 |
|
Here is a secret about me: For my entire life, I have opted to live beneath my means. In fact, it's a game: how little can I live on and still live at the luxury level I prefer. It's a kick!
I have serially owned a number of homes in my life -- everything from a 4000 sq ft mansion to a 2500 sq ft country home on 15 acres in VA to a 1600 sq ft manufactured home - and everything in between! Stick built homes, condos, manufactured homes -- I've run the gamut.
And still, I play this mental game wherein I strive to keep my expenses to the barest minimum. Not because I have to, but because I love the challenge of it!
Oh, don't get me wrong -- I am hardly miserly. In fact, I'm generous to a fault and can be quite the extravagant shopper on occasion. But overall, I like to get a deal (who doesn't?) and while I won't squeeze a dime, I certainly like to see how much I can buy with one!
My most favorite relaxation activity is travel and since May, the boyfriend and I have been trying to get away on the weekends in order to avoid the heat and to enjoy some of the fun and unique sites here in So Cal!
And, being the ever cost-conscious person that I am, I have found some great ways to get away on a budget! Here are some of my favorites:
Go to TripAdvisor
and search 'Top 10 Things to do in ______' where the 'blank' = the town you want to visit. Sometimes coupons and other discounts will pop up right then and there. Plus you can read reviews about all sorts of activities (did you know there is a burlesque show in Venice?)
But if you don't get pop up coupons, I always always (yes, two always-es) go to Groupon and search for activities and discounts for that particular town.
Invariably, not only will you find discounts for the options on Trip Advisor, but many others as well. Groupon is so easy and fun!
We also used this process for our trips to:
--Julian where we explored an old gold mine
--And all sorts of stuff in Hollywood (too many websites to list!)
So many fun places to go I could go on and on but you get the idea! So much to do and see and you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy these places.
Of course, how much you spend depends on you and what you decide to do once you get there, but basically some gas, maybe a funnel cake or corn dog, a hotel if you decide to stay over. That's about it.
And this process works anywhere in the US. When we went to Colorado, we searched Trip Advisor and Groupon for things to do at every city on the way to and from there and found a number of activities we never would have known about otherwise.
Don't let anyone tell you having fun is costly. Life is so short -- why not take a weekend or two and head for the beach or the mountains or take a seminar or go to a play. Can you spare a dime? Let's see how far you can make it go!
|
|
|
|
When in Rome...
When you're planning to go to other cities, always check for CityPass
. CityPass is a bundle of activities for one low price. And once you've identified a CityPass you want, check Groupon for it! If your CityPass is listed, you can save up to 50% over the CityPass website itself.
I've assisted friends going to San Francisco and Las Vegas with CityPass and other discounts on activities they had no idea existed!
The key is to learn how to search for these deals. That's part of the fun too! Practice your search terms. Narrow down how to look up information (this is true no matter what you're seeking). So if you're going to a new State or City for the first time, search Trip Advisor, CityPass and Groupon! You'll be shocked at what you'll find!
|
|
Thinking of Expanding Your Horizons?
When I want to go outside the US, I almost always end up at some Caribbean island. I love the Caribbean with its warm, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches.
Food varies from island to island so you get to try lots of new things! History and cultures are varied and rich too and in most places the architecture is breathtaking.
If you want to go outside the US, then one surefire website is BookVIP.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I personally have not yet used BookVIP but the reviews are so good it seems like a safe bet! (still, do your own due diligence for all these sites)
What's so unique about BookVIP? You get a trip rate based on the room and it's for TWO not per person! And, you can buy it now and go at a later date.
So, say you want to go to Cancun. On BookVIP, you can get 5 nights in a good hotel with ALL meals and ALL drinks for $599 PER COUPLE! Are you kidding me? That's almost too good to be true!
Then all you need to do is buy airfare and if you are good at discount shopping airfare you can get a weeklong vacation in a tropical paradise for two people for what most people pay for one person!
For flights, in addition to Expedia try Kayak
or Cheap Flights
-- there are a bunch of these sites, especially if your travel plans are flexible!
Also take a look at Cheap Caribbean
-- their packages include air or air discounts!
Who said it's not affordable to take a vacation!?!? Not me!
|
|
Stack Your Dimes...
On tomorrow's Facebook Live broadcast, we are discussing the best places to invest what is assuredly a small stack of dimes (at best!).
One of the primary questions I get asked is 'how much does it cost to start a business?' and while the answer is dependent on a number of factors, there are some places where it's best to invest in order to increase your likelihood of success and/or profitability.
Join us tomorrow when we present Dollars & Sense, Building Your Business at 3pm PST on my Facebook Live show X's & O's, the Game of Small Business.
I take my more than 20 years of consulting expertise and over 30 years total (that's 20 + 10! C'mon, I'm not THAT old!) of corporate experience and share hints, tips and anecdotal situations to help entrepreneurs build better businesses.
In the meantime, here is a video from one of our previous broadcasts! This one is about: Overcoming Fear
My goal is to help you build a better business.... There is no better feeling in the world than helping someone achieve their goals. Let's do it together!
|
|
In this country, we work too hard. There is not enough time off and personally I think time off should be mandatory. Can you imagine if we could work three months, take one off, work three, off one... Wouldn't that make for much happier employees, improved morale and renewed dedication to the tasks at hand?
Maybe I'm too much of an optimist and am overlooking the cost or scheduling impacts of trying to keep business moving during the downtime. It just seems to me that overall productivity would improve if people got to have some rest every once in a while.
I encourage you to take a look at your life and see where you can fit in some time away.
So Cal in particular is rife with museums and attractions, sightseeing and theme parks. Casinos offer more than gambling - there is entertainment and concerts for everyone! Horse racing, festivals, excursions, day trips and fun is all around you!
In fact, for a mere two hours in just about any direction you can be at the beach, in the mountains or in the desert.
How totally lucky are we?
The next time you pick up a dime, let it be a symbol of your ability to relax, have fun, save some money or to renew your commitment to living a joyous life.
One thin dime. If you can spare it, a dime can bring you closer to your dreams.
Until next time, plan some time off, put it on your calendar and honor it like you would any other commitment!
|
|
Leslie Spoor
Executive Errands®
CL#944447
|
|
For a list of our most popular services, please see our brochure here:
Last year, after traveling to Cuba (another beautiful country!), I wrote a travel guide! To download our
American in Cuba e-book travel guide, please
click here.
|
|
This documentation, including sample applications herein, is provided for informational purposes only, and Executive Errands® makes no warranties, either expressly or implied, as to this documentation or its efficacies. Information in this documentation, including any URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to change without notice. The entire risk of the use or the results of the use of this documentation remains with the user. This documentation is copyrighted by Spoor Enterprises Inc, DBA Executive Errands®, 2017.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
