The Art of Personal Budgeting

The core concept of developing a personal budget is a relatively simple one. The basic idea is the same as any business. You want your intake to to be greater than your output, or you should spend less than you earn. Everyone knows this rationally. So why have we become debtors that spend far beyond our means?

The truth is that while the concept of budgeting may be a simple one, actually doing it is not so easy. Just like businesses our households involve managing overhead, changing financial needs, and the unexpected. Each of these adds a layer of complexity, and then top that with the fact that many of us have never really learned how to budget. How often do you hear advice about how to make more money, how to invest it, and how to spend it? Managing it is not a sexy topic, but it is always the cornerstone of financial health. Even millionaires have gone broke due to poor money management.

What follows are some simple ideas for developing and maintaining a budget. I am not a financial expert. I am just a cheapskate who keeps careful track of every cent, and these are just some strategies that have worked for me.

Do you need a budget?

Yes, yes, and yes! It is nearly impossible to live within your means without knowing how much money you bring in and how much you spend. Knowing what you are spending your money on is also important because this is key to reducing your spending should you need to. Once you start keeping careful track of your spending you may be surprised at how much of your money goes to things you don't need.

How much money do you have?

Knowing how much money you bring in on a regular basis is the first step in developing a personal budget. For most people this will be the amount of your paycheck after taxes although a few people might have other steady sources of income. Never count temporary or potential earnings because they are unreliable. If a bonus or few additional dollars should come your way, consider it extra money to be saved.

So once you know your total income, that is the money you have to work with when developing a budget, right? Not exactly. Assuming you have some long term expenses like a child's college education or retirement, you need to save some money. If you have not already done so, you will need to determine how much you need to save and how you will invest your savings. It is best to pretend that this money does not exist when it comes to everyday living. Subtract it from your income right off the bat. If you have a IRA or some type of investment that draws directly from your paycheck this will be simpler. If not, you must keep track of how much immediately goes to savings. Only then do you really know how much money you have to work with.

If you have the kind of job where your income varies considerably from month to month, figuring out what you are bringing in is more difficult, but it is best to try to even out your income. One way you could do this is by tracking your earnings over a six month period and then determining your average income. Save amounts that are above the average in an easily accessible account and draw from it when you are below average.

How much do you spend?

Once you know how much you make after taxes and after long term savings are accounted for you need to figure out how to live on the amount of money that you have. In some ways I think this was actually easier before banks existed. There is something about physically seeing your money on a daily basis that makes it all the more tangible. If you just divided your cash up into pots or jars according to different expenses, you could easily see how much you had and watch it as it dwindled away. Suppose your cash for buying clothing was all gone. That would be it. You would no longer have money and would have to wait until you put more into the pot before buying any more clothes.

Well, you can do this on paper. You can divide your spending into categories and think of these categories as pots of money. There are all kinds of fancy programs out there doing this, but the method doesn't really matter. Spreadsheets work well as do more rudimentary methods. There is nothing wrong with an old ledger book and a pen. I use a word document and a calculator to save paper. The point is that you record your receipts for everything you buy and you know whether you have spent that money on your mortgage, groceries, clothing, etc.

So how do you know which categories you need or how much money to put into each pot? You can guess, but there is a better way. If you have no idea where your money is going, I would suggest tracking your spending for at least a six month period, so you know how much you spend on various things. Then you will have a more realistic idea of how much to put in each of your pots.

Now just because you designate a pot of money for a specific purpose does not mean that you do not have the flexibility to transfer money from pot to pot should the need arise. Let's say that you have a clothing allowance, but you find that you need it for something more important in a given month. You can take some from you clothing budget. However, you must never borrow from the pots designated for fixed expensive such as housing and utilities. These must be left alone or you are headed for serious trouble.

Don't forget about any larger expenses that come up once or twice a year. These might be fixed expenses like car insurance or ones that vary like vacation expenses. You need a pot for these too. This is where I like the idea of having a revolving expense account. This is money that you can squirrel away into savings each month so that it is there when the bill comes. You can treat these expenses like your long term savings by keeping the money in a separate account except you want to keep the money where it is easily transferable so that it is on hand when you need it.

What if you are spending more than you earn?

A lot of people are climbing deeper and deeper into debt with each passing day. This is because they are buying things on credit, paying the minimum balance, and not paying any attention to where they are spending their money. A person can do this for quite a while before it becomes a problem. If, after you have tracked your spending, you discover you are one of these people, you will need to do some serious reorganizing and then make some budget cuts.

Look at your pots of money. They fit into three basic categories. One of these is fixed expenses such as your mortgage/rent, utilities, and car insurance. Another we will call fixed but unnecessary expenses. These are bills that stay the same each month but are things you might be able to do without such as your cell phone, cable television, or magazine subscriptions. The third category is comprised of expenses that can vary considerably such as food, clothing, and entertainment.

I think category three is the easiest to start with when deciding what to cut because it is the most flexible. Try to think of ways to reduce spending in each area. I will cover some ideas in future posts, but here is one example of what I am talking about. Suppose you have been going out for dinner once a week. Try cutting that down to once per month.

Category two is where you need to have a real heart to heart with yourself. Decide how many of those extras you really need. Could you go to the library instead of getting magazine subscriptions? You might not need as many channels on your T.V. service or find that you don't really need it at all.

Category three might seem like it can't be reduced at all, but there are ways to slim down even these expenses. Look into refinancing your mortgage or renting a less expensive apartment. Becoming super energy conscious can help lower those utility bills too although I would not consider it a reduced expense until you have seen several lower bills.

Finally, an added category to pay down your credit debt is absolutely essential. Try to find the lowest interest rate card you can and pay your other balances with that card. How much you can pay will vary depending on your circumstances, but it has to be more than the minimum balance. Treat this like your savings or mortgage payment. It has to be paid each month. Most importantly, STOP using the credit card (unless you keep close track of every cent you charge AND pay off the balance each month. I'll talk about how I think you can use credit responsibly and even benefit from it in a separate post.) If necessary, cut up the card. If you are concerned about emergencies, make it a priority to save up some emergency funds in that revolving expense account and then destroy the card.

What if you have extra money?

Woo hoo! Now you can go to Macy's and go on a wild spending spree.......Not so fast. You are used to the budget you have. Don't rock the boat. If you are lucky enough to come into some extra money that is not part of your regular income, I think it is best to either save that money using a conservative investment or pay off extra debt. I usually prefer to pay more on the mortgage because I like the idea of reducing interest, but either strategy is likely to benefit you. If you are particularly susceptible to temptation, try making a payment to your credit card right away instead of waiting for the regular bill. The relief you will feel later will be much greater than any pain you may feel in the short term from parting with this money.

Kicking your pride to the curb

Dealing with emotions is one of the hardest parts of budgeting. If you have run out of money, it might mean admitting to yourself and others that your budget simply doesn't have anymore leeway. Perhaps a friend our neighbor dresses more fashionably than you. Sometimes they will even try to make you feel bad about it. These are people who never left high school. Don't let them dissuade you from your goals.

Try not to let guilt be a factor either. Maybe you can't give anything to that girl scout who comes to the door. Giving to a cause is noble, but try to fit donations into your budget or be willing to sacrifice something for a time to do so. Also, try not to guilt yourself about having to tell your children that you cannot afford something they want. You love your children, and you want to give them everything. Remember, though, that you are also their model and that you are teaching them skills that could save them from tremendous grief later in life.

The art of budgeting

Budgeting is an art form a sort. It is something that takes hard work, practice, refinement, and sometimes takes years and trial and error to learn. The longer you do it, the better you do it. It does get easier. You can do it and even do it well with enough patience and perseverance. If you need help, you can always call in an expert, but remember that this will cost you and to be careful. Frankly, I don't have a great deal of faith in the "experts." So many of them have given poor advice in the last few years.

Here are a few websites that offer free tools and sources of information on personal budgeting. Try them before buying anything. There are a ton of products out there, and they are all more or less the same.

Living a Better Life

CNBC

Kiplinger

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Vacation Packages

Have you ever received one of those cards in the mail that depict suntanned girls lying on white sand beaches and holding exotic drinks or couples embarking on a catamaran? They usually come from some travel agency you have never heard of and and claim to offer a fabulous vacation package with all kinds of extras at a great price. You may have received similar offers in your e-mail inbox or over the phone if you are not on the "no call" list. You may have looked into them more carefully only to discover that there are all kinds of contingencies or the final price you pay is a lot more than you were led to believe. They don't really save you any money, and you could do better just booking your airline, hotel, and rental car separately. Some of them even offer you a free vacation but expect you to attend a high-pressure sales seminar for a time-share. Vacation packages are never what they are cracked up to be, so should you just avoid them altogether? Not necessarily.

Among with the scams and over-priced, over-pitched, all-inclusive vacation offers are some pretty good deals that really can save you quite a bit of money. They usually don't spend a lot on advertising through mailers or phone calls. These packages are ones that you will have to find on your own. Fortunately, there are ton of great research tools that sort, compare, evaluate, price, and sell a wide range of vacation packages to almost any destination in the world. Practically all of the websites I have mentioned in previous posts allow you to easily put together a package containing all of the elements you want. Here are some of the most user-friendly sites for vacation packages: Expedia, Orbitz, Priceline, Travelocity, Kayak, Hotwire. Simply find the link for vacation packages, choose whatever amenities you would like to include, and put in your information. You will receive lists of packages that you can browse through and sort by price. Each package listed displays the price per person along with the total price for your trip. Eliminate the packages that are way out of your price range and then compare the ones you think you can afford. Make sure to try different websites for comparison. The websites of various airlines also list vacation packages. It is worth checking these, especially Southwest because it offers some of the best prices available and its flights are not listed on the other websites. It sounds like a lot of work, but once you narrow down a few packages it is fairly simple.

The travel websites are so easy to use that they have really eliminated the need for a personal travel agent. The travel agent would use the same tools anyway, and this way you can view your options in the comfort of your own home and without playing phone tag. However, if you still prefer a service to help you book your trip, there are some reputable ones that offer competitive prices. If you are a member of AAA this is probably the best place to start. The Auto Club offers very extensive trip planning services, a wide variety of all-inclusive packages, and very detailed itineraries. They are especially useful if you are the kind of person who likes everything planned well in advance. Simply call or stop into your local AAA office, and they will handle all of the leg work. AAA does not always have the cheapest prices you can find, but they may be one of the better values in terms of offering the most bang for your buck. I have used AAA travel services all over the United States and was pleased by how easy it was to find an office and how many discounts were offered.

Some things to remember when you buy a vacation package

*Always compare the price of the package with the cost of booking hotel, airfare, rental car etc. separately. The package deals will often save you a few hundred dollars but not always.

*Make sure you look carefully at the details of the package before you do your final booking. There may be hidden costs, especially when booking airfare or rental cars.

*Compare a different packages. The cheapest package may not actually be the cheapest. For instance, you might find that a package with a condominium and full kitchen costs more than a hotel room. However, since one of the major costs of any vacation is your food, you may find that you save a lot more by renting the condominium and cooking most of your meals.

*In fact, food is such a huge expense, try to save on it wherever you can. Look for packages that include some free buffets or drink allowances in the price. Some packages sell meal plans that may be worth your while as long as you are good at sticking to whatever the plan allows.

*Sometimes if you book a certain number of nights in a hotel, you can get one night free. Look out for these offers.

*If you have flexibility in your schedule, look for off-season packages for your destination.

*Ignore the "packages starting from" offers that appear on the homepage of a website. These are teasers, and you will have to put in your information anyway to find the packages that are really available.

Some destinations that typically offer cheap/good value package deals

*San Diego, CA

*Las Vegas, NV

*Grand Canyon, AZ (book early)

*Disneyland, Anaheim, CA or Disneyworld, Orlando, CA

*Mexico ( especially Cancun and Puerto Villarta)

*Puerto Rico

*San Francisco, CA

*Bahamas

*New Orleans, LA (not during Mardi Gras)

*New York City (but be aware that NYC itself is not cheap)

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Air Travel

Once upon a time air travel was a great deal simpler than it is today. You called one of a few airlines that flew from your airport, the agent would tell you what flights were available for a given time, and you booked the one you wanted. Airports were always bustling places, especially during the holidays, but as long as you gave yourself adequate time, the process was usually the same. You would check your bags, go through the x-ray machine, get your boarding pass, and wait patiently at the appropriate gate. Once you got on the plane you ate the snack or meal that came with your flight, and watched a movie.

In recent years travel by plane has become significantly more complicated. There are so many different configurations for flights and types of fares. Dire economic circumstances have caused airlines to raise rates and charge extra fees for everything from baggage to blankets. There are complex rules about what you can and cannot carry in your luggage. It can be very difficult to determine whether you are getting the best deal or the best services when you buy an airline ticket. The internet makes the navigation of airlines, airports, and flight itineraries easier, but, even so, be prepared to do some research if you want to find a flight at the best price.

Here is something up front that might save you time and money right off the bat. If you are traveling within the United States mainland, always look at Southwest Airlines first. Southwest is almost always the best deal you will find. However, Southwest itineraries do not appear on the major travel websites, so always go directly to the airline's website for information. Plug in your travel plans, and you will get a list of all the flights that are available. Southwest typically charges more reasonable prices than other airlines, and there are no hidden fees. The price you see is the price you get although tax and the government fee that is attached to all flights does apply. For lower prices than you can probably get anywhere else look at the "web only" fares, but keep in mind that these fares are not refundable.

Another airline that is known for having a low and simple purchase price with no hidden fees is JetBlue. It offers fewer options and flies out of fewer locations than Southwest, but unlike Southwest it does serve a few airports outside the U.S. mainland.

The disadvantage of Southwest and JetBlue is that they only serve a limited number cities. If you want to fly outside these routes, you will need to consider some of the larger airlines. There are numerous travel websites that allow you to compare flights among multiple airlines. Some of the common online travel agents that will assist you in booking a flight are Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline, and CheapTickets. There are also a several aggregate sites that search multiple travel sites for the best deal. These include such Bookingbuddy, Cheapflights, Kayak, and Yahoo! Travel. Before booking a flight it is also a good idea to go directly to the airline's own website for a final comparison. Here is the tricky part though. While it is good to look at many different sources in order to ensure the best deal, don't take too much time doing it because fares can change very rapidly. I have seen them change within minutes, so it is best to do all of your booking in one sitting.

If you are determined to get the lowest price possible, are flexible, and don't mind a little uncertainty about where or when you go, many of the sites already mentioned offer last minute flight deals for a substantial discount. There are also some websites on which you can bid on airline tickets as well as various other travel products. Visit skyauction to see what kind of trips are up for auction.

No matter what site you use to book your flight, there is one very important thing to remember before buying a ticket. Always check the terms, rules, and regulations of the airline first. Make sure you are aware of additional fees that are not included in the price of your ticket. You may ultimately end up paying more for booking, baggage, and flight amenities. These little fees can add up and factor into your decision about which ticket you buy.

General Tips for Lowering the Cost of Your Travel

*Flights that have multiple connections are often cheaper than non-stop flights, but be mindful of the total flying/layover time. The amount you save may not be worth the hassle.

*Round trip tickets for a longer stay are sometimes cheaper than for a shorter stay.

*If you are not set on a vacation spot, think outside the box. You may be able to find a destination that has a lot to offer but much cheaper tickets than traditional vacation spots.

*Flying anywhere "in season" can cost considerably more. Typically, this means summer, but it can be winter for places that are extremely hot. If possible, look at ticket prices for different times of the year. Hawaii is beautiful anytime of year, but flying there in October is about half the cost of flying there in July.

*You may get a better deal on a flight by buying a vacation package. (I'll talk more about vacation packages in a subsequent post.)

*Always think about driving instead of flying if your destination is within a day's drive. In this case an airline ticket is probably more expensive than gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. Also, it takes so long to get in and out of an airport that flying will probably not be a time saver.

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Hotels

If you are the type of person that refuses to stay anywhere but a luxury hotel when you are on vacation, please stop reading. Since the subject of this blog is economizing, this post will not discuss luxury hotels. We all love the lush surrounding, spa treatments, and fine restaurants that can be found in such resorts, but let's face it. Most of us cannot afford these things, and unless you are a couple on your honeymoon or someone who plans to spend your entire vacation in the hotel, luxury hotels are not a very good value. For a busy family vacation the hotel functions primarily as a place to sleep. Cleanliness, safety, and comfort are still important things to consider. However, the less you spend on your accommodations, the more you can put into enjoying fun activities.

Finding a Hotel

The most direct way to find a hotel is to look up the number, call the hotel, and make a reservation. However, you will not get the best rate if you book your room this way. Hotels generally have a standard rate, but there are also a number of discount rates you can get depending on auto or travel club memberships, current deals, package rates, and the day of the week. I noticed that hotels do not tend to advertise all of these different options and that you have to ask about them. Therefore, it is often better not to go straight through the hotel when booking your room. You can look at the hotel website for pictures of the room and details about it and then go to another source for booking it.

If you are a member of AAA, the AAA Tourbook is a good place to start. Here you can find hotels for a given state listed by city. The listing will tell you where the hotel is located, what accommodations it offers, the price, including the AAA discount if there is one. The book also assigns a rating to the hotel. Keep in mind that this rating has nothing to do with how good AAA considers the hotel to be. AAA only rates hotels they consider to be decent. The diamond rating assigned to the hotel refers to level of amenities. Budget hotels have one diamond while luxury hotels have four.

The internet is another good source for finding and booking hotels. Hotels.com is among the best websites for finding a good price on a hotel room. Sometimes it matches the best price you could get by booking it at the hotel website, but in some cases you can get a better price, so it is worth checking. It is also a convenient way to compare hotels and find information about the hotel's surrounding area. You can also find customer ratings that are sometimes quite helpful for more up-to-date details such as whether the hotel is currently being renovated. When you book a room using Hotels.com, you pay for everything in advance. The check-in process has always been very easy for me when using this method of booking.

Another good site for booking hotels is Priceline. It is the service advertised in those funny William Shatner commercials. It is very similar to hotels.com but has an added feature. It allows you to name your own price, and then gives you a list of hotels that fit your budget.

Other hotel booking sites include Cheaprooms, Expedia, and Orbitz. While there is not a tremendous difference between any of these sites, I think it is worth checking them all to see if one will offer a better deal than another on a particular room. I noticed that Orbitz, for instance, sometimes offers a discount if you are willing to risk booking without the option to cancel. All of these sites also allow you to search for vacation packages. However, I have found Expedia and Orbitz to be the most useful when searching for full packages. I'll discuss vacation packages in another post.

Economy Hotels

The least expensive hotels include such brands as Good Nite Inn, Travelodge, Super 8, La Quinta, Vagabond Inn, and Days Inn. These are places that usually charge about $50-$80 per night depending on the day of the week and location. What these hotels lack in frills, they make up for in value. Most of these chains are suitable lodging, especially for a short stay. It is a misnomer that every cheap hotel is a lousy hotel. For the most part they are clean, safe, and many of them have amenities such as refrigerators and microwaves that are useful for a family. Several of them even offer a simple continental breakfast with the room price. It is true that some cheap hotels can be undesirable, but this usually has more to do with the hotel's location. It might be located in a unsavory area or near an airport with noise pollution. Check the guest ratings. If the hotel has nothing but negative comments, avoid it.

Mid-priced Value Hotels

Best Western, Comfort Inn, and Courtyard are all hotels that will cost you a little more, but they usually offer a little more in the way of amenities and comfort They usually run between $90 and $140 dollars again depending on the time of booking. Holiday Inn Express is my favorite of these simply because I have found it to be the most consistent of the chains. Because the various locations are similar in design and services, you are more likely to know what you are getting.

Family Owned Value Hotels

If you would prefer not to stay at a chain hotel, there are a number of nice, family owned hotels in various price ranges. You can also find several of these listed in the AAA books or on any of the websites listed above. The main advantage of these is that they sometimes are more established places with a friendlier staff that is more familiar with the local area. The disadvantage is that they are more difficult to find. You either need to know the name of the hotel by word of mouth, drive past it, or it is simply something you bump into on a website. I also stay clear of these unless I know that they are in a decent location because it can be harder to determine the quality of the establishment.

Factors that Determine Price

Whether you choose a super budget hotel or a mid-priced value hotel there are a number of ways to bring down the price of your room significantly.

*If you stay in the hotel Monday through Thursday, you will nearly always pay less than you will on a weekend.

*The location of the hotel will determine price more than the brand of hotel. Super 8 hotels are reasonably consistent in price, but a Super 8 in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf area, for instance, costs more than a Super 8 near the airport. Upscale areas and those with numerous tourist attractions tend to be more expensive, so don't forget to look at locations on the outskirts of your main point of interest.

*If you are flexible, find out what the off-season is for your location. In most places this is winter. Hotels will be in less demand and cost less during those times.

*Look at all of the various rates and discounts. If you are an AAA member, you can frequently get a discount, but sometimes there are even better rates available.

*Don't be afraid to negotiate. If you are like me, you do not like to bargain. However, hotel rooms can sometimes be like buying a car. If you call the hotel, they are not likely to offer their best price. If you ask if they have a better rate or special deal, though, they will sometimes give you a lower quote.

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Camping

If you want to get away from home, camping is usually the most cost effective way to do it if you already have the gear. Even if you don't, buying camping gear that you can use again and again might make more economic sense than booking a hotel. Big box stores such as Target will usually sell the basics for a reasonable price. Big 5 is also a good place shop for camping gear, and it frequently has good sales. REI and Bass Pro are also fun stores with everything under the sun, but be aware that they are quite pricey. Renting some gear can also be done through REI or borrowing from a from a friend might be an option. If you already have a truck or SUV and are lucky enough to have managed to save up a few thousand dollars for a vacation, consider this. A small pop up trailer can be equivalent to the cost of a short trip or cruise, but you will get years of use out of it.

Finding Camping Spots

One of the great things about camping is that there are so many places to do it. Campgrounds are everywhere, and if you look around, you can probably find several within a few hours driving distance. If you are a member of AAA, just stop in and ask for a camp book and map for your geographic area of interest. These books list pertinent information about selected public and private campgrounds. There are also guides to campgrounds all over the internet, and you will find links to some of my favorite sites below.

State and National Parks

I have been camping all over the United States and have discovered that State and National Parks are, by far, the best places to camp. They usually charge in the neighborhood of $20.00 per night and have the best scenery. They have numerous programs and activities that are fun and free. One thing to keep in mind is that there is some variation as to the number of amenities offered, especially in California. Some of these campgrounds have stores, shower, and laundry facilities while others may have nothing more than a pit toilet, spigot, and fire ring. The trade off is that the more rugged camping is frequently cheaper and located in some of the more beautiful spots. There are also some county park systems that have campgrounds. There are two very good websites that list most of the public campgrounds around the country. Go to Reserve America for both State and National Parks or Recreation.gov for National Parks. You can also make reservations using these sites if the campground takes them. Reserve America charges an additional reservation fee. Recreation.gov does not. Some campgrounds only have first come, first served policies. If you plan to camp in California and your campground takes reservations, I would recommend doing so because they can get full quickly. This is also true of the more popular campgrounds such as Yellowstone in other parts of the country. Finding a camp site in Yosemite is almost in possible unless you book it several months in advance.

Forest Campgrounds

National Forest or State Forest Campgrounds are another option. They are typically even less expensive per night, anywhere from free to about $10. They are often located in beautiful and wild settings. However, they are typically of the more rugged variety. They usually have only pit toilets and may or may not have a water source. They rarely accept reservations. Forest camping lists information about all the campgrounds operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Look up the individual state to find state forest campgrounds.

Private Campgrounds and RV Parks

There are also many beautiful private campgrounds to be found. Typically the have more amenities available. Sometimes they are more oriented toward RV campers but plenty of them also have spaces for tent campers. KOA is one example of this type or campground and these are widely available. Go Camping America is also a good site for finding private campgrounds. While I have stayed in some beautiful private campgrounds, I usually don't recommend RV parks even if you have an RV. I have only stayed at them in a pinch. I don't think they deliver a very good camping experience and they usually cost two to four times more than a public campground. There are some that are not bad though if you don't mind the parking lot style camping experience. I like this little site called RV Park Hunter because it includes a lot of pictures.

Dry Camping

If you are really adventurous, on a very tight budget, or both of these, you can try dry camping. Dry camping or boondocking refers to camping that has no facility at all. Either you hike into the wilderness and pitch a tent or stop off the side of the road someplace and set up camp. For this you have to have your own water and dig a hole to deposit your unmentionables. Obviously, there is no nightly fee for this, but I don't recommend it unless you know what you are doing. Also, you have to be careful that you are not camping on private land or public land that prohibits dry camping. There are many spots in forests where it is legal to do this. See boondocking.org for some advice on free camping spots.

Camping as a Base

You don't necessarily have to think of camping as your primary activity. Let's say you want to visit a given location, but you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a hotel. A campground is a great alternative as a place to sleep. It can get a little tricky finding nice campgrounds close to some points of interest, so you might need to do a little research. It is best to do this in the summertime, but winter is also an option if you live in a warmer climate and you don't mind a little overnight chill. Also, as I learned on a trip across the U.S., it is best to carry a weather band radio with you and be aware that in some places you might need to get a last minute hotel room if you want to avoid being carried off by a tornado.

If you have any questions about camping, feel free to ask. I have camped numerous times in many types of locations and conditions. Also, this post is specifically about camping and not backpacking. Backpacking can also make a great money saving vacation, but it is an entirely different type of camping that I have not done in a very long time.

Affordable Family Vacation Ideas: Staying Home

One thing that often gets postponed or cancelled altogether when times are tight is the family vacation. Plane tickets, gasoline, restaurants, hotels.....all of these things can be quite expensive and can quickly add up to a vacation costing several hundred if not thousands of dollars. With careful planning you can cut the cost of a vacation substantially.

Staying Home is the first in a series of posts that presents a few ideas and tools to assist in planning a fun vacation that fits your budget. Subsequent posts will discuss such topics as camping, hotels, air travel, and vacation packages. Please keep in mind that the posts pertain primarily to travel within the U.S. There may also be a special emphasis on places in California since they are the most familiar to me. I will try to embed links wherever I have found a website that is helpful for a particular topic.

Staying Home

When kids get out of school for the summer they call that summer vacation whether or not they go on a family trip. It is a vacation because they are not in school, and they now have free time. You do not have to leave home to take a vacation, especially if you are on a very tight budget. You can stay home but do things you don't typically do. Here is a list of just some activities and outings you might be able to do while staying local. They range from free or almost free to moderate in price depending on the size of your family.

Picnic/ Sports at the Local Park
Find a park that you like and bring food from home. You can have a quick picnic for a small family or make it an all day event for a larger group by having a potluck or barbeque. Organize a basketball, soccer, baseball or volleyball game depending on the equipment you can bring or the facilities at your park.

Cost: Free (other than food or sports equipment if you need to buy it)


Hiking
You can take a simple walk around your neighborhood, but you might be surprised at the number of hiking trails that are within a short driving distance of where you live. Gorp is a good place to start for all kinds of information related to hiking. LocalHikes is another site that lists local hiking opportunities near several metropolitan areas.

Cost: Free (with the possible exception of traveling to a hiking spot)


Biking
Choose a destination such as a park, movie theatre, or library and take a bike trek there. For a longer bike ride contact your local Parks and Recreation Office to find out where the nearest bike trails begin. Try Gorp:Biking for a great regional list of biking trails.

Cost: Free (with the possible exception of traveling to a biking spot)

Nature Center
Nature centers usually combine a small museum or collection of animals with a variety of outdoor activities. Some have special educational programs designed for families or school groups. Check out this list of nature centers across the U.S.

Cost: Nominal (usually a few dollars per person or a small parking fee)


Recreation Area or Lake
These are typically areas that allow swimming, boating, fishing, recreational vehicles, and a variety of other activities. Recreation.gov gives a complete listing by state or type of activity.

Cost: Nominal (typically a few dollars for parking)


Zoos
A lot of cities maintain zoos. Most of us are aware of the large, famous zoos, but many cities also maintain smaller ones. USA Zoos is a fairly comprehensive annotated listing of zoos across the U.S.

Cost: About $8-10 admission for smaller zoos. Between $15-$25 for larger ones.


Museums
If you look hard enough, you can find a museum housing just about any kind of artifact you can think of. Science, history, art, trains, miniatures, cars.....the list goes on. There is even a museum in Los Angeles that spoofs museums called The Museum of Jurassic Technology. Here is a fairly diverse list of museums by state that includes links to individual museum websites.

Cost: Varies (A lot of small museums are free. Some cost up to $15 or $20 for admission)


Movie Theatre or Drive-in movie
Always go to a matinee (usually the first two or three shows of the day) for the best value. You probably already know where the movie theaters in your area are, but if not, you can check your telephone directory. Here is a list of theater chains in the U.S, but don't forget about your small, independent theaters. Drive-in theaters are not as prevalent as they once were, but if you can find one, they are great for an old fashioned theater experience. Drive-in theater lists several that are still operating and includes phone numbers.

Cost: Varies (Typically $6-9 for an adult matinee ticket and somewhat less for a child's) Drive-in theater prices might be somewhat less or charge by the car.


Local Pool or Water Park
The best place to check for the pubic pool or water park nearest you is your Parks and Recreation Department. In this case I am not referring to the big "Raging Waters" style water parks. Many cities have nice, small water parks with slides and fountains that charge very reasonable admission.

Cost: Varies (About $5-7 per person for a few hours)


Professional/ Local Sports Game
A trip to the baseball stadium or basketball arena can be quite a fun outing. It can also get expensive, especially if you have several in your family, so you might want to plan in advance. You also might want to consider attending a minor league game. The tickets can be considerably less expensive. The easiest way to get tickets is to search Google for your particular sports team. They all have websites through which you can purchase tickets. Keep your eye out for discount tickets. Sometimes grocery stores will sell these. Food inside sports stadiums is typically quite expensive. Consider eating before or after the game or limiting your purchase to a small snack.

Cost: Varies greatly ($7-$500 dollars per seat depending on where you sit)


Amusement Park
This is one of the more expensive options, but there are ways to considerably lower the cost and get more value out of your visit. If you leave within a reasonable driving distance from a large amusement park, you can buy a season pass and visit the park several times in a year. You may also be able to buy a parking pass that is good for the entire year. Amusement park season passes frequently come with other benefits such as discounts on merchandise and food as well as a few coupons or free passes for friends.

Another great way to reduce the cost of your visit is to bring food from home. Food inside a park is often a poor value. You can end up paying a lot for a small quantity or for food that is not very tasty. Most parks do not allow outside food other than water, but you can leave a cooler in your car and return to it in the middle of the day. Be sure to get your hand stamped so that you can return to the park after lunch. Another option is to buy one of the refillable drink cups or ice cream bowls that are offered by some parks. The refills can be used on multiple visits, cost considerably less and can save you some money even when you factor in the cost of the cup. If you want to eat dinner at a restaurant, consider leaving the park to do so. You are sure to have better choices and receive better value.

Another way to reduce the cost of a trip to an amusement park is to avoid buying souvenirs. Pictures are the best souvenirs. Most of what is sold in gift shops is expensive junk. Consider avoiding the shop altogether. If you want to buy your child a souvenir, give them a small budget, and stick to it. Another option is to steer them toward something useful such as a shirt or hat. Look for clearance items. They will get more value and memories out of something they can wear in the future.

Themeparkcity.com lists links to a wide variety of large and small theme parks by state.

Cost: Varies greatly by park. At least $35 for a single ticket. Season passes range from $50 to $400 depending on the park. With some parks you can save substantially by buying the season pass early.


Local Festival or Fair
Artichokes, Garlic, Salmon, The Wild West, Strawberries. These are just a few of the themes of festivals that occur annually in my local area. High schools, chambers of commerce, local governments, and other groups may all sponsor festivals for the community as fundraisers. While holiday festivals are very common, local celebrations can be found at any time of year. They might involve contests, art and crafts, music, rides, or any number of fun activities for the family.

County fairs are also good, old-fashioned way to treat the family to some fun. Renaissance and other fairs with historical themes can be found in many locales.

Check your local newspaper for these events. Many grocery stores also offer free magazines that include a schedule of all of the nearby, upcoming festivals. Festivals.com allows you to browse events by location and date. Check out renfaire.com for a list of Renaissance faires by state. Be aware that this site is not up to date but is worth browsing for the links it provides.

Cost: Varies depending on the festival. Many festivals charge no admission and charge various prices for food or activities. Typical costs for those that charge admission range between $5 and $15. Admission for county fairs is usually about $5-$9 depending on the size of the venue. Larger theme fairs can cost as much as
$30 or $40 per person. Many offer multiple day passes.


Frisbee Golf
If you have never played frisbee golf, you must try it at least once. This was a game I played a lot as a child and is quite fun. It is basically the game of golf using frisbees as golf clubs and metal baskets as holes. There are frisbee golf courses scattered throughout the country, and many are located in scenic areas. There is even a professional association for those with a serious interest in the sport. Go to PDGA for a complete directory of frisbee golf courses.

Cost: Free (a few dollars for a frisbee) at the vast majority of courses. There are a few courses located on private resorts that might charge a membership fee.


Local Library Program
Call or visit your nearest library to find out what programs are available. Libraries regularly offer story times, game nights, arts and crafts, music, movies, and various other programs that are of interest to their patrons. Publiclibraries.com is a very nice website with comprehensive listing of libraries and their websites by state. While you are at the library, browsing the shelves and checking out books can be an additional activity for the entire family.

Cost: Free for most programs. Occasionally, there is a nominal fee for certain programs or workshops.


Beach
Obviously this works best if you live near an ocean, but many cities that are inland also have rivers and lakes with sand beaches. You can spend an entire day picnicking, swimming, playing volleyball or frisbee, creating sand art, and biking or roller skating if the beach has a bike path. Colder, rocky beaches are great for examining tide pools, hiking, and climbing. I have not found a good list of public beaches. If you know of one, please let me know, so I can add a link.

Cost: Free for public beaches (often a nominal fee for parking)


Miniature Golf / Entertainment Center
Most cities are near at least one family fun center that offer a variety of activities. Bowling, arcade games, miniature golf, pool or billiards, and laser tag are just a few of the options that might be available. There are so many different things to do at these places that a visit to one can get quite expensive. One way to reduce cost is to limit yourself to one or two activities. Another way is to go at the right time. Many entertainment centers offer specials certain days or hours of the week. Discounts can be as much as half the regular rate during these times. Some centers also offer the same kind of season passes sold by amusement parks. The best way to find family fun centers near you is to look in the yellow pages under "Amusement Parks" or "Bowling." I have yet to find a great web directory for these.

Cost: Varies depending on the activity and whether you take advantage of a special discount day. Some rough estimates of regular, peak hour prices are $8.00 per person for miniature golf, $5-8 per person per game, and $5-7 per person per game plus $3.00 for shoe rental.


Historical Site
If you are lucky enough to live near an area that has a rich historical background and has preserved much of it's past, you will have many choices of places to visit. However, you might be surprised to find that even small cities and many newer suburbs have monuments to what came before. Become familiar with your local history, and find out what there is to see. A good place to start is your public library. You might also want to take a look at this list of National Historic landmarks.

Cost: Varies by place but usually the fee is free or no more than $5 per person.


Roller or Ice Skating
Skating is fun and a great way to get exercise. If you already have roller skates, you can simply skate on the street, bike path or at the beach, but there are also plenty of great indoor rinks for roller and ice skating where you can rent skates. Many of them have extra games and activities as part of the skating session. Admission to skating rinks is relatively modest compared to that of many types of amusement parks or centers. Most rinks also have special discounts and offer coupons in local newspapers and magazines. Rinktime.com has a fairly complete list of roller and ice rinks around the country.

Cost: $6-$10 per person depending on the time of day plus $2.00 for skate rental.


A few other considerations when planning a stay-at-home vacation

* Plan your vacation just as you would if you were going away. Instead of deciding that a particular activity is too expensive, decide what you would like to do and then see if there is a way to afford it. Look carefully at discounts and ways to reduce costs.

* Remember that transportation is part of the package. If you are on a very tight budget, you may want to plan activities that are very close to home. Think about the possibility of walking, riding your bike, or taking public transportation to a given location.

* You don't necessarily have to go anywhere. You can always stay at home on some days, and still plan fun activities. If you do this though, consider disconnecting from the rest of the world for the duration of your vacation. Unplug your phone. Turn off your computer and television or limit their use. You will have a more enriching experience if you take a break from the things that are part of your usual routine.

Family Fun

It is no secret that we are in a serious economic downturn. Families in neighborhoods across the country have been affected by the downward spiral that we are now told officially began in December of 2007. Some of the worst cases scenarios involve families who have lost their jobs, their homes, or who have become buried so deep in credit card debt that they have been forced into bankruptcy. Even if you are someone who is faring a little better, chances are you have been affected in some way. Maybe you have been told you are not going to get that yearly raise you have come to depend on. Perhaps you are unable to secure a loan to replace that car that has become unreliable as of late. Whatever your individual circumstances are practically everyone has been forced to do some serious belt tightening.

So if you are struggling to make ends meet most months, that means that all those little extras have been thrown completely out the window, right? For the foreseeable future there will be no more trips to the amusement park, no new video games for the kids, and those regular trips to Chili’s have become a thing of the past. Essentially all of the things you used to do for fun and entertainment have come to a screeching halt.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, there is something important that you need to know right now. Just because you have to cut costs doesn’t mean you need to stop having fun. Fun and leisure pursuits are probably more important now than ever because they help to relieve stress. Having fun is what keeps us all sane. Maybe you can’t go on those big family vacations or go out to the entertainment center very frequently anymore, but there are still ways to create fun experiences for the whole family. Here is one idea for each day of the week. Some of them work best in summer

Family Game Night
It’s time to dig out all of those dusty old board games that have been sitting in the closet for years. Remember how much fun you used to have with old classics like Monopoly, Life, and Twister? Do you need a new game or two? Keep your eye out for sales. It is not uncommon to find board games for $15.00 or less while the average video game will usually run you three times that amount with less interaction between players. Games sold at yard sales may only cost you a couple of dollars. The same is true with a standard pack of cards, and simply typing the words “Card Games” into a search engine will bring up enough games that you could play a different one each day of the year.

Family Movie Night
This is another classic idea that can be quite inexpensive, especially if you have a large family. If you have a DVD player, you can turn your movie watching into a night of fun and relaxation. If you already have a subscription to Netflix or one of the other rental outlets that deliver by mail, you are already on your way. If not, a subscription that allows you to have 4 movies at a time will run you about $25.00 per month. If you want fewer movies, it will cost even less. Return a movie and they send you a new one from your list of selections. Many grocery stores also have movie rental kiosks where you can rent movies for $1.00.

Another option is to buy a DVD. The growing popularity or the Blue-ray player has caused regular DVD’s to plummet significantly in price. Target, Best-Buy and other big box stores sell these for $7-$20 each. Add some popcorn and drinks, turn off the lights, and a family of four can have a delightful movie watching experience for $5-25 dollars. Compare this to going out to a movie. You’ll pay double or triple that amount by the time you buy your tickets and snacks. You might have to wait a little longer for those new releases, but it will be well worth it.

Family Reading Night
The advancement of computers, cell phones, ipods, and the daily arrival of new technology is not a reason to abandon that tried and true, old source of knowledge and entertainment. All you need is a library card. Find a book you think the whole family will enjoy. Gather around the fire if it is winter or perhaps on the back porch in the summertime. Choose the most expressive reader, or take turns reading the story. A variation is to have everyone read their own book and then talk about what they read. Even the most reluctant readers will probably enjoy this when it is made into a family activity, and it might even help school performance.

Community Events
Fun community events are everywhere if you look for them. Most of them take place on the weekends, but many can also be found on weekday evenings, especially during the summer months. The cost of admission to these events can arrange anywhere from nothing to a few dollars. Libraries are a great place to find such activities. Call your local parks and recreation department to see if they have a publication listing upcoming events. Look in the supermarket for free family fun guides that list the dates and locations of a variety of activities. Private businesses such as grocery stores and bookstores sometimes hold community events as well. Look for these in the local newspaper or on bulletin boards.

Bike Ride or Walk
If your have bicycles, plan an excursion around your community. If not, go for a hike. Think about places that interest you, and choose several of those spots to visit. Parks, wildlife preserves, bike paths and even an unexplored neighborhood can all be interesting places to ride a bike or take a stroll. You can go for a short trip or pack a lunch in a backpack and make a day of it. This activity might best be left for the spring and summer, but even in the colder months you can enjoy it by bundling up. You might even discover some new places you didn’t know about before.

Volunteer
In our current economy there are a lot of people who are desperately in need. The new administration is calling on citizens to serve. Why not help to expand the volunteer effort by turning it into a fun family activity. Sign up to help clean your neighborhood park or creek. Help with special events at your school or church. Enter a walk-a-thon that makes contributions to your favorite charity. It might sound like extra work, but it can be a fun and rewarding experience if you involve the whole family. Besides, it’s a great opportunity to teach the kids an important lesson about citizenship. Another good place to look for opportunities is your local community center.

Backyard Campout
Why not set up a tent and go camping in your own yard, or just get those sleeping bags and lay them out under the stars? Grab some hot dogs and marshmallows, pull out the barbeque, and have a campfire. Play card games, throw a Frisbee, or have a sack race. Tell the kids some scary stories, or sing camp songs. Think of things that you would do if you were camping away from home. It might not be the same experience you would have camping out in the woods, but it works great for a night’s entertainment.

Don't Break the Bank Losing Weight or Staying Fit

Have you made a New Year’s resolution to shed some of those extra pounds only to find that you were never able to get started? With seemingly endless weight loss and special diet plans to choose from has it been a challenge simply choosing which of them is right for you? Should you follow the South Beach Diet with its analysis of good and bad cholesterols and its three phases of weight loss? How about the Jenny Craig promise of delicious, pre-planned meals touted by celebrity spokespeople? Have you discovered that there are so many diet plans out there it could take months just to do the research required to find the one that is right for you? Then there is the issue of cost. How are you going afford all of this expert assistance and these carefully formulated products in this troubled economy? Does this sound like something you have been grappling with? What if you discovered a secret diet and weight maintenance plan that worked and didn’t cost you a penny more than you are spending now and could even save you some money? Well, you are in luck because such a thing exists, and it is a tried and true method that has been in existence for quite a while now. What is this secret? The name of this diet is “Eat Less/Exercise More.”

That’s right. The real secret to taking of those pounds and keeping them off is that there is no secret. All most people need to eat right and be fit are three free tools: the desire to do it, willpower, and a little common sense. Dieting is a multi-million dollar industry in the United States, so of course the so-called experts are going to try to convince you that you need whatever they have to sell. This brings up another question. Did your grandparents need Slim Fast? Did their grandparents need herbal supplements? Dieting advice has increased dramatically in modern times, but Americans have more weight issues than ever. It shouldn’t take a doctor, scientist, or a nutritionist to figure out that we need a simpler, back-to-basics approach to fitness.

So how do you know which food is healthy and how much of it to eat? Think about the foods your mother tried to push on you as a child. Meat, grains, milk, fruit, and especially those dreaded vegetables. Remember the four basic food groups? It was once common knowledge that getting a small amount of each of these at each meal provided a healthy and balanced diet. Eat foods that give your body energy and nutrients. Now for the more difficult part. Skip the chocolate cake except on special occasions.

Simply eating healthy foods naturally leads to the second component needed to stay slim and that is to limit your calorie intake. You should just eat until you feel satiated instead of stuffing yourself. Again this is a simple matter of common sense. If you take in more calories than your body needs, you are going to store excess fat. Is it difficult to tell when you are overdoing it? Here is one instance where you may have an advantage over your grandmother. Nutrition information is widely available to you. Store bought products are labeled. Many restaurants now list the caloric content of their menu items on their websites. Sites such as Calorie King allow you to look up calorie information on almost any food. The site maintained by the Centers for Disease Control is just one of several that can give you a ballpark estimate of your body mass index and roughly how many calories you should take in. This makes it a much simpler task to keep track of how much you are eating in a notebook or in any of various electronic devices.

Of course eating healthy is only half of the equation. Your grandmother’s old friend Jack La Lanne knew what he was talking about. Your body needs exercise even when your diet is well under control. Once again today’s society confronts us with questions. Which equipment is right for the job? Will the Nordic Track be sufficient or do you need the machines that a professional gym will provide? The answer is neither. There is certainly nothing wrong with these methods of exercise if you enjoy and can afford them, but all you really need to do is get up and move. It really doesn’t matter if you take a walk, run, jump a rope, chase your dog around, or take an aerobics class at your local community center. If you are getting an hour or so of moderate exercise a day that should help counteract the effects of sitting at a computer all day. If you have tried jogging but have found it difficult to do, there is a great program called Couch to 5K that starts you off very gradually, and there are even podcasts available Finally, if you have a job that allows you to incorporate physical activity into your day, take advantage of the opportunity.

So next time you find yourself staring at those endless rows of diet books or at the sports store trying to decide which treadmill you can afford in this economic downturn, allow a little common sense to take over. Simply eating healthier foods and less of them and exercising more will make all the difference. If such a simple approach does not motivate you, think of all the money you’ll save on groceries!