Posted in Advice, Buying, Consumer issues, Holiday, Holidays, Money, Money Finesse, Purchasing, Timeshares, Travel, Vacations
If you go on a yearly vacation, say to a warm location during the winter months, then you may want to consider a timeshare.
Buying into a timeshare can save you money over the long haul but it’s a large investment to begin with. If saving money is not the most important item on your vacation list, then you may consider how much more you will enjoy your vacation in a timeshare than in a hotel room.
Over at ConsumerAffairs.com, there is a good article that lists nine important things to know when considering a timeshare.
Timeshare Tips for Travelers
Posted in Advice, Best sites, Buying, Computers, Consumer issues, Holidays, Internet, Money, Money Finesse, Travel
Part of the pressure of modern life is the overwhelming variety of choice available. No matter what you want to buy, there will be hundreds of alternative ways to buy it, some wise and some quite foolish. It is for this reason that I have never been into a Starbuck’s - the range of choice is just so confusing and exotic that I’d never know where to start!
When it comes to travel, however, there is some good advice available. Kiplinger has a list of travel-related sites that they have tried and found to be excellent in their service. These cover things like airfares, where to stay, car rentals and cruises.
If you are short of time to do the research in finding the best answer to your travel needs, take a shortcut and use a service that others have recommended!
Posted in Advice, Budgeting, Buying, Consumer issues, Cutting costs, Discipline, Gifts, Holiday Spending Accounts, Holidays, Money, Money Finesse, Saving
‘Tis the season for debt
Every year holiday spending per consumer goes up and much of that spending ends up as credit card debt. Shedding that holiday debt is harder than shedding extra holiday pounds.
At the holiday season it is hard for even debt-wary and credit-savvy consumers to avoid over-spending. It’s not easy to resist buying that special gift for that special person.
The best way to finance your holidays has always been the Christmas savings account. Saving for your holiday spending throughout the year and not relying on credit cards with high interest rates could end up saving you hundreds of dollars over the course of repayment.
The interest on these accounts is minimal, so don’t plan on making money. The discipline in saving ahead of time is a good exercise in financial management and the peace of mind you will have when you pay for your holiday expenses without running up credit card debt is priceless.
Next year, plan on saving for Christmas a little bit at a time. Contact a banking institution about their holiday spending account plans.
Posted in Advice, Buying, Christmas trees, Consumer issues, Cutting costs, Holidays, Money, Money Finesse, Purchasing, Saving
This is the time of year when the Grand Debate begins again in earnest (I know it never really goes away - let’s just say it simmers for the rest of the year): whether to buy a real Christmas tree or a fake one. Of course, once you’ve opted for the fake, you are more or less tied into that choice for the next few years, if only to justify the expenditure. But the Debate continues, even so; the real tree fanatics never let go.
Personally, I am a devotee of the fake tree. It’s easy to put up, doesn’t drop pine needles all over the place, it looks just as good as the real thing and is even easier to take down again after the main event has faded into the distance. But I recognize that the most telling objection of the real tree fans is valid: the fake doesn’t have that wonderful pine tree smell.
Some things have to be sacrificed for convenience, however; if you really need that pine tree smell, go outside and smell a tree.
Whatever your preference, Kelli B. Grant of SmartMoney dot com has good advice for buying either type of tree. If you still haven’t decided which type to go for, she could help make up your mind.
