Well, we booked the tickets and to save money, we shortened our trip by two days and flew out on a Wednesday instead of Monday...saved about $113 a person and when you multiply that by 6...
We arrived in Kona about mid afternoon on Wednesday and got in our rental car. If you are planning on renting a car, do it online before you get here. You will save about $50 a day (at least that was our experience) booking online through one of the "web specials". Rates change daily for the most part once you get on the island. We also were convinced to buy the "pre-pay" gas option; which ended up being a good buy since gas costs between $3.31 and $3.41 a gallon and we locked in at $3.13.
First stop leaving the airport? COSTCO! We're staying in a condo...it's a little off the "strip" and nowhere near the "luxury resorts" but since we have the rental car, we opted for this option. It's a very nice 3 bedroom 3 bath! And at less than $200 a night..definitely a better choice. Of course, you are giving up the maid service, room service, etc. that you would get at a chain type resort but something's gotta give. Our Country Club Villa does offer a great view of the golf course and the ocean from the balcony. We are also cooking our own breakfast and have snacks a plenty in our fully stocked kitchen. When meals for 6 (including two growing brothers of mine) can cost about $100 a meal, cooking at least a meal a day yourself can save a bundle!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Meantime
Although I have not yet left for my trip, I can start with the entire process of planning the trip. This trip to Hawaii was actually unplanned to begin with. It stemmed from a last minute cancellation of a China trip. So we rallyed to plan another vacation. We had about 5 days...
Budgeting on Vacation
Alright ladies and gents, let me prepare you early for what will be my ten day trip to Hawaii. During my trip I will be documenting all phases of a vacation; starting from finding cheap fares to meals and activities and ending with souvenirs.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
To watch or not to watch
The question of the day is this:
Do you need cable tv?
I'll start with my twitter survey of whether people have or do not have cable: So far, everyone who has answered does not have cable...it could be because those who do are watching tv instead of online. Those without cable have noted that they watch tv on the internet, on hulu, and have netflix to get their fix. I will say this...my experience without cable gets me out of the apartment more than not. Life DOES exist outside of Sportscenter and the Food Network. Hanging out with friends and not just sitting in front of the television can lead to cooking dinners, going hiking, hitting up the beach, shopping (although I wouldn't recommend that activity if you're trying to save money), working out, or just having a leisurely chat while laying out in the sun (come on, you know you want to savor every minute of Summer we get here). All these options...they are ALL easily doable in Portland.
Secondly, I have read numerous articles on "reducing costs" and most of them have cutting cable in the 1st or 2nd spot. I have looked at the local cable offerings and you can get basic cable for around $10. You can also get cable for about $200. I don't think I have to tell you which option will save you money. If you can't live without cable and don't want to get a converter box (which works great by the way)...then get the basic $10/month plan. If you have time to be watching 900 channels of television for $200/month I am not sure if you can actually afford to have that package...but if you can, then by all means. I surely don't have $200 to spend on channels I will never watch. Of course there are options in between these two which are always there but anything over $100 is gonna put a pretty big dent in the account for bills.
There is the other side of this of course...everyone is too busy to hang out, you don't like to do things by yourself, you don't like to read and tv has always kept you company. AND you have a great tv so of course the natural next stage would to get cable so that you can host tv watching gatherings at your place. Can't do that without cable...or can you? Tv keeps you company? So can the internet...so can internet tv. Want to watch it on your sweet tv?...get an S-Video cord or any other cord that will be a one time purchase and hook your computer up to play video on that. Many sites are offering their shows in HD too.
Want to host that finals game?...Sometimes they stream that online too. OR they play it on a channel you could get with a converter box. Neither of those are options?...then yes, it's a bit of a drawback but you can still host...just perhaps at someone else's place. Better yet, you can help stimulate the local economy and go to a sports lounge that has the game playing on one of their sweet big tvs!
Overall, lots of options to reduce your monthly cable bill...
1. Cut cable (zero cost)
2. Downgrade from the expensive HD/Movies/NFL/Sports galore package to basic
3. Call your provider and see if they'll lower the price for you...otherwise you will downgrade
Get your fix like so many have said so at www.twitter.com/umpqualouie and watch tv online and netflix those movies (keep on eye on how much netflix would be compared to what you pay for cable). I love watching tv online...less commercials.
Do you need cable tv?
I'll start with my twitter survey of whether people have or do not have cable: So far, everyone who has answered does not have cable...it could be because those who do are watching tv instead of online. Those without cable have noted that they watch tv on the internet, on hulu, and have netflix to get their fix. I will say this...my experience without cable gets me out of the apartment more than not. Life DOES exist outside of Sportscenter and the Food Network. Hanging out with friends and not just sitting in front of the television can lead to cooking dinners, going hiking, hitting up the beach, shopping (although I wouldn't recommend that activity if you're trying to save money), working out, or just having a leisurely chat while laying out in the sun (come on, you know you want to savor every minute of Summer we get here). All these options...they are ALL easily doable in Portland.
Secondly, I have read numerous articles on "reducing costs" and most of them have cutting cable in the 1st or 2nd spot. I have looked at the local cable offerings and you can get basic cable for around $10. You can also get cable for about $200. I don't think I have to tell you which option will save you money. If you can't live without cable and don't want to get a converter box (which works great by the way)...then get the basic $10/month plan. If you have time to be watching 900 channels of television for $200/month I am not sure if you can actually afford to have that package...but if you can, then by all means. I surely don't have $200 to spend on channels I will never watch. Of course there are options in between these two which are always there but anything over $100 is gonna put a pretty big dent in the account for bills.
There is the other side of this of course...everyone is too busy to hang out, you don't like to do things by yourself, you don't like to read and tv has always kept you company. AND you have a great tv so of course the natural next stage would to get cable so that you can host tv watching gatherings at your place. Can't do that without cable...or can you? Tv keeps you company? So can the internet...so can internet tv. Want to watch it on your sweet tv?...get an S-Video cord or any other cord that will be a one time purchase and hook your computer up to play video on that. Many sites are offering their shows in HD too.
Want to host that finals game?...Sometimes they stream that online too. OR they play it on a channel you could get with a converter box. Neither of those are options?...then yes, it's a bit of a drawback but you can still host...just perhaps at someone else's place. Better yet, you can help stimulate the local economy and go to a sports lounge that has the game playing on one of their sweet big tvs!
Overall, lots of options to reduce your monthly cable bill...
1. Cut cable (zero cost)
2. Downgrade from the expensive HD/Movies/NFL/Sports galore package to basic
3. Call your provider and see if they'll lower the price for you...otherwise you will downgrade
Get your fix like so many have said so at www.twitter.com/umpqualouie and watch tv online and netflix those movies (keep on eye on how much netflix would be compared to what you pay for cable). I love watching tv online...less commercials.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Credit Card
So far it has been a unanimous NO on my twitter survey of "yes or no to department store credit cards". The question came up from a friend of mine who was asking me whether she should close about three of those dept store credit cards that she never uses or leave them open for "credit" reasons.
I happen to be one of those people with a few dept store credit cards myself...that I hardly ever use. Perhaps once every couple months? And when I do use them, I usually ask if I can pay it off right then and there. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, I always set a reminder on my phone to login online so I can pay it off right away. I'm a stickler for this. I never spend money that I don't have.
I can't speak for how your credit will actually respond to closures or openings of these cards, but there is a nice little article that I found fairly informative...
http://www.ehow.com/how_4783703_should-cancel-credit-card-account.html
Let me know what you think!
I happen to be one of those people with a few dept store credit cards myself...that I hardly ever use. Perhaps once every couple months? And when I do use them, I usually ask if I can pay it off right then and there. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, I always set a reminder on my phone to login online so I can pay it off right away. I'm a stickler for this. I never spend money that I don't have.
I can't speak for how your credit will actually respond to closures or openings of these cards, but there is a nice little article that I found fairly informative...
http://www.ehow.com/how_4783703_should-cancel-credit-card-account.html
Let me know what you think!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Social Networking
While reading the paper the other day at work (Umpqua Bank of course), an article about social networking caught my eye. These days though, anything talkign about or referencing "social networks" catches my eye. It is the wave of the future...or present. Many of us have been using these sites on a personal level for years; and now "Online profiles help employees learn about potentially productive people"-Julie Weed, The Oregonian: June 1st, 2009
I believe (obviously since I'm blogging)...and twittering (look for me "UmpquaLouie") that social networking does help get your name out there. I know that I am on my computer all the time...at work and once I get home. If i want to know something, I no longer HAVE to call someone or go to the library. I just turn on my computer. The more you put out there, the more people will have the opportunity to see you. There are pros and cons to this, like anything else out there but just think about the reach you can have by putting "yourself" on the internet.
So many businesses are on these networking sites that I barely have to go on to their individual websites. All I have to do is go to one networking site and if I am "following" (like on Twitter) someone's updates, then all the information comes to me. Being accessable on a social networking site is key to getting noticed. On a personal note, I have been keeping up with a lot of the goings on in Portland through Twitter because people/businesses are constantly updating different events or specials that are happening around the town.
Check out my updates at www.twitter.com/umpqualouie as well as who I am following!
I believe (obviously since I'm blogging)...and twittering (look for me "UmpquaLouie") that social networking does help get your name out there. I know that I am on my computer all the time...at work and once I get home. If i want to know something, I no longer HAVE to call someone or go to the library. I just turn on my computer. The more you put out there, the more people will have the opportunity to see you. There are pros and cons to this, like anything else out there but just think about the reach you can have by putting "yourself" on the internet.
So many businesses are on these networking sites that I barely have to go on to their individual websites. All I have to do is go to one networking site and if I am "following" (like on Twitter) someone's updates, then all the information comes to me. Being accessable on a social networking site is key to getting noticed. On a personal note, I have been keeping up with a lot of the goings on in Portland through Twitter because people/businesses are constantly updating different events or specials that are happening around the town.
Check out my updates at www.twitter.com/umpqualouie as well as who I am following!
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