Vacation Savings: Guest Passes – Part 5 of 5

November 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

With so many vacation savings options, I love sharing the strategies we used for our trip down to Florida.

Having generous family members scattered throughout Florida, who graciously allow us to stay and visit with them, I know our situation is rare.

But in working with our situation, we chose options that fit our budget and enjoyed a great time together while stretching our dollars.

In this 5-part series, we started with the cost breakdown of our two-week vacation where we spent less than $1,000. Then in Part 2, I shared the benefits of our zoo membership, followed by Part 3’s science membership and Part 4’s botanical gardens membership. In this last segment, I highlight guess passes.

Part 5: Guest Passes – Free

When purchasing annual memberships, some establishments offer guest passes with your membership. With our current memberships, we have guest passes with our zoo membership.

Our science and gardens membership are only for our family. With these two memberships, we had the option of selecting a level with guest passes. In finding the prices better through daily deal sites for my parents’ admission, we bypassed the upgraded membership prices.

Having grown up in Florida, I have lots of friends and family in the area. On a previous visit, we were given passes to an amusement park from my mom’s generous neighbor, who had extra tickets through his business.

On this visit, another friend graciously granted our family admission to an aquarium. With a $6 parking fee, our family enjoyed a morning walking through the aquarium, touching the sting rays, watching the sea creatures, and racing the river otters, which seem to have boundless energy.

In accepting guess passes from generous friends, our family enjoyed an additional experience for a minimal cost of $6 while stretching our dollars. As this series comes to an end, I trust by showing you how we maximized our savings that you can go forth and prosper.

While planning your next vacation, use savings strategies, like memberships and guest passes, to save money and stretch your dollars. In using time wisely, start early and enjoy planning. Happy savings!

Question: How do you plan to stretch your dollars on your next vacation?

American Express: Small Business Saturday – November 24, 2012

November 17, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: American Express

If you have an American Express charge card, you have an opportunity to receive a $25 credit on your next statement.

American Express has embraced Small Business Saturday and encourages consumers to support these businesses on November 24, 2012.

Per American Express’ website:

Enroll your eligible American Express® Card to GET $25 BACK WHEN YOU SPEND $25 OR MORE at a qualifying small business location on November 24, 2012.

How it works:

1. Enroll an eligible American Express Card. Enrollment is limited and opens at 12:00AM MST on November 18, 2012 and continues until 11:59PM MST on November 24, 2012 unless the enrollment limit is reached sooner.

2. Use your enrolled Card to spend $25 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location on November 24, 2012. For information about qualifying small business locations, visit ShopSmall.com.

3. Get a one-time $25 statement credit for that transaction from American Express within 8 weeks.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, enroll your American Express card before heading out to your favorite small business on Saturday, November 24, 2012. Happy savings!

Question: Will you participate in Small Business Saturday?

Book Review: Tell Your Time

November 24, 2012 by Tracy

*Amazon Affiliate Link

When I searched Using Time Wisely to link back to my book review, I was aghast that I had not posted a review of this fantastic resource.

Amy Lynn Andrews, the author of Tell Your Time, has influenced me greatly on this blogging journey.

Her website Blogging with Amy provides detailed instructions with video tutorials to build a blog or website from the ground up. Not only does she tell you how to do it, she also explains the why you do it.

For example, ever wondered what the difference is between a blog and a website? (Thanks, Amy, for allowing me to share what I have learned through you.)

A website usually has a static homepage. This means that you can visit that page day after day and see the same information. Most companies have a website for their customers to get the information desired.

A blog is short for a web log and is a website that is updated regularly. Some blog owners post daily, weekly, or monthly, with many variations in between. Since the home page changes regularly, Using Time Wisely is classified as a blog.

Tell Your Time Book Review

Getting back on track, Amy has not only helped get Using Time Wisely off the ground, she has given great advice on time management in her book Tell Your Time. I read this short 32-page e-book in one evening. Although, I spent more time later going back to schedule my time using the printable worksheets provided in the download.

I found the roles, the grid, and the weekly schedule worksheets most helpful in discovering my priorities and adjusting my time as needed. A result of reading Tell Your Time, I have established a monthly blogging schedule whereby I choose my blog topics one month in advance.

One would think that with the years of menu planning I have done and how I share how much time my menu plans save me from thinking about dinner at 5:00 p.m., I would have converted my success in the kitchen to blogging. I did not see the big picture until “my reveal moment” while reading Tell Your Time.

Tell Your Time Cost

If you are struggling with time management, finding yourself behind on tasks, or desiring a great book to read, then you will want to snag Tell Your Time for FREE. Amy, through Amazon, is offering Tell Your Time for $0.00 on Cyber Monday and Tuesday, November 26 – 27, 2012.

On Monday as you look over the deals, you can pick up this resource for FREE. Retailing for $4.99 with occasional sales for $0.99 (which is what I originally paid), you can stretch your dollars and add a great resource to your library.

To save you some time, if you purchased the $5 bundle to support the Barlow family, then you already have Tell Your Time as it was included in the package deal.

Tell Your Time Download

Don’t have a Kindle device? Me either, but you don’t need one to get FREE Kindle e-books. Just download the Kindle for PC from Amazon to your computer. You can then download the e-book to your computer, iPad, or other device.

To change the location of the book, just go to Amazon, log in to your account, and move the book to a registered device.

In using time wisely, I highly recommend Amy Lynn Andrew’s e-book, Tell Your Time. If you don’t have a copy, then snag it for free on Cyber Monday 2012. If you have it already, then spread the word to your family and friends. Happy savings!

*This post contains my affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Question: How is your time management planning?

2012 Feed It Forward: Free Restaurant.com $10 e-Gift Certificates

December 1, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Feed It Forward

One of my favorite programs is back, and I’m so excited to get started! Feed It Forward is a holiday program through Restaurant.com. In celebrating the gifting season, Feed It Forward will gift up to 100 of your friends, family members, business contacts, and anyone else you choose with a $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate!

Last year, I posted the instructions and sent my maximum of 40 certificates each day. In 2011, I took almost all month to send everyone on my list an e-gift certificate. This year with more friends, I started today. With the increase in the number of e-gift certificates sent going from 40 certificates per day in 2011 to 100 gifts per day in 2012, I may finish my list early this year. 😉

In stretching your dollars, you cannot get better than free. This program is now in its 5^th year, and continues to gain momentum. I have personally used the program for 3 years. I love it, and look forward to giving my family and friends these restaurant e-gift certificates each year.

Feed It Forward Overview

You will need a free Restaurant.com account. You can either log in or sign up at Feed It Forward. When you sign in, you can access your e-mail contact list and Facebook account.

When you accept the Feed It Forward app, an e-mail confirmation will arrive in your inbox. Save that e-mail. After you have gifted everyone in your e-mail contacts and/or Facebook account, return to that e-mail and unsubscribe from the app. This way, you cut off the app from reporting your activity.

Feed It Forward Process

You can create one card, write one message, choose 100 recipients, and click send. In completing my first batch today, I spent about 10 minutes. Of course, part of that time was trying to remember my password as I was too lazy to go upstairs to look it up.

Your recipients will receive an e-gift certificate. They will need a Restaurant.com account to retrieve their gift. Once activated, your recipient gets to choose which restaurant to visit.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, start at Feed It Forward. Providing gifts for everyone on your list (and those who had no chance of making it) is possible. The best part is that there is no cost to you. As many are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season, allow Feed It Forward to gift you with a free Christmas for family and friends. Happy savings!

Question: Who can you now cross off your list?

Christmas Savings: Make a List and Check It Twice

December 8, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In stretching your dollars this holiday season, you may need to think outside the box.

As you make a list and check it twice, stay within your budget. If your budget cannot accommodate your giving spirit, then don’t fret.

Turn toward free or less expensive options found in Feed It Forward, giveaways and sweepstakes, and bundles to separate.

Feed It Forward

The Feed It Forward program allows you to gift friends and family a $10 e-gift certificate for free. The limit on Facebook friends is 15 per day, while the limit on e-mail addresses is 100 per day. The daily maximum is 100 gifts per day. In using time wisely, you can gift thousands of friends this December for free with a little time invested.

Giveaways and Sweepstakes

Last year, I won a giveaway package from Southern Savers. My gift included a coffee maker, blender, and automatic wine opener. All three of these gifts arrived, and I wrapped them for a friend and family members. The recipients were so grateful, and I openly shared how their gifts were chosen for them. It was a great opportunity to share how entering giveaways and sweepstakes saves our family money.

For giveaways, I like Money Saving Mom, Freebies 4 Mom, Southern Savers, Meet Penny, Becentsable, and Simple Savings for ATL Moms. Giveaways are on-going on some websites and sporadic on others. As you see a giveaway that does not interest you, consider entering. If you win, give the item or service as a gift.

For current sweepstakes, check out Heather Hernandez’ Freebies 4 Mom. On the menu bar, you can find freebies, sweeps, and giveaways. I love how Heather categorizes the sweeps by entry type: weekly, daily, or once. Heather keeps her list current.

Bundles to Separate

When you need to purchase lots of items, look for bundles to separate into separate gifts. In previous years, I have purchased 3-count candles, package of ornaments, and jewelry sets. With the less expensive cost per unit, I can open the package and gift each item separately.

If you purchase on-line, start with E-bates or Shop at Home and find a promotional code to keep your savings within your budget.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, make a list and check it twice. Then look to Feed It Forward, giveaways and sweepstakes, and bundles to separate options. Though definitely not all the ways one can save, these three strategies can save you money, energy, and time.

If you still cannot afford Christmas, focus on the experiences. Creating a homemade coupon book, baking cookies, or going on an outing provides a special memory for the recipient beyond a temporal token. Happy gifting!

Question: How are you stretching your dollars this Christmas season?

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