Before You Book Your Ticket......

Read this interesting article yesterday and just wanted to pass it along. The summer months usually bring out the travelers...so if you plan to fly, you may want to check out this article on how to find the best airline deals!!

I Have A Question???

Hubby bought me a nice pair of earrings about 3 weeks ago for our Wedding Anniversary. Since they have been in my ear for 3 weeks now, I figure that they are about due to be clean soon. So here is my question.....what do I use to clean them?? I know back in the day when I wore my wedding ring (I have since then found out I am allergic to gold...that would explain all the redness and bumps on my fingers for years!!) I used to place it in a jewelry solution that the jeweler had given us with the purchase. Do they still sell the tubs with solution in it...or is there a better way to clean nice jewelry??

Thanks for any help!!

The Most Obvious Place.....

We are planning a little summer get-a-way to Hershey Park in a few weeks...so we knew it was about time to book the hotel. Little Man....really wanted to go camping...but I thought Little Miss was still a bit young for that yet. They actually have a Hershey Campground.....but we will hold off on that experience for another time....Yeah!...LOL LOL

Hubby and I went online on a few different occassions to check out the many hotels near Hershey Park....it was a bit mind boggling at time...LOL LOL The only criteria we really had was that it was clean, had a pool...and did not resemble the "Bates Motel" Yuck! Many years back before we had the kiddies...the two of us took a long weekend to Hershey Park. We had sent away for Hershey Brochure's filled with stuff to do, hotels, rates, and eateries. We choose from the brochure pictures and info that we had recieved. We choose a cheaper motel....about 2 miles from Hershey Park....and let me just tell you...it was gross!!!! You get what you pay for...in thie instance, for sure!! So this time around...we were playing it a bit safer! We were reading reviews, checking out pictures, and taking our time making a decision...not just picking a place out of the blue!!

We checked Expedia, Orbitz, Hotel Discounts, and Travelocity. We were getting very similar rates between all the sites...at pretty affordable prices. Then hubby decided to look on each hotel's actual website to see even more pictures, read more customer reviews, etc. Then he happened to enter in the dates were planning on visiting...and up pops a window with rates $15 a night cheaper!!! WoW!! If that was not the most obvious place to look for rates??? Who would of known?? I thought all the above sites were supposed to be discounted sites?? Apparently not every time!!

Gas Savings Tips...

It's Tipster Tuesday at BeCentsAble...and this week is all about saving some money on the gas bill.... It is not looking like gas prices will fall anytime soon...so save where you can!! Here are a few things our family does to help save on the gas to make fill-ups a bit less painful these days.....

*Pay Cash and Save....In our neck of the woods....as gasoline prices keep rising...fuel stations are now charging more (about 10 cents more) per gallon of gas when you pay using a credit card!!! So I am a cash paying gas girl all the way these days!!!


*We Purchased a 4 Cylinder Auto......We actually did this a few months ago...before gas prices got as high as they are now....but we just had a feeling that they would keep rising. So we let go of our gas guzzler...and traded it in for a 4-cylinder!! I do miss all the room I had in the full soze SUV....but man my wallet would of been empty a lot sooner if I still had it...LOL LOL

*Combine Trips to the Store.....I always try not to run out to just make a trip to one store. Where we live stores are very close togther so parking in the shopping center and hitting two stores at once is a better plan. Plus, this eliminates the need to take the kiddies in and out of the car too many times per outing!!!

*Check the Prices....Near our home there are a few gas stations that are usually about 10 cents or so cheaper than the others. Be sure to look at the price before you pull in!! Also Sam's Club or others aften offer gas at cheaper prices then regular stations.

*Drive A Little Slower.... I will admit....since the kiddies came I drive like Granda!!! No need to race off the line when the light changes green.....I have plenty of time and a little extra gas as well!!

Would you like to see more ways to save on gas....Be sure to checkout BeCentsAble for more tips!!

It Happens...SunBurn..Ouch!!

It's happened to all of us one time or another...you spend the day out in the sun having fun and you forgot to put on the sunblock before you headed outdoors!! When do you remember you forgot to lather it on?? That evening when you are sunburn and hurting, of course! Here are a few ways to help keep you comfy...sunburn and all.

*Take a Cool Shower....your body temperature is very hot from the sunburn, take a cool shower and cool your body down. This fells wonderful when you are sunburn..betcha you won't want to get out!!

* Take an Ibuprofen..this will help the inflammation go down.

*Drink lots of cold water to prevent dehydration!!

*Prevent Peeling... very gently rub a little Preparation H cream over the sunburn..this will also help take the swelling down.

*Aloe...have an aloe plant...open it up and spread it all over the sunburn. This will help ease the pain quickly. I can remember as a kid we had an aloe plant in the house just for this reason!! It really works well!!

* Cool Cucumber Slices....as a kid I had a girlfriend's mother who swore by this method! She would just take a cucumber out of the fridge, slice it and then rub it over the sunburn area.

* Cover Up...if you must go out in the sun in the couple days after the sunburn, be sure to cover up!!! The worst thing you can do is expose the sunburn area to more sun!!

I am now a stickler with the sunblock on the kiddies!! Sunburn is painful...I have experienced it too many times to know that I do not want the kiddies to feel that terrible pain!!

Had a bad burn in the past? What did you find worked best to ease the pain?? Or did you use something that you will never use again for sunburn?

Here's hoping that you will not have to refer back to this!

A Great BBQ on a Budget....

This past weekend we had a BBQ with lots of family and friends over...Tis the season! I love to have backyard BBQ's as it is great to have friends & family over to talk, catch up, let the kiddies play and have fun....Oh and of course eat lots of delicious food as well!! We usually have a few small BBQ's a season....and since the costs can add up quickly there are a few things we like to do to try and keep the party budget as close to on target as possible while still having a great time!!

1. Make a Budget and Stick to It- I always have a round about idea of what a summer BBQ will run us before I even start inviting. This is very important...as then you know what to expect to have put out....one less surprise! I always write a list of what I will serve, how many guests I will invite, beverages we will serve, kids fun activities we will have, supplies we will need (paper goods, cups, utensils, etc.).

2. Have Guests Bring Something- Anytime we are ever invited to a get-together (with the exception of a Birthday party...as then we bring a gift) We always bring something....an appetizer, or perhaps a dessert I homemade. Most times when I RSVP that we will be attending I ask the host "Is there is anything special you would like me to bring?" I do not mind bringing a dish......as it is just my little way of showing the host/hosts "Thanks so much for Having Us"!!!

3. Keep the Menu Simple- Go with the less is more approach. This way whatever food you do offer you are able to spend a bit more time preparing and perfecting it. You will also save yourself from going crazy trying to make so many different things the night before or morning of the BBQ!! Also plan your menu around what meat is one sale that week or buy meat in bulk at the Wholesale Club (Sam's Costco, B.J's). Plus, remember guests are going to be bringing a dish as well!!

4. Are Kids Attending?- If so you may want to have a few activities planned for them to keep busy and have fun while at your home too!! Some great things we have done at BBQ's that the kiddies really enjoyed were hitting the pinata, having a slip n slide or kiddie pool, making sand art, running threw the sprinkler , playing Play-Doh, having water balloons for tosses, making Lei's using dyed macaroni (which I dye ahead of time, of course)...and the list just goes on!! Just think of a few fun things your kiddies like to do...or ask them what kind of fun things they might like to do at the summer BBQ!

5. Keep Invites Simple- Invite Guests by using Evite, or make some phone calls....this will avoid the cost of invitations and postage stamps. I have used Evite for a few occasions....and I love it!! It is very easy to use, free, and guests reply back right online. And for those guests that do not have Internet access just simply give them a call.

6. Keep Drink Selection to a Minimum- I love to just get the Party Cocktail Buckets, some beer, a pitcher of iced tea, water, and a few bottles of soda. I am sure as long as you offer a few different choices your guests will be more than happy with the selection!! Oh and remember....if you are having a huge number of guests...look into the price of a keg...as it may be cheaper than purchasing cases!

Is there a certain something that is a MUST when planning your summertime backyard BBQ?? Any tips to share to help us save a bit more? Something you've tried to save a little money that did not pan out as you'd of hoped??

Frozen Cocktail Buckets.....Perfect For Those Summer BBQ's

Ahh...Yes the warm weather is now upon us...and you know what that means....lots of summer BBQ's!! About 3 years ago I was at a summer BBQ and they had the best Apple Martini's I have ever tasted!! (Well the best out of the 3 I have ever tried, anyway...LOL LOL) So, to find the answer to my curiosity I asked how they made them. I was surprised to learn that they were made very easily using pre-made Cocktail Buckets made by Desert Pepper Trading Co. The great perks of the buckets are that all the ingredients are included except for the bottle of liquor. All you do is add the liquor (some take rum, vodka, etc.), some water and freeze. That's it!! Well, and maybe add a cherry for looks....and a straw for sipping...LOL LOL

So, a few weeks later when it was time for our annual backyard BBQ I headed to Linens N Things to check them out. They had about 10 different flavors to choose from and they were about $6.99 a bucket. Bed Bath & Beyond also carries them as well for about the same price.

Around the spring/summer holidays though the buckets go on sale. I just purchased 2 of them for just a little over $3 each. Remember you can use a 20% off coupon at either store you go too for even more savings!!

Vacation Time is Here......8 Great Ways to Save!!!

I cannot believe Memorial Day is upon us already.......that means vacation time is here!!!! Summer family vacations are so exciting...a great time to have lots of family fun and relax. All year I try hard to save a little here and there...so this way when we do vacation I can splurge on fun things for us to do....hence the word vacation, right?? There are a few tips I would love to share on some great ways to save while having a great time too!! I promise they will not take the fun out of your vacation at all!!!

1. Plan Ahead....This can really save you a bit of money!!! Check websites of places and attractions you think you might like to visit, check prices, see if they have any weekday daily rate specials, offer coupons if you sign up for emails, and even check to see if they have any reviews to read. Maybe it is not suitable for children and you have 2? Do your homework before you get there to save you un-needed stress before you get there.

2. Mix it Up.....There are many free or low cost things to keep your family busy while on vacation....slip in a pool day, a day at the beach, visit a local park and have lunch, and be sure to check out this website to get a nice list of fun free things to do in almost every state!

3. Avoid the ATM- This can be a very easy way to save a little bit of money and save you time as well. Bring a credit card and some cash or traveler's checks to last threw the duration of the whole vacation. This was you will not have to worry about where an ATM is located and whether or not you will be charged a couple of bucks to use it!!!

4. Pack Snacks- If you have kiddies this is a MUST!! If you are traveling by car you can even pack a small cooler with juice boxes and water bottles too..sometimes moms and dads get thirsty too...LOL LOL This will eliminate the need to stop for snacks at rest stops, concessions stands, convenience stores, etc. and this way you can buy them on sale before you go!!

5. Visit Restaurants For Lunch - It's vacation....so you are going to eat out...and you should it is vacation after all!!! But if you want to save a bit on eating out dine out at a nice restaurant for lunch, as it is often way cheaper than dinner...and if you have kiddies another perk of lunch out is a way less crowded restaurant at noon time than the dinner hour!!

6. Coupons & Discounts- Look for them before you go, and even when you get there!! In most popular vacation spots most have tourism centers that have lots of coupon books, planning guides, and they are great spots to find out about upcoming event days and promotions.

At this time of year you can purchase an Entertainment Book for under $10...and it may be worth it for you to get if you are going away for at least a week or two. You can even preview some of the coupons for the book you are interested in too. Click here to view. If you have a AAA membership, they also have a program called "Show your card and Save" Simply show your AAA at participating merchants and you can save at thousands of merchants.

7. Pack Smart- If you are traveling with kiddies and you are going to Florida in June...you know it will be sunny skies above, so be sure to pack the sunblock, camera, swimmies, towels, beach toys, etc. Go prepared. Trust me the sunblock at home on sale can be just a few dollars...in a grind at the Stop N Go Market it could be double the price!! AT this point you now have no control over the cost and they know that!!!

8. Make Your Hotel Room Work For You- Be sure to pay attention to room options available.......look for perks like a mini fridge, a coffee maker, FREE Continental Breakfast, FREE Wi-Fi, a kids game room, pool, or whatever else will help to make your room more comfy and suitable for you to enjoy your vacation perfectly.

Do you have another to add to the list...Is there a way you and your family save on your family vacation?? Please share!!!

Ohh...and have a great, fun, thrifty vacation!!!