Latest news with #savemoney
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Looking for a budget getaway? The best destinations from Spain to Albania
Still recovering from an expensive period of the year, most of the country will want to save their pennies during these first few months of 2025, yet still have their eyes on a holiday. It's a good idea to swap popular, high-demand holiday spots for up-and-coming regions, or take advantage of places where currencies are weak. Fortunately, there are quite a few options to choose from if you want to save money without compromising on sunshine or the quality of experiences. Here we look at how to escape the price hikes with budget-friendly destinations. 1. Best for beaches: El Gouna, Egypt Far cheaper than the Canary Islands but with even higher temperatures and more hours of sunshine, this purpose-built Red Sea beach destination has undergone a large amount of development since the first marinas and artificial islands were constructed in the early 1990s. Now there are 18 hotels and resorts and more than 100 restaurants and bars lining the 10km of coastline. Recently renovated, the five-star Steigenberger Golf Resort has rooms from £67 per person per night with breakfast – a bargain compared to most winter sun resorts. Due to favourable exchange rates, cocktails cost less than £2 while a meal for two is just over a tenner. A five-night inn break at the Captain's Inn costs from £403 per person including return flights from London. Departs 19 March. Visit 2. Best for adventure: Albania Whether strolling through cobbled streets, gazing up at mountain peaks or swimming in sparkly blue waters, it's easy to mistake Albania for its chic neighbour across the Adriatic Sea. But compared to Italy, the beaches are quieter, hidden spots are more plentiful, and the prices are significantly cheaper. Specialising in trips for 18-35-year-olds, Contiki is the first youth tour operator to offer an escorted journey across the Balkan country. Learn about the past through capital city Tirana's Ottoman, Fascist and Soviet architecture, hike trails in Valbonë National Park and relax on the golden beaches of the Albanian Riviera. 3. Best for families: Galicia, Spain While the mercury is rising to uncomfortable levels during summer in the southern Med, destinations along the north-western Iberian Peninsula are hotting up in demand. Low-cost flights from the likes of Ryanair and Vueling have made it easier to access areas along Spain's Galician coast, where green hills roll into cool Atlantic waters. Specialising in villas with pools, Vintage Travel has added several new properties in the region. Head to the cathedral city Santiago de Compostela to marvel at one of Europe's finest pieces of religious architecture, where dozens of pilgrims gather after multi-day walks. Alternatively, visit the ancient fishing port Coruna, also famous for its Roman lighthouse known as the Tower of Hercules, and dine out on excellent seafood. How to do it Casa de Descanso, a newly restored three-bedroomed house in Galician village Mosende, costs from £798 for a week in May rising to £1,150 in August. Visit 4. Best for skiing: Voss, Norway A few years back, it would have been inconceivable to see Norway feature on a list of 'affordable' destinations. But a drop in the value of the Norwegian krone has made it a more economical and appealing destination to visit – at all times of the year. Winter tourism to the Nordic country has always been dominated by the northern lights, but glowing reports for the region's many ski resorts are attracting even more travellers. Located 100km from Bergen, Voss is one of the largest ski resorts in Western Norway with 40km of groomed alpine trails and 24 varied descents, including an international giant slalom course and a SuperG course. Yet it's far better value than many Alpine winter resorts and promises good powder with the support of snow cannons. Being so far north, snow tends to last longer in Norway and some resorts – including Trysil on the Swedish border – even promise a refund on your lift pass, accommodation, ski rental and tuition if the coverage isn't sufficient. A seven-night half-board stay at Park Hotel, Voss, costs from £1,224 per person (two sharing), including flights. Departs 23 March. Visit 5. Best for nature: Bosnia and Herzegovina Born from a history as colourful and complex as its diverse landscapes, this relatively undiscovered Balkan nation only attracts 3.6 million tourists per year – almost six times less than Croatia. Yet the scenery, beaches, food and culture are equally attractive, while prices are much lower. According to flight aggregate site Skyscanner, capital city Sarajevo has seen the largest drop in airfares across Europe, with new routes recently launched from London Stanstead with Ryanair. Set along the Miljacka River and surrounded by the Dinaric Alps, the city features several museums and historical buildings from eras of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian rule. Further afield, it's the country's natural beauty that shines – from the fairy-tale Kravica Waterfall to the never-ending Tara Canyon which runs into Montenegro.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
During peak travel season, Denver travel agent says you can save money on next vacation
With summer here, we're in the peak travel season, and while traveling can come with some steep costs, there are ways to save a few dollars. A Denver travel agent is weighing in on how to make your next vacation or getaway more affordable. Lukas Rahnau has been a travel agent for about 10 years and said that whether it's saving money on your flights, your activities, or your meals, there are plenty of ways to travel on a budget. He first recommends booking everything as far in advance as you can. "Book as early as you can. Flights usually publish a year before you want to travel. So, if you can make that commitment, I would definitely do it as early as possible, as early as a year before. For cruises, you can even go years in advance, because they publish years in advance as well," said Rahnau. Also, he recommends buying travel insurance. While it might be an up-front cost, it'll cover flight delays and cancellations, lost luggage, or if you get sick. Rahnau said it's usually cheaper to travel during April and May and September and October. Stay close to city centers, so you don't have to spend money on transportation. Take public transportation instead of taxis or car-ride sharing, and take advantage of free parks, attractions or museums. "If you really want a low-budget travel, it's definitely possible by bundling all your attractions, all your flights, and your hotels. If you bundle them all together and pre-book everything you can before you travel, you will save the most amount of money," said Rahnau, who added bundling flights and hotels together could help you save up to $800, depending on the destination. Rahnau said you can also save some money by staying in a more budget-friendly hotel compared to an all-inclusive that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It all just depends on what kind of traveling experience a person is interested in. Pack as light as possible and bring a water bottle. For food, he recommends eating local, because they tend to have the best prices and best quality. Use credit cards or travel credit cards to book your trips. If you usually fly only on one airline, sign up for their credit card. It's much easier to rack up points and use them for baggage fees or upgrades. He also recommends having a travel credit card, as most travel credit cards do not have international transaction fees and come with money-saving benefits. "Travel credit cards are really great because most of them don't have an international transaction fee. And whatever you purchase with that credit card, you will earn points, and those points you can use for either hotel stays or flights. So, you will be able to save some money with that, because you're spending the money anyway, but if you can get cash back for those, you'll save some extra bucks," said Rahnau. He also recommends using a travel agent, as many travel agents do not charge a planning fee and have access to more prices and hidden pricing.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Colorado teacher has advice on how to save money as kids head back to class
With school starting soon, many Colorado families are doing their back-to-school shopping. With rising costs, many families are also looking to save money for the upcoming semester. According to the National Retail Federation, families with children in elementary school up to high school plan to spend about $858 on back-to-school shopping, which includes school supplies, electronics and clothes. That's down from $874 last year. First, check what you already have at home. Make a shopping list of the items you need and then set a budget. Katie Bergman, who teaches creative writing at Aurora Central High School, recommends being flexible on the brands you're buying. "I've noticed that the school supplies for kindergarteners are around $35 up to somewhere in the range of $50, just depending on what kind of brands you buy. If you're looking to buy the cheapest brands, those are usually going to be around $30, $35 and name brands will be more costly at $50. Bergman also said she shops at several different places and usually finds the best deals at Walmart or Amazon. "I do find that Walmart ultimately will always have the best pricing. Places like Amazon are good, especially if you need bulk supplies. So, Amazon is going to be great for teachers or for families with many children. You can buy, for example, a big box of highlighters and separate them among your children," said Bergman. She added, "You can also kind of do that at Walmart, where you know the classroom supply list might have four packages of Crayola markers for a total of two students. Each will get two, and if you buy them in bulk, you'll get a better price." Begin shopping early on or spread out the shopping over time, and shop during back-to-school sales events. Stores like Target, Walmart or Office Depot will have savings events. You can also submit an Amazon wish list to your friends or family to make things more affordable.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Extra cost of paying for children over the summer holidays revealed – it's £100s more
PARENTS will be forced to pay out an average of £100 extra every week during the summer holidays to keep their kids fed and entertained. With parents expecting to pay out an extra £611 on average over the six-week break, on top of their usual expenses. 1 A study of 1,000 parents of children aged five-14 revealed that, of those who spend on clubs and camps, this addition could push total outlay up by a further £385, the same for day trips pushing to £199 and for food and snacks to £401. As 41% are already starting to look for inexpensive ways to keep things fun for their children during July and August, such as searching for discount codes, ideas for cheap days out, or free sports sessions. With 67% admitting they feel pressured to keep their kiddies occupied for the extended break. The research was commissioned by Utility Warehouse, to highlight its Cashback Card, which is designed to help customers save by paying out cashback on purchases that go against their utility bills each month. Spokesperson Steve Long said :'The summer holidays can be costly, and while parents are focused on keeping their kids entertained. "With a mix of day trips, summer camps and even an increase in cost for keeping the kids fed, these additions soon add up, but there are some great ways they can save money. 'Shopping around for bargains and using money saving devices like rewards and cashback cards can be a big help.' Some of the top ways parents are trying to bring costs down include taking packed lunches on days out (42%) or utilising cashback or reward deals on spends (35%). With 40% saying it would be very useful to get cashback or rewards on shopping to help during the school holidays. A third will cut back on treats for themselves to spend the money on youngsters instead, and 28% are reliant on free local events according to the data. Freebies for parents worth £2,900 As over half (58%) say they do feel pressured to constantly spend money on their children during the summer break. They estimate they'll go on six day trips during this period, with 38% also going on an international trip, and 60% a staycation. Steve Long, at Utility Warehouse, added, 'It's no surprise that many families are looking to cashback to take the edge off summer spending. 'It can give customers an easy way to supercharge their savings on spending they're already doing. "With it coming directly off that month's utility bills, we want to help to ease the burden in real time at one of the most expensive times of the year."
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Easy ways to make money on your lunch break this summer… from recycling old books to renting out your driveway & Vinted
WITH the cost of living crisis still very much upon us, many people are finding themselves taking on extra hours at work or a second job just to make ends meet. But giving up your spare (and precious) time might not be necessary as with our guide you could help boost your bank balance in your lunch break. 3 With summer approaching - and the cost of holiday childcare for families estimated to be around £1,000 - we could all do with a little extra cash in our pockets right now. From selling unwanted books and games, to looking after a local dog, there are many ways you can make money with very little effort… Have a closet clear out We've all got a dress or outfit that we promise we will wear 'one day' but never do. So rather than let it take up room in your wardrobe, have a clear out of all your unworn items and put them on a selling site, like Vinted. By selling through the app, your pre-loved clothes will enjoy a new life in a new wardrobe and you can get money in return. The buyer pays for postage and there are zero selling fees meaning you get the full sale amount in your pocket. How much you can earn on Vinted depends on several factors, including the quality of your items - for example, newer clothing, especially those still with tags, tend to be sold for a higher price than more worn items. One seller revealed she made a whopping £5.6k on Vinted and shared the seven items you need to upload for selling success. Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted? QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted... The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it. Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017. More information here: Flog unwanted phones and tablets We are all guilty of holding on to old tech items like phones, tablets and laptops, but now you can cash in on these items through Music Magpie. All you have to do is select the make, model and condition of your model and the people at Music Magpie will tell you what it's worth. You can also sell CDs, DVDs, and games by entering the barcode into the site's valuation engine. If you are happy with the offer, you can send it for free to Music Magpie. Once it's been checked over, the money will be transferred to the account you supplied on the same day. According to research, you could make up to £450 by recycling unwanted devices. I've made £5.6k on Vinted and here are the 7 items you need to upload now to make cash quick - white maxi skirts will sell instantly for a start Promote and earn We all have a favourite go-to brand we love to shout about in social media - but now you can get paid for it! Social Tip is an app that allows you to make money from promoting brands regardless of your following. So even if you have a private account with less than 1,000, it doesn't matter - you can still earn. It's believed that certain brands see genuine product fans as more valuable and loyal in their review than an influencer with thousands of followers. And it's easy to earn - all you have to do is share your love of a product on either Instagram or TikTok or both, tag @wearesocialtip, and wait for your commission! (Commission is capped at 10% of the purchase price for each qualifying post.) Rent your driveway You can earn anything from £40 to £400 a month by renting out our driveway to commuters. Websites such as Your Parking Space even manage the bookings for you so that stress is taken away. The space you are leasing has to be your own - or you have authority to lease it - and can include your driveway, garage and commercial parking. You can also control when and for how long you want to rent it out - you can lease it for 24/7 or set specific days or periods. To get an idea of how much you can earn from your space, just pop in your details into the website and it will generate a quote for you. Host a film crew 3 If you have a beautiful or unusual home or space, then you could consider letting it out for magazine shoots and TV shows. Sites such as Lavish Locations and Shoot Factory are always on the look out for new spaces so you can apply online. If your property is chosen, you can earn anything from £500 up to £2,000 a day. It's a tough market - there are hundreds of locations for crews to currently choose from - but if you think yours could stand out, there is no harm in applying. Opinions for cash You can earn extra money by taking surveys or joining a focus group. Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert website has a list of sites that offer money in exchange for opinions. The questions are usually market research based, and you'd need to take a lot of surveys to make a good chunk of cash, but if you have a spare half an hour on your commute, or want something to do in your lunch break, then it's a great way to monetise your time. On savvy surveyor made over £400 from filling out forms in her spare time. Become a pet sitter! 3 If you see yourself as a Dr Dolittle or just love being with animals then you can become a pet sitter for your local pet owners. You can set your own fees, services and control your own diary meaning you can commit to covering holidays or an hour at a time. Paw Shake is one of many websites where you can sign up your services which is then advertised to pet owners. Miranda Knox made £400 in a few weeks hanging out with cats in her local area. Recycle old books You could earn money for your old books at We Buy Books. You simply scan or enter your book's barcode or ISBN number, get a quote, then send your books off for free. You could earn £100s if you have good quality and pricey texts, but they do still accept used paperbacks so it's worth seeing what your old reads are worth. I made £21 selling three dresses in an hour! I love a good bargain, and I'm forever buying dresses in the seasonal sales, but if I'm being truthful I have more than I really need - or wear - so I set myself a challenge. I went through my wardrobe and pulled out all the dresses I haven't worn in the last three months - and I'm ashamed to say many of them still had tags on! I decided to pop them on to Vinted so they could be loved by a new owner, and free up some space in my wardrobe for the clothes I actually do wear. It was easy to do. I took a picture of each dress - tip: good lighting is key - and uploaded it onto the app with a description of the dress including colour and condition. I also noted a couple of occasions where the dress could be worn - party, workwear, etc - as this gives it a greater chance of appearing in a search. Within an hour, three of my dresses had sold and I was £21 in profit. Not bad for a few minutes of effort! Next stop, my husband's wardrobe! Sell your wedding dress Selling your wedding dress might not be for everyone, but if you are not keeping it to show the grandkids or you are happy with just the memories of your big day, then you could sell your frock online. Sell My Wedding Dress and Still White are just two sites where you can put your bridalwear up for sale. The price depends on many factors, such as design, condition and imperfections, but you could sell a good quality wedding dress for £500 plus. It's definitely worth checking out.
