Avoiding Airline “Extras” That Could Kill Your Budget

I fly commercial airlines once or twice a year. This year, I flew round trip in January and again in July with the same airline. I’m amazed at how much their charges have changed between trips. I’m also amazed that we as consumers continue to put up with what I like to refer to as airway robbery. If you’re traveling on a budget (and who isn’t in today’s economy), airline travel can cost you hundreds more than you expected with on the “extras” that used to be free. Here’s how you can avoid those expenses with a little bit of planning.

Tip #1: Check Your Baggage at the Curb

Most airlines (Southwest may be the only one that doesn’t) charge at least $25 per checked piece of luggage. For a family of four, that’s an extra $100 each way or $200 round trip. Now, the charge is even more if your suitcase exceeds a weight limit. Continental Airlines wanted to charge me an extra $50 for a bag  that was actually lighter on the way home than it was on the way there (when nobody even weighed my bag). When you check your bag inside the airport, it automatically goes on the scale. When you check it at the curb, the sky cap decides whether to weigh it. There’s no guarantee they’ll let it go, but they still enjoy cash tips. If they see possible tip money in your hand, you’re probably safe.

Tip #2: Carry Your Luggage on the Plane or Check it at the Gate

I was amazed at how many people rushed to check their bags for free when the flight attendant at the gate announced the flight was full and they would gladly check carry-on items for free. I don’t think half those people ever intended to carry on their luggage. They just didn’t want to pay to check it. Even if you have no intention of carrying on your luggage, start out that way. More likely than not, you’ll have a chance to check it at the gate for free.

Tip #3: Bring Your Own Food

If you’re taking a long trip, pack snacks or a sandwich from home. A sandwich at DFW International costs about $8, and that doesn’t include chips. Airlines sell snack boxes for even more money and less substance. Just don’t pack drinks. Even water will be confiscated by security.

Tip #4: Bring Your Own Entertainment

Continental has Direct TV, but it costs $8 a person on flights over two hours - $32 for a family of four. Ear buds are free, though. Plug them into your laptop PC and carry a movie with you. Or, bring your MP3 player and a book.

If we paid all of these extras, my family would have been out an extra $300 round trip. I didn’t even pay that much per ticket. It takes a little extra planning, but saving hundreds of dollars is worth it.

 

Five Tips to Save on Gas This Summer

It’s times like these that I’m glad I work from home. My husband travels 85 miles back and forth to work each day and spends about $80 a week on gas. I can’t imagine what I might have to give up from my budget if we both regularly spent that much on gas. I hardly go anywhere, and I’m still conservative with my gas usage. Here are some ways you can be, too.

1. 1. Condense Your Trips. Plan your errands around already scheduled outings, meetings or appointments. If you have a doctor appointment on Tuesday or your child has baseball practice every Thursday evening, handle all of your errands in those part of town at those times only. I don’t live near the credit union. Therefore, I handle all of my credit union business on Wednesdays when my son has gymnastics across the street from the branch.
2. Shop at stores offering fuel discounts. Tom Thumb, Kroger and Wal-Mart all offer fuel discounts. Others may, as well. The offers at Tom Thumb and Kroger change depending on the promotion or how much you spend. Wal-Mart offers a standard fuel discount when you pay with a Wal-Mart gift card.
3. Change your schedule so you’re not driving during rush hour. Obviously this option isn’t for everyone, but if you have a job that will let you come in and leave either an hour earlier or an hour later to avoid rush hour traffic, take advantage of that flexibility. You’ll spend a lot less time in the car which means a lot less money on gas. If you can work at home one or more days a week, that’s even better.
4. Carpool to work or school. Most people are spending $70 to $100 to fill their tanks. Imagine how much money you could save if you drove to work or school every other week instead of every week. If you have a classmate or colleague who lives close by, consider sharing your ride with them. You’ll save fuel and reduce the wear and tear on your car.
5. Use public transportation. This is not always the cheaper option, but it’s worth looking into. Many companies provide free monthly DART passes to their employees for commuting back and forth to work either by train, light rail or both. It often takes more time to get back and forth to work on public transportation, but that’s time you have to read, catch up on phone calls, listen to music, etc., because you’re not the one driving. It may be worth it if you’re spending hundreds of extra dollars a month on gas.

What are some tips you have for saving on fuel? Leave a comment and help us continue the discussion.

Celebrate America’s Birthday With Fireworks on July 4th

In the last blog post, we gave you a schedule of fireworks for Saturday and Sunday. These listed are here will all take place Monday, July 4^th. See our previous blog post for events scheduled on July 2^nd and 3^rd.



Family Fourth Fireworks Show – North Richland Hills

Monday, July 4th
9:30 p.m.

The 20-minute show will patriotic pyrotechnics and music simulcast live KDKR Radio 91.3 FM

28^th Annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Lake Grapevine

July 4
9:30 p.m.
Grapevine Lake

Find your spot and stake a claim near Lake Grapevine. The fireworks spectacular can be viewed from any lakeside location, as well as several other spots throughout Grapevine.

City of Bedford 4^th Big Top 4^th Fest

July 4th
12 noon to 11 p.m.
Bedford Boys Ranch
2801 Forest Ridge Road

Activities include a full day of family fun: free concert, InflataFUN Zone, festival-style culinary delights and a fireworks extravaganza when the sun goes down.

2010 Flower Mound Independence Day Celebration

Fireworks Show is July 4th at 7 p.m.
Bakersfield Park
1201 Duncan Lane 

There will be a parade in the morning, Splashtacular in the afternoon and fireworks show at night. All three events will take place at different venues.

Fireworks Celebration – Lancaster/Desoto

July 4th
DeSoto Meadow Creek Park
1400 Uhl Road, DeSoto

Bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets. The entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Fireworks at dusk.

McKinney Red, White & Boom

July 4^th
Historic Downtown McKinney

Experience a full day of hometown fun with lots of activities for the entire family.
Hometown Parade  — 10 a.m.
Car Show – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Family activities and food — 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Live music on Center Stage — 8 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Fireworks — 9:45 p.m.

Red, White & Lewisville

July 4
9:30pm

The fireworks show will start shortly after dark – roughly 9:30 p.m.  The best viewing opportunities for the fireworks show will be on the south side of Vista Ridge Mall and along the 121 Bypass.  For more information, call 972.219.3401.

Fair Park Fourth

July 4
4:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

The city of Dallas’ official Independence Day celebration will feature spectacular Cotton Bowl fireworks, a Dallas Wind Symphony patriotic concert, free visits to participating museums and more. Guests are encouraged to view the fireworks from inside the Cotton Bowl (enter at Gate D)

Celebrate America’s Birthday With Fireworks July 2nd and 3rd

I love living in Dallas this time of year. There are so many fireworks shows to ring in another birthday for America. You can literally stand in one place and turn around in a circle to catch fireworks from any direction. To help you celebrate in style, we’ve put together a comprehensive schedule of fireworks spectaculars. Listed below are the events taking place on Saturday, July 2^rd and Sunday, July 3^rd. See our next blog post for events scheduled on July 4^th.

9th Annual Frisco Freedom Fest

Saturday, July 2
Simpson Plaza at City Hall
6101 Frisco Square Blvd.

Festivities include Party in the Plaza, Children’s Expo, Taste of Frisco, and more, ending with a 20-minute fireworks show at night.

Kaboom Town 2011

Sunday, July 3 p.m.
5 p.m. to Midnight
Addison Circle Park

Kaboom Town is rated one of the top places to watch fireworks in the country by the American Pyrotechnics Association, USA Today, Travel + Leisure and The Wall Street Journal. You can see the fireworks from just about anywhere in Addison. The 30-minute fireworks show is choreographed to music simulcast live on 100.3 JACK FM.

Liberty by the Lake – The Colony

Saturday, July 3rd

Enjoy an entire day of fun and family friendly activities on the shores of Lake Lewisville, ending with a fireworks extravaganza at 9:30 p.m. The prime viewing area will be Stewart Creek Park.

Fireworks on Main - Rowlett

Sunday, July 3rd
6 pm – 10 pm
Fireworks at dusk

Enjoy live music, food, children's activities and more!

Light Up Arlington

Sunday, July 3rd
6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Enjoy a night filled with live music, great food and children’s activities, topped off with a fireworks show.

Cool Your House for Less This Summer

Summer in Texas can be brutal. We’ve already had several 100+ degree days in the Dallas area, and this is only the first week of summer. If this keeps up, your electric bill could easily double or triple by August. There are some very simple ways to keep your house cool without overheating your budget this summer.

Keep your compressor and filters clean. My husband cleaned our a/c filter this weekend and I actually had to bump the thermostat up a degree or two. The house was freezing. I had no idea how effective a clean filter could be. You also want to check the unit outside your home and be sure it’s clean from dirt and leaves. That will help your compressor (the part that actually cools your home) operate more efficiently.

Program your thermostat and keep it there. Adjusting the thermostat makes your a/c work harder, which requires more electricity. Program your thermostat for lower temperatures when people are home and warmer temperatures when nobody is home. Energy companies typically recommend setting the thermostat at 78 degrees when people are home. Every degree below that will increase your electric bill by about 5 percent to 7 percent.

Turn on your fans. It costs about a penny an hour to keep your fans running. That’s a small price to pay to keep cool air circulating through your home. You don’t need them on when the home is empty, but they are a cheap way to lower the temperature in your home without raising the electric bill much.

Close the vents in unused rooms. If you have a guest room or other rooms that rarely get used, close the doors and the a/c vents. That helps redistribute more cool air to the rooms used frequently.

Cook with slow cookers and convection ovens. If you’ve ever stood cooking at a stove for any length of time, you know how much heat it gives off. Use cooler, alternate cooking methods during the summer months, like slow cookers and convection ovens. Better yet, take advantage of the inexpensive produce available in the summer and prepare more salads and sandwiches.

Use energy efficient light bulbs. Lights add heat to your home. Replace the high energy light bulbs in your home with energy efficient bulbs, and be sure everyone turns off the lights they aren’t using. It will make a big difference.

Close blinds and drapes. Are there certain times of the day when the sun shines in your windows for long periods of time? Close your blinds and drapes during those times. You’ll be amazed at how much cooler your home stays.

When it comes to being energy efficient, use common sense. Figure out what puts out heat in your home and find a way to reduce usage during the summer months. Being just a little sensible will save you a lot of dollars and cents.

Get One of the Highest CD Rates in the U.S. at NCU – 2.50% APY

Have you noticed how low deposit rates get when the country is in an economic recession? The government does this by design. It wants us to spend money, because that is what stimulates the economy. The government lowers interest rates to make it easier for people like you and I to buy things that we typically need loans to purchase, like cars and homes. Unfortunately, when loan rates go down, so do savings rates at most financial institutions.

There’s something the government doesn’t tell you as it’s lowering interest rates. Saving money during a recession is more important than saving money when the economy is booming. Have you seen the unemployment rate? In the last two years, it’s only gone down by one percent. Businesses are still closing unexpectedly, and employers are still laying off without much notice. In the past, financial experts recommended having three months worth of income in savings. Now, they recommend at least six months of income in savings to help with unexpected job loss and other financial emergencies.

Neighborhood has a way to help you maximize the return on your money. We currently offer a 60-month certificate of deposit with a rate of 2.50% APY. Go to moneyaisle.com, and you will find that our rate is better than both the national average and state average by almost an entire percentage point. That means no matter where you go, you most likely won’t find a better rate in the country on this particular CD. Plus, the minimum deposit required for this CD is only $2,500. With the magic of compound interest, you’ll earn nearly $330 on your initial investment over the course of five years.

Here’s how that compares with other savings accounts. The rate on our money market account is currently 0.15% APY. Saving $2,500 for 60 months in that account would earn you $19. The rate on our share savings account is 0.25% APY. Saving $2,500 at that rate for 60 months would earn you $31. There’s a big difference between $19, $31 and $330, especially when it’s your money.

When it comes to saving money, it helps to think about what you have at stake. How would you pay for your house if you had an unexpected job loss tomorrow? Could you make your car payment and still keep the a/c running when it’s 100 degrees outside? Could you afford the basic necessities like food and water with the money you have in savings right now?

It’s not just about saving money. It’s about maximizing what you’re earning on your savings. Choose an account that’s going to give you the best return. You work hard for your money. It’s time to start letting it work hard for you.

Daily Deal Sites That Give You More Than Discounts

Daily deal sites are a growing phenomenon. It seems like every day I log on to Facebook, someone else is posting a new site promising to provide a deep discount on something. I probably get daily e-mails from at least five, and just this week, I discovered two I had never even heard of. Are they worth the hype?

I think they are. It can be annoying to filter through multiple e-mails offering deals I may not need, but it’s also nice to receive a steep bargain I didn’t have to work hard to find. In fact, filtering through those daily e-mails takes less time combined than it would to come across some of the deals I’ve purchased. This weekend, my husband and I had a date night at a nearby restaurant I never heard of until I received a deal in my inbox. I spent $10 for $20 worth of food and found a new place to eat, all because of the 30 seconds it took me to read an e-mail.

But not all daily deal sites are created equal. Here are a few that reward you with freebies and site credits when your friends buy, too.

Moolala

In addition to discounts of 50 percent to 90 percent on dinners, classes and all kinds of services, moolala has a five level rewards system. It pays you back two percent of your purchase price. You also get two percent of any purchases your friends make, if they mention you as the referring person or they make a purchase using your unique URL. You’ll get two percent on their friends, too, and so on, for five levels. What I love about this site is that you can create your own customized link and post it on sites like Facebook and Twitter so you get the credit for people who make purchases.

Living social

Last week, I scored four AMC movie tickets for $18. If I was paying attention, I could have had six for that price. If three different people order the same deal through your unique link, you get yours free. The deal was two movie tickets for $9. I bought one deal for myself, then went back in and ordered another deal in my son’s name. A friend of mine also bought through my link. I just needed one more person to buy. By the time I realized my husband could have gone in and ordered the deal too, it was too late. Use this link, and you’ll get five deal bucks to use toward your first order.

Lot 18

Lot18 is a membership by invitation website for wine and epicurean products from coveted producers at attractive discounts. Members have access to some of the finest wines and specialty foods, made available in small quantities at extraordinarily low prices. Join here and get a free $10 credit. You’ll also get $25 when you invite friends to join and they place their first order.

What other sites reward you for referring friends? Post a comment here so everyone can benefit.

 

Finding Affordable Airline Tickets

I discovered something interesting while shopping online for airline tickets recently. Airline rates have started changing faster than mortgage rates do. If you’ve ever shopped for mortgage rates, you know they can go up and down several times a day. This is normal behavior for mortgage rates. I’m hoping it’s not the new norm for airline tickets, because it takes a lot longer to plan a trip when the prices change so quickly. It’s doable, though. Here are some tips to help you find affordable airfare.

Start Early

If finding the most affordable rate is your number one goal, you should start looking for airline tickets many, many months before your trip. My family is headed to Boston in a few weeks. I knew about the trip in January and started searching casually for airfare in February. I started by looking at flights to several different airports so I knew what my options were, and what prices I eventually wanted to beat.

Don’t Rely On One Source

Sites like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz used to have the cheapest prices, hands down. That’s not always the case anymore. In fact, many airlines no longer sell tickets on these sites. I usually start my search on these sites, because they give you the benefit of viewing ticket prices for multiple airlines at the same time. I then go to the websites of the individual airlines to see if I can save money buying from them directly. Buying direct was cheaper 90 percent of the time this spring.

Set Rate Alerts

I like Airfare Watchdog, but many sites offer this free service, including the ones mentioned above. Simply enter your travel itinerary and set the price you’re looking for. If the airfare gets down to that price, you’ll receive an e-mail alert. If you’re close to several airports, set multiple rate alerts. Naming your own price on Priceline could also work for you.

Look for a 24-Hour Cancellation Policy

When I landed the price I wanted for our tickets to Boston, I found out that my husband still had not cleared his time off at work. Knowing rates would most likely be higher the next day, I felt like I had to book those tickets at that time. Continental not only had the best price. The airline lets you cancel or change your reservation at no charge within 24 hours when you book on their website. If your plans change or you find a cheaper, last-minute rate, you have an out. Other airlines may do this, but I know many of them don’t.

Be Flexible

If your travel dates or times are flexible, use the feature on travel sites that lets you compare airline prices for several different days. My family saved  more than $200 per ticket by extending our stay by two days. Our cost to stay in a hotel for those nights was just a fraction of that cost.

Wherever your travels take you this summer, have a safe and enjoyable vacation. 

 

Should You Fly or Drive to Your Vacation Destination?

It’s the question so many of us wrestle with when it’s time to plan a vacation. Should we fly or drive? It used to be cheaper to drive. As gas prices rise, however, driving is not always cheaper. There are other considerations, as well.

My family is flying to Boston later this month. We already have our tickets, but out of curiosity, I decided to use this online fuel calculator to see if, mathematically speaking, we made the right choice. The cost to drive is about $250 cheaper, plus we have to rent a car when we get there.

If money was my only consideration, driving would be the best choice. For us, time is also a factor. My husband just started a new job six months ago and has limited vacation time. Driving to Boston is 3,600 miles round trip. Averaging 70 miles per hour, it would take us a minimum of 51 hours to get there and back. Our round trip travel time by plane is about 10 hours, which means we get several more days in Boston by flying.

There are drawbacks, though. When you take your own car, you leave on your own schedule, delays are minimal, there are no baggage fees and no fees to change your plans at the last minute. When I was booking our plane tickets, schedule was a huge concern. Many airlines only fly between Dallas and Boston very early in the morning or very late at night. I was not going to wake up my family at 3 a.m. to catch a plane at 6 a.m., and I was not going to come home at midnight when my husband has to go to work the next morning. We also had the issue of layovers in different cities. I eventually got exactly what I wanted, but it took a lot of effort.

I have a friend who usually drives from Denver to Houston every summer. This year, her cost would have been about $500 to drive, but Southwest Airlines had flights from $56. It’s actually cheaper for her to fly, but she’s already lamenting not being able to stop at the few places where they stop every year that have become a tradition. That’s the benefit of driving. You can stop and see more sights or eat at restaurants you only find in certain parts of the country. However, it does put wear and tear on your vehicle (and your sanity if you’re traveling with kids).

If you really like driving, but it’s not cost-efficient, consider renting a more fuel efficient car for your road trip. I have rented cars very cheaply on Hotwire and Priceline. Many car rental companies also offer last-minute deals on their websites.

Whatever your choice is this summer, have a fun and safe vacation!

Next week: Look for tips on finding affordable airline tickets.

 

Free and Almost Free Things to Do This Summer

Let’s face it – summer can be expensive. It’s often worth the money to not hear the kids say, “I’m bored” every five seconds, but your price tag on summer activities sure can add up fast. For the past few summers, I have spent over $1,000 on camps for my one child. Now that he’s older, we’re scaling back and taking advantage of more free and almost free activities. Here are a few we enjoy.

Summer Movies

Cinemark and the Studio Movie Grill both offer a summer movie series. Cinemark movies are $1 per person. Studio Movie Grill charges $1 for children and $2 for adults. None of these movies are new. You may have seen all of them on DVD already. But, they get you out of the house and provide a few hour of entertainment for the family. These are not just for kids. Cinemark is showing the Wizard of Oz this week, and I know my son’s teacher will be the first one in line for that. You do want to be sure and get there a little early because some of the more popular shows sell out.

Cinemark schedule        Studio Movie Grill Schedule

Kids Bowl Free

KidsBowlFree.com partners with several bowling alleys in the area which offer two free games of bowling per kid, every day this summer. There really are only three conditions:

• Kids must be 15 and under
• You must pay standard shoe rental, per person, unless you own your own shoes
• You must comply with the hours of the bowling center you choose

If you have a large family with young adults, consider the family pass for $59.95. The family pass allows for two games of bowling per day, per adult family member, up to four family members all, summer long! I bought this last year and put two of my unemployed friends on my pass. We all bowled free with our kids the entire summer, and I definitely got my money’s worth.

Check the Local Library

Our local library has free programs for kids (performances, zoo animals, etc.) every Tuesday and free movies and popcorn every Thursday afternoon. Most local libraries offer similar activities.

Free Summer Reading Programs

Barnes & Noble, Half Price Books, and Borders Books all have reading programs that help kids (and some for adults, too) earn free books. The best part is you can overlap and count the same books for each program.

Spraygrounds and Aquatic Centers

Lots of cities in the North Texas area have spraygrounds, pools and even aquatic centers that are free or cost very little to use daily. Check out last year’s blog about free spraygrounds. The cities of Allen and Rockwall also have indoor aquatic centers that are cheap and worth checking out.

What free summer activities do you enjoy? Post a comment here so we can all benefit.