We're hoping to go on holiday

csarinaknight

We are saving to go to Florida too, we have freinds out there, but we want to link it to a 4 day stay in New York on the way back. I think it may well be our last trip to the US..........now that OH's cousin is no longer with us. I may well have no option but to book the flights through a travel agent, but will see what I can do..............using the internet...........

In the past I have found that booking through the internet both flights and hotels you can get good deals, I am fortunate that each time we have gone we have been staying with friends or relatives...........you can often get a good deal on hotels linked to flights, or see what it costs to book them seperate, they have special rates for the internet. I booked a Paris trip last year, just put in cheap hotels in Paris and then worked through till I found one that suits, I think I used Hotels.com who also cover the US. Another thing you can do is use tripadvisor, you can get reports on hotels from people who have stayed there, its amazing how expectations differ, just read between the lines.....looking at where the folks come from can often help.....

laughing_cow

I've recently returned from California and did lots of old style stuff and saving before I went. I decided months ago not to buy any more toiletries and cosmetics before my trip - it reached the point where I was using miniature freebies, sachets from magazines and scraping out the last crumbs of make up If you use American brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, Benefit, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Kiehls etc, it's worth waiting until you're there - with the current exchange rate they were about half the price we pay here. I'm stocked up now for quite some time :rolleyes: And guess what all the women I know are getting for Christmas this year?!

Re magazines. In our office we have some magazines in reception for visitors to read, mostly trade and entertainment. We persuaded our boss of the 'benefits' of also subscribing to Red magazine - so us girls are now happy and saving money too!

I'd second the suggestions for Quidco etc - I got cashback for my flights, accommodation and travel insurance, and I also got airmiles for my currency - it all adds up.

And don't forget to cash in your Boots points (if you have them) to buy any holiday bits and pieces. I am a bit poor after my trip so I have been living off Nectar points this month to buy groceries!

Hope you have a fab trip.

cuddlymarm

Good morning

Thanks for all the advice that you luverly people have given.
I'm getting all excited because we booked the tickets and car at the weekend.

We're really getting in to the routine of moneysaving now I've got something to look forward to. Because our debts are going to take a while to clear we're taking the slow and steady approach because if we really cut back we would ending up getting MS burnout and would give up.

The cakes went really well (unfortunately really quickly) and I made some muffins while I had the oven on. I'm amazed how easy muffins are to make.
We went to the library yesterday and I got the ration book diet and green living for dummies so hopefully I might pick up ideas from there.

Anyway I'd better get on with my day. Bye for now. :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hardup_Hester

An interesting thread cuddly & it's great to see how well you are doing.
hester

cuddlymarm

Hi

I've just got home from work and lovely DS1 is cooking tea , quiche (marked down in Tescos) and baked beans and then bread and butter pud (we've a glut of bread and its a shame to throw it away) I did have to tell him how to do it but he's open to learning new cheap meals because he goes back to uni in 2 weeks (last year he was in halls and they were fed)
This weather is just right for this sort of food (its rainy and dull here, its makes you think of autumn but not as cold)
I'm still plodding along with the cutbacks ( no tumble drier, turning off the boiler when I can etc) and we managed all weekend without takeaways and bought cakes and biccies etc

Good luck to everyone moneysaving

Bye for now
Cuddles

cuddlymarm

Hi everyone

I've been bad:eek:
It was my birthday yesterday and I had the miseries. OH works away and was hoping to get home but couldn't because of a problem at work. The even worst part was that he didn't think he was going to manage to come home at the weekend. I went to buy potatoes and ended up buying biccies and crisps.
The takeaway and birthday cake (the big cream sponge they do in Tescos for £2.99) were part of my birthday treat so that was OK but the biccies and crisps were naughty (on my hips and pocket)
Anyway OH is now able to come home late tonight and go back early Sunday morning so we can go out for a family meal after all (which wasn't going to be possible if not this weekend because boys are away at a festival next weekend and then DS2 goes back to uni the following weekend. Its amazing how managing to get everyone together is so difficult when they get older and so much more precious.

Anyway enough of my whinging. I'm feeling so much better and now back on the straight and narow.

Speak to you all soon

Cuddles:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Hardup_Hester

Belated happy birthday cuddly, & lots of hugs.
Hester