Dragon Boat 07 – Saving and Money Tips

Accommodation costs are among the most significant cost items in just about any travel budget. Finding ways to cut the cost of your chosen accommodation option can translate into massive savings; you can spend the extra cash on other fun travel activities.

It’s worth mentioning that the accommodation option you end up choosing is determined by your budget, personal interests and preferences, travel destination and number of participants.

It is true that you can simply ask the attendant at your chosen accommodation option about any available discount offers; after all they will only say no if nothing is available. However, following the tips below will definitely make it easier for you to secure travel accommodation discounts.

Which Season?

When choosing the season when to schedule you trip, remember that it has a bearing on the applicable accommodation cost. Travel accommodations tend to be more expensive during popular travel periods due to high demand as a result of high traveller numbers.

Planning your travel during the shoulder seasons, when conditions are still favourable, will raise your chances of finding discounted accommodation. During this period travel accommodation service providers usually turn to discounted prices to attract customers.

Days Of The Week

It is true that hoteliers charge different prices for their rooms depending on what day of the week it is. Hotels in business districts are usually busy during weekdays, and deserted during weekends. Booking your stay to coincide with the weekend might help you save some cash.

Hotels in big cities also tend to be busy during weekends, so be sure to avoid them as room prices are usually at their highest. You can follow room prices using available online applications to find out what the trend is for your specific travel destination in advance.

Location Matters

The location of the accommodation option you end up choosing has a significant bearing on the prices charged. In most cases, travellers can find cheaper accommodation options farther away from city centres.

It is however worth noting that you should remember to consider the implications of staying away from the city. including applicable commuting costs. Be sure to choose a location that is centrally located to avoid losing the savings you make on accommodation to huge costs associated with commuting to airports or attractions.

Accommodation Options

There are different accommodation options, all with charging different accommodation costs. Hostels, apartments and family suites are among the more affordably priced accommodation options available out there.

Before choosing any of the alternative accommodation options available above, be sure to check out whether they are available in your intended travel destination. Furthermore, check whether the available facilities and their condition meet your preferences.

Making Your Booking

The means by which you make your travel accommodation booking influences the cost you end up paying. Some credit cards have reward schemes that offer significant discounts for travellers using them during travel.

When making a booking you can also check out any reward programs ran by the hotel chain you plan on staying in. Frequent travellers who use other hotels in the chain might qualify for discounted stays as well.

With the above tips in mind, you will have an easier time finding discounted accommodation during your trip.…

How A Pressure Washer Will Save You Money

May 10, 2018

| No Comments

| Main

The fact is that there are many benefits to using a pressure washer as compared to a traditional garden hose. One of its leading benefits is its ability to save your money. For example, did you know that pressure washer helps cut down on waste water? Yes! Just imagine it. With an ever-increasing cost of water and growing demand to cut back on usage on wastewater, a pressure washer is a great investment, especially in a business setting.

With so many efficient pressure washers on the market, choosing the best as per your need is a tricky business. as such, it helps if you do a bit of research. First, it is important to note that an industrial pressure washer should be different to a home pressure washer. Industrial pressure washers are more powerful and pack a punch compared to a home version, and therefore getting the right information is paramount.

How does a pressure washer save you money? This is the million-dollar question. Well, below are 4 ways it will save you money.

1. Heavy Duty Outdoor And Indoor Cleaning

The truth is that cleaning a company or manufacturing company is a big deal and take more time. Furthermore, seeking the services of a professional cleaning company that can offer heavy duty outdoor and indoor cleaning services will cost you more, compared to buying an industrial power washer.

Well, for a fact; an industrial pressure washer can cost you anywhere from $500 to $5000. This may should expensive, but consider what you are cleaning with it. For example, garages, gas stations, and manufacturing companies can benefit more from industrial pressure washers because heavy duty cleaning is necessary.

2. Cleaning Machinery

Have you ever asked yourself why do car wash service providers use pressure washers and their services are always affordable? If you have not, then you should know that it not only makes work easier but save time. As a car owner, you understand the importance of regular car cleaning. Grime and mud build up inside the wheelbase and it will reduce the efficiency of the machine and make them work improperly. If left for long, it may lead to damages.

At the same time, if you own a boat, you understand how they pick up different kinds of water critters and algae; and cleaning it helps increase its lifespan. Now because you have invested money in these machines, you can save a lot of maintenance cost by simply performing a simple cleaning routine using pressure washers.

3. Time Is Money

Time is money and this is a fact. With this tool, you will be able to save time to get back to work or focus on other important things. As such, if you are a company owner, you will not experience loss revenues due to cleaning.

4. Saves Water

Did you know that pressure washers save water, which means affordable water bills? Let’s do the math for a better understanding. Pressure washers are known to use less gallon of water per minute as compared to your traditional garden hose. In a matter of facts, a garden hose output is 8 gallons per minute and pressure washer output is about 5 gallons per minute. This is made possible by the simple fact that pressured water allows less flow of water.…

Building A Home? Save Money

April 24, 2018April 30, 2018

| No Comments

| Blog

If you are embarking on the adventure of building your first home it’s a good bet that you are taking that first step towards a dream. The dream of that perfect household where you and your family will enjoy love, life and laughter.

But there is one inescapable fact. Whether its a single or 2 storey home, it’s going to cost a whole lot of money. And that expenditure is going to not only put a strain on your bank account – it’s also going to put a whole lot of strain on your personal relations with your loved ones.

So are there ways to save when you are committed to building that first dream house? There are and here are some of those.

First it is absolutely essential that you build that you build that bank account to fully fund the building of that dream home. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to sell your existing home yourself. If you go through a realtor you will be paying a commission of up to 6%. It may take some time and a bit of patience but that money is in your pocket – rather than someone else’s.

Secondly – apply for a credit card with zero percent interest. If your credit rating is clean then this should not be an effort. You’ll avoid paying interest for between a year and two years. That’s a huge saving when it comes to payment for both planned and unexpected costs.

If you are not willing to part with your existing property then get in touch with realtors that specialize in rentals. You can readily offset the costs of building that new home by simply renting your old one. If you have friends or family who are willing to put you up for a short period while you find finance then take advantage of that relationship. Just be sure you have a room available in your new home to welcome them.

Planning is also everything. If you think that you know what you want from your new home – think again. Mistakes in planning can be costly. Visit homes on the market and see how they are designed. This will help clarify your thoughts – and make that dream home closer to what is actually needed than the dream you have.

One of the most essential steps to getting that dream home is to find an architect who offers value for money and has experience in the area where you will be building.

Then that all important aspect – the building. You simply must find the builder who is best suited to your unique needs. That have to be certified and they need to have an understanding of what you are trying to achieve. Without a competent builder you are going to be facing an uphill battle to have a home where you and your family will be able to move into.

Building a new home is always going to be a challenge, but with the right partners and planning the pain and expense can be reduced to a minimum.…

That Moment when you Realise that Money Defines your Life; That is the Moment when You Become a Money Grown-Up

December 15, 2017December 12, 2017

| No Comments

| Blog, the moment you realise that money defines your life that is the moment you become a money grown-up

Becoming a financial adult does not have anything to do with age in years. You might also never become a financial adult. The specific financial, grown-up moment will come with the realization that money defines your life.

The defining financial adulthood moment differs for everyone and can come at any age.

Defining growing up moments can come when:

You have to pay your first taxes. You knew there were taxes payable sometime, somewhere, but did not make time to find out the whole of it. And then the time came, and you did not plan for it and do not have the money.
A tooth repair cost you the whole of next month’s rent and the electricity bill. You thought that health insurance will only be for when you are older because you never get sick. That thought only held out until you broke your tooth and had no emergency savings or health insurance.

And then also when you suddenly realise:

I need to start thinking about Tomorrow. When you look at the people around you and find that everybody has a contingency plan for retirement, health, and emergencies. And they are not afraid of thinking of retirement or vehicle repairs.
When someone gives you Advice and you realise it is good advice. Following that advice and getting the results was the awesome awakening moment that you can do finance.
When you take Control of your Finances. Starting to plan, work out a budget, saving some money and taking care of retirement and health and life insurance, defines an adult financial attitude.

Whether you like it or not, money will have an influence throughout your life. How you are going to keep a balance will depend on how you approach money and financial matters.…

Experiencing Financial Burnout? How to go Back to the Basics of Financial Know-How

December 8, 2017December 12, 2017

| No Comments

| Blog, xperiencing financial burnout? How to go back to the basics of financial know-how

A good motto for everything in life is to never overdo anything. Moderation should be your keyword for all you do. That also includes your finances.

Most people seldom do moderation, going from one extreme to another in all things they do. For example; from turning over every penny and keeping count of all you spend, to making a roundabout turn, and start spending if tomorrow will never come.

When you’re stuck in this in-betweens and extremes, you should go back to the basics.

Going back to the basics:

Take a Look at your Goals; review the goals you set earlier, are they still relevant to you today? If not, you should take a fresh look at what you want to achieve, and how you want to achieve it. Make a new list, with new dates, how long will it take you, what will be needed to get to the goals, and how much money you should put aside towards your goals.

Make a New Budget; it may be that the budget you made before is not valid anymore. Your situation changed, there might be more money available, or you made more debt. Both ways, be realistic and set up a new budget. And then, keep to your budget.

Pay off Debt; especially those high-interest debt needs to be paid off as soon as possible. Something like a home mortgage should not be a bother if the interest rates are low.

Think About the Future; everybody gets to a retirement date. You need to plan for that date. It might seem silly if you are still young but look at the elderly people around you. Do they live a good life or are they struggling? The earlier you start saving, the less stressful your retirement will be.

But, Also, Live for Today; plan sufficiently for retirement, health and life insurance, and all those future things. But remember to also live today. Spend time and money on the things that are important to you right now.

Your money should be a benefit to you and all and everything that is important to you.…

5 Financial Tips to Help Change the Way You Use Money and the Manner in which you think About Money

December 1, 2017December 12, 2017

| No Comments

| 5 financial tips to help change the way you use money and the manner in which you think about money, Blog

Starting out on our life’s journey we don’t always think too much about money and retirement, or even just next month, or next year. We have money now, and we use it now. Retirement is too far in the future, anything after tomorrow seems too far in the future.

That non-thinking about money for the future might cause some serious problems later in life. Rather take a minute a day and just think about next year, the same date a year later, will you still be just where you are now, or would you like to be someplace other than this?

5 Tips to help you Change your Money Habits and Thought Processes:

Make Time for a Money Minute Every Day: Somewhere during the day, take a minute each day to check your financial status, the transactions you made, and on what you spend your money. You can immediately identify where you might be going wrong, spending too much, and maybe spending on the wrong things.
Work out a Budget: In this budget you should include everything that you need to pay and spend money on; your monthly payments, rent, electricity, transport, Internet, etc. and then also things like clothing, food, and luxuries, eating out, buying a book, go out for a movie, and more.
Set up Financial Goals for Bigger Buys: Describe what you see yourself doing with your money. Use specific dates and numbers, not only words. Specify what you wanted to save, the amount in numbers, by which date, also numbers, or what you wanted to buy, when.
Take a Specific Goal and make it your Money Spending Mantra: Before you spend money on an unplanned item, ask yourself the money spending mantra; is this purchase going to be better than the cruise ship next summer?
Learn to Savour: This actually just means that you should appreciate what you have and to enjoy it to the fullest. Things do not make you happy. You do not need to buy things to be happy.

Banish toxic, negative thoughts about money. Find positive mantras. Value yourself, and get your body, mind and finances in shape. All of these are good life-habits which will not only help your health and life but also your finances.

…