My tip was a lot bigger than this! Credit: Dauella manera/Flickr
It’s amazing what two twenties will do. When I arrived at LAX last week, I had no intention of lugging seven heavy boxes through the airport by myself to the regular check-in counter. Instead, I stuffed my fist with cash and walked up to the Sky Cap counter, which had a line 40-some people deep.
Two nights before a reader named Eileen had shared a valuable but expensive lesson on luggage. “My Mother taught me this,” Eileen said. “If you ever need help at the airport, put a fifty dollar bill in your raised hand and ask if anyone can help. Someone will find you.”
Eileen was right. With $40 in my left hand, I approached the Sky Cap counter.
“I have seven boxes to check. Is it okay if I put them right here while I wait in line?”
Two junior Sky Caps conferred and decided it would be okay to tuck my bags off to the side so I wouldn’t have to inch them forward as I waited in line. I think they saw my twenties.
I put my cash back in my pocket and began unloading boxes from my friend’s car. A senior Sky Cap came over while I was dropped off box No. 3 and I double checked that it was okay to stockpile my boxes while waiting in line. It was.
When I dropped off the last box he was waiting for me. Had he seen my twenties? I’m pretty sure.
“How many are you flying with?”
“Just me.”
“We’re going to have to charge you for those extra bags, unfortunately.”
“That’s fine. I did the math and Southwest is the cheapest.”
The senior Sky Cap asked for my full name and suggested I step down two counters so he could check me in. What? No line?
He DEFINITELY saw my twenties. Because he offered to let me cut, I didn’t protest.
I checked in and was free of my burdensome bags within 10 minutes. I paid $250 for my seven pieces of luggage (the first two bags are free on Southwest and each bag after that up to 10 bags is $50). Not a single bag was weighed – at least that I saw. Bags over 50 pounds are $100 and one of my pieces was awfully heavy. Did my big tip save me an overweight baggage fee? I’ll never know.
I jumped into the security line and wondered if big spenders regularly experienced the ease and comfort I had. My $40 saved me time, reduced my stress, and got me out of the mid-day heat.
I rarely sympathize with big spenders – I have been known to scoff at overt displays of wealth – but after my $40 worked wonders at the airport I have a new perspective. Spending money, and not just saving it, can bring peace of mind. So if a Sky Cap at my destination airport happens to notice my fresh twenties and offers to lug my seven boxes across baggage claim? Well, I’m going to smile and say thank you.
What was your most worthwhile splurge?
Thanks for the tip, Eileen!
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
goodrob13/Flickr.
Do you yearn to be a screaming audience member on The Price is Right or a cheering fan on the Tonight show? Do you dream of watching your favorite star being filmed on-set? With some pre-planning, patience and luck, these experiences can be yours – for free.
As hard as it is to believe, television studios have to work to fill their audiences each time they shoot. It’s not just a matter of opening their front door and letting any old riff-raff in. There are dress codes and rules. Doling out coveted set passes sucks up staff time and energy. For many (but not all) shows, this coordination is too much trouble so television show turns the duty over to a company that specializes in finding audiences.
Here are some ways to get in to the shows you want to see:
- For free tickets for Two and a Half Men, Wizards of Waverly Place, Melissa and Joey, I’m in the Band and more, try Audiences Unlimited, Inc.
- If you are a Jimmy Kimmel Live! fan, you can get tickets online or call 866-546-6984 (weekdays from 1-4 p.m. PST).
- American Idol, Hannah Montana, So You Think You Can Dance?, and Dancing with the Stars tickets can be obtained through On Camera Audiences.
- Your dream to be on a game show can come true at game show contestant submissions or go to any of the major TV network’s websites and look for a “casting” link.
- The Tonight Show tickets are distributed at the studio’s ticket window the day of taping or by mail. Write to 3000 W. Alameda Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91523 or call 818-840-3537.
- Saturday Night Live tickets are distributed by lottery.
- And last, but not least… if you are just dying to be seen on television wearing a hula outfit and scuba gear holding a sign saying “I love Drew Carey” then you are destined to be on The Price is Right.
Going to the taping of a TV show is an impressive first date (if the show is your date’s favorite), a frugal and memorable vacation event, or an educational field trip. There is a LOT more going on off the screen than most people know.
I’ve seen some really cool shows with my friends and family using some of these links.
Have you ever gone to the taping of a TV show? Was it fun?
Act quick to get a cheap flight on Southwest for a summer vacation. You have to buy your tickets by June 17 and travel by September 2, 2010. The fares are good for travel on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
One way sample fares include:
- Burbank to Oakland, Vegas, San Jose, or Phoenix for $59
- Orlando to Ft. Myers for $53, or to Ft. Lauderdale for $69
- Jackson to Houston for $69
- Long Island or New York to Baltimore for $69
- San Diego to Vegas, Phoenix, or Tuscon for $59
- San Francisco to Vegas, Orange County or Los Angeles for $59
- See all the cheap flights on Southwest
Caveats: 14-day advance purchase required, purchase by June 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm PST, fares do not include federal excise tax of $3.70 per takeoff and landing, airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9, and government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way.
boeingdreamscape/Flickr
I just got an email from Travelzoo that reminded me of the amazing air travel deals to be had this summer. Here are five quick tips!
1. Sign up for Travelzoo.com, a site that is ground zero for travel deals. I especially recommend their Top 20 Deals, Last Minute Deals, and Newsflash. You can sign up for particular deals via email and let them know what zip code you live in so they can tailor deals. Travelzoo also has international travel deals if you live in Canada, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, China, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, or Australia.
2. Sign up for the email lists of any airlines you like to fly, like Jetblue, Virgin America, or Southwest. Most airlines shares sales and deals first via email and offer free loyalty programs. I also like Airfarewatchdog.com.
3. Seek out a local Groupon-type site a few weeks before you travel. By signing up for an email deal list in, say, San Antonio, you will hear about super discounts on restaurants, shows, and services in the city you are planning to visit.
4. Consider alternative lodging, like couch surfing or individuals who offer spare rooms to travelers through organizations like iStopOver or RoomaRama. You can also seek out people to exchange places with on Craigstlist.
5. Fly mid-week for the best prices and no crowds! And remember to factor in baggage fees. Southwest does not charge for bags, but Virgin America lets you check up to 10 bags for $25 each as long as they are less than 50 pounds!
How do you plan to save money on your summer vacation?
back_garage/Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains
Bargainistas know not to pay retail for clothes (except for undergarments.) We all have our favorite thrift shops and know when the new stuff is put out.
But, what to do when you are on vacation? Are you really going to pay $25 for a t-shirt at the seaside resort when you know there is a gently used version for $2.99 at a second-hand shop within blocks?
Let me introduce you to my favorite “don’t leave home without it” web site – The National Thrift Store Directory. No matter where you are in the United States, plug in your zip code and you will find a thrift store near you. Oh be still my beating heart!
I would much rather visit the local thrift shop in some small town than spend time in a tourist trap. Not only can you pick up local souvenirs for a fraction of the cost (mugs that go for $25 at Disneyland are a dollar or two at a thrift store) but you can talk to fellow shoppers and possibly find out about a local event that you would never know was happening (like a pancake breakfast at the community center or a free concert at the high school.)
The National Thrift Store Directory currently has almost 10,000 listings, but you can help other bargain hunters by adding your favorite store.
What is the best item you ever found at a thrift store?
D Sharon Pruitt/Flickr
This is a guest post from reader Marie.
There are countless fun and entertaining events and places all around the USA that we can enjoy either free or at very little cost. These events are geared towards adults, families, seniors or kids. The possibilities are endless. Some examples include:
- Museums to cater to every taste and budget
- Senior Center facilities for fun, food and friendship
- Churches for spiritual support, entertainment and companionship
- Low-cost or free kids entertainment
- Low-cost or free kids fun and educational activities
Museums to cater to every taste and budget
To find free museums, festivities and events in any US city, visit Free-Attractions.com. Select the city of your choice and look at the great free choices available. Always call ahead to confirm as the site has some outdated information. Here are a few examples of free museums in…
New York…
- Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza
- Washington Park
- New York State Museum
- Albany Urban Cultural Park Visitor Center
- Albany Pine BushNew York State Capitol Tour
- Bronx Zoo
- Delaware Park
- Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Florida…
- Manatee Viewing Center (Apollo Beach)
- Kelly Park (Apopka)
- National Key Deer Refuge (Big Pine)
- Boca Raton Historical Society (Boca Raton)
- Spanish River Park (Boca Raton)
- Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (Boca Raton)
- Desoto National Memorial (Bradenton)
- Manatee Village Historical Park (Brooksville)
- Rodgers Christmas House Village (Cape Coral)
- Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (Chiefland)
California…(six pages of wonderful free entertainment!)
- Columbia State Historic Park (Coloma)
- Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (Concord)
- Nimbus Salmon/Steelhead Fish Hatchery (Cordova)
- Redwood National Park (Crescent City)
- Jelly Belly Center (Fairfield)
- Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours (Fairfield)
- Manzanar National Historic Site (Independence)
- UCLA Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center (Los Angeles)
- The Getty (Los Angeles)
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles)
Senior Center facilities for fun and friendship
For a list of Senior Centers in any city, do an advanced Google search and plug in the city or zip code where you want to find a senior center. Most senior centers are open on weekdays and offer not only very low-cost nutritious lunches but also a chance to get together with peers keeping busy with the classes of one’s choice, such as dancing, knitting, crochet, cards, etc.
Churches for spiritual comfort, entertainment and companionship
Many churches in the US offer spiritual guidance, church services, concerts, hikes, crafts, book clubs, Taize, and other programs. To find information on various churches, look for ones near you in the Yellow Pages.
Kids activities
For a variety of free or low-cost entertainment for children, GoCityKids has a handy page that lets you search for activities. Click on your city. If you live in Los Angeles, you will find information on Griffith Park, O’Melveny Park, Westwood Branch Library, and Audubon Center at Debs Park.
Natural Treasures: Mountain trails, beaches, etc.
Don’t forget the natural treasures of our great country – hikes on mountain trails or along the beautiful beaches – fun for all the family. To find local beaches, go to Google and enter “beaches” and the city or state of your choice. To find mountains for hiking, camping and fun, repeat the Google search but enter “mountains in” and the city or state of your choice. Click on items that interest you to find out more details about campsites, costs, etc.
In short, wonderful entertainment, free or almost free, is just a click away on your computer. Start clicking – and have fun!
lintmachine/Flickr
This is a guest from by Emmalee of Red Head Dating Theory, which has explicit, adult-only content.
In less than a week I will be embarking on a long-awaited San Francisco vacation with my boyfriend. Traveling can get very expensive and the small costs can quickly add up. There are plenty of ways to travel for little or no money at all.
House swapping and sitting are great ways to travel somewhere new, while not spending a dime on a place to stay. HouseCarers.com is a great Web site to find a house sitter or an opportunity to house sit. An added bonus if you need your house to be watched this Web site also offers additional pet sitting. HomeExchange.com is meant for families looking to swap houses as a vacation. A membership is required, but those who pay may be serious and safe for swapping.
If you are willing to work for a place to stay, there are plenty of farms that will exchange some work for lodging. WWOOF is an organization that matches people willing to volunteer on organic farms with people willing to provide food and accommodation in exchange. Other organizations like SERVAS International and GrowFood.org attempt to connect people looking to change the world in exchange for accommodations.
If you do not own a home or are not planning on staying in one place too long, some Web sites offer a place for you to crash, as long as there is an offer exchanged. My favorite Web site, Couchsurfing.com allows people to travel all over the world and stay on another surfer’s couch for the small price of opening your home to them for a visit. This non-profit organization’s purpose is to making it more accessible for people to travel the world and exchange experiences. GlobalFreeloaders.org is another organization dedicated to bringing people together while saving money.
You may ask, is this or house swapping safe? Most of the Web sites have an “educate yourself” policy that leaves it up to traveler to contact the people individually to decide if they are safe. Unfortunately, there is no way to check everyone’s background, especially when most of the Web sites are free, but every Web site does have an FAQ page explaining ways to ensure your safety.
These Web sites are dedicated to the progression of free travel and help for those who vacation on a budget. Although I will not be couch surfing in San Francisco, I booked the trip through Travelocity which saved me $350, a win-win for everyone.
TheConsumerist.com
Jetblue is selling a bunch of flights from JFK for $10 each. The site was getting hammered last time I checked so give the pages time to load.
New customers can get a free photobook from Picaboo or, if you already have an account with them, there is a BOGO free coupon that is good through March 31, 2010.
Use this Gap coupon code to get jeans at 30 percent off. Just trade-in an old pair by Sunday, March 14, 2010.
Snag a bag of free dog treats from Science Diet when you share your name, email and address.
Coldwater Creek coupons! Get 20-25 percent off when you buy $100 or more. Good in stores and online.
Do you live near a Dunkin Donuts? Then get free coffee every Monday in March.
mdanys/Flickr
I recently talked to Diana Castilla at News Net TV about travel deals for cheap hotel rooms and cheap flights. The segment is running Tuesday March 9, 2010 at 6 a.m. on KVMD (cable news channel 31 on Dish and Direct TV) or you can watch it online starting at noon.
If you are a student or educator, you can get a lot of cheap travel deals at StudentUniverse. Anyone can save money on a trip by renting a home or condo. Sometimes you can even arrange swaps!
If you are really pinching pennies, check out this post on 17 ways to save money in Vegas.
Reader Bob left four great travel tips as a comment:
I travel a lot and over the years I’ve learned a few trick… Hope these are helpful..
1. Everybody knows about flying into alternate airports (e.g. OAK instead of SFO) but increasingly it’s cheaper to book a multi-destination flight to lower the fare. Last year I saved $300 on a RT from SFO to AMS by booking the outbound from SFO to TGL and walking away at AMS. Note that you can’t do that on the inbound since airlines will now cancel your entire ticket if you miss your flight at the origin. So inbound was booked from AMS to SFO.
2. In Europe, take advantage of the rail system. It is almost always cheaper to fly to LHR and train to Paris than it is to fly direct to CDG. Same is true for many other popular destinations.
3. If you can take it or leave it, haggle!! I’ve got amazing deals from airlines by calling them the day of the flight, pointing out that they were flying almost empty and offered them what I thought the trip was worth it.
4. Add a ’stop’ – a lot of times you can add a layover for little or no money. Just last month I added a Paris stop to my Istanbul trip for only $80 more by booking an open-jaw flight.
Happy traveling!
Spring break is coming up and one way to save money is to earn a free night at your hotel. The Choice Hotels spring promo lets you do just that. The cool thing about the promotion is that once you earn your free night you can choose to stay at 1,500 hotels across the globe – gratis! Here’s how it works.
Stay two different times at any of the ten hotels in the Choice Hotels chain, including the Quality Inn, Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn. You can mix and match which hotels you stay at. Each visit has to be at least two nights.
Stay twice between now and April 30, 2010, and you earn a free night. You can find a great hotel rate on the Choice Hotels website, which searches the entire hotel chain for the best deal. Within any given city, you can search for hotels by radius or by proximity to prominent attractions, like SeaWorld in San Diego or Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Make sure to sign up for the Choice Hotels privileges reward program to get your free hotel night. You’ll need an address in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or eligible countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe to qualify for the promotion.
Watch four movies for free with these Blockbuster Express coupons (similar to Redbox).
Clothes for children, babies, and moms-to-be are up to 40 percent off at Old Navy. Plus, you’ll get free shipping with this Old Navy coupon code.
If you like to go on cruises, sign up for a free subscription to Cruise Travel magazine.
The Bev Mo nickel wine sale is on! No coupons or codes needed.
Check out all the deals on my WalletPop blog.
Here are the latest and greatest deals from my WalletPop blog.
Get 25 percent off at Borders with a coupon that ends today, Feb. 8, 2010.
Snag this Old Navy coupon code and get 20 percent off your purchase online, with some caveats, through Feb. 18, 2010.
I’m sitting pretty with this Michaels 40 percent off coupon, good through Feb. 20, 2010.
Buying luggage, travel accessories, or leather products? Check out this $20 off $100 coupon code for Luggage Pros.
Scoops of ice cream are just 99-cents at Baskin Robbins when you buy one scoop to start.
Have you noticed how many insane travel deals they are lately? Virgin America is successfully putting pressure on other airlines to reduce fares, which means you and I benefit!
If you are traveling for the holidays and haven’t booked your tickets, or are traveling in the next six months, here are my best money-saving travel tips.
- be flexible with travel dates if at all possible
- flying on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday is generally the cheapest
- sign up for the email list of various airlines you like to travel on because they often send electronic fare sale alerts, giving you the first crack at sales (especially for Virgin America and Southwest)
- comparison shop on Kayak.com
- but check the airline’s homepage for a reduced fare, too
- consider Priceline.com if you are flexible about travel times and airlines
- Southwest flights can only be booked through them
- sign up for TravelZoo.com, a site that finds incredible travel bargains and emails them to you (they are especially good for packaged vacations and event tickets)
- sign upfor AirFareWatchDog.com, which tracks specific routes for you
- pack light to avoid baggage fees (see below)
- use this coupon for free in-flight Internet access
Here is a summary of airline baggage fees so you can factor them into the cost of your trip.
American – $20 first bag, $30 second bag
Continental – $20 first bag, $30 second bag
Delta – $20 first bag, $30 second bag but get a $5 discount by paying ahead of time online
United – $20 first bag, $30 second bag but get a $5 discount by paying ahead of time online
Southwest – no baggage fees
For a full list of airline baggage fees, see this page on About.com.
Related:
Save on hotels by booking a time share or vacation rental.
Going abroad? Top 10 tips to keep it cheap internationally.
Staying home? Earn money by hosting travelers.
If you like cruises, read my resources for cruise deals.
Super fab deals on my WalletPop blog today!
Spirit Airlines is having a major air fare sale with one way flights starting at $16. Holy cow! But you have to book today.
Barbie, Hot Wheels, Toy Story, Dora the Explorer and everything else at Mattel is 20 percent off! Spend $50 and get free shipping,too!
Looking for a free movie rental code from RedBox? Now there is an iPhone app that aggregates all the codes and shares them every 12 hours. Downside is the app costs $.99, but if you use it once it’s a money maker. More info here.
Get a $5 gift card at TGI Friday’s when you buy one for $25 through Dec. 31, 2009.
Yes, it’s true. You can get free Internet access while flying across the country. I used it twice flying to and from New York and now I have a coupon to pass onto you!
Use code 2287680956psc, good through Jan. 7, 2010. The coupon works on Gogo-equipped AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights. Not all flights on these airlines have Gogo.
Caveats: the coupon is good for folks who have never used Gogo InFlight before. Use of Gogo requires registration (you set up a username attached to your email).
