This month has been devoted to helping you live more frugally so you can travel more frequently. Every dollar you save on daily expenses increases your trip fund.
Besides, as Jeff Yeager, the Ultimate Cheapskate, says, “Living on less is a good thing to do. It's the only financial advice that will work for almost everyone. It's about a quality of life you cannot buy, a sense of satisfaction you cannot fake, and an appreciation for others that gives life value. It's also about helping save the planet and sharing with those in need." Be sure to follow the advice on his humorous Ultimate Cheapskate blog and you'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Unlike Jeff, Dawn's life got out of control before she discovered the benefits of frugality. During the worst years, she used payday loans and pawned her belongings before finally filing for bankruptcy. When she was able to master her spending, she began her blog, Frugal for Life, so she would never forget that frugality was a lifelong enterprise. You will find lots of articles about saving money here as well as lists of other resource sites.
Madame X has never had a problem saving money. In the seven years this barely-over-40-something has been writing a blog, My Open Wallet, detailing her life, she has amassed a net worth of $408,490. Here's what her fascinating blog will tell you: “I write about how much money I make, what I spend it on, how much I save, how I budget, my home-buying experiences, my financial goals and ambitions, my thoughts on class and what it means to be rich or poor, and anything else that relates to money.”
I don't know what Jeff's, Dawn's, or Madame X's opinions are regarding tightwad travel, but I guarantee that, if you follow their advice, consult the websites they recommend, and painlessly pinch a few pennies, you will soon have the funds you need to plan a wonderful trip for yourself. Try it. You'll be amazed at how easy it is!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Yard Saling for Savings
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
David and I seldom pay full price for anything. Only two items of furniture in our three-bedroom house were bought new. Most of our appliances, tools, garden and kitchen equipment came from consignment stores or estate/garage sales.
We have literally found everything—from professional cake-baking equipment to custom-made draperies—while pursuing our favorite Saturday morning hobby. If we don't locate what we're searching for on our regular weekend outings, we know we'll come across what we need eventually at an estate sale. Since we generally spend only pennies on the dollar for any item or get the item for free, our patience is always handsomely rewarded.
While I frequently shopped at consignment stores and occasionally went to a garage sale, David quickly made a yard sale zealot out of me. When we first moved in together, my two old file cabinets didn't survive the trip from Tucson. I went shopping for a new one but was appalled at the $150-$250 price tag. David suggested I
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
David and I seldom pay full price for anything. Only two items of furniture in our three-bedroom house were bought new. Most of our appliances, tools, garden and kitchen equipment came from consignment stores or estate/garage sales.
We have literally found everything—from professional cake-baking equipment to custom-made draperies—while pursuing our favorite Saturday morning hobby. If we don't locate what we're searching for on our regular weekend outings, we know we'll come across what we need eventually at an estate sale. Since we generally spend only pennies on the dollar for any item or get the item for free, our patience is always handsomely rewarded.
While I frequently shopped at consignment stores and occasionally went to a garage sale, David quickly made a yard sale zealot out of me. When we first moved in together, my two old file cabinets didn't survive the trip from Tucson. I went shopping for a new one but was appalled at the $150-$250 price tag. David suggested I
Monday, January 25, 2010
Save Thousands on Dental Care
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
My dentist in North Carolina graduated at the top of her dental class from one of the best dental schools in the country, but when she took over a practice from a man who was retiring, she inherited old equipment. Still, her reasonable prices and excellent care were far more important to me than the latest gadgets.
When I moved to Mexico for four years, I knew not to worry about old equipment since I'd already learned that good dentistry depends not so much on the equipment as the practitioner, but I had many other concerns. Questions about Mexican dental schools, hygiene, and competence plagued me. Since I have cavity-prone teeth, I knew it wouldn't be long before I needed dental care, and I worried about placing myself in the care of one of these non-American dentists.
I needn't have worried. I've been a patient of Mexican dentists for the past ten years, and I have found them to be as good as, if not better, than my North Carolina dentist. The ones I selected have had advance training, much of it in the States, and all speak excellent English. And even though I know it doesn't matter that much, all of them have the latest equipment. Of course the best news is that, because they do not pay an exorbitant price for malpractice insurance and because costs are low overall in Mexico, they charge about 70% less than American dentists.
Hygiene concern is a non-issue. All Mexican dentists use purified water, wear masks and gloves, adhere to the same equipment sanitation practices as the United States, and provide an environment in which the Americans crowding their waiting rooms feel perfectly comfortable.
Routine dental care is extremely inexpensive because x-rays are usually free and cleaning is a nominal fee ranging from free to under $50. Here's a link to the fees charged by the Washington Dental Clinic in Tijuana, MX, just a half-hour drive from San Diego.
Clinics in other border towns have similar prices.
My friends and I have gone to dentists in Nogales, 67 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, and Tijuana, Mexico, and all of us have been delighted with the care we received and the charge for services. Between us, we've had countless root canals, crowns, plates, and cleanings. Everyone, including myself, has been very happy with the treatment we received.
There's a great deal of fear about Mexican violence right now, but, I assure you that you will not encounter any problems whatsoever in the border towns. Many of the clinics make getting there very easy. Some pay for your parking on the United States side of the border and reimburse you for taxi fare to the clinic (always within a mile or two) and back to the border.
Of course, if you do not live within driving distance of a border town, you may find it impractical to make the trip for routine care, but if you are considering major work and facing enormous outlays of money, it may be wiser and cheaper to fly to a border town.
For example, someone needing extensive work such as complete oral rehabilitation might be charged $20,000 in the US, but can have the work done in Tijuana for $5250 plus the flight and the cost of a hotel room for a few weeks. The total cost for dental care, flight and hotel room would probably not exceed $7000. That's a savings of $13000 and you get a vacation to boot!
You will, of course, consult with the dentist you've selected to get his recommendation about a hotel that's within close walking distance to his office, but just to give you an idea of the type of accommodation you can expect in Mexico, see the Hotel la Villa site where rooms are $42 a night. Dentists catering to American and European patients are accustomed to providing all the information and help you need to make sure your treatment visit is a pleasant one, so do not hesitate to ask for their advice.
And, of course, when choosing a Mexican dental clinic, you must do your homework. Use the Internet to help you find information, read the talk forums about people's experiences, and call the clinic itself (most have toll-free United States numbers) to ask about the education and background of its dentists. Deciding on a Mexican dentist does take a bit more work, but the financial rewards are definitely worth the effort.
Practicalities -
This broadcast by a San Diego news station discusses the advantages of Mexican dental and health care.
This article by Robert Yoshioka focuses on Mexican dental care.
The Adventure Continues: Dentistry in Tijuana-- Robert Yoshioka
In this election year, with over 40 million Americans without any health insurance, it is more important than ever to seek affordable and reliable alternatives to maintain our health to the best of our ability. Quality dental care ranks among the most needed, and least well-funded of health services, yet for many of us in California, a viable and easily accessible alternative is available in Mexico.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
My dentist in North Carolina graduated at the top of her dental class from one of the best dental schools in the country, but when she took over a practice from a man who was retiring, she inherited old equipment. Still, her reasonable prices and excellent care were far more important to me than the latest gadgets.
When I moved to Mexico for four years, I knew not to worry about old equipment since I'd already learned that good dentistry depends not so much on the equipment as the practitioner, but I had many other concerns. Questions about Mexican dental schools, hygiene, and competence plagued me. Since I have cavity-prone teeth, I knew it wouldn't be long before I needed dental care, and I worried about placing myself in the care of one of these non-American dentists.
I needn't have worried. I've been a patient of Mexican dentists for the past ten years, and I have found them to be as good as, if not better, than my North Carolina dentist. The ones I selected have had advance training, much of it in the States, and all speak excellent English. And even though I know it doesn't matter that much, all of them have the latest equipment. Of course the best news is that, because they do not pay an exorbitant price for malpractice insurance and because costs are low overall in Mexico, they charge about 70% less than American dentists.
Hygiene concern is a non-issue. All Mexican dentists use purified water, wear masks and gloves, adhere to the same equipment sanitation practices as the United States, and provide an environment in which the Americans crowding their waiting rooms feel perfectly comfortable.
Routine dental care is extremely inexpensive because x-rays are usually free and cleaning is a nominal fee ranging from free to under $50. Here's a link to the fees charged by the Washington Dental Clinic in Tijuana, MX, just a half-hour drive from San Diego.
Clinics in other border towns have similar prices.
My friends and I have gone to dentists in Nogales, 67 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, and Tijuana, Mexico, and all of us have been delighted with the care we received and the charge for services. Between us, we've had countless root canals, crowns, plates, and cleanings. Everyone, including myself, has been very happy with the treatment we received.
There's a great deal of fear about Mexican violence right now, but, I assure you that you will not encounter any problems whatsoever in the border towns. Many of the clinics make getting there very easy. Some pay for your parking on the United States side of the border and reimburse you for taxi fare to the clinic (always within a mile or two) and back to the border.
Of course, if you do not live within driving distance of a border town, you may find it impractical to make the trip for routine care, but if you are considering major work and facing enormous outlays of money, it may be wiser and cheaper to fly to a border town.
For example, someone needing extensive work such as complete oral rehabilitation might be charged $20,000 in the US, but can have the work done in Tijuana for $5250 plus the flight and the cost of a hotel room for a few weeks. The total cost for dental care, flight and hotel room would probably not exceed $7000. That's a savings of $13000 and you get a vacation to boot!
You will, of course, consult with the dentist you've selected to get his recommendation about a hotel that's within close walking distance to his office, but just to give you an idea of the type of accommodation you can expect in Mexico, see the Hotel la Villa site where rooms are $42 a night. Dentists catering to American and European patients are accustomed to providing all the information and help you need to make sure your treatment visit is a pleasant one, so do not hesitate to ask for their advice.
And, of course, when choosing a Mexican dental clinic, you must do your homework. Use the Internet to help you find information, read the talk forums about people's experiences, and call the clinic itself (most have toll-free United States numbers) to ask about the education and background of its dentists. Deciding on a Mexican dentist does take a bit more work, but the financial rewards are definitely worth the effort.
Practicalities -
This broadcast by a San Diego news station discusses the advantages of Mexican dental and health care.
This article by Robert Yoshioka focuses on Mexican dental care.
The Adventure Continues: Dentistry in Tijuana-- Robert Yoshioka
In this election year, with over 40 million Americans without any health insurance, it is more important than ever to seek affordable and reliable alternatives to maintain our health to the best of our ability. Quality dental care ranks among the most needed, and least well-funded of health services, yet for many of us in California, a viable and easily accessible alternative is available in Mexico.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Does Bundling Save a Bundle?
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
Companies would love for you to take them at their word that bundling saves money. And, of course, sometimes it does. If you and your partner bundle your insurance coverage for your cars and home with one provider, you will likely save. But bundling isn't always cost-effective. The only way to be sure is to compare the a la carte price with the bundled offer.
Never hesitate to do this; compare before you commit. A single phone call should help you decide whether that bundled price is really a bargain. Also, keep in mind that “special” prices are time-limited. When deciding whether to buy a la carte or bundle, compare the “regular” rates because that's the amount you will be paying over the long-term.
Another point to keep in mind is that bundling often gives you services you do not need or want. For example, if you do not use caller ID, three-way calling, and call waiting with your telephone service, they are superfluous extras that you could easily do without. Even if they are offered “free” with the bundled price, there's no point having services you don't require.
One area where I have consistently saved money with a la carte prices is with telecom services. This was true in North Carolina and Arizona, and, now that David and I are sharing a house in California, we are saving at least $15 a month.
We bundle our AT&T U-Verse (one of the best for TV, by the way) with our wireless Internet connection, but we excluded the phone from that bundle. We realized we seldom use the phone since most of our communication with friends is over the Internet. Aside from ordering an occasional pizza or making an appointment, we rarely use it. Still, we're not ready to let it go completely and we certainly need it in case of emergencies, so we opted for a measured rate instead of unlimited calling.
Our measured rate is $8.87 per month, as opposed to the unlimited rate of $16.45, and gives us a certain block of time per month for local calls. For the past eight months, we have never even come close to using our entire block of time, but should that ever happen, we would then pay an additional two cents per minute.
For long distance we opted for the company that I think is the best in the business—ECG. They have no service fee, no minimum monthly charge, and we pay only 2.5 cents per minute which is billed in six second increments. We do not have to dial any special numbers but simply dial the long-distance number as usual.
We are never even aware that we're using a separate company for long distance until we get the bill. Then, the difference in price between ECG and AT&T is striking. While we make as many long-distance phone calls as we like, our bill is rarely over $6 and often below. We can reach our friends in Spain for 5 cents a minute.
When compared to AT&T's rates, ECG is offering the best bargain in the country. Here are AT&T's three long distance plans: 1. 33 cents per minute with no monthly fee 2. 5 cents per minute with a $4 monthly fee 3. $25 a month for unlimited long distance. For the 193 minutes of long distance phone calls we made in a recent month, AT&T would have charged us tax plus 1. $63.69 with their 33 cents a minute plan 2. $13.65 with the $4 month/5 cents a minute plan or 3. $25 for unlimited calls. We paid $4.83 plus tax for a total of $5.90.
If we bundled our TV, Internet, and telephone, we would pay AT&T $96 plus tax per month. Because we do not bundle, we pay AT&T $66 for TV and Internet and $8.87 for measured telephone service; the ECG long distance bill is around $6. Our total bill for telecom services is $80.87 as opposed to AT&T's $96 for a savings of a little over $15 a month.
Please do your homework carefully to make sure you are getting the best deal. Bundling is not always a bargain.
Practicalities -
To find the best and cheapest long distance service for your area, check the Save on Phone link.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
Companies would love for you to take them at their word that bundling saves money. And, of course, sometimes it does. If you and your partner bundle your insurance coverage for your cars and home with one provider, you will likely save. But bundling isn't always cost-effective. The only way to be sure is to compare the a la carte price with the bundled offer.
Never hesitate to do this; compare before you commit. A single phone call should help you decide whether that bundled price is really a bargain. Also, keep in mind that “special” prices are time-limited. When deciding whether to buy a la carte or bundle, compare the “regular” rates because that's the amount you will be paying over the long-term.
Another point to keep in mind is that bundling often gives you services you do not need or want. For example, if you do not use caller ID, three-way calling, and call waiting with your telephone service, they are superfluous extras that you could easily do without. Even if they are offered “free” with the bundled price, there's no point having services you don't require.
One area where I have consistently saved money with a la carte prices is with telecom services. This was true in North Carolina and Arizona, and, now that David and I are sharing a house in California, we are saving at least $15 a month.
We bundle our AT&T U-Verse (one of the best for TV, by the way) with our wireless Internet connection, but we excluded the phone from that bundle. We realized we seldom use the phone since most of our communication with friends is over the Internet. Aside from ordering an occasional pizza or making an appointment, we rarely use it. Still, we're not ready to let it go completely and we certainly need it in case of emergencies, so we opted for a measured rate instead of unlimited calling.
Our measured rate is $8.87 per month, as opposed to the unlimited rate of $16.45, and gives us a certain block of time per month for local calls. For the past eight months, we have never even come close to using our entire block of time, but should that ever happen, we would then pay an additional two cents per minute.
For long distance we opted for the company that I think is the best in the business—ECG. They have no service fee, no minimum monthly charge, and we pay only 2.5 cents per minute which is billed in six second increments. We do not have to dial any special numbers but simply dial the long-distance number as usual.
We are never even aware that we're using a separate company for long distance until we get the bill. Then, the difference in price between ECG and AT&T is striking. While we make as many long-distance phone calls as we like, our bill is rarely over $6 and often below. We can reach our friends in Spain for 5 cents a minute.
When compared to AT&T's rates, ECG is offering the best bargain in the country. Here are AT&T's three long distance plans: 1. 33 cents per minute with no monthly fee 2. 5 cents per minute with a $4 monthly fee 3. $25 a month for unlimited long distance. For the 193 minutes of long distance phone calls we made in a recent month, AT&T would have charged us tax plus 1. $63.69 with their 33 cents a minute plan 2. $13.65 with the $4 month/5 cents a minute plan or 3. $25 for unlimited calls. We paid $4.83 plus tax for a total of $5.90.
If we bundled our TV, Internet, and telephone, we would pay AT&T $96 plus tax per month. Because we do not bundle, we pay AT&T $66 for TV and Internet and $8.87 for measured telephone service; the ECG long distance bill is around $6. Our total bill for telecom services is $80.87 as opposed to AT&T's $96 for a savings of a little over $15 a month.
Please do your homework carefully to make sure you are getting the best deal. Bundling is not always a bargain.
Practicalities -
To find the best and cheapest long distance service for your area, check the Save on Phone link.
Monday, January 11, 2010
How to Make Sure Your Car Mechanic Isn't Taking You for a Ride
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
Over twenty years ago, I bought a seven-year-old Audi that had electrical problems. It was a beautiful car with leather upholstery and a Blaupunkt stereo system so it was a pleasure to sit in—as long as I didn't want to drive anywhere. That luxurious but temperamental car stranded me all over the state of North Carolina. I met a lot of kind strangers as a consequence, but since meeting people was not my objective in car ownership, I finally sold the Audi, at a considerable loss, a couple years later.
I often wonder if I'd still be driving that car if I had found a competent mechanic who could have solved the electrical issue.
I've continued to buy used cars—my current one is eleven years old and will last another ten or fifteen years, I'm sure—but I now know how to locate a good mechanic. These days the Internet makes that easy.
To locate a good mechanic, get some advice from Click and Clack, two guys who have an extremely popular radio show on NPR. The brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi are both graduates of MIT and have owned a garage since 1973. You don't have to call in to the show to find a mechanic, though, as you can consult the Car Talk h website. Go the bottom right-hand corner, “Mechanics Files,” and enter your zip code. Another page will open listing all the mechanics who have been recommended by customers in your area.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
Over twenty years ago, I bought a seven-year-old Audi that had electrical problems. It was a beautiful car with leather upholstery and a Blaupunkt stereo system so it was a pleasure to sit in—as long as I didn't want to drive anywhere. That luxurious but temperamental car stranded me all over the state of North Carolina. I met a lot of kind strangers as a consequence, but since meeting people was not my objective in car ownership, I finally sold the Audi, at a considerable loss, a couple years later.
I often wonder if I'd still be driving that car if I had found a competent mechanic who could have solved the electrical issue.
I've continued to buy used cars—my current one is eleven years old and will last another ten or fifteen years, I'm sure—but I now know how to locate a good mechanic. These days the Internet makes that easy.
To locate a good mechanic, get some advice from Click and Clack, two guys who have an extremely popular radio show on NPR. The brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi are both graduates of MIT and have owned a garage since 1973. You don't have to call in to the show to find a mechanic, though, as you can consult the Car Talk h website. Go the bottom right-hand corner, “Mechanics Files,” and enter your zip code. Another page will open listing all the mechanics who have been recommended by customers in your area.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Does She or Doesn't She? (know how to save money on hair care)
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
I'm a natural blond. Honest. But ever since my late teens, I've found it necessary to help Mother Nature along a little bit, and that help hasn't always come cheap.
In my twenties, I was a do-it-yourself-er, and judging by the number of times I accidentally turned my hair green, I single-handedly kept Clairol in business for at least ten years. Eventually either their products or my skill improved, and I convinced myself that “only my hairdresser knew for sure” what color my hair really was. Heaven knows I didn't!
A couple decades later, a friend told me I should go for a “correction” at her upscale salon. Ruth said Pierre, who drove a silver Jaguar, was a genius with color.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
****************
I'm a natural blond. Honest. But ever since my late teens, I've found it necessary to help Mother Nature along a little bit, and that help hasn't always come cheap.
In my twenties, I was a do-it-yourself-er, and judging by the number of times I accidentally turned my hair green, I single-handedly kept Clairol in business for at least ten years. Eventually either their products or my skill improved, and I convinced myself that “only my hairdresser knew for sure” what color my hair really was. Heaven knows I didn't!
A couple decades later, a friend told me I should go for a “correction” at her upscale salon. Ruth said Pierre, who drove a silver Jaguar, was a genius with color.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Can Fifteen Minutes Really Save You 15%?
January is a great month for resolutions and what better resolution could you have than to find new ways to save money for travel? This month's articles will focus on ways to help you conserve cash for that trip you'd like to take when the weather warms up.
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
You might not have been lucky enough to have an older sister and brother-in-law who took you under their wing when you were growing up to teach you the basics of frugality, but I will be happy to share what they taught me, along with a few other tricks I've learned along the way. George finally gave up trying to teach me measurement conversions (I still do not know how many pints are in a quart.), but he, along with my sister, succeeded in teaching me the value of smart shopping and that's a lesson I've never forgotten.
They introduced me to Consumer Reports monthly magazine, published by Consumers Union, and told me to evaluate products according to Consumer Reports ratings, and to disregard all advertising in any other media. Using this magazine, they assured
Saving money is not the least bit painful; there's no discomfort because you will not have to make any sacrifices. Conserving your dollars involves spending intelligently, rather than haphazardly, so you can live below your means and bank the rest of your income for travel. You won't scrimp. It is possible to live well, even luxuriously, on far less than you might think.
You might not have been lucky enough to have an older sister and brother-in-law who took you under their wing when you were growing up to teach you the basics of frugality, but I will be happy to share what they taught me, along with a few other tricks I've learned along the way. George finally gave up trying to teach me measurement conversions (I still do not know how many pints are in a quart.), but he, along with my sister, succeeded in teaching me the value of smart shopping and that's a lesson I've never forgotten.
They introduced me to Consumer Reports monthly magazine, published by Consumers Union, and told me to evaluate products according to Consumer Reports ratings, and to disregard all advertising in any other media. Using this magazine, they assured
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