William McDonough, author of Cradle to Cradle, spoke at Xavier last night to a packed house, including me. I was enlivened by his message of abundance, hope, and the promise of great design.
Below are some of the key points of his talk, as I heard and recorded it.
We need a Revolution. Revolutions are based on values. We need to change the way we act based on a new set of values, not a new set of metrics. To cause a revolution, you must have 5% of the thinking population aligned with your values. We are almost there.
New design is required. When we have regulations, it is a signal of design failure. Mr. McDonough is an architect, so he focuses on design. We have to ask ourselves, "What is our design for our species?"
Renewable energy is the answer. Sunlight is the only true income that the earth has. We need to celebrate renewable energy and get on it, now.
The earth belongs to the living. Life is abundant. We need to stop thinking in terms of limits of resources and design our world to mirror nature, a truly abundant renewable system. We need change now and we need it fast.
Nature is not a tool. We are part of nature. Nature is a treasure to be celebrated, not a resource to be used.
Natures design is:
• Waste is food
• Use
• Celebrate diversity
• Anticipate evolution
We can do better than recycle, we can upcycle. Upcycling is to take something toxic and make it pure.
Values are our starting point, followed by principles, goals, strategies, tactics and actions.
Monoculture is backward. Poly-culture is forward. Build the soil.
Be an optimist.
Don’t settle for doing less bad. Instead, actively strive to do more good.
I resonated with the values comments, as when we are taking clients thru The Prosperity Experience, we start with values. Everything springs forth from values and it changes the dynamics of everything that follows. If we lived all our lives that way, what a different world it would be.
What can you do? His answer was "Follow your bliss", but do it using the principles outlined. Use nature as your guide, celebrate abundance and expect evolution.
A new discovery is like fire, it has no chance but to spread.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Go Green this Halloween!
Holidays are a great way to spend time with your family & friends, but it is also a time for buying excessive decorative items & clothing you don’t need. Here are a few ways to green up your Halloween…
1. Instead of buying new costumes and decorative items this Halloween organize a swap with your friends, neighbors and family.
2. To reduce your carbon footprint take your kids trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood, or carpool if it is necessary to travel.
3. Use your plastic grocery bags, reusable shopping bags, or old pillow cases to carry the kiddo’s candy stash.
4. If you choose to give candy, try to buy locally! Check out Findlay Market, or Schneider’s Candy for some yummy Cincinnati treats. If you are looking for non-candy treats pick up some temporary tattoos, stickers, or crayons.
5. Keep Mother Earth clean and teach your kids a lesson in littering by having a separate bag to pick up rouge candy wrappers while trick-or-treating.
6. Make homemade Halloween decorations from household items like tin cans, glass jars, plastic containers and toilet paper rolls. Click here for some ideas.
7. And don’t forget the greenest decoration of all! Jack-o-lanterns!
By Gracie Mohr
1. Instead of buying new costumes and decorative items this Halloween organize a swap with your friends, neighbors and family.
2. To reduce your carbon footprint take your kids trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood, or carpool if it is necessary to travel.
3. Use your plastic grocery bags, reusable shopping bags, or old pillow cases to carry the kiddo’s candy stash.
4. If you choose to give candy, try to buy locally! Check out Findlay Market, or Schneider’s Candy for some yummy Cincinnati treats. If you are looking for non-candy treats pick up some temporary tattoos, stickers, or crayons.
5. Keep Mother Earth clean and teach your kids a lesson in littering by having a separate bag to pick up rouge candy wrappers while trick-or-treating.
6. Make homemade Halloween decorations from household items like tin cans, glass jars, plastic containers and toilet paper rolls. Click here for some ideas.
7. And don’t forget the greenest decoration of all! Jack-o-lanterns!
By Gracie Mohr
The Future
Mackey Advisors was pleased to host David Houle, www.DavidHoule.com for our Corporate Fall Education event. It is our goal to offer our corporate clients the best in innovative thinking so they can thrive and prosper. This is our fourth annual Fall Education Event, and David certainly delivered. Everyone left jazzed and with a bit of trepidation about the future.
After giving a review of the pace of historical change, David presents the current time as The Shift Age, a time when change becomes part of our everyday environment. In other words, the constant is change.
There are three fundamental forces in The Shift Age:
1. The flow to Global. More than ever before, we are global citizens. We are personally impacted by global events as never before due to instant access on the Internet. Our problems must be considered and solved on a Global level.
2. The flow to the Individual. The power of institutions is in decline. We no longer define ourselves by the institutions we belong to. We want our products and services personalized.
3. Accelerated Connectedness. Particularly from the rise of the use of cell phones, we can be connected to virtually anyone in the world in just a few seconds.
Change equals disruption, confusion, chaos and a tremendous opportunity for wealth creation. But to gain wealth, not lose it, we have to lead with more vision than ever.
David gave us five attributes leaders need to use and master to navigate The Shift Age with success. Below are the five attributes along with my personal take on what we as CEO’s can do now to embody them.
Adaptability
-With the speed of change increasing, every CEO needs a daily, weekly and monthly score card. Historical and trending key performance indicators are a must. Your numbers will give you guidance on the changes needed.
-Know your core business and align your marketing with that core.
-Set aside time to work ON your business. As the CEO, you cannot adapt without being aware of the big picture.
Resilience
-Lower your fixed cost, and keep your capacity strong by replacing those costs with variable costs. Design a business that can ebb and flow with change and be profitable on many levels.
-Monitor your liquidity You must know where you cash is at all times. You cannot afford to be asset rich and cash poor.
Collaborative on-going reorganization
-Transform your business. If you have a buggy whip business, you can be the best one ever and still have no market.
Trust and change of “authority”
-Social media is here to stay. Learn it, love it and use it.
-Make your product custom and personal
-Adapt to the new work force; it won’t adapt to you.
The Morph Corp
-Know the emotional content of your brand and your intellectual property value.
-Treat your business like your greatest asset (it probably is) and look at what needs to happen to maximize its return on investment.
-Look global.
If you missed this event, I encourage you to pick up David’s book, The Shift Age and make time to read and understand the new future. We cannot afford to be complacent or static.
Natalie, Karen, Andy, Grace or I would be happy to meet you at your office or for lunch to talk about these changes and how you can ready your business for the future.
As your wealth advocate, we are committed to your prosperity, now and in the future. Onward!
By Mackey McNeill
After giving a review of the pace of historical change, David presents the current time as The Shift Age, a time when change becomes part of our everyday environment. In other words, the constant is change.
There are three fundamental forces in The Shift Age:
1. The flow to Global. More than ever before, we are global citizens. We are personally impacted by global events as never before due to instant access on the Internet. Our problems must be considered and solved on a Global level.
2. The flow to the Individual. The power of institutions is in decline. We no longer define ourselves by the institutions we belong to. We want our products and services personalized.
3. Accelerated Connectedness. Particularly from the rise of the use of cell phones, we can be connected to virtually anyone in the world in just a few seconds.
Change equals disruption, confusion, chaos and a tremendous opportunity for wealth creation. But to gain wealth, not lose it, we have to lead with more vision than ever.
David gave us five attributes leaders need to use and master to navigate The Shift Age with success. Below are the five attributes along with my personal take on what we as CEO’s can do now to embody them.
Adaptability
-With the speed of change increasing, every CEO needs a daily, weekly and monthly score card. Historical and trending key performance indicators are a must. Your numbers will give you guidance on the changes needed.
-Know your core business and align your marketing with that core.
-Set aside time to work ON your business. As the CEO, you cannot adapt without being aware of the big picture.
Resilience
-Lower your fixed cost, and keep your capacity strong by replacing those costs with variable costs. Design a business that can ebb and flow with change and be profitable on many levels.
-Monitor your liquidity You must know where you cash is at all times. You cannot afford to be asset rich and cash poor.
Collaborative on-going reorganization
-Transform your business. If you have a buggy whip business, you can be the best one ever and still have no market.
Trust and change of “authority”
-Social media is here to stay. Learn it, love it and use it.
-Make your product custom and personal
-Adapt to the new work force; it won’t adapt to you.
The Morph Corp
-Know the emotional content of your brand and your intellectual property value.
-Treat your business like your greatest asset (it probably is) and look at what needs to happen to maximize its return on investment.
-Look global.
If you missed this event, I encourage you to pick up David’s book, The Shift Age and make time to read and understand the new future. We cannot afford to be complacent or static.
Natalie, Karen, Andy, Grace or I would be happy to meet you at your office or for lunch to talk about these changes and how you can ready your business for the future.
As your wealth advocate, we are committed to your prosperity, now and in the future. Onward!
By Mackey McNeill
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tips For Boosting Your Credit Score
In this economy, many seek to improve their financial well-being. One effective measurement of the health of your prosperity is your credit score. When seeking to improve your score, you must keep in mind that there is no “quick fix” for a problematic credit history. However, there are several things you can do to ensure that your score is headed in the right direction.
• Keep track of your credit score. Credit scores run from 300 to 850. Your personal score is based on the information that the three big credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) have on file for you. Be sure to check your credit report on a regular basis as mistakes can be made that can adversely impact your financial health. http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com is a government-run website which
allows you to access your credit report annually at no cost.
• Be smart with installment plans. Your credit score is based on how much unused credit you have compared to how much you currently owe. If you are often late or very close to your maximum credit line on your account(s) this will impact your credit score in a negative way. One way to take care of this problem is to take out an installment loan to pay off your credit cards. Get a second mortgage or line of credit and take care of these cards quickly. Note: If you are committed to your financial health this is not generally considered a desirable move. However, improving your credit score and making good long-term financial decisions do not always go hand in hand.
• When in doubt, pay off the cards closest to their maximum balance. The intention with this technique is to free up as much credit as possible. A general rule of thumb is that you want to owe 30% or less than your available credit.
• Using old cards is a good credit-building practice. Paying off an older credit card and never using it again can actually harm your credit score. Regularly charge a small balance and pay it off quickly. The key here is to resist charging more than you can pay off at the end of the month.
• Don’t close accounts. Closing a card once you pay it off can actually lower your credit score. As stated above, it is better to shake the dust off that old card and charge a small amount on it, then pay it off before it collects interest.
• Increase your credit limit. Remember the rule of thumb: having a large amount of available credit does wonders for your score. The key here is to have as much difference as possible between the amount of credit available and the amount you owe.
• Take advantage of automatic payments. Often, late or missed payments are the product of a memory lapse.
• Beware late payment penalties. Even a late fee from your local library can impact your credit score.
• Don’t get sent to collections. It is more beneficial to you to pay that extra $30 fee you don’t agree with than to have your score damaged as a result of stubbornness.
• Keep track of your credit score. Credit scores run from 300 to 850. Your personal score is based on the information that the three big credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) have on file for you. Be sure to check your credit report on a regular basis as mistakes can be made that can adversely impact your financial health. http://www.AnnualCreditReport.com is a government-run website which
allows you to access your credit report annually at no cost.
• Be smart with installment plans. Your credit score is based on how much unused credit you have compared to how much you currently owe. If you are often late or very close to your maximum credit line on your account(s) this will impact your credit score in a negative way. One way to take care of this problem is to take out an installment loan to pay off your credit cards. Get a second mortgage or line of credit and take care of these cards quickly. Note: If you are committed to your financial health this is not generally considered a desirable move. However, improving your credit score and making good long-term financial decisions do not always go hand in hand.
• When in doubt, pay off the cards closest to their maximum balance. The intention with this technique is to free up as much credit as possible. A general rule of thumb is that you want to owe 30% or less than your available credit.
• Using old cards is a good credit-building practice. Paying off an older credit card and never using it again can actually harm your credit score. Regularly charge a small balance and pay it off quickly. The key here is to resist charging more than you can pay off at the end of the month.
• Don’t close accounts. Closing a card once you pay it off can actually lower your credit score. As stated above, it is better to shake the dust off that old card and charge a small amount on it, then pay it off before it collects interest.
• Increase your credit limit. Remember the rule of thumb: having a large amount of available credit does wonders for your score. The key here is to have as much difference as possible between the amount of credit available and the amount you owe.
• Take advantage of automatic payments. Often, late or missed payments are the product of a memory lapse.
• Beware late payment penalties. Even a late fee from your local library can impact your credit score.
• Don’t get sent to collections. It is more beneficial to you to pay that extra $30 fee you don’t agree with than to have your score damaged as a result of stubbornness.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Boringly Powerful
In the financial planning world, we're all trying to get better at what we do, and so whenever we get together at conferences, we trade thoughts and ideas and insights.
One of the most informative stories you're likely to hear came from an advisor who told the audience that he hosts yearly client appreciation dinners. Lately, he's been grouping the guests according to how long they've worked with him. At one table, those who've retained his services for the past five years. Another, people he's been advising for ten years. There's a 15-year table, 20 years, 25 and, at the table in front, people who he's worked with for 30 years.
"As I looked over at the 30-year table," he said, "I saw people who, when we first started out, were not wealthy and never expected to be." Now they're worth millions and (more importantly) able to live their life on their own terms.
One woman in particular caught his eye, a school teacher who had come to him in the first year of her teaching career. She had gotten into the not-unusual habit of spending a little more than she made. She was in debt, and one of the first things they talked about was whether she could afford an expensive car that she'd talked to the local dealer about.
The advisor's advice, which she took, was to buy a much more affordable, serviceable vehicle. He worked with her to pay off the credit cards, and over the rest of her teaching career, he encouraged her put the maximum into her 403(b) plan and save ten percent of her income and managed her growing retirement portfolio. The change in lifestyle was not dramatic, but it had a huge impact on her life: the year of this particular dinner, she had accumulated enough that she could afford to retire and travel the world.
"What's interesting," the advisor told the audience, "is that when she told the other teachers that she was going to quit work, their first question was: how can you afford it? The other teachers," he continued, "were still in the habit of spending a little more than they made, living year-to-year, and couldn't afford to retire."
Looking at this one person at the 30-year table, sitting among other people with stories like hers, he was struck by the huge difference a small course correction and a little financial coaching can have on somebody's life over longer periods of time: the difference between squeaking by financially and retiring with millions.
His first insight (which made the audience laugh) was: "I don't charge nearly enough for my services."
His second was: even though he worked hard to manage the portfolio efficiently, her rate of return was just about equal to what the market offered. That, in itself, is surprisingly extraordinary; according to data compiled by the Morningstar fund tracking organization, mutual fund investors, on average seem to get about half of market returns--because people tend to buy hot funds right before they cool off, and sell out of underperforming funds right before they hit a hot streak. By staying consistent with the schoolteacher's investments, the advisor added far more value than you'll likely find in any kind of fancy investment strategy.
But the real point--the most important insight--is that the difference between a table full of millionaires and their peers who spent thirty years spinning their wheels is a boringly powerful formula: consistent savings habits, avoiding debt, and living within their means in a world that constantly tempts us to overspend. When you reduce all the spreadsheet analyses, forecasts and formulas down to their purest essence, this is what most financial planners are trying to help people achieve in their lives. For the people at some of those 20-30 year tables, the real challenge now is how to use their excess money to have fun, and who they want to leave the excess to at the end of their lives.
Andy Pulsfort
One of the most informative stories you're likely to hear came from an advisor who told the audience that he hosts yearly client appreciation dinners. Lately, he's been grouping the guests according to how long they've worked with him. At one table, those who've retained his services for the past five years. Another, people he's been advising for ten years. There's a 15-year table, 20 years, 25 and, at the table in front, people who he's worked with for 30 years.
"As I looked over at the 30-year table," he said, "I saw people who, when we first started out, were not wealthy and never expected to be." Now they're worth millions and (more importantly) able to live their life on their own terms.
One woman in particular caught his eye, a school teacher who had come to him in the first year of her teaching career. She had gotten into the not-unusual habit of spending a little more than she made. She was in debt, and one of the first things they talked about was whether she could afford an expensive car that she'd talked to the local dealer about.
The advisor's advice, which she took, was to buy a much more affordable, serviceable vehicle. He worked with her to pay off the credit cards, and over the rest of her teaching career, he encouraged her put the maximum into her 403(b) plan and save ten percent of her income and managed her growing retirement portfolio. The change in lifestyle was not dramatic, but it had a huge impact on her life: the year of this particular dinner, she had accumulated enough that she could afford to retire and travel the world.
"What's interesting," the advisor told the audience, "is that when she told the other teachers that she was going to quit work, their first question was: how can you afford it? The other teachers," he continued, "were still in the habit of spending a little more than they made, living year-to-year, and couldn't afford to retire."
Looking at this one person at the 30-year table, sitting among other people with stories like hers, he was struck by the huge difference a small course correction and a little financial coaching can have on somebody's life over longer periods of time: the difference between squeaking by financially and retiring with millions.
His first insight (which made the audience laugh) was: "I don't charge nearly enough for my services."
His second was: even though he worked hard to manage the portfolio efficiently, her rate of return was just about equal to what the market offered. That, in itself, is surprisingly extraordinary; according to data compiled by the Morningstar fund tracking organization, mutual fund investors, on average seem to get about half of market returns--because people tend to buy hot funds right before they cool off, and sell out of underperforming funds right before they hit a hot streak. By staying consistent with the schoolteacher's investments, the advisor added far more value than you'll likely find in any kind of fancy investment strategy.
But the real point--the most important insight--is that the difference between a table full of millionaires and their peers who spent thirty years spinning their wheels is a boringly powerful formula: consistent savings habits, avoiding debt, and living within their means in a world that constantly tempts us to overspend. When you reduce all the spreadsheet analyses, forecasts and formulas down to their purest essence, this is what most financial planners are trying to help people achieve in their lives. For the people at some of those 20-30 year tables, the real challenge now is how to use their excess money to have fun, and who they want to leave the excess to at the end of their lives.
Andy Pulsfort
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sustainable Homestead Tour: August 14th
Join the Kenton County Conservation District on Sat., Aug. 14, 2010 between 10 a.m. and noon to tour Red Sunflower Farm, Kenton County’s self-sustaining homestead in-the-making. Learn how to use permaculture principles and the three pillars of sustainability – reduce, reuse and recycle – to design, create, and steward Earth-friendly indoor and outdoor living spaces. Allow about an hour for your visit, with tours led by owners Mackey McNeill and Barry Schlimme. You will see the Energy Star-rated home, the gardens and the recreational area along beautiful Banklick Creek. Children are welcome. The farm is located on Webster Road. Visit www.redsunflowerfarm.com for directions (directions provided by internet map searches are not accurate). Sponsored by the Kenton Co. Conservation District. Please pre-register by contacting the Kenton County Conservation District at 859-586-7903.
Kentucky Conservation Districts are governmental subdivisions of the state, organized under Kentucky Revised Statute 262. Conservation Districts are responsible for protecting our soil, water and other natural resources. The Kenton County Conservation District was established in 1942 following a referendum of the citizens of the county. Seven locally elected officials, who serve a four-year term without pay, govern the Conservation District. The Conservation District makes technical and financial help available to reduce soil erosion, prevent water pollution, and maintain and improve the quality and productivity of our farmlands, forests, and other natural resources. Assistance is available to everyone in dealing with natural resources issues, including farmers, homeowners, businesses, schools, organizations, agencies, cities and local governments.
For information about this news release, contact Mary Kathryn Dickerson, District Coordinator for the Boone, Campbell and Kenton County Conservation Districts at 859-586-7903 or 859-635-9587 or e-mail: mary.dickerson@ky.nacdnet.net.
Kentucky Conservation Districts are governmental subdivisions of the state, organized under Kentucky Revised Statute 262. Conservation Districts are responsible for protecting our soil, water and other natural resources. The Kenton County Conservation District was established in 1942 following a referendum of the citizens of the county. Seven locally elected officials, who serve a four-year term without pay, govern the Conservation District. The Conservation District makes technical and financial help available to reduce soil erosion, prevent water pollution, and maintain and improve the quality and productivity of our farmlands, forests, and other natural resources. Assistance is available to everyone in dealing with natural resources issues, including farmers, homeowners, businesses, schools, organizations, agencies, cities and local governments.
For information about this news release, contact Mary Kathryn Dickerson, District Coordinator for the Boone, Campbell and Kenton County Conservation Districts at 859-586-7903 or 859-635-9587 or e-mail: mary.dickerson@ky.nacdnet.net.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Weekend Getaway on a Budget
How To Take a Weekend Getaway Without Breaking the Bank
Often our lives get so hectic that we realize that we could really use a little time out of our daily routine in order to reboot and reenergize for the coming week. One tried and true method of accomplishing this recharge is the weekend mini-vacation. There are however, many financial drawbacks to these types of vacations, mainly because they are often booked at the last second. Here are a few tips to help reduce the cost of your mental health weekend:
• Check the internet for deals. Simply typing in the destination name on Google or a similar search engine can yield coupons and discounts you would probably have never known about. When you find rates, do not assume that the price quoted is the best deal. Often, booking through the lodging company will result in lower rates because you can see if they will provide a better deal. For example, if you are traveling with multiple people, ask if there is some deal that includes lodging and free breakfast. There are also packages that include other activities as well.
• Travel to off-season locations. Going to the beach at the end of summer rather than smack in the middle can result in much lower prices. Remember to be flexible…the much hyped locations are the most expensive. Take the opportunity to travel somewhere a little more off the beaten path.
• When considering your accommodations, look at the cost of renting a condo in the area for a short time. While the condo may be more expensive on paper, taking the cost of eating out every meal in a hotel versus being able to cook in the condo may make a big difference in the money you spend daily.
• Be conscious of local events in your destination area. If there is a big event going on lodging may automatically be more expensive. If the event holds no interest for you, consider rescheduling to another time.
• Plan with a budget. Look at how much money you will need to spend everyday (including lodging) and add 10% for unexpected expenses. If the total is a figure that you can pay from savings without adding to your debt, then its affordable. If it’s too expensive, consider holding off until you can build enough savings to cover it.
• Getaway weekends are great, but remember, lodging, meals and activities may cost more on the weekend. Turning your weekend retreat into a mid-week mini-vacation can end up saving you some serious money.
• To estimate fuel cost for the trip, check out www.fuelcostcalculator.com or www.costtodrive.com .
• There are often perks involved with being a member of certain “clubs.” For instance, more than 100 museums, zoos and science centers offer free admission on the first weekend of every month to people who have a Bank of America ATM, credit or check card. Check out what you may have to help you hold onto your cash.
• Join a bed and breakfast club. You can end up paying only $10-$20 for a room with breakfast, in the homes of other travelers. In return you offer your spare room to people on the road.
• Pack a cooler. If you drive during a trip this will save you a considerable amount of money.
• Consider traveling to visit family and friends. This will drastically cut down on your daily expenses since relatives generally let you stay for free. Just limit your stay to three days or less.
• Plan for picnic lunch or dinner. Stopping at a grocery store to pick up picnic fare for a family is much cheaper than feeding that same family at a restaurant…and its much more fun! Find a nice spot and dine while you enjoy some local natural beauty.
Ultimately, taking a vacation, however small, is always taxing on finances. But planning smart and saving the money to go beforehand can render your last minute mini-vacation stress free and much more enjoyable for everyone!
Often our lives get so hectic that we realize that we could really use a little time out of our daily routine in order to reboot and reenergize for the coming week. One tried and true method of accomplishing this recharge is the weekend mini-vacation. There are however, many financial drawbacks to these types of vacations, mainly because they are often booked at the last second. Here are a few tips to help reduce the cost of your mental health weekend:
• Check the internet for deals. Simply typing in the destination name on Google or a similar search engine can yield coupons and discounts you would probably have never known about. When you find rates, do not assume that the price quoted is the best deal. Often, booking through the lodging company will result in lower rates because you can see if they will provide a better deal. For example, if you are traveling with multiple people, ask if there is some deal that includes lodging and free breakfast. There are also packages that include other activities as well.
• Travel to off-season locations. Going to the beach at the end of summer rather than smack in the middle can result in much lower prices. Remember to be flexible…the much hyped locations are the most expensive. Take the opportunity to travel somewhere a little more off the beaten path.
• When considering your accommodations, look at the cost of renting a condo in the area for a short time. While the condo may be more expensive on paper, taking the cost of eating out every meal in a hotel versus being able to cook in the condo may make a big difference in the money you spend daily.
• Be conscious of local events in your destination area. If there is a big event going on lodging may automatically be more expensive. If the event holds no interest for you, consider rescheduling to another time.
• Plan with a budget. Look at how much money you will need to spend everyday (including lodging) and add 10% for unexpected expenses. If the total is a figure that you can pay from savings without adding to your debt, then its affordable. If it’s too expensive, consider holding off until you can build enough savings to cover it.
• Getaway weekends are great, but remember, lodging, meals and activities may cost more on the weekend. Turning your weekend retreat into a mid-week mini-vacation can end up saving you some serious money.
• To estimate fuel cost for the trip, check out www.fuelcostcalculator.com or www.costtodrive.com .
• There are often perks involved with being a member of certain “clubs.” For instance, more than 100 museums, zoos and science centers offer free admission on the first weekend of every month to people who have a Bank of America ATM, credit or check card. Check out what you may have to help you hold onto your cash.
• Join a bed and breakfast club. You can end up paying only $10-$20 for a room with breakfast, in the homes of other travelers. In return you offer your spare room to people on the road.
• Pack a cooler. If you drive during a trip this will save you a considerable amount of money.
• Consider traveling to visit family and friends. This will drastically cut down on your daily expenses since relatives generally let you stay for free. Just limit your stay to three days or less.
• Plan for picnic lunch or dinner. Stopping at a grocery store to pick up picnic fare for a family is much cheaper than feeding that same family at a restaurant…and its much more fun! Find a nice spot and dine while you enjoy some local natural beauty.
Ultimately, taking a vacation, however small, is always taxing on finances. But planning smart and saving the money to go beforehand can render your last minute mini-vacation stress free and much more enjoyable for everyone!
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