Travel to Europe On A Budget

With current exchange rates on the Euro, a vacation overseas may seem financially out of reach. So how can you take a cheap European vacation? If you do sufficient research, it is possible to visit Europe on a budget.

by contributor Vjollca Hysenlika

Traveling to Europe can be expensive–from airfare, to accommodations, to food. However, smart shopping and online exploration can save you big bucks. Your dream European vacation can become a reality, as long as you do your research.
But where and how do you find the great travel deals!? All of it is online, and it involves three clear-cut principles.

Click below for tips on taking a memorable, budget European vacation.

Source: The Digerati Life

Budget Vacation Ideas

Looking for a relaxing getaway that won’t break the bank? Here are four budget vacation ideas that are both affordable and provide plenty of entertainment for families, couples, or even if you’re going solo. Try them out Memorial Day, or any weekend this spring.

Visit A Nearby National Park

A great vacation resource that’s often overlooked, the nearly 400 national parks across the U.S provide fantastic opportunities to experience the outdoors. Certain states offer better selections than others (as well as fewer weather concerns), but many parks offer overnight options that range from free to very affordable. Some of the lesser known, but utterly amazing destinations include Biscayne National Park in Florida (especially if you love snorkeling or scuba) and Isle Royale National Park in Michigan on Lake Superior (where you can take a boat tour around some of the park’s 400 satellite islands, or take a backcountry camping trip).

Courtesy: National Park Service

Click the link below for more great budget vacation ideas.

Baby Wrap Or Stroller?

You may have seen baby slings in the news recently. There have been warnings about potential dangers in some models. But most baby carriers/slings/wraps are perfectly safe, and a godsend for busy mothers. In addition to their utility, they happen to offer an inexpensive option for porting that precious load.

A baby wrap can certainly cost less than most strollers, and the New York Times is declaring the hottest trend in baby transport is “mom and dad”… via the uber-popular slings and wraps.

Apparently New Yorkers are parking their strollers in favor of baby carriers, which place infants close to the body for additional bonding and hands-free maneuvering. Baby expert Dr. William Sears also claims “babywearing” makes for a smarter, calmer, less colicky infant, with better sleep habits. Can your average stroller do that?

Photo By Paul Netto

Mobile Coupons Offer On-the-Go Savings

First there was Yowza, which offers scannable coupons on your mobile phone at more than 10,000 locations nationwide.

Yowza searches stores in a shopper’s vicinity, or up to 50 miles away, and identifies related coupons that can be scanned off a cell phone at checkout. (Warning: Yowza only works with IPhones, Androids, Palm Pres, and Blackberries.)



Now Target is offering a scannable mobile coupon program with exclusive offers for shoppers. The coupons are redeemable at checkout. Although this isn’t an entirely new phenomenon, Target claims its program is the first to work nationwide at all of its stores.

Stay Healthy On A Budget With the Mediterranean Diet

If your reason for not eating right is it’s too expensive, that’s no longer a good excuse. If you plan ahead, you can eat super healthy at a reasonable price on a Mediterranean diet — all in your own home.

Story contributed by Vjollca Hysenlika

For centuries, Europeans have consumed Mediterranean food, and research shows it’s healthier than any other. According to the Patient UK Newspaper, researchers found death rates were lower in Greece and Southern Italy, most likely based on eating habits, while mortality rates were comparatively higher in the US and Finland.

This could be because the Mediterranean Diet is proven to reduce the likelihood of heart disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, aging, and it can even drastically lower depression.

Fresh Produce-Photo by Vjollca Hysenlika

Through extensive research and personal experience (I was born and raised in the Mediterranean Basin) I can tell you… If you do your homework you can eat healthier without increasing your grocery bill. My mother’s delicious, healthy, and economical Mediterranean recipes have kept the family physically strong and fit. She continually encourages the method to my brother, sisters, and me—and we rigorously follow her advice because the food is delectable, and the results are incredible.

But how do you do it? Well, it’s really simple—just follow the steps below!

Fly For Less to a Discount Vacation

You can fly for less!

Sick and tired of the cold weather and snow? Unless you live in a sunny clime, you’re probably desperate for some sun, and a day without a heavy coat. Why not get away for a weekend to refresh your body, mind and spirit? It is possible to fly for less and take a vacation within your budget.

Airfare prices have dropped considerably since the recession began thanks to lower demand, but with the economy showing signs of life, many people are seeing hopeful signs and starting to travel again. This, of course, is a double-edged sword: Increased demand along with rising gas prices have caused many airlines to ratchet up fares as well as impose some pretty ridiculous fees (certain airlines even charged a Super Bowl fee. And there are all those new baggage fees…). Despite all this, there are still many ways to find a cheap ticket to warmer weather if you’re diligent, and can be flexible with your travel dates and/or destination.

Stop Paying The Mortgage?

The foreclosure crisis that has swept the country has prompted many homeowners to actually stop paying the mortgage in what has been called “strategic default”.

Foreclosure, For Sale

When a homeowner files for foreclosure, they typically have close to a year before they’re actually kicked out, making strategic default an attractive option for the desperate. I.e., you can live in your home essentially payment-free, and maybe not even have to move if the foreclosure papers aren’t filed, or if you reach some sort of agreement with your bank. Of course there is the serious damage to your credit. On the upside, you are freeing up money for other necessities (or non-necessities as the case may be).

Four Ways To Get Paid To Go Green

If you’re daunted by the idea of going green, and how much “green” it might cost you, President Obama wants to help lighten your load.

The economic stimulus package provides billions of dollars for renewable energy products, and the average taxpayer can tap in to some of that money. Here are four ways you can help both the environment and your wallet come tax time:

Solar Power Is Affordable

New Tax Breaks For 2009

Like most folks in this recession, you’re probably hoping for a nice tax return for some extra springtime cash.  If you’re doing your own taxes – or even if not – there are some new tax breaks for 2009 you should know about that can reduce your tax liability or plump up your refund.

Most of them are applicable only if you itemize, but this year there’s something out there for just about everyone.

Save on Prescription Drugs

If you’d been laid off, then your healthcare costs may be one of the most pressing concerns on your mind.

With COBRA, or private insurance, costing hundreds of dollars a month, medical expenses can be among the priciest bills in your budget. So finding any means of cutting down your costs is a benefit, especially if you have a medical condition that requires regular care and prescriptions.

There are a number of ways to save money on Rx drugs. Some manufacturers offer discounts on their websites. For example, Pfizer offers a year of free meds for some of the newly unemployed. (Go to www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com)

You may also qualify for reduced price drugs through programs run by patient-advocacy groups and health-care providers. (Details at www.pparx.org)

Drug savings cards are also available for those who don’t have insurance or aren’t covered for certain meds. The cards offer some discounts at participating pharmacies. (Go to www.freedrugcard.us or www.rxfreecard.com)



Wal-Mart and Target and a few other chain pharmacies are also resources for discounts, offering many common prescriptions, such as antibiotics, for $4.