saving money Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

New Affordable Canadian Mattresses – Mirabed

Paula — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 13:11:01 +0000

We received product in exchange for honest consideration in this post about affordable Canadian mattresses. My youngest daughter has been asking for a room makeover for months. There never seemed to be time. But last summer when she went away to camp in Muskoka, we stripped everything off of the walls and painted the room three different colours. Of course, she helped picked the shades out. That gave her space a big boost of colour. And she was thrilled with the results when she came home. But, there was still the matter of the furniture and a mattress. Her bed, a loft bed, was way too small and she had outgrown the matching dresser and tiny children’s sliding wardrobe. The desk was still okay but it was attached to the loft bed. The foam mattress she had fit her bed but it was not much good after roughly 8-9 years of sleeping in it every night. So, we set out to find something new that fit her room and was long enough for her too. She’s not huge at 5 foot 1 and 15 years old, but climbing up a ladder into bed and sleeping on an old worn mattress was not working for anyone anymore. I started hunting for affordable options for beds and mattresses weeks before I headed to Yellowstone National Park on a media trip. But, then I was away in Montana and Wyoming and September slid by in a blur. I googled affordable Canadian mattresses more than once and also Canadian platform beds. We looked on Amazon, Ikea and we also visited numerous stores in person. We had a general idea of a platform bed style in mind before I found the mattress. I don’t think it’s any big surprise to any of my readers that the boxed mattress phenomenon has changed the mattress retail scene dramatically in the last decade. My husband and I both have a traditional queen sized bed and we still like it. We replaced our Queen sized mattress with a Douglas Mattress a couple of years ago and are still happy with that. But, what was there for a teenager? Ideally we wanted something that would last her for several years and also I wanted something affordable. In fact, we had to do her entire room on a budget. I found a few bed options that would work to replace her old bed, but still the mattress was tricky. A good quality supportive mattress is crucial to a good night sleep. So, when I finally found Mirabed, affordable Canadian mattresses, I was hopeful and excited to see how they stacked up. Right off the bat, the first difference is that they are less pricy than any other options I have found. That’s amazing. Mirabed promised to be a mattress option that was good quality, easy to order online and affordable too! So, we ordered our daughter a Mirabed mattress, then I set about listing her old bed set for sale. Thankfully, I quickly sold the old set and the new mattress arrived within the same week. My daughter actually wrote the new owner of her bed set a letter to tell him basically I hope you love this set as much as I did. Have lots of pillow fights and build many forts. What You Need to Know How Does Mirabed Stack Up? Sets up easily Is compact Affordable 100 % made in Canada Non toxic materials 10 year warranty 130 night sleep trial period Most importantly the price is the most affordable boxed mattress on the market right now. Mirabed mattresses start at $549. We ordered a double for my daughter’s room. So How is Mira Mattress Different Than the Others? There aren’t a lot of differences between Mira mattress and the others on the market right now. Both are extremely comfortable. Mira is a bit firmer than the Doulas mattress that I have in my room. Mira is the most affordable of the two mattresses at easily $100 less than the other brands. Made in Canada and Free Shipping Across Canada (most of the brands have this) Instead of a 120 night trail, Mira has a 130 night trial period. The Toronto Star chose Mira as Best Value Mattress for Canadian made quality and comfort. Toronto Star’s 2019 Most Affordable Mattress of the Year. That’s huge! How is it for Comfort? Teenagers spend a lot of time in their rooms trying to carve out their own space. They lie on beds talking and texting and sending Snapchat streaks endlessly. Love it or hate it, that’s life with a teen. It was important to us that we create a room that gives her space to grow. The double, or full sized Mirabed mattress was Canadian and it was a great price. It has replaced a tiny foam children’s mattress that was overused. This Could Be the Last Mattress You Ever Buy Our new Mira mattress will last her until she moves out for college or university. Now, we just need to replace that old dresser and get some shelves up on the walls and the room will be complete!

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Simplify Travel with Park Sleep Fly Options

Paula — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 20:18:56 +0000

So many moving parts involved in planning a trip. Park Sleep Fly options can simplify your vacation, no matter who you are traveling with and it’s often an affordable option. This is a sponsored post which means I received compensation. Imagine planning a trip with multiple family members. Not only do you have to choose where to go and comparison shop for best prices and activities, but you need to book the flights, juggle the passports and snacks and negotiate all of the busy airport details. Then you drive to the airport hoping and planning for potential heavy traffic and bad weather. You hunt for a parking spot and hope you make it on time. Why Use Park Sleep Fly? Family travel can be intimidating, but it can also be extremely rewarding. We live a good two to three hours away from our nearest major airport. So, there’s always a drive and it is often in the winter months. We live in southern Ontario where the snow can start November 1 and continue on through all of March and sometimes April too. Often on leaving for the airport and also returning for home, we have landed or left in a snow or ice storm. That is NO FUN. White knuckle driving all the way home. The Airports Most years, we have taken a family cruise in the dead of winter, so we have had some hairy adventures getting to the airport. We are fortunate in that we can leave from Detroit Metro Airport, Buffalo Airport, or Lester B. Pearson in Toronto. There are a few other tiny ones that are also options but are less likely to have Park Sleep Fly deals. It’s good to have options and we sometimes choose based on the price of the flights. Detroit and Buffalo can be cheaper, but it pays to do the currency conversion before you decide. Many times we have used Park Sleep Fly options available in Detroit and also near the Buffalo airports. Why? Because arriving at the airport in the dead of winter and hoping that roads are not slick with ice or snow is not always the smartest way to do things, especially if there’s a cruise ship waiting for you at the other end of that flight. When I am planning for our one big family vacation a year and I have invested a lot of time and money in the getaway, then I don’t ever want anything interfering with take off and landing. As a travel writer and journalist sometimes I am given hardly any notice and need to be at the airport fast. Other times, international travel is involved and the trip is dramatic and frankly this was a clear business trip, so I couldn’t afford to mess it up. My flight was first thing in the morning meaning I needed to be there for 4 a.m., so the Park Sleep Fly option involved a stay at a hotel very close to the airport. That was a huge sanity saver for me. Park Sleep Fly lets you park affordably and safely, which gives me peace of mind knowing my van is near the airport and parked somewhere that is not going to get me a ticket or a tow. This option also means that I know I will arrive on time for my flight, get a good night sleep before (hopefully, although not a guarantee) and also it simplifies things for me knowing that I don’t have extra bills or charges. Convenience of Park Sleep Fly The Park Sleep Fly option typically means I pay once for all three services. Also the parking lot is always close to the airport and I love that it always has a convenient shuttle, 24 hours a day typically. Rarely is there much waiting involved. You can’t beat the convenience of Park Sleep Fly packages for all sorts of travel. You can find Buffalo Airports here – > Buffalo Airport Hotels with Park and Fly Packages. Packages at Buffalo Airport start at $135 plus taxes. That includes the night before a trip or the night after, plus parking and a shuttle to the airport. That actually makes this one of the most affordable options going!

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Five Easy Ways to Reduce Water Use in the Garden Now!

Paula — Thu, 09 May 2019 14:40:19 +0000

A hot, dry, summer can turn watering the garden into a daily chore. How many drought like summer seasons have you endured already? Are you forever out there soaking your plants while sweating like mad? Well, first of all stop. Second of all – gardening doesn’t need to be a chore, especially in the scorching hot summer months. Good water use practices can reduce the work and the water bill too. Here are a few ideas on ways to reduce water use in the garden this year. Five Easy Ways to Save Water and Grow Gorgeous Gardens This Season Use Lots of Mulch One of the most effective ways to reduce water use in the garden is with a good layer of mulch. At the beginning of the growing season heavily mulch your plants. Three inches of mulch is not too thick, especially in sun-drenched areas. In northern climates or high elevations where soil is slow to warm, it’s better to hold off on the mulch until the soil warms up. That may mean waiting until Victoria Day weekend in some areas of Canada. If mulch thins out over the season, add some more. Many gardeners feel fated to watering two times a day, not knowing that a thick layer of mulch will put a stop to the practice. Water Using a Soaker Hose or Drip Irrigation Water using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system. Soaker hoses slowly weep water onto the surface of the soil. This allows the water to soak in deeply without running off. The disadvantage of soaker hoses is that they need to be placed right next to the plant that needs irrigation because the water simply drips off the hose. Place the soaker hose beneath the mulch layer for an effective watering. Inexpensive irrigation line can be purchased from the hardware store or garden center. It consists of somewhat flexible black plastic tubing which can be connected to a garden hose. The irrigation line is run throughout the garden. Smaller lines are added to the main line by punching a hole and then adding smaller tubing. At the end of the tubing, various attachments produce a drip or a spray. The advantage of the irrigation line is that a new drip or spray line can be added easily. Both soaker and irrigation lines cut water use by concentrating water directly where it is needed. Water Deeply Water less frequently and water deeply. Using a soaker hose, irrigation hose, or even a slowly running hose, deeply water the garden. Spraying the surface quickly every day allows a lot of water to evaporate before it sinks deep into soil. It’s not a bad idea to check how deeply water is soaking into the soil with your finger or a water meter. It’s always better to water the roots and not the leaves. In really hot temperatures, if you water the above ground portions of flowers, shrubs and other plants you can actually burn the plants and cause damage. Soak the roots instead and let them do their job. Soils can become hydrophobic and actually repel water. Correct this easily with a soaker hose and good layer of mulch. Choose Plants Wisely Choose the right plants for the area. Planting a tropical plant in a desert area will lead to excessive water use. Local gardeners or garden centers can point out the plants that do well in particular parts of the country, as well as those adapted to full shade or full sun. Harvest Rainwater, It’s Free Rainwater harvesting reduces water use in the garden. The simplest method is to place a garbage can under the downspout of a rain gutter. Buy a rain barrel now, or look for one on sale. Sometimes charities sell these at this time of year so keep your eyes and ears open. Create berms around individual plants or groups of plants to hold water in place so it can soak in deeply. In many areas, water can be costly and wasteful. I hate that first summer water bill every year. When coupled with the hydro use for washing more towels and showering after swimming, plus topping up the pool, the bills add up quickly. Make Gardening Fun Again With a little forethought, you can reduce water use without making it a big deal. Reduce water use in the garden this year and save some money while still growing healthy gardens. Recommended Gardening Gifts and Tools Are you always looking for gardening gifts for green thumbs? Here is a fun idea to gift someone you know. The Drunk Botanist. And here are all the gardening tools you need to make gardening less of a chore this season. Don’t forget to get your kids involved in gardening this year too. Kid’s gardens can be a great way to teach children to love gardening.

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How to Increase Fuel Mileage Now

Paula — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 10:11:15 +0000

Everybody wants to know how to save money on gas. What if that could be done by attending to fuel mileage over time with a few small changes to your habits? Well, with the prices of gas constantly fluctuating any and all tips are welcome here. Fuel saving techniques are obviously related to driving habits, but did you know they are also dependent on vehicle maintenance? It’s true. Combined with changing your driving habits a bit, regular vehicle maintenance can make an impact on your fuel mileage and gas costs. I mean individually each idea here is not extremely new, but if you pay attention to most or all of these then the fuel savings could be substantial. Vehicle Maintenance for Improved Fuel Mileage Adhering to a routine vehicle maintenance regimen can improve the number of miles or kilometres per gallon. Keeping the car’s engine running at its peak performance level helps burn less fuel. Some maintenance services that should be performed as a scheduled routine include: Engine oil and filter changeEngine air filterFuel filterTire rotation – stay on top of this or you wear your tires out faster too and that’s wasteful. Oil is a lubricant that reduces friction in moving engine parts. A dirty air filter restricts the amount of air inducted into the motor. A dirty fuel filter can reduce the fuel flow. If these routine maintenance items go unchecked, the engine may burn more fuel to compensate for increased friction or lack of air. Tire Care for Improved Fuel Economy Underinflated tires increase the rolling resistance of the vehicle. To compensate for the increased rolling resistance, the engine has to work harder to maintain a given speed. A harder working engine translates into more fuel consumption. Underinflated tires will also wear prematurely and have an increased chance of a blowout. Nobody wants that. These are the three big reasons that a vehicle’s tires should be maintained at the recommended tire pressure. I wrote about the difference our new snow tires made to that in this snow tires post. Nitrogen? One method that can help maintain tire pressure is to fill the tires with nitrogen instead of air. Since the molecules are larger, nitrogen tends to escape at a much slower rate than air. Most auto repair shops that are in the business of selling and servicing tires have nitrogen available at a minimal cost. There are a few other benefits of nitrogen-filled tires besides maintaining the appropriate tire pressure, but that’s a post for another day. Driving Habits for Increasing Fuel Mileage Individual driving habits can have a dramatic impact on fuel consumption. Aggressive drivers that consistently have their foot on the accelerator, weaving in and out of traffic, will burn much more gas than drivers that obey the speed limit. So take that rambunctious driver!! Using low gears to gain more engine power for quick acceleration will create more engine revolutions per minute (RPM). Did you know that engines that turn at a higher RPM naturally burn more fuel. Since an engine that runs at a higher RPM burns more fuel, overdrive (if equipped) should be used as often as possible, even in stop and go traffic. Overdrive allows the engine to run at a lower RPM while turning the wheels at a higher rate. This might sound obvious but it isn’t always. If you really want to save fuel and do the environment a favour while you are at it, then walk, or carpool, or ride a bike. Ask yourself if you really need to use the car to pick up your children at school. Or, do you really need to drive by yourself to work every morning. There might be a better way. Make Smart Driving Choices More importantly, owners of any vehicle have to get in the right mindset with respect to driving to save fuel. Keeping within the posted speed limits and using overdrive are just some positive driving habits. Other things like coasting to a stop without riding the brakes and light acceleration on take offs can help to improve mileage and gas costs. Change a few of these things and keep track of the impact. You may be surprised.

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Cheap Flight Hacks to Save You Money Now

Paula — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:53:52 +0000

Cheap flight hacks should be on the top of your list if you plan to take even one flight this year. Airline prices can be brutally expensive. That expense is compounded if your entire family is flying. When you multiply the high cost of airfare by three or more (depending on how many kids you have) your price to fly can be astronomical. Because airfare can be so hard on the wallet, I’ve put together a list of cheap flight hacks that can help you get the most mileage for your dollar on any flight. Cheap Flight Hacks for More Affordable Flying It’s key to take a multi-pronged approach to your savings plan when flying. The following tips are great on their own for small savings, but when you put them together, they can save you so much more. Clear Your Browser Cookies This may seem like an odd hack, but browser cookies store temporary information on your computer. Sometimes, these cookies don’t update, causing you to see inaccurate pricing when you search travel rates. While some airlines argue this is not a thing impacting travel prices I have seen flights go up astronomically from one day to the next. So, this is for me a simple thing to do, whether you believe it works or not. It certainly doesn’t hurt. Some of my colleagues who write travel content will browse in private mode, and use different computers. There are also Facebook travel groups of people who post non stop exceptional flight deals. Hunt for one of those if you are really set on getting a great deal. Book Flights During Off Times Stay flexible on your times when booking flights. We all want that sweet flight or vacation time, but those times come at a premium. When you book flights for times like mid-week or off-season, you can save a substantial amount of money. Another bonus for travel is that planning a vacation during an off-season time can mean fewer crowds and more fun at your destination. Pack Light Packing light means you can go with carry on. No checked luggage equals savings. Unless you’re traveling for an extended period of time, try to limit your packing to carry-on only. Pack efficiently and for what you need. You can even skip some of the toiletries and grooming products and buy them when you arrive at your destination. OR pack travel sized tiny products. I keep a stash of these for most trips, even when I don’t fly. Remember, hotels provide shampoo, soap, and even toothbrushes and toothpaste. Packing as light as possible will save the enormous fee for checking luggage, so go with carry-on whenever possible. Book Well in Advance You can save an average of 10% when you book 30 to 50 days in advance. This is the average advance booking time that seems to save passengers the most money on flights. Set a Flight Alert You can set an alert on many apps for flights at certain prices. When those flights become available, you’ll be informed. Or you can set them to tell you when flights go down in price. That is one feature I love. Use Travel Deal Sites One of the best ways to see all the prices on flight options is to use a travel deal site. Sites like booking.com, Expedia, or Kayak scour the web for flight deals for you, giving you a range of options and prices which allow you to make better decisions on your flight plans. Cheap Flight Hacks can Save You Serious Green If you’re planning to fly, do yourself a favour and put these cheap flight hacks into effect. By limiting your packing, using deal sites, and booking in advance, you can shave dollars off of your flight on several fronts, allowing you to focus on the fun part of your trip rather than the expense. If you liked this post you may want to read: How to Save Money on Ski Trips. Or How to Save on Your Dream Cruise. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of the links I receive a commission.

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How to Save on Skiing with These Frugal Tips

Paula — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 12:02:25 +0000

Save on skiing with these frugal ski tips. You might think it’s impossible to hit the slopes of your favourite ski resort on the cheap, but it’s totally doable. In fact, with a bit of planning and budgeting it’s possible to ski your favourite resort and save money. We all know that no trip to a ski resort is cheap, but with these tips, you can save on skiing, allowing you to focus on fun and fitness instead of worrying about your bank account. Save on Skiing – The Little Things Add Up Ski trips are one of my favourite winter activities as a family. There’s nothing like getting out and hitting the slopes. Whether you’re navigating black diamond courses, gently maneuvering down the bunny slope, or weaving down the greens, skiing is excellent exercise and a wonderful family travel opportunity too. For me, it’s even MORE enjoyable when you navigate those courses knowing that you’ve done everything you can to have a great trip without wasting one cent. Buy Second Hand Equipment Wait! Don’t run away! Buying second hand doesn’t mean buying shoddy equipment. Save money right off the bat by buying any gear you need at a second hand sporting goods store. These places make their money off of their reputation, so the last thing they want is a reputation for selling shoddy equipment. Check kijiji out too. FYI last season I sold the girl’s small boots and skis there easily and made enough to buy the next size up for my youngest girl whose feet had grown a lot. Buy Season Passes If you ski often, buying season passes can be a great way to save. A Season’s pass, as the name states, offers you full-time access to the slopes all season long, and comes at a nice discount. They’re the perfect option for people who love to ski as often as they can and for families too. We save a few hundred every year doing this as a family and were buy early to save even more. Already have ours for this season, now bring on the snow. Resell Your Gear If you want or need to upgrade your ski equipment, sell your gently used gear. As long as your gear is in good working order, you can sell it to a second hand sporting gear store to get a little money for your skiing gear instead of just giving it away. OR better yet find a ski swap and sell your old gear there or Kijiji it. Last season both my girls grew dramatically and needed new gear. Thankfully I sold two sets of boots and a pair of kid’s skis and that paid for child number two’s ski boots, bindings and skis. WIN!! When you’re trying to save on skiing, every little bit helps! Use Deal Sites Deal sites like Skitopia and Liftopia allow you to save on skiing at your favorite resorts. Sites like these offer significant discounts on lift tickets, allowing you to both plan your trip more effectively and save money at the same time by buying ahead of time. Take Advantage of Shoulder Season You can save on skiing by taking advantage of shoulder season. For those of you who don’t know, shoulder season is that sweet spot between peak season and off season. When you book shoulder season trips in high altitude destinations like Whistler, Vail, Lake Placid, Steamboat, Vermont, Tremblant and the like, you’ll get great prices while still being able to enjoy the slopes. Often, the high altitude means colder weather, and that means the slopes are still ripe for skiing. Super early December, if you are lucky, works and so does March sometimes. Drive When Possible We drive to Vermont pretty much every single year. I often do a media trip and then write about it here. Flights can be expensive and they add up. Twice we flew to our destination. I won a package of flights once and that worked out brilliantly when we visited Smugglers’ Notch. But that said, even with wear and tear on our van, the gas and mileage will run me typically a maximum of $300. Gas is easily $200 roundtrip for all of us. Of course we loaded up the van and we made sure the snow tires were on last year. So there’s that cost too kind of, but we needed installed snow tires anyways. Flights would have been $800 to $1,000 MINIMUM for all four of us on sale. So drive there and save. Oh and check out which resorts offer Canadian at Par if you are Canadian. Brown Bag it! Ski trip for a day or a week? Doesn’t matter. Either way those cafeterias in the lodge are Expensive with a capital E. Listen, I don’t always plan perfectly but I very much enjoy having a bagged lunch to carry in and eat at the ski lodge. Stay in a condo style accommodation near the ski resort with kitchen and cook occasionally and pack some sandwiches. When a simple coffee is $4.50 in the morning and a Gatorade is $4, that adds up too fast. (At the corner store near Bromley last year in Peru, Vermont we got 6 or 8 Gatorades on sale for $5.) Stop at a store on the way into town and stock up. Save your dollars that way. Save on Skiing with These Seven Tips Skiing is excellent family vacation time. My family and I love to go skiing as often as possible, but we are also on a budget and because of that, I’ve made it my job to ensure that we fuel our skiing habit affordably. The tips I just listed above can help you save on skiing, so you and your family can enjoy the slopes, and you can enjoy the freedom of knowing that you haven’t broken the bank to get there.

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All The Best Hacks to Save on Cruises Now

Paula — Tue, 15 May 2018 17:52:04 +0000

Taking a cruise is an exciting time. Not only are cruises an awesome vacation for so many reasons (hello, buffet and 24/7 ice cream machine!) but they are also a budget-friendly option as well. Cruise lines are becoming more competitive when it comes to offering great deals to try to win those vacationers and families that are on the look-out for a great vacation option. And what’s not to love about taking a cruise? Endless activities, awesome shows, and entertainment, and did I mention the food? Seriously, taking a cruise is a must. But what are the best hacks to find cheaper cruises? Don’t panic, I am about to give you the low down on ways to save when you book that dream cruise. Stay tuned for my favourite cruise hacks. We are huge fans of family cruises. And if you’ve made up your mind that a cruise is what you and your family will plan on doing for your next vacation, then why not get the best possible deal for your cruise that you can? Here are some great options on how you can save a bit of money and possibly find cheaper cruises along the way! The 6 Best Hacks to Find Cheaper Cruises Cruise in the off-season. Trust me, there is still a TON of things to do on a cruise ship during what they consider the “off-season”. And the savings that you can score when booking during a downtime is totally worth it as well! Who wouldn’t want to save anywhere from 20% or more on their next cruise, just by going during a time where it may be a bit less crowded? If you are flexible in your timing then you can save a bundle here. Watch out for the deals. Cruise lines are notorious for offering some pretty great package deals when certain cruises aren’t filling up. Cash back to use on board, room upgrades and even deeper discounts are just great ways that you can save even more money just by doing your research and seeing exactly what your options are. Let a travel agent do the work for you. Millions of people let travel agents take over trying to hunt down the best possible deals, so why shouldn’t you? It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it takes the pressure off of you in spending hours upon hours scouring the internet trying to compare and find the best possible cruise price out there. Ask what discounts the cruise line offers. Many cruise lines offer discounts to active and military veterans which is a great way to save money on your cruise price. If you don’t ask, you won’t know. And what about a senior citizen discount, AAA, and even possibly AARP? All great questions to ask and see if you or anyone traveling with you would qualify for a cheaper cruise price! Sign up for cruise drop alerts. While it may feel like you have to get online and check each and every day if the price of the cruise has dropped, you don’t. Most sites will actually allow you to leave your email address and sign up and if, and when the price of the cruise does drop, it’s a quick email notification to let you know. Talk about a huge time saver! And if you can score a deal, a HUGE money saver as well! Book your next cruise while on board. There are numerous incentives to make this one of my personal favourite ways to save on cheaper cruises. Why I love Cruising In my opinion, taking a cruise is one of the best vacation options out there. Where else can you literally have food, fun, activities and amazing sunrises and sunsets all under one roof? The service is almost always exceptional and the excursions are a blast. While the initial cost of a cruise may surprise you, don’t let it deter you. Where there’s a will to save money, there’s a way to make it happen. Is it Possible to Find Cheaper Cruises? Don’t forget to do your research to make certain that you are uncovering all the ways that you can possibly save money as well. Contact the cruise lines direct to see if they have “extra” discounts that you may be unaware of! It never hurts to ask, right? You’ll either hear the word “no”, or you’ll be given an extra opportunity to save money on your cruise. More Cruise Tips Already on your cruise? Or heading out soon? YOU Need to read this before you board the ship. How to Save Money while ON Board Your Dream Cruise. PIN IT FOR LATER – > Have fun trying out a few of my favourite cruise hacks, and see if they can help you score cheaper cruises! Have you been on a cruise yet? How do you save when cruising?

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How to Save on Water Bills Now

Paula — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 13:43:25 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great to save on water bills? Depending on where you live, paying for water can be quite costly. The good news is that it’s possible to save on water bills, simply by making a few changes in your daily routine. Better yet, it’s probably easier than you anticipate ways to save money on water bills. And of course that also helps conserve water which should be everybody’s job. Use Your Dishwasher Efficiently If you own a dishwasher, you’ve already taken the first step toward saving money on what you pay for water. Despite what many people believe, using an energy-efficient dishwasher actually saves you money when compared to washing dishes by hand. So the very act of owning an energy-efficient dishwasher is a means of saving money and water over time. That’s smart. But, yes there’s a but…Remember this. Only run your dishwasher when it’s full. Most dishwashers have efficient settings for loads that might be less intense. These might work on loads of cups and plates with very limited baked on food for instance. Always use the setting recommended and follow your manual. Failure to run your dishwasher at capacity means using far more hot water than necessary, which translates into both a higher water and electricity bill each month. Nobody wants that. Also it’s wasteful so just don’t do it. Invest in an Adjustable Toilet Flapper The flapper in your toilet is what makes the tank stop filling up once water reaches a certain level. Using an adjustable flapper allows you determine how much water your toilet uses with every flush. Making an adjustment like this typically saves as much as three gallons of water per flush. If you prefer a more DIY approach, simply fill a 2-liter bottle with water and place it in the toilet tank. Because the bottle takes up space, there’s less room for water to accumulate after each flush. Please test this out first at least once before flushing and walking away. Always be safe with water. You don’t want a flood. Recycle Your Greywater Greywater is the used, relatively clean waste water that results from cooking, doing laundry or dishes and waiting for tap water to warm up. While this water doesn’t contain as many pathogens as blackwater (the sewage from your toilet), it obviously still isn’t safe enough to drink. However, you can use greywater to water your houseplants and/or garden, which saves anywhere from one to several gallons of water every time you accomplish the task. In many areas, you can also use greywater to flush your toilet, though some jurisdictions in the US and Europe don’t allow it. That being said, if this practice is something that interests you, contact your city officials for up-to-date information. [tweetthis]Three basic ways to save on water bills. [/tweetthis] BONUS Way to Save Money Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth and teach your children to do the same. Kids can, and should be involved in learning better ways to conserve and protect our resources. This is an easy one they can own too. Easy Ways to Save on Water Bills These are just three of many ways to save on water bills. Not only will you lower the overall cost, doing your part to conserve water means you’re helping the environment too. These days that is top of mind here.

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How to Save Money on Your Dream Cruise Now

Paula — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:03:25 +0000

Cruising is expensive, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be at all. In fact, it can be the most economical way to travel for couples and families, even for multi-generational groups. We have taken numerous cruises now and just returned home from our most recent. Each cruise vacation I learn a little bit more. You saved a lot of money for your cruise. Maybe you also had to save a fair chunk of the trip budget for air travel. That alone can be a budget killer, especially if you are Canadian as we are. Flights from Canada are expensive often. But there are many ways to save on your dream cruise. On this particular recent Carnival cruise I returned home and was super impressed with myself. Why? Because this was the cruise I spent the least money on. We travelled on a smaller, older ship which was way more affordable than the newest in the fleet. And, we have figured out several simple ways to save money on a cruise. So I thought it was time to share that information. Here are 9 Ways to Save Money on Your Dream Cruise: Just Say No To On Board Excursions: Don’t buy on ship excursions. Oh to be sure we have done this in the past and enjoyed them. But, as a travel blogger I feel pretty confident directing my own schedule, exploring and finding fun affordable ways to build a great cruise vacation. So this time I didn’t book any of the cruise ship excursions. Instead we hopped off the ship at each port. In Nassau we shared a cab to Atlantis and paid for admission for the day. Then taxied back. That saved a minimum of $100. In Key West we went into the city and hopped a tour bus. Saved money there too. SKIP The Drink Packages Say no to the cruise drink package. I like a celebratory drink and I enjoy a good bottle of wine with a well thought out meal (that I didn’t cook) but we simply do not ever drink enough to get out money’s worth out of the drink package. We have learned this one. On the first cruise we did we bought a drink package. I did the math and we didn’t get our money’s worth. Never again. NO Need for POP packages On that same note say no to the kid’s pop packages. There’s juice and milk and water available everywhere. That is healthier anyways. We paid for pop one night. The kid’s clubs often had soda pop and snacks so they got it there anyways. NO EXTRA Meals – Say no to the extra restaurants. There are more than enough options on board that are included in the price you paid to be there. No need to spring for the un-included restaurants. Literally you could eat almost all day and night somewhere without paying the extra fees for the premium restaurants. Unnecessary. Skip the Extra Tips Check your invoice every time you buy something extra at dinner, or at the bar. Tips probably already included on there so don’t double tip – unless of course the service was extraordinary. One MODEST Wireless On Board Package Go ahead and get one of the wireless on board packages for Internet. ONE. Just one. Do not buy them for everyone ever. Also you don’t need the premium. If you can get away with it don’t bother at all. But I need to check my emails on occasion. This time I got one slim package for $60 and I let the girls use it once or twice. One at a time is the rule and that saved money. Also it saved me extra worry about roaming fees. No Extra TV or Movies: Don’t indulge in the extra movies and shows on TV. Stick to the shows that are included. All the little things add up and you don’t need a massive bill at the end of your dream cruise. Plus honestly you shouldn’t be in your room that much. Skip the Pictures: You know that photographer that follows you around? It’s their job to try and gather as many pictures as possible and then sell to you throughout the cruise. Pick a couple at most. There’s no real need to buy any of them. Your phone probably takes photos that are just as good or better. Trust me I have learned from this one. On our first cruise I couldn’t bear to leave any behind. BUT, where are they now? I still don’t have them framed. However I did use some of the ones from my own phone and had those turned into framed canvases that hang on my gallery wall. That makes me happy and so does saving money for my next dream cruise. NO Signing Privileges for Kids: DO NOT attach your credit card to your kid’s room keys. Do not give them signing privileges. TRUST ME. Nobody needs to pay for $50 of THE CLAW in the games room trying to win a MINION. There might be a story there. (WINKS) Only the adults get signing privileges on my dream cruise. Cruising is one of my all time favourite family travel options. Why? It’s very affordable, when you do it properly. That means saving for your dream cruise and planning, then following some simple rules while there. Now I am not suggesting that you never take an on board excursion again. But there are dozens of ports where you will be just fine to do it on your own. Use good judgement always.

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Book a Cruise While Onboard – An Advantageous Approach

Paula — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 12:03:01 +0000

Have you ever wondered whether you should book a cruise while onboard your current cruise? Me too. We’ve done several cruises and I am always amazed by the number of people lining up to book again before leaving the ship. So I thought I would investigate. Does it help you save money? If you’re a frequent cruiser, chances are you’re already planning another cruise anyway. So why not use one of the lesser known tricks of the cruising trade and book a cruise while on your current cruise? Saving money, better selection and rewards – those are a few reasons to book your cruise before you disembark. It’s a great way to make the most of your money. Book a Cruise While Onboard – A Saving Secret It’s amazing how few people actually know about the opportunity to save money booking a cruise in this way. Most of us know we can book a cruise while onboard the ship, but many people don’t realize how truly advantageous that can be. So let’s take a look at how booking a cruise while you’re on your current cruise can help you save some money. Save Money on Your Current Cruise One way you can save money when you book a cruise while onboard your current cruise is through a discount on your current cruise. Oftentimes, you can get money taken off of the bill on your current cruise when you book a future cruise while onboard. It’s an excellent way to get a little back while you plan that next amazing trip. Future Savings Another great reason to book a cruise while you sail on your current cruise is to get credit towards that future trip. When you book while onboard, you may be offered onboard credit for your next cruise. It’s essentially free money to use while onbaoard the ship. Travel Date Flexibility Aside from saving money, you can save headaches when booking a cruise in this manner. When you book while onboard, you’ll be offered a time frame for using the deposit you put down on the future cruise. It will usually be anywhere from one to two years. You actually get more flexibility when you book on the ship than you do when you book at a later time. Lower Deposit Speaking of deposits mentioned in the flexibility section, when you book your future cruise while onboard, you will generally be able to place a lower deposit on that future cruise, which means you save a little money automatically. Discounts or Upgrades Rather than shopping around the internet for that next great deal, just do it on the ship! When you book a cruise while onboard, you can often take advantage of discounts or room upgrades that are offered on upcoming cruises. It saves time, and sometimes, you’ll get the discount or upgrade BECAUSE you booked while onboard. Book a Cruise While Onboard to Save, Upgrade, and More Since we have done a few family cruises I am now aware of the special perks associated with loyalty programs for each cruise line. Those are important too and I use them when able. But from now on I think it makes sense to take advantage of the perks you can score when you book a cruise before disembarking.

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