Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

4 Budget-Friendly Travel Tips

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Traveling on a shoestring budget is a lot cheaper than you think. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to see the world and do new and exciting things. To save money on travel and travel comfortably on a budget, check out these four budget-friendly tips.

Flexibility is Key

If you want to travel on a budget, you have to be flexible. Being flexible with your dates and times can make travel a lot more affordable. You can find incredibly amazing experiences in the spur of the moment. Sometimes, same-day planning can really pay off when you’re traveling. For example, tropical activities like swimming with dolphins or sharks might be cheaper if you book the day of and take advantage of last-minute cancelations. Activities like swimming with sharks can be found in places like Hawaii and other islands. A lot of people chicken out at the last minute and leave their slot open. The shark tourism industry generates about $314 million every year. This incredibly popular activity can make for some wonderful memories. Stay flexible with your travel plans.

Save on Lodging

You can save money on travel by moving out of the epicenter of the tourist areas. You may have to travel a little bit to get to the sights but the savings can be significant. Another way to save on lodging is to look into renting a timeshare. About 84% of resorts that have timeshare programs also have rental programs. These resorts offer all the bells and whistles. You can save on lodging costs because you’re using a timeshare that someone else cannot use. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

Another way to save on lodging is to find someone that is traveling to the same place and at the same time that you are and offer to split costs. It’s a great way to meet new people and to keep travel budget-friendly. There are groups online of singles that want to travel with other people to save money. Consider joining a travel forum. You can also stay in a venue that offers free breakfast or discounted rates on meals. Eating out constantly while traveling gets really expensive. Plan on eating only two or three meals out and making your own food if you can.

Travel During the Off Season

Every destination has an in-season and off-season. If you travel during the off-season, you can expect to find a lot of budget-friendly options for lodging, activities, and more. Of course, you will miss out on the crowds as well. However, there is one drawback — a lot of off-season areas have limited activities during the off-season.

Use Available Discounts

If you are a student, there are discounts out there for student travel. If you are a current or former member of the military, there are discounts for you as well. Take advantage of any and all discounts you can find. If you are lucky enough, you will be able to stack up the discounts and get some amazing savings. There are a lot of people that travel frequently enough that know where to find discounts. Consider joining a social media group that is focused on budget travel to get some tips on where and how to find discounts.

About 37% of U.S. citizens have never left their hometowns, while about 63% have moved to other communities. It’s possible that many of the people that never left their hometown have never traveled outside their own state. Don’t let a small budget keep you planted where you are. Travel for less by following these tips.

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill

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It’s no secret that your Internet bill can take a chunk out of your monthly budget. The good news is that there are a few key ways that you can lower your bill. Since the internet is an essential part of many people’s work and home lives, you’ll want to apply these tips to your life to save some money.

1. Lower Your Data Usage

In many situations, your bill is based on how much data you use. The more data your activities require, the bigger bite this will take out of your budget. Think about how you can lower your data usage. For instance, if you’re running a server, the amount of RAM you’ll need is dependent on what you’re running and how many players you have. If you’re running Vanilla Minecraft on a small server, 2 to 3 GB or more is recommended. Adjust this to your personal situation.

If you are using data to browse the internet, spend as much time hooked up to wi-fi as possible. Take advantage of the wi-fi available in public places and make sure that you’re always connected to your home network if you have one. This will help lower your data usage, as well as your bill.

2. Consider Switching Your Server

If you do business online, you likely use a hosting company to do so. These companies all charge different rates for their services, so take some time to look at all of your options. The global web hosting industry is estimated to grow from a value of $102 billion to $321.5 billion by 2025. This means there are many different options available to you. Some may offer the same services you’re receiving now, but at a lower cost. If you take the time to shop around, you can save money on your internet bill.

3. Buy Your Own Modem and Router

When you sign up for internet service, your provider will offer you a modem and router to use. While this is convenient, you are charged for this service. These expenses can add up, taking unnecessary money out of your budget each month. Consider purchasing your own modem and router to use with the internet service you sign up for. According to The Spruce, small appliances like these require 15-amp circuits in order to work. If you have access to these circuits, then you’ll only need to pay a one-time charge to get your hardware. The monthly savings will make up for that initial investment.

4. Ask for Discounts

It never hurts to ask about discounts and promotions. Internet providers are in competition with each other, so they want to both attract new clients and hang onto the ones they already have. These could include monthly rate reductions, rebates, or other promotions. If you’re looking to cut your internet costs, call your provider and ask what kinds of discounts they have available. This is a simple step that can save you a lot of money.

5. Research Government Programs

The government is aware that internet access is no longer a luxury. People need it for things like job applications, medical care, and access to public services. This is why many places have programs that can help you afford internet access if you’re struggling. Look into discount programs through your local, state, and federal governments. Many will have certain requirements you’ll need to meet, but if you do, it can save a lot of money on your monthly budget.

Internet access is essential, but it can also be expensive. If you’re trying to save money on your internet bill, apply these tips to your life. By planning ahead and taking a few simple steps, you can cut this part of your budget significantly.

A Tip for Your Food Bank Donation

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Tip for Your Food Bank Donation

We’re heading into the holiday season with the trio of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Not only does this time because more hectic for most people, but it’s also a time when people become more generous and think of donating to others. Of course, one excellent way to donate is to give non-perishable food, but consider this tip for your food bank donation.

What Is Food Insecurity?

Thanks to the pandemic and inflation, food insecurity has a strong presence in our country. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, “10.2 percent (13.5 million) U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2021.”

Due to increased demand, many food banks around the country report that they do not have enough food to give to those in need so now is an excellent time to give to a food bank.

My Experience with Food Insecurity

I have only been food insecure once in my life. I was in 7th grade, and my dad had been laid off 18 months prior. Despite actively searching for a job, he had trouble getting interviews, let alone a job.

Money in our family had always been tight, but after he was laid off, money became very tight. And then his unemployment checks ended. No job was on the horizon, and I remember the panic my mom felt. Feeding our family of four was a challenge.

A Tip for Your Food Bank Donation

That Thanksgiving, someone anonymously left us a basket filled with food. Inside was a large turkey and many canned goods. We were delighted to have that basket. For a few weeks, if we stretched the contents, we wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from.

During that time, we were always grateful for any food we received. However, most of the non-perishable food that people donated was unbranded. Of course, there is nothing wrong with off-label food, but we hadn’t eaten that way before, so the food wasn’t quite as good to my taste buds. It made me feel “poor.”

Tip for Your Food Bank Donation

But in that Thanksgiving basket, I found an item that made me feel like life was back to normal. Inside the basket were several boxes of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, which had been my favorite before my dad had gotten laid off. I’d eaten that at least twice a week. While I was grateful for the unbranded mac & cheese we received from food banks, having the real thing, the branded mac & cheese I had loved, made me so happy! I don’t remember how the turkey tasted that year, but I still cherish how good the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese tasted.

Final Thoughts

If you choose to give to a food bank this year, I suggest that you not buy all generic foods. True, they are the most economical choice, and you can donate more food for less money when you buy off-brand. However, I promise you, some child is missing his old favorite food that is now out of financial reach for his family. So, if you buy some name-brand food to mix in with the generics, you will delight the children of the family who receive the food, I promise.

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