel, but it doesn’t compare to how I feel about my dogs. Brownie has been a member of the family for seven years now. We rescued her at about 8 weeks when she was only 12 pounds, a far cry for her 70 pounds now. We love her just as much as any of our other dogs.

But owning a pet can be a budget breaker. Pets are expensive. You need to consider their day to day costs – food, supplements and services – which can range in price from affordable to “how am I supposed to pay for that?”

The Initial Costs

According to peteducation.com, the first year can cost between $500-$6,600 depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

You have the simple comforts and necessities: bed, leash, collar, food bowls, toys – these aren’t too expensive individually, but can add up when you’re buying them all at once.

Then there are your legal requirements, like puppy shots, license and tags.

You may also want to consider having your puppy neutered and micro-chipped. Thank goodness where we rescue the cost of puppy neutering is included, so it’s not an extra cost for us. If you rescue, ask to see if you can save too.

Finally, depending on the dog’s personality or medical issues, you may have other expenses. Brownie went through the teething stage, as puppies do, but she wasn’t interested in inexpensive items like shoes or pillows. She chewed the molding around the door so that we needed a carpenter to make the repairs. That was expensive.

The Costs Going Forward

According to the Pet Education, the annual costs can be anywhere between $300-$2,500.

Brownie’s annual vet check-up and shots cost about as much as a car payment and are due every summer along with her license. That’s not including any extra trips to the vet for illness, injuries, etc. All these need to be planned for.

Your homeowners / renter insurance can increase depending on your dog’s breed.

Lastly there is caring after your dog’s emotional and physical well-being. Do you need to have a dog walker while you’re at work or to board your dogs when you’re traveling? More costs.

Lots to think about. Besides just selecting the right pet for your family, make sure to plan the financial part, too.

Avoid extra cruise fees (and still have a great time)

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Now that you know how to prepare for the airport, I want to help you get the most out of your cruise.

As you know we enjoy cruising and do it often. They seem like an inexpensive way to travel – you have one flat fee for your room, meals and entertainment. But there are extra fees, some of them unexpected, and that’s where the cruise lines make their money.

Here are some of the fees you might incur and how to get around them.

Beverage Fees

Not just alcohol, but soda and bottled water come with a fee too.

How to get around it: Some cruise lines let you bring a small quantity on board with you at embarkation. We routinely bring bottled water and soda, and have even brought on a bottle a wine in the past. Don’t forget your corkscrew, or they’ll charge an uncorking fee to open it for you.

Fitness Fees

You may have a full access to the gym aboard the ship, but the exercise classes come with a fee.

How to get around it: I have to admit, I love water aerobics and have paid a fee for that class. But I typically abstain from classes, and instead start my day with a walk on the jogging track. On days were the weather isn’t cooperating, I use the machines in the gym. I love the smell of salt water and the quietness of the early morning, getting my exercise in as the sun rises.

Dining Fees

Most of your food is included when you eat in main dining room and at the buffet. But you’ll find they offer some high end, very tempting options for a fee: like expensive meal choices, specialty restaurants, premium coffee and ice cream, and some brand name restaurants.

How to get around it: Cruises have food, food and more food. Check out what free options are available before you even think about exploring the fee options. For example, you’ll have to pay for the premium ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s on board, but the soft serve from the self-serve ice cream machines are free.

Shore Excursion Fees

The cruise line will offer tours of each port and beyond – for an additional fee. The fee applies if you’re just using their transportation service to get to the city so you can explore on your own.

How to get around it: There is ease and peace of mind with the cruise directed shore excursions, but lots of times you don’t need them. We have used outside companies and/or toured on our own for a fraction of the cost. Yes, it takes research and planning but it can be well worth it. We’ve even booked shared transportation with others on board ahead of time, so we could see exactly what we want in a much smaller group – and for a fraction of the cost.

This has been our experience. Check with the cruise line you’re using because they may have different rules than the line we use. Nothing is worse than purchasing a case of water to bring on the cruise and having to leave it on the pier because it’s not allowed. If want to get around an extra fee, and you can’t find details on it in your cruise contract, then call the travel agent or cruise line and ask ahead of time.

Bon voyage!

KEY ~ Feed Your Body How To Save Money AND Get Dinner On The Table Fast!!

10 Minute Scrambled Eggs

KEY ~ Feed Your Body
How To Save Money AND Get Dinner On The Table Fast!!