Thrifty Thursday: Hotel/Fun deals

Today I want to share some ideas on finding deals for hotels, attractions, and restaurants.

First off, there are many resources to find deals, online and otherwise.  Check local hotels and visitor centers for brochures for local attractions as these often have coupons.  The visitor center may be just a little desk/booth set inside or outside another building or store, or it may be a full-fledged visitor's center.  Check online for coupons or gift cards at discounted prices--simply put where you'd like to go and see if there are coupons available; many attractions/restaurants that have websites may have coupons available right on their own site.

If you live locally, you may have deals because of that:  some attractions have certain days or times that are discounted to locals, or discounted prices during the off-season.

Family Fare:  some attractions that allow you to purchase a family year pass can save you money if you plan to go more than once, plus many of these offer other discounts to other attractions or locations when you purchase a year pass.

Credit cards:  Some credit cards offer rewards, insurance and/or other incentives by reserving and using it to purchase airline tickets or for car rentals.  If your credit card offers insurance on a rental car, you won't have to add that onto the bill.  Also come credit cards offer cash or other rewards when you use it for eating out or other specific purchases.

Eating out:  many restaurants have kids eat free nights/times, find out when those are and plan your eating out for those nights.  Other restaurants offer specials during off-hours (not lunch or dinner rushes).  And if you have a favorite restaurant that is rather expensive, go during the usually less costly lunch time instead of dinner.  You may also find gift cards on-line or for a deal at the restaurant themselves--one instance I remember is a restaurant's Christmas deal that if you bought a $50 gift card you got a free $10 gift card--that's like being able to get 20% off a $50 meal--or free dessert:).

Be kind:  often you can ask for and receive a better price at hotels, car rentals, restaurants, etc. simply by asking for any specials or other discounts (perhaps you have a membership somewhere or insurances that offer discounts, sometimes hotels, stores, restaurants and other places also offer military, student, or elderly discounts).  Other times, simply by being kind, the manager or owner will reward you with a coupon for next time--it never hurts to be kind.

These are just a few ideas and examples that might help save some money when traveling and visiting attractions or eating out.

Wednesday Why: Emergency/Evacuation Plans

Today's question:  How do I prepare for a possible evacuation?  What should I take with me?

There are many situations that may require you to evacuate your home for safety reasons.  Here are just a few examples:  hurricanes & other major storms, wild fires (or simply fires that haven't been contained), man-made disturbances (like political unrest), flooding.

For any major public disaster, neighborhoods & cities will most likely be on their own for at least 3 days--as local and state/national resources may be damaged and/or the access be limited due to local damage to roadways and such.  When help is available, emergency responses will be prioritized.  So, what do you do?  Do you shelter in place or evacuate?

If you decide to shelter in place (because there isn't a mandatory evacuation), remember that you will need to have available enough food, water, medicine, hygiene, cooking/heating/cooling fuels to keep you for at least 3-5 days, if not longer; you will need to determine if you will remain safe during and after the disaster;  you will also need to be ready to leave if safety or local officials order an mandatory evacuation.  If you decide to disregard mandatory evacuations, you are putting your safety (and any who stay with you) as well as any responders who may have to rescue you at a later date in jeopardy.  Remember evacuations are for your safety.

If you decide to or need to evacuate, you will need to have a plan before hand of where to go, how to get there, and what to take with you and what needs to be done before/after the evacuation.

Where to go/how to get there:  do you have family/friends a few hours away/out of state you can stay with, do/will you have funds to stay at a hotel, will you need to stay at an emergency shelter for those evacuated?  Do you have alternate routes to get to your destination (in an evacuation roads can be crammed) and know these enough to use them-or have maps you could use?

What to take with you (or have with you if sheltering in place):  identifying documents (that show you live in the area--besides drivers license, a bill or other document showing your address)--the reason is after an emergency sometimes only those who can prove they live in the area are allowed back in; cash--if the electric is out your credit/debit card won't work, small bills are better than large ones; basic food and water, clothing, hygiene items (basically a 72 hour kit) and distraction items (games, things to occupy you while you wait the disaster out)--enough for at least 3 days is good.

What to do before/after a disaster whether or not there is an evacuation:  If you have the benefit of advance notice of a possible disaster, you have the advantage to be able to fill up your vehicle, get cash, clean your home, check the condition and status of everything you own (take pics for insurance purposes), purchase any fresh foods you would like to have on hand, have your emergency supplies ready and in working condition, contact your out of area contact, fill up cleaned bathtubs, etc. Why do these things?  Gas stations will be full of vehicles trying to get gas in and near disaster areas, if they have gas.  If the electric is out credit/debit cards won't work.  After a disaster there may not be running water/clean water available to clean with so you want to have your home as clean as possible to return to (obviously disasters can cause a mess in your once clean home, but it would be better to hope for that clean home rather than knowing you have a mess to come to because you left it in a mess).  Take pictures of everything you have insured--and even if you don't have it insured so you know what you might want/need to replace in the event things are lost or destroyed.  During and after a disaster if supplies (food, gas, fuels, etc) are even available you may not be able to get to them.  Let your contact person know of your plans (staying/going) and when you plan to next contact them--and when they should start in earnest contacting you if they haven't heard from you.  Also, if you haven't already gotten items that may be needed to clean-up/repair your home and yard, it may be wise to do so--like tarps, hammers, nails, etc.  Also before a projected disaster, remove any items from your yard/patio/deck that could become projectiles/blow/float away.  If you expect the electric to go out, unplug anything you feel safe doing so--like TVs, computers, etc.  Move to high ground any items you fear may get wet if water were to come into your home--like put the dresser drawers on top of the dresser or bed or the stuff in the bottom kitchen cupboards onto the counter.

And of course close up, seal up, and lock up all doors & windows before leaving.

I hope these ideas help in making a family plan on what to do and plan for should a disaster come and require evacuation.  Plan and use what works for your family, preparing can be and is a lot of work, but wouldn't you rather that planning and preparation be in place for the unexpected (or even expected) than wish it you had...

Wednesday Why: Home Storage in Limited Space

Today's question:  What are some ideas for having a home storage when living with in-laws, family or friends?  (where personal space is limited to one room--most likely a bedroom, these ideas are also helpful for college students who usually have limited space)


When living with others, it may be more difficult to have some or any home storage, it depends on the situation including length of stay, the desires of the home owners, etc.  Be aware of the wishes of the home owners and work with them rather than against them.  Some home owners wouldn't mind additions to the household home storage, especially if the arrangement is one where the food and other costs are to be shared, but if that isn't the case and you are to provide for yourself, you will need to fit your personal things, including any personal home storage in your own given personal space.  If all that is being offered is a couch or floor to sleep on, the only home storage space may be what can fit in a backpack or suitcase, but if a whole room is given for personal space, below are some ideas on using that space for a small amount of home storage.   


Ideas to fit in a little home storage into small personal spaces:


1.  Backpack/Suitcase home storage:  think very basics--water, a few hygiene items, maybe some lightweight food items.  This would be where having just a 24 to 72 hr storage time frame would be all that likely can be done.


2.  Under the bed:  If there is space, however small, under the bed it can be used to store things--canned goods are good for this since they shouldn't leak and can be turned to the side to make them shorter.   Other things that can usually fit in the short space under a bed (without altering the bed frame or height):  toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, other hygiene products, first aid products, bagged (store bought or mylar bagged) items like pasta, rice or cereals, boxed cereals, boxed crackers.  There are under bed storage bins, but they aren't necessary to store things under a bed, though I would suggest them for things that bugs or critters could get into easily. 


Altering the bed height or frame can make it possible to store other, bigger items.  One idea is to use buckets (5 gallon size) and plywood on top as a bed frame instead of a regular bed frame.  Others (think college) use cement blocks to raise up the bed frame a few more inches to a foot more.


3.  Closets:  Think of the space at the very top where normally space up to the ceiling wouldn't be used.  If storing things up high, store items that are lighter--bagged items, toilet paper or the like.  Store heavy items on the floor of the closet.  Many shelving units fit into closets, making it possible to store food on shelves rather than just stacked on the floor.


4.  Tables/stands/dressers:  Use any extra space found within or under tables, stands, dressers, desks, etc. for storing items.  Or if there are no tables, create one with food storage, covering it with clothe or something to make it less noticeable.   If putting food into a drawer, be sure the weight can be supported.


5.  Personal vehicles:  Cars can be helpful for storing some items.  Obviously things in a vehicle are subject to changes in temperature and such, but even certain food items can be stored in a car for short-term.  Food that is subject to higher temps and humidity must be rotated through much sooner, but it can still be stored for small periods of time (depending on the item, up to a few months).  If storing things in the car, shoot for the trunk so that the items are out of sight, certainly don't want to lure prospective thieves into the car by having valuables and other desirable items out in the open.


These are just a few ideas on making use of small spaces, particularly for those living with others.

Are we there yet?

You can’t take it with you! Or can you?  Road Trip Preparedness

Planning a road trip?  Can you hear the grumbling of stomachs and kids yet?  One way to help combat those grumbles:  prepare snacks at home to save money and time while driving (also saves shotgun passenger from having to pass back the food).  Instead of taking the time while on the road to stop somewhere to buy food, spending money to buy it, then trying to divvy it up while in the car, plan ahead.  Before leaving, make snack bags for each person in the car.  Each person is then responsible to budget their snacks during the drive to that far off destination.

Things to remember when preparing snack bags:  1. prepare food so it is ready to pop into the mouth:  wash, (peel) & slice fruits and veggies; open bags/packages that may be hard for younger kids to open by themselves; etc.  2. Only give food that you would want to possibly clean up when the trip is over.  3. Give instructions/ideas to passengers on how to budget their food during the trip.  

Foods that work well for road trips:  apple slices, orange/clementine slices, grape tomatoes, grapes, carrot sticks, celery sticks, trail mix, crackers, chocolate candy, nuts, marshmallows, dried fruits, slices of bread, for older kids/passengers:  popcorn, granola bars

Now all you have to worry about is remembering the toothbrushes, right?