Volunteer Vacation

Jo Ann    Entertainment, Travel     Earth Watch Institiute, Habitat for Humanity, Volunteer Guide, volunteer travel, volunteer vacation, volunteer work abroad, Wilderness Volunteers

Make a difference on your next vacation and save money too…plan a volunteer vacation for your next getaway!

The good news…part or all of your program fees and travel expenses may be tax deductible.

GRU/EDV Volunteer Delphine Relaxing on her Day off at the Beach (Photo credit: EDV Media Director)

Check with the nonprofit organization that you’re planning on donating your time and money to, and always check with your tax preparer.

There are literally hundreds of volunteer travel opportunities all over the world…whether it’s a volunteer work abroad program, or a volunteer vacation right in your own country!

Build a Habitat for Humanity home, help restore Coral Reefs, help preserve a National Park, or volunteer for a medical mission. These are just a few examples of how you can help out your favorite cause and save in the process.

A few tips before you go:

1. Think about where you want to go and what you want to do. Are you looking to pass on your talent and expertise or to do something totally different than you’ve ever done before?

2. Find out what the cost will be, if the group really is a nonprofit, you may be able write off part or all of your trip on your taxes.

3. Find out what the accommodations will be…some trips may include a stay in a tent, simple motel, or in a dormitory setting.  Ask if there will there be electricity, running water, or indoor plumbing? Ask what type of food will be served? Will you have to assist in the preparation of the food? If you’re staying at a hotel, ask for a discounts..they may offer special deals to volunteers.

4. Find out what the physical requirements will be…Clearing trails in a national park can be strenuous, but many are considered easy and are for any age group.

5. Also, find out about what the weather is like where you are going.  Some age groups like young children and seniors may be sensitive to extreme heat for example.

6. Do your homework! Check out the organization that you’re interested in working with, talk to others who have volunteered, and research on the internet. The sites listed below are a great place to start:

Charity Guide

EarthwatchInstitute.org

WildernessVolunteers.org

Habitat For Humanity

 Related articles

• Habitat for Humanity to build 30 homes in south Columbia (columbiamissourian.com)
• Frommer’s 500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference Offers Volunteer Ideas for Every Traveler (prweb.com)

A volunteer vacation can be rewarding in more ways than one! Please let us know what your volunteer travel experience has been, we’d love to hear from you. Leave your comment below, or contact us anytime.

Meals under $10

Jo Ann    Cooking, Daily Money Saving Mashup, Food     10 meals under $10, budget recipes, cheap recipes, meals under $10, recipes under $10

There are lots of quick and easy meals under $10 that you can make at home. We’ve searched the web for some great budget meals, recipes for the kids, and healthy cheap recipes for the whole family!

We think you’ll like these…

10 Healthy Meals Kids Will Flip For—Under $10! | Food | Health …

www.learnvest.com1/27/12

We’ve got 10 recipes to introduce your kid to new foods, get them eating more healthily, and have them asking for more. Plus, they ring up under $10 per meal.

Meals Under $10 For 2 | Family Kitchen

blogs.babble.com9/27/11

To see the rest of this story, plus 5 more recipes for 2 under $10, visit The Daily Meal here. For some quick meals done in under 30 minutes, see this post at The Daily Meal. 10 meals under 10 minutes – easy, quick recipes for …

Related articles

• Simple & Easy Autumn Meals on a Budget (moneysavingmom.com)
• $10 Dinners or Less! A New Bookazine from Hearst (susanheim.blogspot.com)

Meals under $10 can save you tons on you grocery bill!

Moving on a Budget…

Saving Smith    Daily Money Saving Mashup, General     budget truck rental, cost saving moving tips, Moving and Relocating, two men and a truck

Moving on a budget has been on our minds a lot lately. A few of our family members are moving, so we’ve been on the lookout for cost saving moving tips. We found a few articles that helped us tremendously, and we’d love to share them with you…

Image via Wikipedia

Cost Saving Moving Tips | Property Management and Rental …

propalliance.com2/2/12

If you are planning on moving during the busy summer season, the following tips from Two Men and a Truck will help you save both time and money. Pack all items into boxes and tape all boxes closed with packing tape.

Budget® Truck Rental Gas Mileage – ABF U-Pack Moving

blog.upack.com1/2/12

Based on the current national average, fuel for a 1200 mile move in a Budget® rental truck will likely be around $550-$600; fuel for a 2700 mile move (NY to CA) will likely be around $1350-$1400. Now, let’s look at those …

Bargain Babe» Cutting Car Costs, Frugal Living, and Financial …

bargainbabe.com2/24/12

Moving on a budget – Moving? Check out this guide to cutting packaging and moving costs. (MoneyCrashers). Financial disaster – Learn how to deal with divorce from a financial standpoint. (Bargaineering). Money 101 – The …

 Related articles:

• How to Avoid Moving Company Scams (kellywhytock.wordpress.com)
• Important Issues in Choosing Professional Packers and Movers (athingforcars.com)

  When you’re planning on moving and relocating, do your homework. And remember, moving on a budget is possible! 

Apps to Help You Save Money!

Guest Blogger    Electronics, Guest Posts, Personal Finance     10 apps to help save you money, Android, apps to help you save money, Blackberry, financial-management apps, iPhone

Finding ways to save money and better manage your finances is just a fingertip away with today’s smart phone technology. There are thousands of apps on the iTunes and Android market that can help you find the best deals, track expenses, and budget your income, among other money-management tools. Whether you’re out shopping or you’re trying to pay your monthly bills, there are apps that can help you make the best use of your money.

We’ve got 10 great apps to help you save money…

 Pageonce

Pay monthly bills, manage multiple online accounts, and get real-time alerts when you are nearing your account limits with this inclusive app. You can check credit card balances and keep an eye on purchases wherever you are. Available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows phone.

CalcMoolator Pro 

This financial calculator have over 180 functions. Want to know how your salary breaks down into an hourly wage? Need to figure out how much to save each month for retirement? This app can quickly answer these questions and more. Free for iPhone.

 Gas Buddy

This popular gas tracking Web site now has an app to help you figure out where you can find the best deals to fill up. Browse community reported gas prices to figure out the cheapest nearby location to buy fuel. Earn points as you use the app to get special rewards. Available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows phone.

Shop Savvy

Use this app to scan the barcode of any product then instantly find prices from online and nearby retailers to get the best deal. You can scan barcodes and QR codes for results. Available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper

Use this app to scan the barcode of a product to get expert advice and reviews about the best brands to buy. Get ratings, recommendations, and detailed user reviews. Available for Android and iPhone at $4.99 for one year of servic

Yowza!!

Get coupons for your city or zip code right on this app. Cashiers can scan the coupons from your phone, and you can be notified when your favorite retailers add coupons. Available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

CardStar

Get rid of all those annoying reward card keychains and consolidate them into one handy app. Instantly access cards from major retailers and learn about real-time deals and discounts. Available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

Daily Gobble

If you like to save a buck, but the idea of pulling out a coupon mortifies you, this app can help. After you dine out, snap a photo of your check and submit for a reimbursement through your paypal account within the hour. Locations are limited. Available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

Groupon

This popular group discounting site is now available as an app. Buy and redeem deals on a variety of services and products in your area. Daily deals are sent to your phone each morning. Free for iPhone.

iAllowance

Can use this app to keep track of allowance paid to their children, as well as chores that have been completed. The app supports multiple children and allows for Dropbox integration. Free for iPhone.

About the Author: Heather Green is a freelance writer for several regional magazines in North Carolina as well as a resident blogger for onlinenursingdegrees.org. Her writing experience includes fashion, business, health, agriculture and a wide range of other topics. Heather has just completed research on different types of nurses and clinical nurse specialist degrees.

Thanks Heather, for the great post on 10 Apps To Help You Save Money!

A special note from SavingSmith…Do you have any favorite money-saving or financial-management apps? Are you a blogger that has some great money saving ideas that you’d like to share? If so, please contact us below!

Leap Year Specials!

Saving Smith    Daily Money Saving Mashup, Freebies     deals and freebies, February 29, leap day, leap year specials, leep day deals and freebies

February 29th and Leap Year specials only come around every 4 years folks…so now’s the time to take a peek at these great deals and freebies..

Leap Day Deals and Freebies | Suddenly Frugal Blog

www.suddenlyfrugal.com2/28/12

Leap Day Deals and Freebies. February 28, 2012. By Leah Ingram · Leap Day happens just once every 4 years. Imagine if you had a Leap Day birthday–that would stink that you couldn’t “officially” celebrate your birthday but every 4 years? Anyway, because February 29th seems to be … If you’re a leap year baby and you happen to be in Las Vegas on February 29th, you can get free admission to the Madame Tussaud’s museum there. You just need to show ID to prove …

Retailers Offering Special Leap Year Day Deals « CBS Pittsburgh

pittsburgh.cbslocal.com2/28/12

Tomorrow is Feb. 29, which is a date that only occurs every four years. This year, some retailers are offering some special deals to mark this special day.

Leap Year deals: hotels, theme parks, even pet food – Sun-Sentinel

news.google.com

 Leap Year deals: hotels, theme parks, even pet food. Sun-Sentinel Others offer freebies for Leap Day babies, who technically have birthdays only once every four years. “I was born in 1936, so I’m turning 19,” joked Fort Lauderdale resident Martin D. Goo …

Related articles

• Leap Day (tammyheff.wordpress.com)
• …Take The Leap (the2womancrusade.com)

We hope that you find some great leap year specials, and if it’s your birthday today…Happy Birthday!