Many folks today have become wary of changing financial institutions, or complacent when it comes to searching for the best savings account options and rates. If you do just a little bit of research though, you could find out just how much more you could potentially earn on your savings if you were to open a high yield savings account online through a different institution.
Finding a great high interest rate savings account is as easy as perusing the internet and using one of the many account comparison websites available today. This can earn you literally hundreds or thousands of extra dollars with your current savings over the course of just a couple years or less depending on your savings and an account’s APY.
Forego the Next Smaller Trip, or Two

I know it seems like a crazy and drastic idea, but by eliminating a smaller in-country trip or two, you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars to put towards that big one you’ve been dreaming of. While it may seem hard, skipping smaller trips for undoubtedly bigger opportunities, will be definitely worth it in the long run.
Secretly Skimp on Something(s), Anything(s)

Essentially akin to smart budgeting, figuring out a thing or two that you can live without for the next year can save you more than you realize. Think about it in these terms: saving a measly 5 dollars a day, on whatever, anything of your choice, equals an extra $1,825 in one year. That’s at least one plane ticket, easily. Now you do the math. If you can save just a little more than that each day, that’s some pretty big savings – maybe even two tickets?
If you’ve got a life-long travel destination or destinations in mind, it’s important to know that you absolutely can make reaching them a reality. All it takes is a bit of whimsy, some simple tips, and a frugality that should be easy to come by with that white sand beach in mind.

This is a Guest Post by Sam Peters, who loves writing about ways to travel frugally.

When you travel you need to know where the savings are. Don’t hop in your vehicle with no knowledge of your destination and the possible savings you could obtain. A smart traveler is always informed on the best ways to save on accommodations. The following gives 5 great ways to stay ahead of the masses and save big.

1. Use Coupons

Some travel guides actually have coupons. Lots of people don’t even know that these exist, but they do. The nearest rest stop in the city that you are residing in will usually have some brochures. They are free booklets that contain coupons on hotels. This is sort of a tricky situation, however, because you can only obtain the book when you are in the city. This can be a great spur of the moment saver if you have not made any reservations elsewhere. Always be mindful on the location and the expiration dates. Some coupons may not apply to the entire hotel chain. It may only be for a certain hotel in town.

2. Shop for Online Deals

The better way to acquire some guaranteed savings is through the Internet. This is no surprise as this is how everyone conducts business these days. Some people may assume that it is no different than calling and making a reservation. People that think this way are dead wrong. There is always a cheaper way to do everything. Wise travelers know this and flock to the Internet to put what they know in action. There are all kinds of sites that give travelers deals on 4 star hotels. It’s not written in stone and there is no one site that has better deals than another. It is all about testing the waters and checking these sites on a regular basis. Sometimes (many times!) people hop up and go on trips just because they have found an unbelievable unbeatable deal.

3. Call and Ask for Discounts

Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts if you don’t see any advertised online. It’s always better to ask than assume. There may be a special promotion specific to a certain location. You could be missing out on a serious discount if you fail to ask about it. This is why it pays to call. The internet is a good place to find discounts, but this isn’t the only place. Sometimes it takes communication with an actual person to find the savings. A little begging and pleading can go much further with a live person. Ask for the discount directly.

4. Break Out the Membership Cards

People that have credit cards can get discounts at certain hotels. AAA card carrying members also have the ability to get some discounted rates. Be mindful of this when you travel. Don’t let those cards lie dormant in your wallet because you are not informed. Take all of your cards out of your wallet and visit their websites before you travel. Look for cards with discounts and then search for these discounted locations in your destination area.

5. Stay at the Cheaper Hotels

Every traveler knows that there are some times when they just can’t catch a break. It just seems like there are no discounts in town on (decent) 4 star hotels. That is when you start looking for the cheaper hotels. There is always something is town that is not exactly what you want, but it is within your price range. Don’t be afraid to take the cheaper hotel even if it is only for a night. You can save money on the first night and go elsewhere the next day if you don’t like it.

This is a guest post by Bekki Simms, an active blogger of all things frugal. She loves getting a good deal, recently having earned one on dental insurance;)

Affordable long-term parking can be a tough thing to find if you’re looking to travel for an extended period of time. You want to find a parking lot that will keep your car safe at all hours of the day while you are away and but won’t break the bank. Here are some general tips to utilize when trying to find the perfect long-term parking lot for your vehicle during your traveling.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way, it is not recommended to park your vehicle at the airport you are leaving from. These terminals normally charge an extremely outrageous amount of money per day and are generally only considered “short-term” parking, meaning that if you leave your vehicle there for more than a week’s time, there may be problems (thought to be abandoned, etc.). Of course, each policy depends on the airport.

One of the best places to park your vehicle for an extended period of time is at a lot right outside the airport. While you may be thinking that many of these are just as expensive as within an airport, most are significantly cheaper. The added benefit of many of these lots is that they offer 24-hour security, so you know that your vehicle will always be kept an eye on. Rates are typically as low as $3 a day and get as high as $15, but this will fluctuate significantly depending on the area that you are in and in some locations, the day of the week or time of year.

While the signs may advertise similar rates, some parking lots may include hidden fees in their terms (such as payments for transportation to the terminal or after-hour premiums) and if you don’t read them carefully enough, you may get overcharged. Look for deals on different parking lots by visiting their websites. Many offer special first-day rates as well as weekly and monthly specials. Some even allow for the ability for you to print a coupon that can be used to compound the discount. Search around online instead of just picking the first listing out of a phone book.

Make sure you are aware of their transit policies (i.e. how often they shuttle people back and forth between the lot and the terminal as well as how late, or early, the shuttle runs). As anyone who has done it can tell you, hiking a mile after a long flight at nine o’clock at night because you can’t get ahold of the shuttle is arguably not worth the savings from not parking at the terminal. You may also want to consider the transit accommodations. While it may not be a big deal in Los Angeles, if you’re using a Seattle airport parking service, you may not want to be waiting in the rain for the shuttle to take you to the airport.

The next major consideration is safety, both for you and your vehicle. A well-lit lot, full-fencing, and a 24-hour security presence is great, however depending on your situation, you may not need it. Are you a single man with a low-value car who travels during daylight hours? If so, you may not find value in all of the security. If you are a family with small children, own a high-value vehicle and are expecting to fly a red-eye, obviously you may have an alternate opinion.

To save the most money when needing to park your vehicle, consider parking it at a friend’s house or simply leaving it at your home. Depending on where you live, this may be the most reasonable solution.

By utilizing the tips listed above, you can easily find the perfect long-term parking lot for your vehicle while you are traveling.

With so many options to book flights on the internet Hot Wire, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheap Tickets where do you begin? What is the cheapest?

The best travel search engine by far is Kayak.com.  Kayak is so wonderful because they will compare all the major travel sites at one time so that you can choose the best route and best priced ticket.  You can also compare many other things on Kayak like hotels and cars.  It is a great place for one stop shopping when it comes to booking.  No need to have 42 windows open on your desktop at one time.

Other ways to save lots while flying:

• Pack light – If you need to check luggage and your bag weights over 50 pounds you are going to get charge a hefty fee.  Overweight baggage frees are around $100 on most airlines.  Pack light, take only a carry-on and you will save lots on travel.
• Eat large meals before you get to the airport or after you leave – Airport food is always more expensive because they know that you are stuck there.  If possible, eat your meals before you get to the airport or after you leave it.  You won’t be sorry by saving all that change in your pocket.
• Bring your own snacks – Same as the meals, the snack prices in the airport are ridiculous.  Plan ahead by throwing snacks in your purse or backpack so that you don’t have to buy from airport vendors.
• Join frequent flyer programs – If you travel often make sure you sign up for all the frequent flyer programs out there.  You can easily earn free upgraded seats, entrance into lounges, and lots of other perks like snacks on the plane if you fly all the time.  Not to mention a free ticket here and there.
• Use ebates.com – If you end up using any of the ebates partner sites you will earn a percentage of cash back on your trip!  Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, and Priceline are just some of the sites listed.  Chance are after you get your fabulous price match on Kayak you can click through ebates and save quite a bit just by getting cash back.  Plus, they are no hassle.  They will just send you a fabulous check in the mail after you’ve earned money!
• Have someone drop you off and pick you up – Airport parking can be expensive.  If you can have a friend drop you off and then someone else pick you up.
• Book smart – If you find a good price for the love book it!  Those prices will fluctuate in hours!  Don’t wait in an hour or minutes it might go up!

This is a Guest Post by Sam Peters, who loves writing about ways to travel frugally.

Three Amazing, Inexpensive Travel Options

Who doesn’t want the chance to travel to beautiful destinations for affordable prices? The answer is nobody. There’s two sides to this. One is finding reliable financial institutions that offer frugal funding options like Green Dot prepaid MasterCard. The other side is choosing a travel destination that won’t break the bank. That’s why it’s time to once again list three amazing and inexpensive travel spots that are full of adventure, great food, and breathtaking sights. These three spots, Merida, Azores, and Lesotho, not only offer amazing vacation potential for all sorts of traveling preferences, they can be experienced without living beyond your financial means. So here they are, three amazing money-saving vacation spots:

• Merida, Mexico: Out-advertised by its more costly and glamorous Yucatan neighbor Cancun, Merida is a cosmopolitan/colonial city straight out of a spring break dream. It offers festive parties, haciendas, delicious food, the pink flamingos of Celestun, a historical Spanish colonial center with 16th century cathedrals, and Mayan relics that can be seen via inexpensive tour buses. Also, if you’re missing your American familiarities, there are plenty of retail chains such as Costco that offer travelers special supermarket coupons. Free from the crime, overpopulation and pollution of Mexico City, many vacationers are preferring Merida for its safety, free guided tours, and breathtaking geography, including hikes and camps at the base of the Andes Mountains.
• Honduras: Imagine going on a Caribbean vacation without having to pay the prices typically associated with such a venture. That’s what Honduras offers. $40 hotels and inexpensive, world-class food. Additionally, you’ll experience an incredibly diverse ethnic immersion that includes the indigenous Amerindian, Latinos, and the Garifuna people. If adventure and scenery is what you’re after, Honduras wins again, as it features some of the most visitor-friendly beaches imaginable, like the Roatan full of great diving locations. And, of course, you get to behold the legendary Copan Ruinas, a 1,200 person village full of hieroglyphic-laden pre-Columbian ruins. This village also houses traveler-friendly language schools, for wayward linguists.
• Lesotho: This South African-bordering nation offers travelers the opportunity to experience the marvels of the mother continent without having to worry about malaria, contaminated water, or dangerous animal predators. Tourists get a chance to dwell in traditional Basotho stone and thatch huts, hike through beautiful landscapes adorned with ski-ready mountains, caves, streams, dinosaur fossils, and pony treks. A diverse array of landscapes, fauna, flora, and cultures await them, including arts and crafts markets and unique cuisine. Additionally, Lesotho is only about an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and lodging only costs about $50 a day.

These three travel spots—Merida, Azores, and Lesotho—are examples of amazing vacation destinations that can be experienced inexpensively. Just in time for spring and summer too, look into booking your stay in these marvelous locations;)

1. Restaurant.com – Make sure you check out all the great restaurant deals in the location that you are traveling to here.  You never know what gems you might find.  You could save some serious cash just taking your family out for meals!

2. Daily Deal Sites – What a great way to save money on travel and various activities around the area. Before you take off for your location don’t forget to check out amazing daily deal sites like Groupon, Juice in the City, and LivingSocial that also have deals that are area specific!

3. Book Off Season- Most destination locations have season activity.  Look for a destination that has great out of season rates and snag them.

4. Drive – If you are traveling to a domestic destination consider driving instead of flying.

5. Do a Search for Coupon Codes – You never know when you might find some great coupon codes when booking online.  Before you book anything make sure and do a quick search with your favorite search engine to see if you can find any great discount codes!

6. Grocery Shop and Cook Yourself – Sometimes, one of the biggest money pits on vacation is all that eating out.  Eat out at least one meal a day and twice if you can.  Breakfast is an easy meal to eat in the room if your hotel doesn’t have breakfast.  You can also bring a cooler with you and have picnic lunches in the room. (This is a favorite of my kids.)

7. Don’t Miss Discounts – Many times discounts are given to seniors, students, children, military members, government workers and members of organizations like AAA and AARP.  Always ask!

8. Book through Ebates.com – Did you know that you can get cash back through Expedia, Travelocity, and Hotels.com if you use ebates?  You can!  And, Ebates will be sure to send you a check once you have money in the pot!

Do you have any other great ways to save?  We’d love to hear them!

When you have small children, it is often difficult to find ways for them to cope with all the traveling.  Today, my 3-year-old whined from the back seat, “Mom, I’m just not having a good day.”  So, I asked, “Why honey?” And, he answered, “Because I miss my daddy!”  At this point we have just completed two days that daddy has been gone and there are three more to go.  It is amazing how it is typical for my kids to get sick more often and just have a more difficult time sleeping while my husband is gone.

Slowly but surely we have learned how to deal with daddy being out of town.  I am not a pro by any means, but he has been in this position for almost a year.  Even though traveling doesn’t seem to get any easier, coping with it sure does.  Here are some of our top ways to learn how to cope.

Do Things That You Wouldn’t Normally Do With Daddy Home – We aren’t trying to take daddy out of the fun picture, but we are trying to help kids see that when daddy is gone things still can be fun.  Today, I took my kids to the $1 store to pick out a little gift.  I don’t normally purchase extra gifts for my kids unless it is a special occasion, but this seemed to be one.

Eat Food That You Don’t Normally Eat – We are health nuts at our home.  We really try to eat as little processed food as possible.  When daddy is gone I will often buy frozen pizza.  Something I rarely buy when daddy is in town.  It makes eating easy, fun and something different.  Or, sometimes we will make a pizza.  Yet, another task that my kids love to do.  You can try other activities like eating out at special restaurants when daddy is gone.

Skype – It is kind of hard to skype with daddy when he is overseas.  Often times he has long days and it is difficult for him to be online when the kids are up.  However, it is always great to skype when he is in town domestically.  The kids love seeing their daddy’s face and don’t seem to miss him so much when they can talk to him “in person” kind of.

Have them Color Days Until Daddy Gets Back- If you have small children you know that kids have very little sense of just how long that daddy is gone.  My son gets up every morning and asks if daddy is home yet.  It helps to get some kind of calendar to check off all the days or color them until daddy gets back.  It will help your children see visually that daddy is coming back soon.   Other ideas can include chain links until daddy gets back too.

Have a Good Attitude – Your attitude will always affect that of your children.  Make sure your spirits are up and it will really help your kiddos!  They know when you are feeling down when your significant other is gone.  Good spirits for you often means good spirits for them too!

It is no secret that the economy is in shambles. This does not mean that we cannot travel and have a wonderful time doing it. We just need to be creative so that costs are minimal. Here are a few tips to help you out with your next trip!

1. Buying Tickets

Check to see if you have reward points on your credit or bank card. These points most of the time can be used toward airfare. Also avoid booking during the holidays or the summer. These are peak travel season and you’re less likely to receive the discounts you would see during off-peak seasons. If at all possible, shop at ticket-auction sites.

2. Booking Hotels

Once again, check your reward points because they can be useful here as well. Try to get a hotel that has free breakfast and is close to the attractions that you want to see (walking distance). This will allow you to save money on food, as well as transportation.

3. Packing

Pack things that could be expensive when you’re gone. It is always wise to include things like pain reliever and a first-aid kit. The price for these things can vary from place to place and become quite expensive.

4. Transportation

Always try to walk places. This is beneficial for you in many obvious ways. If this is not possible, look into renting bicycles for the day, which will be much cheaper than cab fare. There’s also the bus or subway, or you can split distances between walking and cab fare. Be sure to find out if cab fare is more expensive at night in your destination!

5. Food

Hopefully your breakfast is free with your hotel room, but if not, you can go to the grocery store and pick up simple things for breakfast. You may also want to pick up some things for lunch. For dinner, you can look for specials like “ladies night” or “all you can eat.” Try getting a large meal and splitting it with a friend, such as an appetizer sampler. This could easily only cost you $5 a person. If you’re walking everywhere, there’s less of a reason to feel guilty about it!

6. Activities

You can get a map FREE at a tourism office or perhaps even gas stations, so there is no reason to pay for one. Call each place that you intend on going and get times that admission may be discounted or even free. Skip the tour guides and just explore for yourself!

7. Souvenirs

If you bring your digital camera, there is no need for post cards. You can make postcards for free on websites (and perhaps even mail them for free) or on your computer. In terms of gifts, don’t be afraid to be creative! You can buy something cheap and turn it into something thoughtful, or buy something unique that isn’t the average t-shirt or pin you’d usually get someone.

8. Discounts

Never be afraid to ask for discounts. A lot of hotels and restaurants offer discounts based your employer. Make yourself aware of these things. Always conduct plenty of research to ensure that you are getting the best rate possible. There are several different airlines, as well as hotels, that offer price-matching. These things will probably not be advertised, so you must ask.

9. Theft

During a vacation, we often forget about the dangers around us. Protect yourself by remaining aware of theft as well as identity theft. Only carry minimal amounts of cash on your person. When using your credit or bank card remain attentive. There’s no point in saving tons of money if you’re thoughtless and find it gone when you reach for your wallet!

Jaimie Hoskins loves entertaining, traveling with her family, and writes for travelinsurance.org.

Every time I see gas prices rise I get sick to my stomach.  I can’t believe how much gas prices are.  I feel old when I say that I remember them being $0.75 a gallon for awhile way back in high school.   Now prices are a sickening $3.45 a gallon where I live.  Unfortunately, most of us need a car to get around so we just can’t avoid the prices at the pump no matter how hard that we try.  So, what can we do to cut costs at the pump so that the current gas prices don’t put us in the poor house?  Here are some tips to try to add a little more wiggle room in your budget.

1. Drive 60 mph or less -  After you reach 60 mph the fuel economy on your car begins to drastically drop and you end up paying much more for gas!

2. Make Sure Your Tires Are Aligned – Did you know that if your tires are nonaligned then you are not only burning extra gas, but creating extra wear on your tires. This will cause you to purchase tires much sooner than if you had your tires aligned.

3. Get a Tune Up – Make sure your engine is operating efficiently and checked by a professional on a regular basis.

4. Make Sure Your Tires Are Pumped Up – If you do not have enough air in your tires it is possible that your fuel economy is decreasing by about 3%.

5. Make Sure Your Gas Cap is On Tight – Missing caps or cap are not locked on tight can instantly decrease fuel economy by letting fumes escape.  Not only that, but escaping fumes causes toxins to escape into the air and cause pollution.

6. Use the Breaks As Little As You Can – The more you use the brakes the more it decreases your fuel economy.  Starting and stopping will continue to kill your fuel. Lay off the breaks and practice coasting when you can instead.  Plus, if you ride the brakes too much you’ll wear down your brake pads and cost yourself tons in repairs.

7. Pay Attention to the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil by the Manufacturer – Often times using the motor oil that your manufacturer recommends will save money on your fuel economy.  Your car will work more efficiently and burn less gas.

8. Lighten Your Load – The more weight that you carry in your car the more fuel you will burn.  See if there are less things that you can travel with and save money that way.

9. Don’t Allow Your Car to Idle – Idling doesn’t ever save money on gas.  If you have nothing to do, but sit make sure that you turn off your car.

10. Go Green – Carpool if you can or if you are close enough ride a bike or walk.  Eliminate extra trips back and forth and group all of your errands together.  Figure out ways that you can be in the car much less.  Of course, the less you use your car the less gas you will use.

If we can help it when traveling, I don’t like to compromise our diets, especially the diets of my growing children.  When fast food restaurants are among the easiest places to stop I like to give my family some kind of good nutrition on road trips.  I really want to be armed with foods that are easy to please hungry kiddos in the car, require little cleanup, save us money and are nutritionally superior to options on the road.  I also don’t want to resort to packaged and processed grocery store food just to rid myself of a hunger craving. Just like snacks on the road processed food items are full of artificial sugars, preservatives, and artificial colors.

So, what do I feed my family on the road?

Dried Fruit and Nuts – In the future I hope to get a food dehydrator and make my own, but currently I buy most of my dried fruit and nuts from a local food co-op. These snacks are easy to eat in the car and just as good as fresh.

{Chocolate Whole Wheat Graham Crackers – Photo Source}

Homemade Whole Wheat Graham Crackers – I just recently tried out this recipe from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers, and yum they are coming with us in the car!

Popcorn – Pop some up and take it with you. I also buy organic popcorn from our local co-op. It’s healthier than the microwave version. You could also try this version of Caramel Corn or Peanut Butter Popcorn to bring on the road.

{Maple-Rosemary Popcorn – Photo Source}

Black Passion Fruit Tea – Sometimes we want a little something else to drink besides water. I typically brew several cups of Black tea and stick it in the cooler. Then when we want a cold drink other than water, we aren’t tempted to drink Coke or some other sugary beverage.

Or these might make your mouth water,

Homemade Marshmallows with No Corn Syrup – Try these yummy sweet treats to take on the road with you.  You can make them in bulk and store them away for a fun trip!  Ok, so maybe they really don’t save you money, but they sure do taste better and are much healthier than the store bought kind.

What do you like to munch on the road? Do you have any other realfood snack ideas that are good to snack on in the car?