The Secret to Cheap Flights & Good Timetables!
By · CommentsThe secret to cheap flights and good timetables…Multiple Airline Carrier Bookings!!
Some people shudder at the idea of booking air travel. When I have a trip coming up, it becomes a highly coveted full time job for me. With each click I know I”m closer to that ultimate destination.
SO I’m in the process of booking 3 flights to Europe. I try the kayak route, I try my boyfriend’s favorite cheapair.com (I don’t recommend so not linking), travelocity, expedia, cheapoair.com, your mamas air, and the list goes on.
My latest advice on booking air travel is to learn how to use Kayak to your advantage and BOOK ON MULTIPLE CARRIERS!! There are many intricacies to it, and below I’m going to tell you my latest secrets…
#1 Go To www.kayak.com and put your airports in the fields available. Look at the awesome “flexible dates” calendar to see the best deals other customers have found. If you’re even semi-flexible with dates this is an amazing tool (see below in case you don’t know what it looks like)
#2 Now, Kayak gives you a good idea of what day to fly on for the cheapest flight HOWEVER you now need to do some of your own price comparing because I often will find other sites have tickets for around $50 less than Kayak. I recommend comparing on www.expedia.com, www.travelocity.com, and www.cheapoair.com. You can actually do this comparison from the beauty of Kayak’s website (again see screenshot below from www.kayak.com). Note I did not compare hotwire or priceline. Priceline is like a joke with regular air bookings…they are always like $100 more.
#3 10 times out of 10 you will see that once you compare travel sites flying multiple airlines is the cheapest route and BEST timetable. For some reason when I fly multiple airlines I get the creme de la creme of schedules. We’re talking direct to Bankok sometimes.
#4 Go back to your original search on kayak and SCROLL down down down look left for the last “airline” option “multiple airlines.” Click multiple airlines and then you will be given a world of options with airlines and timetables. Whatever airline begins the flight is the official operator FYI for skymile purchases.
#5 Decide which awesome multiple carrier flight you want and click the orange select button on kayak…from there select which company you want to book with. 
I recommend Expedia …they have the “Best Price Guarantee.” What is the “Best Price Guarantee” you may ask… Well according to Expedia, “It’s simple! Expedia guarantees you’re getting the best price. If you should find a better price online for the same trip within 24 hours, Expedia will refund the difference—and give you a travel coupon worth $50
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Happy Booking!
Vacation Planning
By · CommentsIt’s summer, so the next couple of weeks will be dedicated to my travel obsession and offer travelling tips to all. I’m currently planning the annual family dream vacation. I will reveal the location AFTER I have been and reviewed it bcs #1 I’m a private person, and #2 I don’t want to recommend a place until I’ve experienced it.
First step in planning a vacation, decide what it is you want from said vacation,.
Qualifications for My Yearly Family Dream Vacation*
*qualifications change every year
1. Must take you out of “your world” and put you you in an amplified pimped out world.
*definition of amplified pimped out varies per person – this could be found in the jungle, the desert, or a 5 star hotel
2. All inclusive (drinks and food)
3. Babysitting available
4. Peaceful
5. CHEAP
6. Opportunity to party if want (but party should not be 24/7 or too close by to relaxation areas)
7. Private Jacuzzi access
8. Easy flight, preferably direct
9. Must feel like royalty
10. Must return home feeling fully relaxed.
Tax Credit Check – Make Sure You’re Getting It All Back!
By · CommentsI received four times more money on 2009 tax return! Organizing for America has a great site for you to check the new credits available so you can make sure you’re getting all your money that is owed to you! Visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/taxsavings and see what you might have missed. You have 48 hours to file (on time) – good luck!
Updates on Scholarships and Free Money for School
By · CommentsToday is a fabulous day of free money for school. I’m preparing to attend University of Southern California’s online MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching) program aka MAT@USC, and I must say the entire experience is so far awesome! The admissions counselors are super helpful always available via phone, blackberry, chat, etc.
The best part of this experience is realizing that it is possible to afford an expensive private university like USC. There’s so much money out there for those of us who want to go back to school. Especially if you plan to go into public service, government, teaching, and nursing. It was a little more difficult to find scholarships for graduate degrees, however with some diligent research I have been very successful in getting grants, scholarships, and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). I’ve only been doing this for one month and already had alot of success.
So far I’ve been awarded:
$2,500 Dean Scholarship MAT@USC
$5,000 Roy Romer Fellowship
$8,000 TEACH Grant
TOTAL: $15,500
Hollah!!
I’ll find out how much I receive in FAFSA loans soon. I’m not sure what state I”m going to teach in…between Florida, NY, California…and I can qualify for more state grants once I make a commitment. I am submitting the Evalee Schwartz Fund application for an interest free loan tomorrow. I keep logging in to Fastweb to win their scholarship raffle for another free $1,000…we’ll see! Point is there’s money out there for just about anything you want to study. Viva education!
Breastfeeding Saves Money, Lives, and Sanity
By · CommentsIt’s no secret breastfeeding is good for your baby. Human milk contains enzymes, hormones, and immunoglobulins. It helps promote brain growth and changes with your babies needs to protect against disease. Breastfeeding also provides emotional security and closeness for developing infants.
Breastfeeding through 2 years can really help one’s sanity as you deal with teething, tantrums, and sickness. Sometimes the only thing that can help during those times are the antibodies found in breastmilk and the closeness/security it provides your child. There are so many positive benefits for the mother as well including reducing the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and more.
The study authors compared the costs of 10 childhood diseases at current breastfeeding rates and the projected costs of those diseases if 90% of U.S. women complied with the recommendations. The costs included medical care and as well as indirect costs, such as missed time from work. The majority of the deaths linked to failure to breastfeed involve Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the authors said, as well as complications among premature babies.
The article recommends breastfeeding exclusively to age 6 months continuing through the first year of life. I support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of extended breastfeeding till the age of 2. KellyMom.com has a great factsheet about the benefits of extended breastfeeding which include: nutritional benefits, less incidence of sicknes, fewer allergies, higher cognitive achievment, and better social adjustment.
Scholarships, free money, school, oh my!
By · CommentsAs some of you may know I am returning to school this month to pursue my Masters degree in teaching – yippee! Now I”m going through the usual hoops of Financial Aid applications (FAFSA) and scouring the internet for more scholarship money. I’m a single mom (sole provider) so I’d love to have some money to cover living expenses as well. That way I’m not working/schooling/raising child 24/7…I’d like a few hours of sleep, yoga, and play.
So today I’ve come across some interesting sites with scholarship opportunities and interest free loans. I’ll post my top three finds below, and when I get my money I’ll post an uber-post of my success with these financial aid sites. My top 3 were found here; you don’t have ot input information it’s more of a database.
1. Soroptimist International of the Americas
This scholarship provides opportunities for women who are the main providers in their families – GREAT! for single moms. I sadly do not qualify because you cannot already have a bachelor’s degree. But those of you ladies reading this who want their bachelor’s go for it and get this money!
2. Evalee C. Schwartz Interest Free Loans
Interest free loans for undergrad and graduate degrees. Deadline is April 12 – hurry up!
3. Talbots Inc.
Another female based scholarship that I don’t qualify for, but you might. You just need a high school diploma or GED…can’t have your bachelor’s already though
FastWeb scholarship search turned up some other awards I had not seen. Some are more like “raffle” prizes for evertime you log in. Win up to $5,000 in scholarship money. That’s pretty cool. The process was pretty simple and I did find a few scholarships I had not seen on other sites. When you’re looking for free money for school I say look everywhere you can! Good luck!
It’s Free! Say ah..it’s your birthday!
By · CommentsIt’s never to early to buy yourself a birthday present…for free! Free Birthday Stuff gives you all kinds of tips on where to sign up for free gift cards, meals, and activites. I’m looking forward to a $5 gift card for Aveda and a free trip to baskin robbins. Happy Birthday!
Lunchtime Just Got Cheaper, Healthier, and Japanese
By · CommentsWe could all use a cheaper healthier alternative to lunch, and once again Annie Chun has amped up the brand to include sushi wraps on the go. All you need is a microwave or hot water and whatever filling you desire. I’m partial to cucumbers, red peppers, and shrimp. Though on the box they actually suggest peanut butter!! The prep time is 1-2 minutes for the rice, and 2-3 minutes for assembly. The seaweed softens when you put the hot rice on. I found mine on sale at Whole Foods recently for $2.79.
Parents Save Money and Sanity at Ikea!
By · CommentsIt’s spring break for my 3 year old so I’ve been looking for fun cheap things to do. I’ve always loved Ikea and now I love it more. If your child is between 37″-54″ then you get a free hour of “me time” at Ikea. My son finally hit the 37″ mark and off he went to Small Land, the magical Ikea playroom which operates in a very socialist way: kids run free and workers watch and intervene only in emergencies. Not only do you get a free hour to yourself, but if you arrive before 10am you also get free breakfast. I’m heading there for the second time this week. I must say I am fond of many things Swedish…!
TurboTax versus H&R Block
By · CommentsUpdate 3/31/10: @TeamTurboTax appears to be trying to help me get the $20 I was forced into paying for the deluxe program I did not need. Funny it’s so easy to tweet them, but actual online chat is difficult…
Well well well. For the past 2 years I’ve filed with TurboTax. 3 years ago I filed with H&R Block. I must say after this year’s experience I miss H&R Block. TurboTax IS a really easy to use program, however (1.) I didn’t like their glaring ads in the middle of pages. When I’m doing my taxes I don’t want to accidentally click on a pop up ad for your product. The most dissapointing part of the TurboTax experience was (2.) the level of customer service.. making it impossible to chat online with a real person. The computer generated answer scares me. I want a real live chatter!
They were so warm and insightful. I mean it’s March 30, 2009, mere days before taxes are due; if I’m paying TurboTax $49.95 I expect a live chatter during normal business hours.
I have fond memories of chatting with H&R’s Block online help. Yes Miss. X, how can I help you feel like you’re getting everything you want and more? That’s what I want to hear in my live chatter’s subtext who is easily clicked in a glowing green box to the right of my screen. So H&R Block, I’ll see you for 2010 taxes. A new decade. A new you.