If you asked three different people (and none of them punched you in the face for being a “nosy Nelly”), you’d likely hear three different fares. How can this be?  If you’re all on the same plane at the same time going to the same place, shouldn’t all of the fares be the same? Not necessity, because in an effort to freight around as many passengers as possible while making the most money possible, airlines use a complex (and seemingly mystical) pricing structure Your task, as a savvy consumer is to always find the best airline deals that could save you a lot of money.

Here are some tips:

 
• Book online Most airlines now charge you a fee if you call a reservations agent to book over the phone however, booking online is free and gives you all the options you will need for your flight, including seat selection at time of booking, checking in online a day prior to departure, and even upgrading your ticket.

• Find the best deal The travel industry usually announces their “e-fares” on Tuesdays, so this is your best day to grab a deal. Unfortunately, this is not a closely guarded secret, so if you are planning a trip, try to hop onto your airlines or travel provider’s website as soon as possible on Tuesday morning. While the “e-fares” vary from week to week, they generally feature cheap tickets during a destination’s “off season.” For example, since most people flock to Las Vegas in the winter and eschew the overheated strip in the summer months, you will likely find the best “e-fares” June through August.

• Sign up for newsletters Sign up for the major airlines’ newsletters. Their e-fares will come to you rather than you having to go to their site. Subscribing to multiple air carriers’ newsletters will allow you to compare fares and get the best deal.

•   Be Flexible While most people’s hectic lives mean they can only travel on certain day, keeping a flexible schedule could save you big bucks. For example, departing on a Tuesday or Wednesday will usually get you a lower fare than departing on a Friday. Your fare generally gets even cheaper if you stay-over on a Saturday. Since most of us like to travel on weekends, airlines generally charge a premium for their Saturday and Sunday flights and reserve their best deals for the weekdays. 

Once you have your cheap ticket, don’t spoil the good feeling of having saved a lot of dough by having a stressful time once you get to the airport. Face it; about 30% of your valuable fun getaway time will be spent commuting to and from the airport, security screenings, baggage claim, airline check-ins, and the actual flight itself. Try to make this as easy and enjoyable on yourself and create the effect that this is an extension of the plans you have made in your destination.

To help with this, follow this tips to help make the journey as fun as the destination:

    
• Avoid the gate wait Sitting in that cattle call line at the check in gate can be very stressful, as the line seems to move slower than molasses. But you can avoid this line altogether by checking in on-line the night before, or by using one of the self-serve kiosks at the airport to check-in. The kiosks may also have lines, but they won’t be nearly as long as the service counters. Both services will allow you to check-in, change seats, upgrade your travel, and print your boarding passes.

• Allow extra time Don’t rush your journey thru the airport. Allow yourself the extra time you may need to get thru the security screening process so you won’t have to run to your gate. If you find you have some time before your flight, take in what the airport has to offer. Most major airports feature a combination of shopping malls and museums. Do a little shopping and take is some of the local art. Make the airport a fun extension of your journey to your final destination.

One final tip, don’t forget to take advantage of your frequent traveler cards. You will be surprised how quickly you can begin reaping the benefits of your travel. Who knows, you could get the best travel deal of them all: a free trip!

By Chuck Charles

For the admission price, a theme park can make a great vacation destination this summer at an affordable price, if you plan ahead and do a little creative budgeting.

Definitely check out the theme parks’ websites. You will find a lot of discounts including on-line-only tickets offered at a great discount, discounted season passes, or multi-day / multi-park tickets at a reduced rate.

When getting your theme park tickets, be on the lookout for hotel discounts. Most of the parks have contracts with nearby hotels where guests can stay at a discount. If you decide to book your own hotel, check with the hotel staff to see if they offer a shuttle service to the theme park. Not only will this alleviate some of the stress of driving in an unfamiliar city, it will save you up to $20.00 in parking fees.

If you are a theme park enthusiast and have a few days to spend in Southern California, I would suggest the City Pass. The pass is a multi-park pass that includes admission into Universal Studios Hollywood, Sea World and a three-day park hopper pass to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. At $199 for adults and $159 for children, it is a definite value!

Of course, once you get you admission into the theme park, your expenditures are far from over. Once inside you’ll be tempted to spend your hard-earned green on food, drinks, and souvenirs. This is where the creative budgeting comes in.

Before entering the park, take your family to a nearby restaurant off the venue grounds. A simple meal of burgers and fries for a family of four could cost your up to $60.00 inside the park gates. So eating prior to entering the park will save you a nice chunk of change.

If possible, take a break outside of the park midday for lunch or dinner. Universal Studios Hollywood offers City Walk right outside its gates, which features a wide-variety of restaurants with affordable prices (at least, compared to the prices inside the park.) Similarly, Downtown Disney located near Disneyland has restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, most of which are much less expensive than their counterparts inside the theme park.

Souvenirs can be tricky. Souvenirs can be a lot like those impulse items that are strategically placed next to the cash register at department stores, they seem tempting at the time, but chances are if you pass them up you won’t miss them later. Before you buy that $50.00 t-shirt with the theme park’s name embroidered on it, ask yourself if you or you kids will ever wear it again. Instead, the best souvenirs of your theme park trip are pictures from your camera. Sipper cups and t-shirts wear out and will be forgotten over time, but pictures are affordable and last a lifetime.

California offers several top-notch theme parks including The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Universal Studios in Hollywood, SeaWorld in San Diego and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, just to name a few. Knowing which theme park to choose depends on your families’ personal preference and how old they are.

To help you decide which one to choose, here’s a summary of some of California’s top parks:

Six Flags Thes parks are 90 pecent roller coasters and are geared toward the adventurous adults and teenagers over 48 inches tall. So if you have young children, this may not be the best option for you since attractions for the younger park-goers are limited.

General admission is $59.99 for adults; $29.99 for children. However, to illustrate the deals available on-line, at the time this article was being written, Six Flags was offering a 25 percent discount on all adult tickets purchased through its website.

Disneyland Resort and Disney’s California Adventure Of course, when you think of theme parks the name “Disney” automatically pops into our head. The Disneyland resort in Anaheim is a great choice for a fun-filled family theme park adventure. Between the two major theme parks and the nightlife of Downtown Disney, there is something for the entire family. The Disney Resort offers a wide-variety of ticketing options including multi-park tickets, multi-day tickets, as well as hotel/theme park combos. Visit their website see which ticket combo is best for you.

Knott’s Berry Farm Located in Buena Park, just a short drive from the Disneyland Resort, Knott’s Berry Farm is a themed venue taking you back to the old western days including cowboys and a real steam-powered train. This is a good choice for a family theme park vacation as the rides are diverse enough for the young and old. The park offers many wares reminiscent of the days of the wild-wild west such as pulled taffy and an outdoor BBQ.

SeaWorld SeaWorld, in the beautiful ocean city of San Diego, offers several eclectic attractions. Though well-known for its shows featuring whales performing choreographed tricks, SeaWorld also offers several rides including a water roller coaster and smaller rides and attractions for the youngsters. Combined with the San Diego Wild Animal Park, this is a great fun-filled trip for the entire family. Sea World offers one day tickets and combo tickets that include the theme park, the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, check out their website for web-only discounts.

Universal Studios Hollywood As the park’s name implies, the attraction is still an active studio where TV shows and feature films are filmed and produced. But the studio also operates as a full-service theme park. This park definitely has something for the entire family. The attractions are entertainment themed, of course, including attractions such as Back to the Future, the Ride, Jurassic Park, and live-action stunt shows. Much like the Disney Resort, Universal Studios offers a wide variety of ticketing options to suit any sized families’ budget.
 

The group, The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), made similar claims against KFC’s parent company Yum brands, Inc. and has even filed a lawsuit charging that the popular chicken chain failed to inform consumers of the trans fat content in its fried chicken and of the possible health risks. CSPI says it has not ruled out taking similar legal action against Starbucks.

Starbucks does post nutritional information in brochures in its cafe and on its website, but the CSPI says such efforts are not enough. Instead, the group says the information should be posted on the menu board.

There is little dispute that some of the coffee chain’s drinks and snacks are high in fat and calories. According to Starbucks own website, a 20-ounce “Venti” Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino with whole milk and whipped cream has about 720 calories and 15 grams of saturated fat, as compared with a McDonalds Big Mac which has 560 calories and 10 grams of fat, according to the burger chain’s website. Nutritionists suggest the average person only needs to consume 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day.

But for its part, Starbucks issued a statement saying it is actively researching alternatives to high-fat ingredients and pledged it will eliminate trans fat from its seasonal baked goods by the fall.

Considered dieters should also note that Starbucks offers a small version of its beverages called a “short” that is not always advertised on the menu, but is usually available. Something to consider when you have a craving for a Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino but don’t want all the calories.

By David Plowman

Brazil is currently the world’s largest producer and user of ethanol. Its factories are capable of producing 92,500 gallons of the renewable energy source daily. Nearly 70 percent of all new cars in Latin America’s largest country are capable of running entirely on ethanol, gas or a combination of the two. All told, this means that nearly half of the country’s domestic passenger fuel demand is met by ethanol.

Brazil’s transition to ethanol didn’t happen without cause, nor was the transition cheap or easy. Brazil was rocked same by the oil crisis that shook the world in the 1970’s. While the United States saw high gas prices, high demand and long lines at the pumps, Brazil saw massive trade deficits, massive government borrowing and hyperinflation.

But unlike the most industrialized nation in the world, Brazil’s government, then a military dictatorship, vowed to end its dependence on foreign oil—and followed through on their pledge. The government heavily funded and subsidized factories that turned its abundant sugar-cane crop into a fuel source and mandated that all gas stations in the country provide the new fuel source.

While their ethanol movement seemed to peak in the 90’s when a brief respite in high oil prices coincided with an ethanol shortage, the “alternative fuel source” is back with a vengeance in Brazil today, even as Americans are facing yet another fuel crisis.

Today, Brazilian commuters happily fill their empty tanks for just $18. Environmentalists are smiling too. Air quality in the Western Hemisphere’s second largest economy has significantly improved. In the meantime, the ethanol production facilities are burning the sugarcane waste to turn steam-powered turbines to provide all of the plant’s electrical needs. In fact, the facility currently has plans to create its second renewable energy source by providing electricity for a near-by town.

Many experts doubt the United States could duplicate Brazil’s success with ethanol (A dictatorship lead by the military can usually enact radical new policies quicker than can a democratic society with a market-driven economy). However, our neighbor to the south should serve to inspire us to put some real action behind our pledge to wean ourselves from foreign oil.

Just something to think about the next time you’re paying $60 to fill up your SUV.

By David Plowman

Several major hotel chains are actually the parent owner of other smaller venues that will all accept the same frequent stay card The Ramada Hotels are a good example. Not only can you earn points by staying at a property bearing the Ramada name but also at Days Inn, Knights Inn, and Travelodge just to name a few. The card also provides discounts at Budget and Avis for car rentals.

You don’t have to be a road-warrior to rack up the benefits from a frequent-flyer program. While you may not earn that free flight to Australia or a luxury suite at a five star resort if you only travel a couple of times a year, you can still use your points for discounted airfares, or even seat upgrades For example, I only flew Delta once last year; not enough points to get a first class ticket, but enough to earn a free one-year subscription to a major magazine.

A lot of these frequent traveler programs allow you to “double dip” your points; meaning if you stay, let’s say at a Hilton hotel, you can also designate an airline partner. Not only are getting points for the Hilton program but you are also earning points towards that free flight or first class upgrade. Several credit cards also allow you to double-dip. Purchase an American Airlines ticket with an American Airlines credit card, and you’ll earn twice the miles.

Most airline frequent traveler programs will allow you to purchase points to add to the points you already earned or to transfer your points to another program member.

If you love a weekend getaway to Las Vegas, like I do; definitely sign up for all of the “slot club cards” as you can. All of the casinos participate in some type of frequent gambling program.

In Vegas, these cards are the only sure bet. Before you start gaming, place your card in the slot machine, or hand to the dealer if you are a card player. You earn points for every dollar you spend within a certain timeframe. Win or lose, you’ll rack up points before you know it, especially since there are no clocks in the casinos and it is easy to lose track of time.

As you accrue points, you become eligible for “members only” promotions such as free rooms, buffets, and even cold hard cash. Simply call the number on the back of your card to redeem points and to take advantage of the casino’s promotions.

The next time you book a hotel or airline, sign up for their frequent traveler program. It only takes a few minutes and your earn benefits before you know it.

By Chuck Charles

So how can you find the best mechanic for you? Just as you would with any other important business or service you select, do your homework and look for quality and value.

When you are shopping around, consider the following:

• Check with your friends and co-workers for recommendations. Good mechanics know that word of mouth can be their best advertisements.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against the mechanic you are considering.
• Are the mechanics certified? Mechanics may receive certification from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
• Will the work be under warranty? A good mechanic should stand behind her or her work, including both the parts and the labor. The longer the warranty the better.
• Get a complete estimate (preferably in writing) before any work is completed. Do not authorize any work until you have the estimate. If you don’t know understand what the mechanic is saying, ask questions until you do.
• Remember you are looking for the best value, a combination of quality and price. The cheapest repair shop could cost you a lot in the long run. Similarly, the most expensive mechanic doesn’t guarantee you will receive the best service.

Following these steps will help ensure that your next visit to a mechanic is a good one.

By David Plowman

The answer to these questions depend on two things, the credit card offer’s fine print and how discipline you are with money.

Be read the fine print very carefully and watch for the following:

• Does the offer say “zero percent financing” or as low as zero percent? If it is the later, understand that only a very few people will qualify for the lowest rate. If you have a few dings on your credit report, your actual rate may be higher.
• Does the offer zero percent offer apply to all purchases or just balance transfers? If your rate for more purchases is higher, make sure you know what that rate is.
• Is there a charge to transfer charges? Even though the new credit card offers zero percent financing, they may charge a fee to transfer the charges from your old card.
• How long will the introductorily rate be in effect? The low rate will probably go up after several months. Find out when, so you can plan to have most, if not all of your transferred balance paid off before then.
• What will the rate be after the teaser rate expires? If the rate is higher than your old credit card, especially if you don’t anticipate paying off your balance during the low rate.
• Are there circumstances that can exempt you from the low rate? Some clauses in the terms and conditions section of the credit card offer may say that the teaser rate is contingent on paying your credit card bill on time. Failure to do so will result in a much higher interest rate. Further, some offers may even stipulate that you have to be current on all of your bills. Fall behind on your utility bill, and you could see your credit card rate go up.
• Another strategy some credit card providers employ is specifying not only a date the payment needs to be received, but also a time, usually in the morning, before mail is received. For example, they may require payment be received on the 8^th of the month at 8:00 a.m. If your payment arrives in the mail that day at 1:00 p.m., it is “late.”

While the specific terms and conditions vary depending on your credit card provider, the message is clear: Many of these companies hope to entice you with low or no interest rates introductory, they are hoping that you won’t pay off your balance before the teaser rate expires or that you will violate one of the terms and conditions to void the rate.

However, if you are discipline with your payments and closely adhere to all of the stipulations, you can take advantage of the “too good to be true” credit card offers to pay down your debt without getting hit with high interest rates.

David Plowman
 

Without denying the importance of stashing away some green for a brighter tomorrow, for many of us it can be hard to read these headlines without our rolling our eyes. ”Absolutely, it is a good idea to save, but with what money?” say most of us who are struggling to live paycheck-to-paycheck. “If I had an ‘extra’ $500 a month, of course I’d put it in an IRA, but right now, I just don’t have the bucks. Saving money is just for the rich,” we say to ourselves bitterly.

Before you begin shopping for a loan, you should estimate the total loan amount and the monthly payments you can afford. Begin by calling local banks and lending institutions, or by researching lenders on the internet. If you have a checking account at a bank or credit union, make sure to contact them, as they might give a deal to existing customers.

When looking for a mortgage, find out if you are dealing with a lender or a broker.(Click a here for more information about the difference between the two.)

But whether you are going through a broker or directly through a lender, understand that  these companies operate competitively, so you should shop around for the best deal on the “product” you are buying (your loan) just as you shop for any major purchase. It is recommended that you call at least three lenders or brokers to get the best deal.

When you talk to them, remember that the loan with the lowest monthly payments may not be the best deal. That’s because lenders structure their loans differently, and some may have higher closing costs than others, while other loans may require a larger down payment than others.

Instead, you should ask each lender or broker the same questions about loan. Make sure to ask them:

• What is the minimum down payment?
• What is the length of the loan?
• What is the interest rate?
• What is the annual percentage rate (APR)? (This number, expressed as a yearly rate. It includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and any other loan charges.)
• Are any points included in the loan?
• Are there any monthly private mortgage insurance premiums (MPI) included in the loan? If so, how long must you keep the insurance?
• What escrow payments are needed?
• What will the total estimated monthly payment be? (This should include the principal, interest, taxes, insurance costs, and any PMI costs.)

In addition to these loan costs which are generally part of your monthly loan payment,  there are several other payments you may need to pay at the closing of your loan. Keep in mind that different lenders may have different names for these fees and may that they may have additional charges.

These fees include:

• Application or loan processing fee.
• Origination or loan processing fee.
• Lender fee or funding fee.
• Appraisal fee.
• Attorney fee.
• Document preparation fee.
• Broker fee.
• Credit report fee.

After you have found a loan program you are satisfied with, you may want to ask to see if the prices you were quoted can be “locked-in.” Doing so could protect you from having to pay increased fees if rates rise from when you were quoted the loan price. Some lenders may charge for this, but the fee may be refunded at the time of the loan’s closing.

By putting in some extra legwork when you shop for a home loan, you could save thousands of dollars.

By David Plowman