5 Money-Saving Tips for Family Travel

I’m getting the travel bug like never before. I am itching to pack my bags (and the kids) and hit the road. In fact I am planning to travel extensively this summer across the U.S. It is time for me and the kids to see what’s beyond the southern regions of this country.

Family travel tipsThe slow economy hasn’t hindered travel plans for most families. Family travelers take an average of 4.5 trips each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Savvy families are able to travel and build lasting memories by making trips more affordable with the help of simple money-saving solutions.

Here are five money-saving travel tips to help you plan your next family vacation:

Tip 1: Plan ahead of time

Once you decide where your family will go, it’s time to research what to do. From visiting theme parks and museums to spending relaxing days at the park or beach, it is smart to do your research.  Some places will give deals for advanced purchases or allow you to combine several activities into one discounted price. Your research might also help you discover some fun free activities in the area.

Tip 2: Seek out inclusive activities

Food, rides, shows and souvenirs, a day at the theme park – vacation expenses add up pretty quickly. Consider seeking out options where one price includes everything. All-in-one activities are great for families on a budget. Does the water park include free lunch with your ticket? Does your amusement park pass include a ticket to the music show they present? How about free child care for mom and dad while they’re at the restaurant? Activities that include extras can make for a hassle-free day where you never have to take out your wallet.

Tip 3: Book a hotel with all the amenities – and perks

A nice hotel with many amenities can make all the difference after busy days of sightseeing or visiting friends and family. Home2 Suites by Hilton, for example, have comfortable suites for the family to stretch out and sleep soundly each night. Cook a meal in the suite’s kitchen for a relaxing night in and a money-saving alternative to nightly dinner outings. Make a day of hanging out at the outdoor patio where you can grill lunch or simply relax and catch up with the family in the Oasis, the hotel’s common hub for social gathering. The saline-based pool, maintained with natural chemicals, is also a fun spot for the family to enjoy. Bringing the family pet? Enjoy time with your furry family member on the outdoor green area for pets at this pet-friendly hotel.

Tip 4: Cut your food costs

By eliminating eating out for one meal a day during your trip, you can save a lot of money. A family of four can spend $40 a day on breakfast at a restaurant – that’s $280 for a week’s vacation! By choosing a hotel that provides a complimentary breakfast, you can pocket that money for a fun activity, or save it for paying down the credit card bill when you get home. Not all hotel breakfasts are equal – look for options like the ones from Home2 Suites that provide a variety of tasty options to please everyone: hot breakfast sandwiches, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal and a variety of bakery products.

Tip 5: Pack light when flying

With most airline carriers charging for luggage these days, your family can rack up fees quickly if everyone has a full bag to check. For example, at $25 per bag per flight, it costs a family of four $200 extra round trip. If you can cut down on the amount of clothes and supplies you bring, you can save a ton. Check only a couple bags or just use carry-on luggage. Then, look for accommodations that offer on-site guest laundry. If you stay with Home2 Suites, you can easily do laundry on-site and either relax in the outdoor common space, or grab a quick workout in the adjacent gym.

Family travel is quality time you spend together creating memories that will last a lifetime. With these strategies, your next trip will not only be memorable, but it will be affordable too. (ARA)

How to Fix Your Credit

Credit is what runs the world these days so if you have less than perfect credit don’t despair. You can fix your credit with a a few steps and lots of persistence. I did it before I bought my first house. It took 3-6 months to get it to the point where I could qualify for a loan. It takes time so don’t expect overnight results. Your credit didn’t go bad overnight so it won’t be fixed overnight either.

single mom money and credit cardIf you find yourself with less-than-good credit, you are not alone. Business Insider, an online business news website, reports that one in 50 households owes more than $20,000 in credit card debt. Coinciding with this alarming figure, the site further states that more than 2 million Americans look to credit counselors each year to avoid bankruptcy.

Before your finances fall into the bankruptcy category, you can take steps to help turn your bad credit around. Just ask James Cheslek, dean of academic affairs at Brown Mackie College – Albuquerque. Cheslek is a retired corporate and trial law attorney who helps college students with bad credit get back on track.

“If you want to be successful, it is important to not let credit card debt get out of control,” Cheslek says. “Many people get frustrated because their credit is not up to par. They don’t realize how easy it is to fix. It may take some time, but it is doable.”

Step one: Request a free copy of your credit report

Every American is entitled to a free copy of their credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Each of the three reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – is required to provide it once every 12 months, if you ask for it. To order your free copy, visit annualcreditreport.com, or call (877) 322-8228.

Step two: Read your credit report carefully for inaccuracies

“Spend some time figuring out what all the symbols mean. Learn what’s good and what’s bad,” Cheslek says. “Reporting companies get information from creditors. They simply take the information and add it to your report.”

Step three: Dispute inaccuracies

The FCRA further states that a reporting agency must correct any inaccuracies on your report. To dispute an item, notify the reporting agency of the inaccurate information. “They must investigate by forwarding your information to the company that provided the disputed item,” says Cheslek. “When any information proves incorrect, the FCRA calls for all three reporting agencies to remove it from your credit report.”

Step four: Request verification of debt

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives consumers rights against debt collectors. “Here’s the deal,” Cheslek continues. “Debt collectors buy old debt for pennies on the dollar. They call and tell you they are collecting on behalf of another company. However, the company that originated the debt has written it off and retired the file.”

This may be the best kept secret in America. The FDCPA entitles you to write to the original company and ask for verification of the debt. They have 30 days to complete the process. Usually, they can’t find the file or verify the amount,” says Cheslek . “You may need to send follow-up letter to the credit reporting agencies to say, ‘Take this off.'”

Step five: Once your credit is fixed, keep it fixed

Cheslek offers the following rules of thumb to follow in the interest of keeping a good credit score:

* Pay bills on time. Late payments add fees to the balance owed.

* Change the payment due date if the current one is inconvenient.

* Pay more than the minimum due, even if just a little.

* Do not skip any payments. Skipped payments lead to bad credit.

* Do not close old accounts. Creditors look at how long you’ve had credit.

* Keep one account with no balance.

* Do not apply for loans you don’t need. Every loan request shows on your credit report for two years; a denial becomes a negative mark.

My Daughter Wants to Drive: The Financial Impact of Teen Drivers

My daughter just got her driving learner permit. She nagged, harassed, and begged me to take her to get it. She studied the book and even enrolled in the mandatory Georgia driver course online. So we went and she passed the test with flying colors. She can now learn to drive, but I’m still hesitant about teaching her.

The times are different now and it’s not like it was 20+ years ago when getting on the road as a teen wasn’t so expensive. Yep, I said expensive. I’ve been thinking about and researching how much it costs for teens to drive. The insurance alone is enough to make me want to stall until she is 18. Uggghhhh!!!

My friend Evan sent me some information about insurance rates for teen drivers and how to save. Here is what he says:

Saving Money When Insuring Teen Drivers

While most parents encourage their teens to learn to drive in order to ensure that they have the tools they need to function once they’re out in the world on their own, the truth is that parents face many drawbacks in the arena of teen driving. There are, of course, the myriad fears that accompany any new test of a child’s responsibility and judgment.

How Responsible is Your Teen?

Will your teens follow the rules of the road (and your restrictions) or give in to the peer pressure to perform by speeding and staying out past curfew? Or will friends in the car distract them to the point that they have an accident? Once your teens are behind the wheel and rolling out of the driveway, you simply have to trust that the lessons you instilled in them will be enough to keep them safe. But you also have to face the financial concerns that go along with this high-risk group, and the biggest expense could be insurance.

Ways to Cut Insurance Cost for Teen Drivers

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to cut your costs when it comes to insuring teen drivers. The easiest method of reducing your own out of pocket costs is to have your teens foot the bill for at least a portion of their driving experience, and this strategy benefits you in more than just the financial arena.

Give Teens Part of the Financial Responsibility for Driving

By making your teens fiscally responsible for some of the many costs that come with owning and operating a motor vehicle (aside from insurance there are loan payments, annual registration, maintenance, and gas, just to name a few), you are only enhancing the life lessons that come with driving a car. Sure, they get the freedom to go where they want when they want, but like everything in life, freedom isn’t free. Forcing them to take on some of the financial responsibilities of driving will make them aware of the associated costs so that they aren’t shocked when you eventually cut them off and force them to be adults. And the truth is, you’re actually doing them a favor; they’ll value the experience more if they have to earn it.

Negotiate with Your Insurance Provider to Keep Rates Lower

Of course, that doesn’t actually lower the cost of insurance outright. But there are plenty of options that will help you to do so. The first is to be a responsible consumer. Even if you’re keen to stay with your tried-and-true insurance provider, you should at least look into other companies and the policies they offer. At the very least it could give you some leverage to negotiate with your current carrier. And you should also find out about discounts that could potentially apply to you and your teen drivers, such as multi-car or multi-policy discounts.

Let Your Teen Drive Safer Vehicles

You can even save money by having your teens drive safer vehicles or adding safety features such as anti-theft devices (like LoJack) or even technology that forces your kids to drive safely (like Ford’s MyKey system that allows you to program specific keys so that the car can’t exceed a set speed limit). Your teens won’t be able to contribute much, but if they keep their grades up they can at least become eligible for the good student discount that many companies offer these days. It could make for a significant savings, so you should make it a condition of handing over the keys to the car.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for usedjaguarengines.com, where used Jaguar engines are shipped nationwide daily.

Setting Your High School Kid Up for Financial Failure or Success

My daughter attends a science and technology charter high school. I encouraged her to attend because she loves science and I wanted her to get important training in technology. I recognize we live in an age that will not be going away anytime soon…technology. I also recognize that technology is big business so she may as well get a piece of the pie and be set up for financial success.

The sooner she learns how to design and program for the web and other technologies the better. She will be ahead of the curve and will be able to command higher salaries in a traditional job and higher fees as a freelancer. She is currently learning web design which includes HTML, CSS, Fireworks, and Macromedia. Granted there are more advanced programs but she is getting a foundation that will take her further than if she were in a traditional high school.

Setting my kids up for financial success now is the first step in making sure they continue to live and thrive as RichSingleMomma.com’s kids!

The reality is, with traditional education too many kids will be left behind or stuck in a cycle of financial failure. Times are changing so education must change as well. As a parent, single or partnered, you can guide your child down a path of career and financial success. Where will your kids end up?

Here are a few tips to consider when thinking about your children’s education and future in our technological world.

Helpful tech training for your student may go beyond traditional classes

Discussing classic literature and solving equations are still essential components of high school curriculum, but is your child also learning HTML coding or basic computer programming? With more jobs requiring a basic understanding of technology – and an increasing number of jobs available in the field of information technology – it’s becoming more and more important for high school students to take advantage of tech training opportunities.

All computer-related fields are on track to grow faster than average projected job growth through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example, jobs in computer networking, systems and database administration are projected to grow by 30 percent. And jobs for computer systems analysts are projected to grow by 20 percent.

Training for tech-related jobs tends to vary by career choice, but one thing’s for sure: Whether students plan to attend college or pursue employment right out of high school, getting as much technology training as possible early on will only help their prospects.

But sometimes the necessary training may not be offered through a traditional high school curriculum, so it’s necessary for parents and students to do some homework when looking for training opportunities. “It may not always be obvious, but there are a few common places to look within your community that can help you get relevant IT training,” says Armando De La Torre, a 2011 graduate of Westwood College, which sponsors programs to send its teachers and students into urban high schools to provide computer networking training.

De La Torre, who currently works as a CSC engineer for ISC Corp., offers the following tips for high school students interested in furthering their technology training:

Innovative Programs Offered at High Schools

If your high school offers electives in computer networking or other technology training, take advantage of them. Some innovative programs may even offer college credit and computer program certification, which in some cases can lead to a job right out of high school. For example, Westwood College’s 2011-12 school year partnership with two high schools in the Denver Public Schools district and local nonprofit, KidsTek, provides students the opportunity to gain valuable technology skills and earn highly sought after IT certifications (A+, CCENT, CCNA) through the Cisco Academy Curriculum. Students who pass the courses can also earn college credit.

Opportunities with Local Businesses

Check with your high school, as well as local business associations such as the chamber of commerce, to see if there are any internships or other tech training opportunities being offered by local businesses.  Especially if you’ve already developed some relevant skills, a tech-related internship can be a great way to build your resume and get hands-on training on your way to a technology career.

Mentoring programs

Ask your teachers or a guidance counselor at your school if there are any professionals who have volunteered with the school to share their knowledge. You may be able to help someone work on a personal project they’ve been looking to tackle and receive training at the same time. Another place to inquire is with a local college, as professors and students there may be involved with mentorship programs that you can take advantage of to build your skills.

Tech-related Extracurricular Activities

Since technology comes easily to young minds, some of the best people you can learn from happen to be your peers. Talk with some of your classmates about starting an IT club (or join, if your school already has one) where you can work on projects outside of school. Many schools have also started activities like robotics programs, which can be a great way to learn while having fun with technology.

The world of technology is rapidly evolving, so learning what you can while you are in high school will help you greatly as you move on to the next phase of your life. For more information on current Westwood-sponsored tech programs for high school students, visit www.westwood.edu/community. (ARA)

8 Savvy Ways to Upgrade Your Finances and Lifestyle in 2012

People always look forward to a new year, whether it’s a chance to start over from a tough year, or an opportunity to build on something great that happened the last year. Either way, upgrading from one year to the next is an important start.

Upgrading our finances is the place most people want to start, according to MarketWatch personal finance columnist and lifestyle expert Jeanette Pavini, but even more Americans are looking to upgrade their lives in some way. According to a new Harris Interactive poll, commissioned by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, 93 percent of respondents want to upgrade their lives in 2012.

“It’s all about making small changes that don’t feel like you’re cutting back, and then adding a small indulgence to make you feel good,” says Pavini. “Whether you want to feel better about your relationships, your health or your career, focus on small changes that can turn an average experience into a sensual, enjoyable, satisfying one.”

Pavini offers some financial and lifestyle tips that can help you upgrade your 2012 and get the year off to a great start.

1. Make and Take Your Own Gourmet Lunch

An easy way to start saving money is to stop going out for lunch every day. The average deli lunch is close to $9 per day, while making that same sandwich, lunch and drink at home can cost less than $2. “Upgrade the experience by including a piece of premium chocolate,” Pavini suggests. “You’ll add a bit of glamour into your everyday life, while saving a lot of money.” Follow this as often as you can and you can save up to $1,800 per year – perfect to use to start saving for a relaxing vacation somewhere luxurious.

2. Look for easy ways to indulge

Our busy lives can often make it challenging to indulge in a nice meal or vacation, and according to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 63 percent of women and 54 percent of men say they would spend more on premium chocolate when they felt like indulging. Adding a premium chocolate bar to your bag lunch or after a nice dinner at home is one way to indulge without breaking the bank. Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk, the newest line of milk chocolate made for the connoisseur, is one way to do that with three new flavors: Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion (32 percent cacao milk chocolate), Gourmet Milk Sea Salt Escape and Gourmet Milk Coconut Rendezvous.

3. Cook extra

Another way to save is to cook extra food at night when you make dinner and bring the leftovers for lunch – or keep them in the freezer when you’re in a pinch. Casseroles, soups and chilies freeze well and keep their taste when reheated. Most cooked dishes will last for two to three months in the freezer. Cooking meals on your own ensures that you have the best ingredients and no hidden calories.

4. Indulge at home

A night on the town can be costly but don’t let that discourage you from having a romantic date night. Turn your kitchen into restaurant with a white tablecloth, good dishes and candles.

5. Long Term Savings

Think long term when it comes to saving money. For most homeowners one extra mortgage payment a year can shave about eight years off their mortgage. It may not seem like a lot at the time, but over a lifetime, that can mean tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

6. Check the benefits of membership

Many museums sell family memberships for a discounted rate, which can sometimes include free or discount admission to hundreds of other museums, aquariums, zoos and science centers.

7. Get a Relaxing Massage

Nothing can add to romance like a relaxing massage. Check out local massage schools for deep discounts. Students who are about to graduate need to get their hours in, and you can benefit by getting a professional massage at a fraction of the cost.

8. High-End Dinning…For Lunch

If you love a high-end dining experience, eat out for lunch instead of dinner. Many of the same dishes are offered at half the price. And instead of paying for dessert and coffee, which can add another $25, have a Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk chocolate bar waiting at home or the office for a perfect finish to a meal. (ARA)