Shoppers

Be a Conscious DEBIT/CREDIT Card User

How to Use Smartly Your Debit Card

Debit cards come with more risk than most payment methods, but we tend to use them because they're convenient. While they can be handy, they can also cause you a lot of trouble. Here's how to stay safe.
In general, credit cards are safest. If you have a credit card or charge card, you're better off using that for the majority—if not all—of your purchases. Credit and charge cards tend to come with better rewards and you don't have to worry about fees for exceeding your limit. They better protect your money because you aren't technically paying with your money until you've seen the charge, whereas your money is instantly removed when using a debit card. All of that said, there are many reasons why you might need or want to use a debit card. If you don't need to use your debit card, don't. If you have a good reason for using it, read on. We're going to talk a look at the rights you have and the risks you take as a debit card owner, as well as what you can do to stay safe and avoid fees from your bank and general fraud.

Know Your Changing Debit Card Rights

The Few Varying Rights You Have

You get very few rights, by default, when it comes to debit cards. Most of the "rights" you have come in the form of incentives from your bank. Banks will often offer fraud protection packages with their accounts and cards, so be sure to call your bank and find out what rights they're offering for your specific type of account. Generally these rights are pretty decent with major banks. What you need to be more concerned with are the ways they'll charge you fees for minor mistakes on your part. Overdraft feeds are now much more limited, cutting out a huge source of revenue for banks. Additionally, interchange rates are now being capped as of July 1st, 2011, meaning banks can only make so much money in merchant feeds every time you swipe your card. The more restrictions imposed on the banks means the more creative ways they need to find to start charging fees. While nothing is in place just yet, the Wall Street Journal points out that the following fees are likely to show up this year:

• An annual fee of about $25 for debit card use
• Higher withdrawal fees at ATM machines for non-customers
• Limitations on the number of transactions you can make with your debit card, and potentially the amount as well.

Banks may also do away with debit card rewards programs, so you may want to consider cashing in your rewards points sooner than later. Bank of America, for example, is already testing some of these out by offering an Essentials checking account that comes with a debit card fee. Once account, called eBanking is already in place. If you get an eBanking account you get everything fee-free unless you see a teller. If you see a banking teller, you get hit with a fee. As a current Bank of America customer, I've noticed they're trying to keep me away from the teller window already and I have a regular  checking account. If there's something I can do at the ATM but go to the teller because I have a question, I have, on multiple occasions, been walked over to the ATM machine and watched as I used it. This is just a taste of what's to come. As soon as next month, many banks are imposing new fees and restrictions on both your accounts and debit cards. Call your bank for more information, read any mail they send you, and be prepared to alter the way you use your debit card and bank account to avoid getting hit with surprise charges.

Overdraft Fees: When They're Allowed and How to Prevent Them

Debit cards are not credit cards, even though they operate in very similar ways, but sometimes it can be easy to see them as interchangeable tools. A debit card is really just a quicker means of writing a check. When you write a check, the funds are withdrawn from your account as soon as the check is cashed. The same goes for a debit card, only this happens much faster and is sometimes instantaneous. Anyone who's used a debit card is probably well aware of this, but it's not necessarily what we're aware of when we're actually using the card. It's so important to remember that using a debit card means your money is now gone. There isn't much wiggle room for error. If you pump too much gas and you cause an overdraft of your account—which is still a legal overdraft because of how gas stations charge your card—you're stuck with it. Even with new consumer protection laws preventing banks from allowing us to charge more on our debit cards than our balance can cover, there are still many ways overdrafts can happen.
Going back to the example of purchasing gas for your car, let's break down how this charge works and why you can receive an overdraft. If you pay at the pump, your card is initially charged $1 to ensure it will be approved after you finish pumping gas. This is because the gas station doesn't know the size of your tank, how much gas you're going to put in it, and, therefore, what the total cost of gas will be. Say you want to put $30 of gas in your car because that's all you've got in your bank account and you accidentally go over. Your account will overdraft because your bank has guaranteed the charge to the gas station, just like it would with a check. Because the amount is unknown, those overdrafts are still allowed. Your bank can't deny an amount it's unaware of, but it can honor the charge and assess a fee if you can't cover it. Any situation like this, where the final amount is unknown, will still cause overdrafts. There is nothing protecting you, and so you need to protect yourself. The easiest way is to simply pay up front so the charge will be denied if you can't cover it and so you won't be able to go over the pre-paid amount even if you try. While in an ideal situation you'd keep enough money in your account to avoid overdrafts entirely, you can always forget and always make a mistake so it's best to be careful in this situation.
Another common way of over-drafting your account is when certain kinds of other charges don't show up immediately and you forget about them. Let's say you do not have a credit card that you can use to pay your bills and you only have your checking account and the debit card associated with that account. If you pay your bills using automatic withdrawal (ACH electronic funds transfer), these charges are not protected from overdrafts. Whenever you can, pay your bills with your debit card instead of using automatic withdrawal. This will shift your worst-case scenario from ending up with overdraft charges to simply failing to pay your bill on time. Generally, if a bill is not paid on time, the late fee is considerably less than the overdraft fee and you may not even have to pay that late fee if you can manage to pay your bill within the next few days. You want to avoid automatic withdrawal whenever possible for this reason. Try to reserve wire transfers for money going into your account (e.g., direct deposit for your paycheck).

How to Lower Your Chances of Debit Card Fraud

Avoiding Fraud

There are many ways you can become a victim of debit card fraud, but it's a lot easier online. While it helps to be aware of common scams,you can't be on top of everything at all times. Despite your best efforts, being a victim of fraud is still a possibility. If you can't use a credit card in place of your debit card when shopping online, check with your bank to see if disposable/virtual credit cards are available to you. If you're not familiar, these are basically single-use numbers, often with set limits, that expire after use. While these virtual, disposable numbers may work the same as your debit card and withdraw money immediately, you don't have to worry about someone else finding that number, using it, and draining your bank account.
When you're out making purchases in the real world, there are still a number of risks. For example, many businesses—particularly restaurants—still print credit and debit card receipts with your entire number on them. This is particularly bad because your number is exposed to anyone who sees that receipt. Check your receipts when you make purchases to ensure the full number is not included. If it is, use the pen you're signing with to black out all but the first or last four numbers of your card.
In the event your card is lost or stolen, you need to be prepared to handle the situation as quickly as possible . Be prepared to call your bank and the credit processor (VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, etc.). It's best if you compile the necessary information, such as numbers you'll need to call and information you'll need to provide. Once you do, print it Evernote or Simplenote so you have it easily available on your smartphone or computer. If you're still using a regular cellphone, most have a notes feature where you can store small amounts of text, so it may help to keep the information there as well. If not, you can always store important numbers in your phone's address book, assigning the business name as the first name and something like CARDFRAUD for the surname. This will keep the numbers together and easily accessible in case of a problem. Generally the numbers you'll need will be on the back of your card.

Fraud Protection Dissolves with Time

If a fraudulent charge of any kind may have been made to your debit card, you're generally pretty well protected. While banks only have to cover resulting damages past $500 on your credit card, many offer better protection ($50, and sometimes less) as an incentive. Be sure to check with your bank to know how protected you really are in the event someone steals and uses your debit card. If debit card fraud could cost you quite a bit, it may be time to find a new bank.
Even if you are well-protected by your bank, they'll only help you out for so long. Good protection may be contingent on your reporting possible fraud within 48 hours, and your bank is not required to help you at all 60 days after receiving your monthly statement. Again, be sure to call and find out your bank's specific policies, but the important takeaway is this: check the charges on your account regularly and call your bank if something is unfamiliar. It may not be fraud and it may just be a charge you'd forgotten about, but you're protecting yourself simply by calling to ask about it. Often times your bank can help you get more information on the charge and figure out what it is. You're better safe than sorry in this situation, since all you're doing is spending a few extra minutes on the phone. If waiting on hold sounds horribly tedious, consider using a tool like LucyPhone to avoid waiting on hold altogether.
Even if it isn't necessarily fraud, it's always worth double-checking your statement because sometimes you can get overcharged by small amounts. Sometimes tips on restaurant bills get misread (or intentionally increased), companies accidentally process certain transactions twice, or the cashier forgot to close out the previous transaction and it got added to your bill by accident. You should get into the habit of checking your statements regularly to help avoid these more common issues as well.
All this information points to one thing: increased awareness. Pretty much every debit card problem you could encounter can be prevented by simply staying aware of how you're using your card, the restrictions imposed on your card, and what fun new things your bank is dreaming up. Stay informed and aware and you'll be able to avoid getting screwed.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE INTERESTING STORIES...

Tweet

---

How to Look Attractive with Smaller Bust

Big and full breasts are considered as a token of femininity and sexual appeal. Thus many of those women who have small breasts feel inferior or less confident than those who have large breasts. There are many ways of how to visually enhance small breasts without any radical changes such as plastic surgery. From special foods and exercises that help breast muscles stay in tone to bra types and clothing color – all may play a part in enhancing small breasts.

Choose a right size bra. The first thing to do is to find a right size bra. Why? Because the bra has to fit perfectly to provide necessary support the breasts and make them look good and be comfortable.

Pushup Bra. A pushup bra visually enhances the chest and forms a cleavage. Thus your breasts appear to be bigger. Pushup bras push the breasts together and lift them up which creates a visual illusion of larger breasts.
Pushups can be padded to enhance the breast size. They can also have the inserts filled with water or under wires for a more natural shape and look. The inserts can also be filled with gel, air, foam or silicone. Silicone inserts look best of all as they are worn on the outside of the bra. The pushup bra has to tighten the breasts but it should not sit too tight and cause discomfort.

Padded Bra. The padded bras due to the padding in the lining visually enhance small breasts but unlike the pushup bras do not significantly lift them.
Also opt for bras with thin spaghetti straps they will contrast with the breast size. Shiny silky material also works well for small breasts. Black, red, deep purple, chocolate brown colors are almost classic for sexy lingerie so opt for them, though carefully since the darker tones tend to deemphasize the size.
Open shelf or cupless bra. The cupless bra is specially designed to provide a good support but has no cups or has a small line of fabric just below the nipples. It fits great for breast enhancement as it lifts breasts and draws attention to them and the cleavage.

Choosing lingerie for small breasts. Another approach to choosing lingerie aside from pushup and padded bras is to look for babydolls or tops embroidered with ruches, lace, glitter or other things around the bust line as they visually enhance small breasts. Or you can also choose babydolls with a built-in pushup or padded bra. One more way is to show off your bottom or legs or use garters and stockings if you are slim to draw attention from your breast size.

You can also opt for an under bust corset or a waist cincher in a combination with a pushup bra or a bra with ruches as the corset itself has a pushing effect. This will make your chest appear wider and visually enhance your breasts due to the pushup bra effect. You can also combine a dark corset with a lighter bra which can also make your breasts look bigger.
The over bust corset is a special occasion item but if you have a passion for that opt for those which have rich embroidery in the bust line, again ruches and bows will do. Plus due to the hour-glass shape that the corset provides, your waist will become thinner while the chest wider and bigger. Do not wear tops or babydolls that have a high bust line as it draws attention to the breast size.
Posture. In order to be beautiful and healthy you have to have a right posture. Hold your back straight as it is not only visually lifts up your breasts and enhances them, but it is also simply beautiful. Incorrect posture can bring back aches and other back problems.
Color tricks. These may not very well work with lingerie, but you can use them to choose clothes. Opt for light colors for bust line and dark ones for lower part of the body. Thin horizontal stripes also enhance your chest and combined with the dark bottom will deemphasize the wide hips.
Makeup. Applying some make up to your chest can also visually enhance the small breasts. The first technique is to apply shimmery light powder to the upper part of your chest and highlight the area between your breasts with a darker powder. Apply as an eye makeup thoroughly blending in the two tones.
The second technique is completely the opposite. Use the darker tone on the upper part and the lighter one in between the breasts. Which one of these techniques suits you better can decide only an experiment.
Accessories. Accessories and small details can visually enhance small breasts accentuating the cleavage. Opt for the thin chains and small pendants as the delicate designs greatly contrast with the breast size.
Now let’s summarize all the things that help us visually enhance small breasts: special bras, ruches, lace, glitter, bows, under bust corsets, garters and stockings, light colors, thin horizontal stripes, good posture, special makeup and accessories. The things to avoid having the small breasts are the high bust line tops, tight clothes, loose clothes; breasts “disappear” in it.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE INTERESTING STORIES...

Tweet

Downsize your bust

Large breasts is an embodiment of fertility, femininity and sex appeal. Many women dream of bigger breasts, but there are also those who are burdened with large breasts. Sometimes a woman’s body structure is not built to take the wieght of the large breasts. Other times a woman wishes that her bust is given too much unnecessary attention and there are simply times when a woman needs to reduce her large breasts. Surgery can be very costly and has its special risks. Our tips on reducing large breasts without a surgery will help those who want to hide and de-emphasize their bust.

Bra A good-quality bra with added support is really important for women with large breasts.  Especially if you are doing sports you have to wear super-supportive sport bra to avoid pains and broken capillaries. Consider bras made of Spandex and Lycra as theese fabrics stretch and can flatten your breasts.
Minimizer bra is specifically designed for women with large breasts and can reduce your bust quite well without a surgery. With minimizer bra your can reduce your breasts to one or two sizes. Although be careful with wearing this bra everyday as it is pretty constrictive. Full-support and balcony bras cover the whole of the breasts and provide excellent support.
Concerning bra straps, do not choose bras with thin spaghetti straps as they contrast with your shoulders and breasts making them look even bigger. Besides wide straps add to the breasts support.
Lingerie Choose underwired lingerie. Babydolls with built-in bras and corsets provide good support to the large breasts. Under bust corset does not provide any support but tightening your ribcage it can reduce your large breasts. Longline bra is also a good and sexy option for reducing large breasts as it doesn’t let the bra ride up in the back and provides a good support in the front. Longline bra also helps maintain better posture.

Avoid bras and lingerie with ruffles and frills at the bust line, also avoid pockets and any adronments as they draw attention to your bust and visually enhances it. Choose simple tops that elongate your torso. Stay away from too tight styled tops as they also emphasize your breast size.
Posture is very important not only for good health but also helps avoid backaches.
Neckline Use V Necks to minimize, avoid round necks as they emphasize. Use jewelery – wear it high though – and accessories such as scarves to draw attention to the face rather than breasts. Interesting wear at the lower parts of your body also draws attention away from the breasts.
Show some cleavage between the fabric as it surprisingly will reduce large breasts.
Color Dark colors minimize, light colors emphasize. Solid dark colors reduce large breasts while prints, stripes and patterns attract attention to the breasts.
If you are plum losing some weight might also be helpful in reducing your large breasts without a surgery.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE INTERESTING STORIES...

Tweet

Get right strapless

Dressing large breasts in a perfect-fitting bra is often a trial-and-error experience. This becomes especially true when attempting to find strapless bras for large breasts. Because the weight of the breasts will often weigh down the bra, finding the perfect fit is that much more important. Luckily, a few brands passed Physics class and have produced an array of fabulous strapless bras for the big bosomed babe.

If You’re Into Lace

Elila Bras are specifically designed for the plus-size woman so it’s no surprise the brand has wonderful strapless bra options. My favorite is the Elila Lace Strapless Longline Bra and my customers love it too! This long line style has boning at the waist which will provide extra shaping and control under dresses and the long band will lift your girls up no matter your size. The best part is the low back – even women with big breasts can now wear low-back fashions!
Sizes: 34C – 46G

If You’re on a Budget

If you’re not a religious strapless bra wearer, it may not make sense to spend a lot of money on one. Luckily, Lunaire bras make it easy to look great in your strapless dress without having to break the bank. Enter the
Lunaire New York Strapless, a $38 underwire cup bra made from beautiful jacquard fabric. Fabric slings on the sides add extra support and stretch cups allow you to keep your natural shape – a perfect combo.
Sizes: 32C – 42DDD / 32C – 40DDD

If You’re into the Plunge

If you have a big chest, you probably know just how hard it is for the ladies to keep perky. But hard as it may be, it’s not impossible, especially if you’re wearing the Panache Porcelain Moulded Strapless Bra. Similar to Elila bras, Panache bras are designed for larger busts so you can be sure your bra will stay up all day. This is a convertible bra which means it comes with straps and can be worn multiple ways – so when you’re not wearing it as a strapless, you can transform it into a halter neck, criss cross, or traditional bra. Another great benefit to this bra is the plunge neckline – it will look fabulous with low-cut tops!
Sizes: 30D – 38G

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE INTERESTING STORIES...

Tweet

Be A Wise Traveller

Want budget travel tips for free? Wouldn’t you want to travel more often without breaking the bank? What if I told you that instead of planning one family trip a year, you can go twice with the same budget? If you are at all interested, read on to find out how you can do simple things to save money next time you go on vacation!

* Airfares *

1. Airline Tickets – Plan in advance and visit discount websites to see if there are better deals. While these sites might charge you a service fee ($5 or so), they can easily combine flight segments from different airlines easily to give you a great deal. (bonus – get even more savings by finding a Travelocity promo code before you book a trip)
2. Connecting Flights – You might think connecting sucks but it sure saves you a good chunk of money doing it. Consider the pros and cons and don’t write it off right away.
3. Travel Light – Airlines are starting to charge for everything now and if you have 2 bags or more, expect to be charged for it. Remember to not use over sized bags whenever possible and try to keep it all within one bag per person.
4. Substitute – Consider packing really old clothes (if you plan to buy new ones on the trip). This way, you can keep one luggage and still have room for purchases.
5. Always Look into Round Trip Tickets – Sometimes, one way tickets are so expensive that the round trip ticket is cheaper. Just don’t use the return trip. (I know it’s weird but I’ve seen it myself)
6. Try to Get Back to the Same Airport – Flying in and out of the same airport is almost always cheaper. It’s not only the flight tickets but the car rentals as well.
7. Traveling to Two Countries – If you are planning to stay in two countries and an airline makes you change planes on those countries anyway, you might be in luck. Check pricing on the flights to see if you can stay a few days at the country of the flight change instead of changing planes right away since airlines often let you do that for the same price.

* Eating *

8. Plan Your Meals – Figure out where you will be and eat before you actually go out. This is not just good for your wallet, but your stomach too since you will probably find economical restaurants that tastes great.
9. Cook for Yourself – Not many people do this but cooking while on vacation can sometimes be quite fun. Since the experience is new (cookware, dining area, supermarkets etc), it’s actually quite fun.
10. Meals Carryover – Want a breakfast that cost nothing? Ask for some bread to-go at the restaurant the night before.
11. Avoid Breakfast from the Hotels – Chances are good that the breakfast from the hotel is expensive and isn’t great. It probably pays to walk out the front door in the morning and find a local cafe. You might just stumble onto the local favorite.
12. Eat More at Lunch Than Dinners – Fancy lunches are often much less expensive than dinners. If you eat a big breakfast, lunch and a light dinner, it’s also healthier.

* Car Rentals *

13. Be Specific with Car Rentals – One way car rentals (when the pickup and drop off locations are different) are sometimes more than twice the price of standard rentals, especially if the two locations are in different states (or country). If you need the car for 7 days and will be in the same city for 5 and another city for 2 for example, break the rental period in two and have a 5-day same location rental and another 2-day one day rental. You might need to go back to the rental facility but it really doesn’t take that long and it might save you a few hundred dollars.
14. Car Rental Coverage – Some insurance and many credit cards have car rental coverage so take advantage of those when you rent a car. All you have to do is pay with the credit card that will cover you. (Just make sure you decline the coverage from the rental company when they ask)
15. Size of the Car – I used to always get the smallest car possible because not only do I not need the extra room, I also didn’t want to pay for the extra gas that bigger cars need.
16. Children Car Seats – If you are traveling with kids, you might think that bringing the car seat is cheaper. Call the car rental company and ask about rental prices. With airlines charging for extra luggage, it might save to just rent it.
17. Fill up that Rental Car – If you are renting a car and need fuel, just fill her up with regular gas since that’s what the car rental company uses anyway. Also, decline those services that fills the gas tank up for you. Even though it seems like the advertised price is cheap, they charge you for a full tank of gas regardless of how much is left in there when you bring the car back.
18. Coupon Codes – Sometimes car rental companies have coupon codes that can be used. Search the Internet.

* Transportation *

19. Rail, Metros and Subway – If you are traveling to Europe, research on multi-trip discounts. Many metros and rails have passes such as a 3-day unlimited travel passes which might be worth the cost. You may also want to check out Rail Europe, where you can find discount fares and promotions.
20. Night Train and Flights – If the transportation is going to be long, consider traveling at night to save money on accommodation and many hours of time. Many people have a tough time sleeping on these, but it’s all mental. Once you get used to it, you will be able to have a good night’s rest.
21. Take the Slower Transportation – If flying is too short for you to take advantage of sleeping while traveling, take a bus ride! When you are sleeping, you won’t mind that the bus ride is 7 hours.
22. Avoid Taxis and Welcome Public Transportation – Tourist usually take taxis since it’s the laziest way to get from point A to B. Consider the subway or buses because it’s sometimes easier and it is much cheaper.
23. Driving is Not Bad – Want to take that 1 hour flight? With airport security and all the hassle of airport inefficiencies, you might as well drive there (it takes just as long and it’s less expensive)! Once you get there, having a car is also much easier than needing to take your bags everywhere.

* Currency *

24. Watch That Currency – If you never really had a preference in travel destinations, consider the exchange rate when you travel. This sometimes makes the biggest difference.
25. Getting Cash – Many exchange centers have very bad exchange rates so don’t go there. Search the internet to find out good places to get cash in the local currency. For example, a quick search tells you that the best exchange rate is found at the airport and using ATMs in Taiwan and France respectively.
26. Try Using the Local Version of the Same Website – Due to the rapid change in currency rates, it could be much cheaper to book using the local currency. How do you do that? Go to the local version of the same website.

* Accommodations *

27. Staying in a Town Next Door – Sometimes the smaller towns close to where you are going have hotels that are much less expensive. If you don’t mind the 15 minute ride, you might just save that bundle.
28. Home Exchanges – These are pretty cool and popular especially in Europe. Your trip might not be as romantic as The Holiday (movie with Cameron Diaz and Jude Law) but if you are of the adventure type, this could be exciting and refreshing).
29. Ask – Sometimes smaller hotel chains are willing to give you free upgrades (or even free nights). If you already have a reservation booked elsewhere, call them up and tell them that you would consider changing if you can get an additional night free.
30. Vacation Home – If you are staying at a destination for at least a few days, consider a vacation home instead of hotels. They are often are more comfortable and your cost will probably be cheaper.
31. Suites – Instead of having two rooms, consider the two-bedroom suites that some hotels provide. They will end up being cheaper and you get just as much privacy with your own room.

* Shopping *

32. Duty Free – Many airports have duty free shops that you can take advantage of. They might not be the best deal around if you don’t consider taxes but tax-free might make it the least expensive option.
33. Don’t Forget About Possible Tax Refunds – Some countries let you get all or part of the retail sales tax back. You might have to fill out forms and show proof but if large purchases are made aboard, it can save you a bundle.

* Alternatives *

34. Tourist Spots May Not be That Hot – Many countries have tourist spots that aren’t really the most interesting places to go to, not to mention that everything is more expensive around that area. If you’ve been to that place already, there’s no point seeing it again and again. Instead, go to local areas and observe life. It might just spice up your vacation.
35. Walk Around – If your destination isn’t that far away, consider asking the locals directions and walking there. It’s a great chance for you to see the city and take pictures.
36. Enjoy the Local Version – Many consumables are less expensive when it’s made in the country you are visiting. Consider trying their local beer, coffee or food. You might be surprised at how great and cheap it really is.
37. Be a Little Flexible with Travel Days – Many prices are based on supply and demand, so sometimes it’s much cheaper to leave the day before (or after) instead. Look around the dates of your travel plans and see if spending an extra day is worth it. This makes a difference especially around major holidays.
38. Book a Bundle – There are many package deals that saves you money if you book hotels and flights together. Basically, the more business you can give them, the better discount they can give you.
39. Go Off Season – Everyone wants to ski or go to Hawaii in the winter. Consider this type of vacations in off-peak times (going skiing in the spring time for example). It’s cheaper and less crowded.
40. Travel Around Home – Overseas travel might be your dream vacation but there are actually many places close by that is very interesting as well. Check out those lesser known places and the local experience might very well be great.
41. Try Booking at Different Times – Online sites sometimes have rates based on the time and day of the week you book! Try different combinations and see if you can get a better deal.

* General *

42. Bid Your Own Price – Priceline.com has a great system where you can name your own price on flights, hotels and car rentals. If the same offer is available, I’ve always saved money bidding for it.
43. Discount Everything – Some countries have discount stores (I’ve seen one in Japan for example) where they sell all kinds of tickets at a discount. In that store, I’ve even seen gift cards for department stores so if you are buying something anyway, those stores will give you an instant deal.
44. Don’t Give Up Looking for Deals – Even if you have your plans set, keep trying to look for deals. Reservations can often be canceled with a full refund so if you find a last minute deal that fits into your plans, take advantage of it. (I went to Las Vegas recently and saved half my hotel cost since a last minute deal happened to fit my itinerary so it really works)
45. Reward Points – Even if you aren’t a frequent traveler, sign up for those reward programs since you might qualify eventually. It’s all free anyway and if you finally get enough points, you can get always get something free.
46. Go to the Grocery Store – Even if you are away from home, chances are high that there are grocery stores where you are traveling to. It’s worth it to take a trip there and get snacks, water, and everything you need for your trip since hotels overcharge.
47. Age, Student and Membership Discounts – Many attractions like theme parks, museums and others have discounts for senior, children or students. If you are traveling, remember to take your ID and membership cards (e.g. AAA card) with you that might qualify you for these.
48. Group Discounts – We all know there are group discounts everywhere. To take advantage, team up with a few friends and go to the same destinations together. You can even set it up so there is no obligations to be everywhere together.
49. Talk to the Locals – Be friendly and chat with them! Sometimes, they will tell you where to eat and some may even offer you to stay over (works best in small towns).
50. Mini Tours – I’m not talking about bus tours that takes days but one day tours that take you to many different places within the city. Not only will they take you to places you probably want to visit anyway, the bus driver is usually quite entertaining and informative as well.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE INTERESTING STORIES...

Tweet