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Where Are We Going to Sleep???

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Or: How to Save Money on Accommodations The bed in the Hawk's Nest cabin at Big Timber River Cabins in Leavenworth, IN So, you've decided where you want to go. Now yo decide where to stay while you're there.  Step 1 - hotel, motel, VRBO? We, personally, are hotel people. But what quality of hotel depends on the trip.  If we're going on a romantic weekend, we want a nice hotel, preferably with a hot tub. If we're going on an adventure, it doesn't matter, as long as it's clean, and not in a shady neighborhood. So, because it's my preference, and also, my blog, let's start with hotels/motels: Pick a neighborhood/town.  If you're visiting a large city or tourist destination, think outside the box. Driving a few extra miles will save you big. For example, for our upcoming Florida trip, we're visiting St. Augustine - but staying in St. Augustine Beach. Future Washington D.C./Civil War trip, staying in Staunton, VA.  Gatlinburg - Stayed in Pigeon Fo...
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Just a Few $$$ Tips...

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Before we get into each category, I wanted to give you a few money-saving things to look into. These may or may not apply to you, or your destination, but the big savings are definitely worth a few minutes of research. This one might seem pretty self explanatory, but.. have you checked out Groupon ? Search your destination - you may find deals on food, events, places to visit. Deals change daily, so keep an eye on this one, even after you decide on an itinerary. Where do you work?  I work for a very large retailer, and we have access to a ton of deals through a benefit consultant company.  I've saved on hotels, rental cars, tickets, sending flowers, and more, through my employer. Your company might have something similar. Ask your HR professional. Corporate discount codes for the win! Shop around! We recently booked a weekend getaway to an Ohio River cabin in Southern Indiana. I googled the name of the rental company, and found vastly different rates via Airbnb, VRBO, and book...
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How To Set a Budget

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You have your dream trip on paper... now how can you afford it? The first step to setting a vacation budget is making a list of EVERY expense. A lot of people only budget for accommodations, and travel. And that's where you'll run into trouble. Here's a realistic list of expense categories, which should give you a place to start. We'll dig deeper into each category in later posts. 1. Accommodations - Hotel? AirBnB? Couch surfing with a friend or relative who lives nearby? 2. Transportation - Are you flying? Renting a car? Driving your personal vehicle? Renting an RV? If you're renting, make sure to include whatever deposit your rental company includes - you'll get that back, but while you have the rental, it's locked up. Any vehicle will need fuel. If you're driving your personal vehicle, does it need serviced before you leave? 3. Food - Overestimate for this. But plan for everything. Road trip snacks. I can't stress enough what a money...
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Getting Started

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How to get started planning your budget dream trip: 1. Pick a place. 2. Pick a time. These can be reversed. Are you planning a trip for a specific time? Your kids' Spring Break? Your anniversary? If so, reverse the steps.  If you are a little more open, pick the place first.  Anywhere you travel has times that are more or less expensive. Generally, summer and holidays  are a bit more expensive. We like to travel somewhere new for our anniversary most years. Our anniversary is July 5. Sometimes these anniversary trips hit my high budget of $1000 (More on this later). If there's a specific place we want to go, I research when the accommodation and attraction prices are lower. 3. Make a wishlist. The sky is the limit here.  Now that you know where you want to go, if you didn't have a budget, what do you want to see or do there? Make a list.  For example, when we traveled to the Smokies for our 10th anniversary a few years ago, ...
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Let's Get Started!

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Welcome to my new venture! Sunrise in Salem, MA My cheapness and deal-finding skills are legendary. I furnished our entire living room for less than $500 (Fully furnished - couch, loves seat, recliner, easy chair, rocker, huge coffee table). I only spend about $300 a month on groceries - and not a beans and rice diet. And we drink a load of name brand soda and energy drinks. And we have amazing vacations. On a budget. Without going into debt. And that's what I want to share - how we are able to travel without breaking the bank. In recent years, we've done Gatlinburg, New England, Shawnee National Forest, rented a cabin in beautiful Southern Indiana, Gettysburg. We're headed to Florida next month.  I have a long trip to the Western US cooking, another visit to the Smokies. Washington D.C., Missouri, Western front of the Civil War. Come along for the ride! Maybe you can pick up a few tips and tricks to save money on your next family vacation, weekend getaway, ...
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