Earlier this week, I read this article about the current state of the American economy. I found the discussion of the dollar versus the Euro to be fascinating.
First off, I don't think that I knew that the dollar was considered "the leading international currency." Given the recent American domination in many areas, I suppose it makes sense, but I never thought of it as a leading currency. I knew that the dollar was often accepted in other countries, but I assumed that was mostly in tourist areas or in poorer countries. I would never expect the dollar to be dominant in Europe. I suppose the description is more in terms of banking currency, of course, and I can't say that's an area I've ever stopped to ponder.
The article discusses how the Euro may be taking the place of the dollar. Quite shocking to me was the fact that many Manhattan retailers are putting signs in their windows indicating that they accept Euros. This is an indication both that the dollar is losing its dominance and that European tourists are flocking to the U.S. to take advantage of the exchange rate.
I suppose it's good for the economy that foreigners are taking advantage of the exchange rate and coming to the U.S. for vacation. I'm sure that many vacation destinations in the U.S. are struggling because of all the Americans who have decided to scale back this year and have a "staycation" instead, so an influx of foreign visitors will hopefully boost them back to their normal levels.
Unfortunately, it looks like the dollar may have a few more years of struggle ahead of it. Some believe that the dollar is at an unnatural low, others believe that in the 90's, the dollar was overvalued and now things have started to normalize to where they should be. I can't say that I know enough about international monetary policy to make an informed guess. But I do thing the next few years will be interesting.
And hey, if the exchange rates don't improve, maybe this means I'll be able to convince all my friends to take that trip to Yellowstone I've been hoping for, rather than the exotic foreign destination they seem to all crave.
Abundant Life Spending Spree - $25,600
$25,600 will probably buy me a hybrid car. Not that I do a lot of driving as it is. But with gas prices as they are, it seems to make sense. Plus it's just good to do the most green thing possible (even though I hear hybrid cars aren't as green as they seem, what with the methods of disposal available for the batteries).
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Adventures in Air Travel
I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had purchased my tickets to fly to my hometown for Christmas. I'm flying American Airlines, and you may have noticed that this past week, they announced that they were canceling a number of flights. I'm sure you can guess what happened next.
Well, actually, what happened next was that my parents called me to tell me that their flights to come see me and go to a football game in November got changed. Changed in a very strange way. They booked their flights into BWI (Baltimore-Washington International, a perfectly lovely airport in Baltimore). Their flights got changed to bring them into Washington Reagan (another perfectly lovely airport, this time here in D.C.). Not a big deal, since their plans involved getting a rental car and driving to D.C.; the flight into BWI had simply been cheaper. This way, they can just borrow my car instead of renting one and save a bit of money.
So I wasn't surprised to get an e-mail from American Airlines telling me that my flights for Christmas had changed. I skimmed the e-mail. At first glance, it just looked like the flight times had changed and that I was connecting through a different city on the way back.
And then I took a good look at it. I was flying out of Washington Reagan. But then, flying home, I was going into BWI. Significantly further away. Not really even in the same city. Or state, for that matter. On top of that, I flew into LaGuardia, and then had to somehow get from there to JFK to get my flight to BWI!
Obviously, this was unacceptable. I called the reservations line and the agent I got laughed when she saw what had happened to my itinerary. Not surprisingly, the whole thing is done by computer, and somehow the computer had thought this was a good idea. Fixing the problem took less than five minutes, and she managed to get me on a direct flight back rather than connecting through any city. Not a bad deal. She told me that this didn't happen often, but when it did, calling the reservation line was the easiest way to deal with it.
Given all the hassles in air travel, I can't say this was a big one all in all. But it is a good reminder to always check and recheck your itinerary to make sure some little subtle change, like an airport change, hasn't been made.
Abundant Life Spending Spree - $12,800
Like I said, this is getting tough. With $12,800 to toss in the air and dance around in, I would grab a group of my friends and go to Disney World. Sound silly? It's been something that a group of us has discussed for years. We've talked about how it would be an incredibly fun trip, especially if we could go all out and eat in the fancy restaurants and stay in the fancy hotels. I think I could pay for everyone to fly in and go for $12,800. And then some!
Well, actually, what happened next was that my parents called me to tell me that their flights to come see me and go to a football game in November got changed. Changed in a very strange way. They booked their flights into BWI (Baltimore-Washington International, a perfectly lovely airport in Baltimore). Their flights got changed to bring them into Washington Reagan (another perfectly lovely airport, this time here in D.C.). Not a big deal, since their plans involved getting a rental car and driving to D.C.; the flight into BWI had simply been cheaper. This way, they can just borrow my car instead of renting one and save a bit of money.
So I wasn't surprised to get an e-mail from American Airlines telling me that my flights for Christmas had changed. I skimmed the e-mail. At first glance, it just looked like the flight times had changed and that I was connecting through a different city on the way back.
And then I took a good look at it. I was flying out of Washington Reagan. But then, flying home, I was going into BWI. Significantly further away. Not really even in the same city. Or state, for that matter. On top of that, I flew into LaGuardia, and then had to somehow get from there to JFK to get my flight to BWI!
Obviously, this was unacceptable. I called the reservations line and the agent I got laughed when she saw what had happened to my itinerary. Not surprisingly, the whole thing is done by computer, and somehow the computer had thought this was a good idea. Fixing the problem took less than five minutes, and she managed to get me on a direct flight back rather than connecting through any city. Not a bad deal. She told me that this didn't happen often, but when it did, calling the reservation line was the easiest way to deal with it.
Given all the hassles in air travel, I can't say this was a big one all in all. But it is a good reminder to always check and recheck your itinerary to make sure some little subtle change, like an airport change, hasn't been made.
Abundant Life Spending Spree - $12,800
Like I said, this is getting tough. With $12,800 to toss in the air and dance around in, I would grab a group of my friends and go to Disney World. Sound silly? It's been something that a group of us has discussed for years. We've talked about how it would be an incredibly fun trip, especially if we could go all out and eat in the fancy restaurants and stay in the fancy hotels. I think I could pay for everyone to fly in and go for $12,800. And then some!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Quick Update
I have an addition to my travel tips post. When flying anywhere, be sure to bring at least one extra set of clothing, and plan to fly home with that outfit still clean.
I spent a long weekend at my parents' house as a Father's Day surprise for my dad. My flight out was delayed a bit, but nothing too bad. However, my flight home today got cancelled due to "weather in D.C." Really, I think there were just storms possible, and the flight wasn't full, so they opted to cancel rather than delay. I could still have gotten home tonight, but it would have been around 2 am by the time I got back to my apartment. I wasn't going to be able to get to work by 7:30 anyway. Not if I wanted to function. So I opted to take a flight tomorrow, get another evening with my family, and not worry about work. Thankfully, I have the vacation time available, a very flexible boss, and will likely be able to make up the hours anyway.
But the problem is that I didn't have any extra clothing with me! So I'm doing laundry right now. Not a problem, since I'm with my family. But if I were stuck in a hotel overnight, this would be a bigger issue. No one wants to fly next to the stinky girl, after all.
Content will return on Wednesday. Wish me luck getting home tomorrow.
I spent a long weekend at my parents' house as a Father's Day surprise for my dad. My flight out was delayed a bit, but nothing too bad. However, my flight home today got cancelled due to "weather in D.C." Really, I think there were just storms possible, and the flight wasn't full, so they opted to cancel rather than delay. I could still have gotten home tonight, but it would have been around 2 am by the time I got back to my apartment. I wasn't going to be able to get to work by 7:30 anyway. Not if I wanted to function. So I opted to take a flight tomorrow, get another evening with my family, and not worry about work. Thankfully, I have the vacation time available, a very flexible boss, and will likely be able to make up the hours anyway.
But the problem is that I didn't have any extra clothing with me! So I'm doing laundry right now. Not a problem, since I'm with my family. But if I were stuck in a hotel overnight, this would be a bigger issue. No one wants to fly next to the stinky girl, after all.
Content will return on Wednesday. Wish me luck getting home tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Christmas already?
This week, I booked my flights for my trip to my parents' house at Christmas. That's right, I booked Christmas tickets in June. Why? I started pricing tickets, just to see what they would cost (around $600), and on a whim, I decided to see what I could get using my American Airlines miles. Surprise, surprise! I could book a flight on the days I wanted and pay only taxes (a whopping $10). Additionally, American Airlines is starting to charge $15 per checked bag, but that's for tickets bought after June 15th, so I beat that as well (though I paid nothing for the flight - $15 for a bag wouldn't break the bank).
If you're planning to travel for the holidays, it doesn't hurt to check out ticket prices now. Airlines are reducing the number of flights, and from what I've been told, the flights are filling up as well. Sure, you might get a discount if you wait and grab something last minute, but personally, I'd rather have a guaranteed seat for my holiday travel. One less thing to stress out about.
I think my biggest travel tip is to pack well. Even with the hassles of checking bags, don't be that person who brings an incredibly large bag onto the plane. You will struggle to find somewhere to put it and you will be "that guy," the person everyone else on the plane is frustrated with. With the additional fees, I'd recommend only checking one bag, and be sure that bag weighs less than 50 pounds (or whatever restriction your airline places on checked bag weight). An easy way to do this is to weigh yourself, then pick up the bag and weigh yourself with the bag. Subtract, and there you go. Also, be sure that you can handle your carry-on bags. You will be carrying them. Heavy bags can just lead to injury.
To save money, bring snacks with you. I make a point of bringing snacks that are a bit of a "treat." It means that I'm less tempted in the airport. I pick up my standard granola bars, but I'll also pack some Peanut M&Ms or some other candy - stuff I could buy at the airport, but stuff I would have to pay airport prices for.
One tip for staying healthy while flying is to make sure you drink enough water. You can choose to bring an empty water bottle to the airport and fill it with water from a water fountain once through security, but you can't guarantee how clean that water fountain is. I know that Brita used to make water bottles with mini-filters inside. I haven't seen these in a few years, but they may still exist. If you can find one, or something similar, then it might be worth it. Otherwise, just be ready to shell out a few bucks for water in the airport. It's annoying, but it's better than getting dehydrated.
Show up to the airport early. It's better to be through security and sitting at the gate an hour before your flight than to be rushing through the airport hoping that your flight doesn't leave without you.
Carry the airline phone number with you. If you're worried about missing a connection, immediately call the airline - don't wait in line to talk to someone. Same goes with a cancelled flight. You'll get help faster by phone and you'll have a better chance of getting on a different flight.
Be patient. Above all, I've learned that just going with the flow makes the whole travel experience more enjoyable. Stressing out about something you can't change won't help anything.
If you're planning to travel for the holidays, it doesn't hurt to check out ticket prices now. Airlines are reducing the number of flights, and from what I've been told, the flights are filling up as well. Sure, you might get a discount if you wait and grab something last minute, but personally, I'd rather have a guaranteed seat for my holiday travel. One less thing to stress out about.
I think my biggest travel tip is to pack well. Even with the hassles of checking bags, don't be that person who brings an incredibly large bag onto the plane. You will struggle to find somewhere to put it and you will be "that guy," the person everyone else on the plane is frustrated with. With the additional fees, I'd recommend only checking one bag, and be sure that bag weighs less than 50 pounds (or whatever restriction your airline places on checked bag weight). An easy way to do this is to weigh yourself, then pick up the bag and weigh yourself with the bag. Subtract, and there you go. Also, be sure that you can handle your carry-on bags. You will be carrying them. Heavy bags can just lead to injury.
To save money, bring snacks with you. I make a point of bringing snacks that are a bit of a "treat." It means that I'm less tempted in the airport. I pick up my standard granola bars, but I'll also pack some Peanut M&Ms or some other candy - stuff I could buy at the airport, but stuff I would have to pay airport prices for.
One tip for staying healthy while flying is to make sure you drink enough water. You can choose to bring an empty water bottle to the airport and fill it with water from a water fountain once through security, but you can't guarantee how clean that water fountain is. I know that Brita used to make water bottles with mini-filters inside. I haven't seen these in a few years, but they may still exist. If you can find one, or something similar, then it might be worth it. Otherwise, just be ready to shell out a few bucks for water in the airport. It's annoying, but it's better than getting dehydrated.
Show up to the airport early. It's better to be through security and sitting at the gate an hour before your flight than to be rushing through the airport hoping that your flight doesn't leave without you.
Carry the airline phone number with you. If you're worried about missing a connection, immediately call the airline - don't wait in line to talk to someone. Same goes with a cancelled flight. You'll get help faster by phone and you'll have a better chance of getting on a different flight.
Be patient. Above all, I've learned that just going with the flow makes the whole travel experience more enjoyable. Stressing out about something you can't change won't help anything.
Friday, May 30, 2008
I still don't like hidden fees
I really like when sites where you can buy plane tickets list the price with the tax and fees. Then you know exactly what you're going to be paying when you buy the ticket. Which is nice because if you travel and stay in a hotel, your hotel bill is all but guaranteed to be filled with taxes and fees of all sorts.
Hidden fees continue to drive me crazy, and I may have a new favorite hidden fee. And when I say "favorite," I mean "fee I find absolutely ridiculous."
Two friends and I split a room this past weekend for a friend's wedding. We ended up in a "suite" with a pull out couch so no one had to sleep on the floor. We were told the "suite" cost an additional $10 over the price of a standard room with a rollaway.
Fine, no problem.
We were expecting all sorts of taxes and perhaps a few extra fees on our bill, as that seems to be the norm with hotel bills, but I was quite surprised to see this one: extra occupant charge - $20/night.
I know what you're thinking. Three people in a room designed for two (even though there was a pullout couch). So they charged extra for that third person. Prevents college kids from cramming 15 people in a room that sleeps three. Fine.
Except that this extra occupant charge wasn't just for one person. It was charged for the extra TWO people in the room. That's right - the standard room rate was just for one person.
I can't even begin to explain how ridiculous I find that. How much more can it actually cost the hotel for a second person in the room, especially a room with only one bed? I suppose it might be a bit of extra work for housekeeping. And I suppose that's two showers instead of one, and two sets of towels instead of one. But still. $20 for a second person in the room?
Extra occupant charge. Ridiculous.
Hidden fees continue to drive me crazy, and I may have a new favorite hidden fee. And when I say "favorite," I mean "fee I find absolutely ridiculous."
Two friends and I split a room this past weekend for a friend's wedding. We ended up in a "suite" with a pull out couch so no one had to sleep on the floor. We were told the "suite" cost an additional $10 over the price of a standard room with a rollaway.
Fine, no problem.
We were expecting all sorts of taxes and perhaps a few extra fees on our bill, as that seems to be the norm with hotel bills, but I was quite surprised to see this one: extra occupant charge - $20/night.
I know what you're thinking. Three people in a room designed for two (even though there was a pullout couch). So they charged extra for that third person. Prevents college kids from cramming 15 people in a room that sleeps three. Fine.
Except that this extra occupant charge wasn't just for one person. It was charged for the extra TWO people in the room. That's right - the standard room rate was just for one person.
I can't even begin to explain how ridiculous I find that. How much more can it actually cost the hotel for a second person in the room, especially a room with only one bed? I suppose it might be a bit of extra work for housekeeping. And I suppose that's two showers instead of one, and two sets of towels instead of one. But still. $20 for a second person in the room?
Extra occupant charge. Ridiculous.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Visiting Washington D.C. (Part 2)
To continue my guide to Washington, D.C. for the frugal traveler, I thought I would list some very basic tips for getting around D.C.
The Metro
I am a huge fan of the Metro system in D.C. Sure, it has it's problems, and for a while, I was cursing the red line daily, but all in all, it's a great way to get around. But I do have a few tips for using the Metro.
First - D.C. residents know this quite well, but when using the escalators at the Metro, you should stand right and walk left. If you want a leisurely ride down, stand on the right. Don't block those in a hurry and stand on the left or in the middle. It sounds silly, but I think this is one of the biggest pet peeves locals have about tourists. Along those lines, don't cluster at the bottom of the escalator either. I thought that was common sense, but last week, I careened into a group of tourists when I got to the end of the escalator.
The Metro will be the most crowded and the most expensive during rush hour. That's right - the regular rates are only during rush hour. Metro charges a "reduced rate" the rest of the time - including on the weekends and federal holidays. If you really want to save money, you might want to check out the fare schedule on the Metro website and figure out when you want to ride, but if you just want to avoid the crowds, I would recommend not leaving your hotel until around 9, and avoiding the metro from 5-6ish in the afternoon. Of course, your mileage may vary, but in my experience, those are the times when the metro is the busiest, meaning that you might get packed in. Of course, if you don't care about being pressed up against strangers, by all means, go for it. It can be a little bit intimidating for small children, however, if they're forced to stand on a very crowded metro train. Don't expect anyone to give up their seat for you either. If you have a physical need for a seat, don't be afraid to ask, of course.
You can pick up a free Metro map at any station, but I would also recommend getting a D.C. map with the metro stations marked on it. The Metro map is absolutely not to scale, and frequently, it can be just as easy to walk as to ride the Metro. And walking is free. I have seen a number of tourists get on the metro and ride two stops to get somewhere when they could have simply walked four or five blocks and passed a number of attractions on the way. You're always welcome to ride, but if you're looking to save money and it's a nice day, why not walk and see the sights while you do so?
D.C. also has a bus system that I admit I am not too familiar with. It can also be a good way to get around, but I find the Metro much simpler. Additionally, while the Metro can get off schedule, I have found that the busses are even much more so, simply due to the unpredictability of traffic patterns. The one site that comes to mind as not being accessible by Metro is the National Cathedral. It's a beautiful site, and worth the visit, but you will either have to take a cab, drive, or take a bus. You can walk it, but it's a hike.
You can buy Metro passes at any station, and the machines will take both cash and credit cards. You can also buy day passes, but unless you plan to do a significant amount of traveling, I think it's easier to just pay per trip.
You will need a separate pass for every traveler - you can't just put a lot of money on one pass and then share it among your group. You need to insert your pass both to enter and to exit the metro (as you are charged by your trip, not by a flat rate), so sharing won't work. Additionally, that means that when you get to your destination, you will need your pass again, so don't put it safely away at the very bottom of your bag while you're riding. Wait until after you leave the station.
The Circulator
The Circulator is sort of an extension of the metro system. It is a bus, much cleaner than most Metro busses I've been on, that goes to a few specific places. I find that it's a great way to get to Georgetown, for example. It costs $1 to ride. Might be worth checking out before your trip.
The Blue Signs
D.C. is a tourist city. And to help the tourists get around, on many street corners around the "touristy" areas of the city, you will see blue signs with arrows pointing you towards various attractions and towards the nearest Metro stops. Not only is this a great way to help you get around on foot, but it can help you figure out where you are and compare to your map.
Most importantly, if you get turned around, don't be afraid to look for a friendly looking person and ask for directions. You might get blown off, but I'd say most people are pretty nice about those sorts of things. A lot of people in the city didn't grow up here, so we were all newcomers at some point.
The Metro
I am a huge fan of the Metro system in D.C. Sure, it has it's problems, and for a while, I was cursing the red line daily, but all in all, it's a great way to get around. But I do have a few tips for using the Metro.
First - D.C. residents know this quite well, but when using the escalators at the Metro, you should stand right and walk left. If you want a leisurely ride down, stand on the right. Don't block those in a hurry and stand on the left or in the middle. It sounds silly, but I think this is one of the biggest pet peeves locals have about tourists. Along those lines, don't cluster at the bottom of the escalator either. I thought that was common sense, but last week, I careened into a group of tourists when I got to the end of the escalator.
The Metro will be the most crowded and the most expensive during rush hour. That's right - the regular rates are only during rush hour. Metro charges a "reduced rate" the rest of the time - including on the weekends and federal holidays. If you really want to save money, you might want to check out the fare schedule on the Metro website and figure out when you want to ride, but if you just want to avoid the crowds, I would recommend not leaving your hotel until around 9, and avoiding the metro from 5-6ish in the afternoon. Of course, your mileage may vary, but in my experience, those are the times when the metro is the busiest, meaning that you might get packed in. Of course, if you don't care about being pressed up against strangers, by all means, go for it. It can be a little bit intimidating for small children, however, if they're forced to stand on a very crowded metro train. Don't expect anyone to give up their seat for you either. If you have a physical need for a seat, don't be afraid to ask, of course.
You can pick up a free Metro map at any station, but I would also recommend getting a D.C. map with the metro stations marked on it. The Metro map is absolutely not to scale, and frequently, it can be just as easy to walk as to ride the Metro. And walking is free. I have seen a number of tourists get on the metro and ride two stops to get somewhere when they could have simply walked four or five blocks and passed a number of attractions on the way. You're always welcome to ride, but if you're looking to save money and it's a nice day, why not walk and see the sights while you do so?
D.C. also has a bus system that I admit I am not too familiar with. It can also be a good way to get around, but I find the Metro much simpler. Additionally, while the Metro can get off schedule, I have found that the busses are even much more so, simply due to the unpredictability of traffic patterns. The one site that comes to mind as not being accessible by Metro is the National Cathedral. It's a beautiful site, and worth the visit, but you will either have to take a cab, drive, or take a bus. You can walk it, but it's a hike.
You can buy Metro passes at any station, and the machines will take both cash and credit cards. You can also buy day passes, but unless you plan to do a significant amount of traveling, I think it's easier to just pay per trip.
You will need a separate pass for every traveler - you can't just put a lot of money on one pass and then share it among your group. You need to insert your pass both to enter and to exit the metro (as you are charged by your trip, not by a flat rate), so sharing won't work. Additionally, that means that when you get to your destination, you will need your pass again, so don't put it safely away at the very bottom of your bag while you're riding. Wait until after you leave the station.
The Circulator
The Circulator is sort of an extension of the metro system. It is a bus, much cleaner than most Metro busses I've been on, that goes to a few specific places. I find that it's a great way to get to Georgetown, for example. It costs $1 to ride. Might be worth checking out before your trip.
The Blue Signs
D.C. is a tourist city. And to help the tourists get around, on many street corners around the "touristy" areas of the city, you will see blue signs with arrows pointing you towards various attractions and towards the nearest Metro stops. Not only is this a great way to help you get around on foot, but it can help you figure out where you are and compare to your map.
Most importantly, if you get turned around, don't be afraid to look for a friendly looking person and ask for directions. You might get blown off, but I'd say most people are pretty nice about those sorts of things. A lot of people in the city didn't grow up here, so we were all newcomers at some point.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Visiting Washington, D.C. (Part 1)
This summer, I have a few friends and family members coming to visit me in Washington, D.C., so I’ve been excitedly thinking about the various “touristy” things that I think they should consider doing. I sometimes forget how much I love this city and all the cheap and free things there are to do. Now that the weather’s getting nice, I’m hoping to be able to get out more and spend more time at the various museums and exhibitions.
D.C. may not be the cheapest city to live in, but it can be a relatively inexpensive place to visit. The majority of the museums and exhibits are free, after all. Yes, you will have to pay for transportation, lodging, and food. But even that can be done on a budget.
If you’re planning a trip to D.C., my first suggestion would be to check out Washington.org, the Official Tourism Site of Washington, D.C. It’s a good way to get ideas and find out if there are any events or festivals going on while you’re here. In the summertime especially, it seems like there’s always something going on!
There is a lot to see in D.C. So much so that it would be hard to do it all in one trip. Therefore, I recommend really planning your trip and figuring out just want you want to see and what you absolutely don’t want to miss. To that end, I would recommend checking out a guide book. Yes, I realize those cost money. But a good guide book will not only have maps, but also detailed information on the various attractions, such as hours, hints and tips, and even the best way to get there. I personally like the Frommer’s Guide and for help packing the most into your trip, the Fodor’s Washington D.C.’s 25 Best. Both come with nice pull-out maps, which I think are almost a necessity if you want to make the most of your trip. Do you need to get the most recent guide? Probably not, and you'll be able to save money if you buy used. That said, while most things in D.C. don't change a whole lot, an older guidebook might have incorrect hours or might be missing information. Is that a huge problem? Probably not.
D.C. does try to make it easy for tourists, though. On a number of corners in the city, especially those around the tourist attractions, you will find blue signs pointing you to various sites, as well as to the closest metro stops. Even living here, I find those helpful when I’m wandering an area I’m not entirely familiar with.
If you are planning a trip to D.C., contact your Senators or Representative. They can get you on tours of the Capitol and if you’re lucky, a White House tour as well. The White House tour is a self-guided walk-through of certain rooms in the White House. It’s quick, and disappointing to some, but I think it’s a very cool experience, and worth trying to get tickets. The Capitol tour is definitely worth the trip, though. And again, all you have to do is ask for tickets. I’d recommend doing this as far in advance as you can, however. Capitol tours are pretty easy to get – the Senator or Representative usually has a staff member who is in charge of giving these tours. It’s very cool to get to stand at the spot where John Adams used to sit every day and to get to look down on the House or the Senate floor. Plus there’s a lot of beautiful architecture and statuary that you can’t see anywhere else.
In the coming weeks, I will continue this new series on great things to do in D.C. for the frugal traveler. Start planning your trips now!
D.C. may not be the cheapest city to live in, but it can be a relatively inexpensive place to visit. The majority of the museums and exhibits are free, after all. Yes, you will have to pay for transportation, lodging, and food. But even that can be done on a budget.
If you’re planning a trip to D.C., my first suggestion would be to check out Washington.org, the Official Tourism Site of Washington, D.C. It’s a good way to get ideas and find out if there are any events or festivals going on while you’re here. In the summertime especially, it seems like there’s always something going on!
There is a lot to see in D.C. So much so that it would be hard to do it all in one trip. Therefore, I recommend really planning your trip and figuring out just want you want to see and what you absolutely don’t want to miss. To that end, I would recommend checking out a guide book. Yes, I realize those cost money. But a good guide book will not only have maps, but also detailed information on the various attractions, such as hours, hints and tips, and even the best way to get there. I personally like the Frommer’s Guide and for help packing the most into your trip, the Fodor’s Washington D.C.’s 25 Best. Both come with nice pull-out maps, which I think are almost a necessity if you want to make the most of your trip. Do you need to get the most recent guide? Probably not, and you'll be able to save money if you buy used. That said, while most things in D.C. don't change a whole lot, an older guidebook might have incorrect hours or might be missing information. Is that a huge problem? Probably not.
D.C. does try to make it easy for tourists, though. On a number of corners in the city, especially those around the tourist attractions, you will find blue signs pointing you to various sites, as well as to the closest metro stops. Even living here, I find those helpful when I’m wandering an area I’m not entirely familiar with.
If you are planning a trip to D.C., contact your Senators or Representative. They can get you on tours of the Capitol and if you’re lucky, a White House tour as well. The White House tour is a self-guided walk-through of certain rooms in the White House. It’s quick, and disappointing to some, but I think it’s a very cool experience, and worth trying to get tickets. The Capitol tour is definitely worth the trip, though. And again, all you have to do is ask for tickets. I’d recommend doing this as far in advance as you can, however. Capitol tours are pretty easy to get – the Senator or Representative usually has a staff member who is in charge of giving these tours. It’s very cool to get to stand at the spot where John Adams used to sit every day and to get to look down on the House or the Senate floor. Plus there’s a lot of beautiful architecture and statuary that you can’t see anywhere else.
In the coming weeks, I will continue this new series on great things to do in D.C. for the frugal traveler. Start planning your trips now!
Friday, April 4, 2008
March Budget Review
My apologizes for the lack of regular posting this week. I've been in training most days at work and by the time I get home, my brain is so numb that I can't come up with anything intelligent to post.
March was not so good for my budget. The goal was to finish the month with enough money in my YNAB buffer that I could live off of that money for April and start the policy of living off of last month's income.
I'm just about there. I overspent in March, so April's going to be tight, and may have a few overages by the time it's all said and done, but I can make up for that in May.
During March, I was over budget by just over $153. Some of it was preventable, some of it less so. I forgot that my virus protection came up for renewal in March, for example. I also was not aware that I was on auto-renewal, so when I was prompted to renew, I did. And then I got auto-renewed. Meaning that I paid twice. Sure, I'm now covered until March 2010, but that was a chunk of money that I wasn't planning to spend quite that quickly. Additionally, I went overboard on groceries. Some of that has to do with products that I buy in bulk, some of it was just general grocery prices. Looking at April, I think I'll be over this month as well, without any extravagant purchases. Prices have gone up and I prefer to spend the extra money to buy healthy foods. Fresh fruits and veggies are expensive at the supermarket right now. I'm crossing my fingers that the farmer's market sellers will be a bit cheaper.
(Of course, even though I work to save money and live frugally, even if the farmer's market turns out to be more expensive, I will still buy my produce there. Not only is it better quality, but I like the idea of buying locally and supporting the smaller farms rather than paying money to the big conglomerates.)
I did travel for a wedding this past month, but those expenses weren't as bad as I thought. I'm pretty pleased with how well I managed to stick to my budget on that trip. I only purchased a bottle of water and some coffee in the airport, an unusual thing for me as I'm usually drawn in by the magazine racks and bookstores while I'm waiting for my flight.
I am not so hopeful for April's budget, as I'm working from less than I wanted to. I'm going to try to stay as tight to the budget as possible, and then make it up in May. I've got another wedding to travel to in May, as well as a family vacation. My family is actually paying for the vacation so I can attend, for which I am incredibly thankful. I know there is at least one night when it will just be me and my parents for dinner before the rest of the family flies in, so I'm going to try to pick up the tab that night. It's not much, but I think it's a nice gesture and a tiny way I can try to show how much I appreciate their paying for the trip so that I can attend.
March was not so good for my budget. The goal was to finish the month with enough money in my YNAB buffer that I could live off of that money for April and start the policy of living off of last month's income.
I'm just about there. I overspent in March, so April's going to be tight, and may have a few overages by the time it's all said and done, but I can make up for that in May.
During March, I was over budget by just over $153. Some of it was preventable, some of it less so. I forgot that my virus protection came up for renewal in March, for example. I also was not aware that I was on auto-renewal, so when I was prompted to renew, I did. And then I got auto-renewed. Meaning that I paid twice. Sure, I'm now covered until March 2010, but that was a chunk of money that I wasn't planning to spend quite that quickly. Additionally, I went overboard on groceries. Some of that has to do with products that I buy in bulk, some of it was just general grocery prices. Looking at April, I think I'll be over this month as well, without any extravagant purchases. Prices have gone up and I prefer to spend the extra money to buy healthy foods. Fresh fruits and veggies are expensive at the supermarket right now. I'm crossing my fingers that the farmer's market sellers will be a bit cheaper.
(Of course, even though I work to save money and live frugally, even if the farmer's market turns out to be more expensive, I will still buy my produce there. Not only is it better quality, but I like the idea of buying locally and supporting the smaller farms rather than paying money to the big conglomerates.)
I did travel for a wedding this past month, but those expenses weren't as bad as I thought. I'm pretty pleased with how well I managed to stick to my budget on that trip. I only purchased a bottle of water and some coffee in the airport, an unusual thing for me as I'm usually drawn in by the magazine racks and bookstores while I'm waiting for my flight.
I am not so hopeful for April's budget, as I'm working from less than I wanted to. I'm going to try to stay as tight to the budget as possible, and then make it up in May. I've got another wedding to travel to in May, as well as a family vacation. My family is actually paying for the vacation so I can attend, for which I am incredibly thankful. I know there is at least one night when it will just be me and my parents for dinner before the rest of the family flies in, so I'm going to try to pick up the tab that night. It's not much, but I think it's a nice gesture and a tiny way I can try to show how much I appreciate their paying for the trip so that I can attend.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Darkness Now Means More Light Later
I have been eagerly anticipating time change. Sure, it means that it's darker when I leave for work, but the sun will be out longer tonight, which means that I can finally run outside again and not have to run on the treadmill. I can only take the treadmill for so many months.
In a strange way, this is like personal finance. You give up something now (putting money into retirement and savings and therefore, spending less) to get something later (money for retirement, a downpayment on a house, etc). There's just a bit more instant gratification.
I just returned from the wedding of two of my closest friends. While it turned into an expensive trip, it was absolutely worth it to get to be there for their wedding, plus it was wonderful to get to see so many old friends who I don't get to spend a lot of time with. While there are a number of other things I could have done with the money it cost me to fly there and stay in the hotel, this expense was worth it to me.
On this slightly sleep deprived day, there is a new Carnival of Personal Finance available! My entry about education is included, and here are some of the other entries I enjoyed:
In a strange way, this is like personal finance. You give up something now (putting money into retirement and savings and therefore, spending less) to get something later (money for retirement, a downpayment on a house, etc). There's just a bit more instant gratification.
I just returned from the wedding of two of my closest friends. While it turned into an expensive trip, it was absolutely worth it to get to be there for their wedding, plus it was wonderful to get to see so many old friends who I don't get to spend a lot of time with. While there are a number of other things I could have done with the money it cost me to fly there and stay in the hotel, this expense was worth it to me.
On this slightly sleep deprived day, there is a new Carnival of Personal Finance available! My entry about education is included, and here are some of the other entries I enjoyed:
- How to Use Variable Annuities The Right Way - I often hear that VAs are not the best idea, and this post explains that statement.
- Should We Ask for More Service From the Government? - Big issue in this upcoming election. After talking to a number of friends from Canada, I too lean away from the idea of national health care (though I think that the option of free healthcare for those who can't afford it isn't a bad idea)
- Who Says Money Doesn't Buy Happiness? - I admit, I am happier when I do have the money to pay all my bills and take nice vacations.
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