In a perfect world, we’d all stay in the four star resorts with private balconies and breathtaking vistas. But being on a budget doesn’t have to mean compromising on the vacation of your dreams. You can save money by booking well ahead of time or taking your vacation during the off-season when there aren’t as many tourists. You can save even more with a self-service rooms or condo unit available for weekly rental. With a little legwork, you can save money and vacation in style at the same time.

Can you afford it?

It’s tempting to think that buying a home just means replacing your monthly rent payment with a monthly mortgage bill. But there are a lot of other financial commitments that come along with buying a house. First, you’ll be expected to put down a down payment when you first purchase the home. This may be as much as 20%, although new mortgage arrangements make it possible to buy a home with much less down. Next, you’ll be required to purchase homeowners insurance and possibly insurance on your mortgage itself, depending on your financing.

You’ve also got to have a safety net when you purchase a home. When you’re renting, if something breaks down, you just call maintenance and it’s taken care of. But when it’s your home, you’re responsible for anything that goes wrong. Think about what would happen if part of your roof broke and you were responsible for the repairs. If a $5,000 repair bill would throw you into bankruptcy, you might want to think about renting for a bit longer and saving up some money.

To see if you’re financially ready to buy a house, run some calculations. Start off at Bankrate.com. In their “calculators” section, you’ll find a number of tools, including one that takes all your assets, income and financial commitments into account and determines how much house you can afford. You can also use the Bankrate website to start learning about the different types of mortgages and financing arrangements available if you think you might be ready to buy a house.

How stable are you?

If you’re working in a field with little job security, or if you’re thinking about moving across the country within the next few years, think again about buying a house. A mortgage is a basically a really big loan – if your income isn’t that stable, you might want to reconsider entering into such a contract. If financial disaster strikes, it’s much easier (and much less damaging to your credit score) to get out of a rental lease.

Also consider how stable you are in your living arrangements. Are you planning to stay put for a few years or are you itching to move wherever the next big opportunity takes you? Buying and selling a house is a big deal – much more so than the move-in, move-out process of a rental unit. And with the current downswing in the real estate market, selling a house can take more than a year in some areas. Make sure you’re ready to be tied to one place before you sign on the dotted line.

What’s your credit score?

Just like any other loan, you’ll pay interest on your mortgage. Although mortgage interest rates are currently low (typically between 4-8%), the money really adds up when you’re considering a 30-year loan! Your credit score will directly impact whether you qualify for a mortgage and, if so, what rate you’re eligible for. Getting the lowest possible rate will save you a lot of money in the long run.

If your credit score isn’t great, take some time to improve it before you jump into the wild ride of homeownership. To learn how to fix your credit, visit the Carreon & Associates website for tons of great information about debt management and repairing credit on your own. They also offer an e-book titled “Credit Restoration & Debt Negotiation” that’s really helpful if you plan to negotiate with the credit bureaus over any incorrect information in your credit report by yourself.

Buying a house is a big commitment, but it does have many rewards. For one, real estate values increase over time (or “appreciate”), so the house you buy now may be worth a lot more in the future. It’s also nice to be able to come home and fix up your space to meet your needs. If you think you might be ready to buy a house, meet with a mortgage broker in your area to see get an exact estimate of what you can afford. Be realistic with yourself and you’ll soon be on your way to the joys of homeownership.

Consider purchasing a package. If you are looking at buying airfare, hotel, etc., check out package deals, but remember to compare prices with booking the components separately. Often packages are a bit cheaper than booking everything separately, but they come with some drawbacks, mainly the ability to cancel. So you should take out insurance to protect yourself if you do need to cancel, but this obviously then adds to the cost of the package. Still it’s worth checking out.

Stay in bed and breakfasts. If you don’t care about a pool or the amenities of a large hotel, staying in a bed and breakfast can go a long way to bringing down your lodging costs. These establishments will often cost less than half the price of similar quality hotel rooms, but may be located in residential areas and thus a bit out of the way. Although it might be a little more difficult to get information on B&Bs than on hotels, but many, if not most, have websites and TripAdvisor does have some reviews of these establishments (www.tripadvisor.com – type in your destination and B&Bs ).

Bid for travel. Websites like Priceline and Hotwire allow you to name your price for one of more components of your trip, allowing you to pay significantly less for hotels, airfare, even car rental. Find this concept a bit overwhelming? Start by perusing the forums on www.betterbidding.com , a website where travelers report how much they offered and paid for their travel. This will give you an idea how the system works and how much to bid for what you want. You can also deduce which hotels are considered 3 stars, 4 stars, etc. in any given locale. Remember that your bid, if accepted, cannot be changed or cancelled and your credit card will be billed before you know the name of the hotel, airline, etc.

Negotiate. While this probably won’t work with airlines, you can negotiate with hotels, especially during periods of lower occupancy (i.e. the offseason), although it can’t hurt to try anytime. After perusing betterbidding.com, you will have an idea of how low hotels will sell their rooms for, so why not call them directly and see if they’ll match the price when you want to travel. Ask about all specials and keep saying “no, please look for something better” until they find a price that you are comfortable with and think is a good value.

Travel off season. We all know that airfares to Europe are much cheaper in the winter than in the fall, but virtually every component of a trip will run less in the off season. So if there’s a place that you really want to go and can’t quite afford when the crowds are high, try pricing it in the off season. In addition to saving money, you will also be dealing with fewer crowds.

Good luck and have a great vacation!

I don’t mean to be a scrooge, but I am already sick of the holiday season. I’m tired of the decorations, the Christmas carols that have been playing since October, and the constant pressure to demonstrate your love by buying the most expensive holiday gifts. Truly, when did it become okay for kids to write itemized, annotated lists for Santa and then throw tantrums when a certain gift isn’t found under the tree?

Okay, enough. I’m sorry for the rant. It’s hard to be a poor secretary during the holidays, but here are a few ideas for inexpensive holiday gifts that I’ve used over the years:

Volunteering – Giving your time can be more valuable that giving your money. If you and a loved one have a shared passion, find an organization that supports your cause and offer to spend a few hours working together for them. Your loved one will appreciate the time you get to spend together and you’ll know you’re supporting a good cause. If you don’t have the time to commit, consider making a donation to a favorite charity in lieu of a gift. If you would have spent $25 on a gift, donate that to a special organization instead.

Baked Goods – Homemade treats can be a wonderful holiday gift if you have any kind of culinary talent. Just a word of caution, though. If you know the recipient has recently lost weight or is currently dieting, try to put together some healthier treats. Nothing is more frustrating for the weight-conscious than the constant stream of holiday goodies.

Offer Your Services – Are you a good cook? A talented dancer? Blessed with a green thumb? Instead of giving expensive gifts, share your talents! Give a loved one the gift of a fabulous dinner to be hosted in their home at a mutually convenient date. Or offer to plant a garden around a loved one’s front door if that’s where your skills lie. You can even throw in some free weeding throughout the year.

Homemade Gifts – Okay, forget about the popsicle stick birdhouse. Making homemade gifts can be easy, tasteful and cost-effective. You can get cheap picture frames at a dollar store, hot glue some ribbon on and mount a favorite picture of you and your loved one. Or find a nice box, cut up some fancy paper and a few pencils and you’ve got a stationary kit. Just wander around a craft store for awhile – you’re sure to find something you can make.

Dollar Store Finds – While we’re on the subject of dollar stores, you’d be amazed at the quality of merchandise you can find there. Personally, I’ve found some great Christmas figurines and a small snow globe that could have passed for more expensive department store products. These items are great for gift giving opportunities where you don’t know the recipient well, like an office gift exchange, presents for teachers or other acquaintances, or for extended family members you don’t know well.

With the holiday season upon us, don’t go massively in debt trying to prove your love with material possessions. Be creative and show your family and friends that you care with a gift that comes from the heart. They don’t have to know how much money you saved!

Do you have dental insurance coverage through your employer? If so, count yourself among the lucky few. My job offers dental insurance at $45/month – which is outrageous considering that I usually only get one cleaning a year (or two if I’m being really good). If you’re feeling crunched like me, consider checking out a dental discount plan.

First of all, do you really need dental insurance? Short answer – yes. Think Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies if you still aren’t convinced. Regular dental care can prevent some nasty problems later in life and may even help pick up on the warning signs of some serious diseases like diabetes or pregnancy complications. Do yourself a favor and schedule at least one complete cleaning and check-up each year.

If you don’t have affordable dental coverage through work, a dental discount plan is your best bet. Typically, you’ll pay a yearly subscription fee of $80-120 and then get access to dental services at a 10-60% discount. For example, Aetna offers a program that costs $99.95/year to join, but then you’ll pay $30 rather than $67 for an in-depth check-up, $54 rather than $104 for a set of full-mouth x-rays, and so on.

Here’s how to calculate whether a dental discount plan makes sense for you:

First, determine how often you visit the dentist and for what services. I budget myself for 2 complete cleanings each year.

Next, calculate how much you’ll spend with your employer’s coverage, a dental discount plan and no coverage at all. Here’s an example:

My employer’s coverage costs $45/month, plus a $15 co-pay on all visits. My total yearly cost (assuming two cleanings) to stay on my employer’s insurance is $570. Without insurance, each visit costs approximately $170, so my total yearly costs without insurance are around $340. On a dental discount plan, I’ll pay about $100/year, plus $75 for a complete cleaning, so my yearly cost is around $250.

Calculate your expenses for a couple different scenarios. What happens to my costs if I only want to have one cleaning a year? My employer-sponsored plan costs $545, no insurance will run me close to $170 and a discount plan will cost close to $175. If I want to go for the absolute cheapest possible care, I might forgo dental insurance entirely. However, if the costs are so close, I’d probably still choose the discount dental plan. That way my out-of-pocket expenses stay as low as possible, but I’ll still have some coverage in case I need an emergency root canal or other similarly scary procedure.

For me, it makes sense to choose the dental discount plan. However, it’s so important that you do your own calculations because your situation is probably different than mine. Are you absolutely set on sticking with your childhood dentist (not all dentists accept all plans)? Are you looking at having your wisdom teeth removed in the next year? Does your employer allow you to set aside money for medical expenses tax-free? Look at your situation from all angles before committing to a plan.

If you think a dental discount plan is right for you, I highly recommend you check out DentalPlans.com. They’ve got one of the most complete selections of dental discount plans on the web and they’ve got tons of comparison tools and informational articles to help you pick the best plan. For even more information, check out “Dental Plans 101” – their beginners guide to choosing a dental discount plan.

Living on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have style! In fact, many of today’s home decorating trends focus on simple, stunning accents that you can replicate for very little money. If you feel like your house needs a little pick-me-up, check out these tips for updating your home on a budget:

he first, absolute first, thing you need to do is to declutter! If your house looks anything like mine, you’ve got a pile of mail on the kitchen table, a heap of shoes in one corner and random sections of newspaper scattered across the living room floor. If it’s been awhile, do a Salvation Army sweep – gather up all the things you don’t use any more and send them off to people who need them.

Once you’ve dropped off your donations, analyze where piles of stuff tend to regularly occur. If you’re constantly leaving grocery coupons on the kitchen counter, find a small shoe box and store them out of sight in a nearby cupboard. If your entryway looks like Payless Shoes on a sale day, get a small laundry basket to store extra shoes in the coat closet. Commit to trying to keep your home clutter-free. You’ll be amazed at how much better your home looks when it’s not covered in piles of stuff!

Now that your house is clean, you can decorate with the type of classic accents you see in the home decorating magazines. Here are a few ideas to take your home from trashy to classy on a budget:

To create a striking, zen-like twig display, go thrift store and hunt for a simple, tall vase in colors that match the rest of your décor. Next, go outside and gather up some twigs, approximately 1-2’ in length, depending on the size of your vase. Pick up a few extras – you won’t know which ones you like until you start arranging them. Trim off extra branch shoots and start arranging them in the vase until you’re happy. If you need inspiration, pick up any home décor magazine – you’ll see something similar in almost every issue.

Never underestimate the power of a few simple candles to add a touch of sophistication to even the cheapest of rental apartments. Pick up three candles, all the same color, in three different heights and arrange them in a triangle shape on an end table or other flat surface in need of some spice. You can experiment with different colored ribbons tied around the candles or different holders if your budget allows for it.

Replace old posters on your walls with sophisticated prints. Go to the dollar store and pick up 4-6 picture frames with dark, thick edges - think 12” x 14” frames with 1” black frame borders. Next, stop at the craft store for some heavy white matting board. Most stores will sell this in bulk, and you’ll save money if you cut your own mat with an exacto knife instead of purchasing pre-cut ones. Cut them so that you have 2” of white showing from underneath your frame and load in your favorite black and white pictures. Don’t have any? You can find inspirational images in magazines or on the internet for free!

If you need more ideas, spend some time wandering through a furniture store and see what catches your eye. If you can, take a discreet picture with your cell phone (if you can) so that you’ll remember what you liked later. Chances are, you’ll be able to find something similar at a thrift store or make it yourself from craft store bargains.

Art collecting as a hobby has been given a bad rap. For many people, art collecting ranks right up there with wine tasting and mushroom hunting on the rich snob scale. Others think of art collecting as picking up a few Monet prints from the local poster shop – whether or not they like Monet. However, an original piece of artwork is a great way to add a touch of personality and class to your home, and it can be much less expensive than you think. Read on for more tips on finding fabulous artwork on a budget.

If you’re just getting started and don’t know what you like, you might be able to rent pieces from a local gallery. Many galleries offer a rental service that allows you to take home a piece of art and try it out in your home. If you don’t like the piece you’ve chosen, you can simply take it back and pick another. This is a great way to learn about the type of art you like and develop your own personal taste before looking for pieces to purchase.

Once you’ve discovered what you like, you can start looking for an affordable piece of art. A great place to start is with student artists. If you live in a college town, you may be able to find original artwork at an affordable price from these young artists. Check your phonebook for art schools in your area and contact them for more information on upcoming shows where you can purchase student artwork. Who knows, you could be one of the first to discover – and invest in – a new, up-and-coming artist!

Artist guilds and communities are another great place to look. These local artist collectives often have open houses and shows throughout the year. You’ll frequently find unique artwork on sale at these events as new artists try to promote themselves through this avenue. You’ll also have the opportunity to get to know the artist and learn the background of any pieces you’re interested in.

You can also find interesting pieces in antique shops, flea markets and consignment stores. If you fall in love with a piece of art that isn’t in great shape, don’t worry! Art restoration experts may be able to restore the piece to its original glory for much less than the cost of new artwork. A few things to keep in mind though – fixing small tears or a light coat of grime will be much less expensive than a piece with extensive water damage or fading. If possible, get an expert’s opinion before buying artwork you plan to restore.

Above all, remember that art collecting is not about names, labels or price tags. It’s about falling in love with a certain piece of art, or the work of a particular artist, regardless of how well the artist is know or how much the piece costs. Art collecting is a great way to dress up your apartment and express your personality – and you can do it without breaking the bank.

Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, moving stinks. You’re already stressed out, whether you’re taking on a new job, starting a new relationship or just looking for a change in a new city. And now you’ve got to tackle the piles of possessions you’ve accumulated over the years, wrestle them into boxes and get them to your new home. Whew! Moving can be frustrating and expensive, but following a few simple steps will help cut down on the costs and the crises.

Before you start worrying about hiring trucks and comparing rates, get cleaning! This is the perfect time to go through all your old clothes, files and junk drawers and get rid of the things you don’t need anymore. Keep in mind the reality that you’ll have to pack and carry anything you keep – and pay for if you use a space-based moving service! So toss the clothes you haven’t worn in years, get rid of all the useless knickknacks you’ve accumulated and send the books you don’t ever read to the library.

Also take a close look at your furniture. If you’re living the secretary life, you’re “décor” probably consists of garage sale finds and third generation hand-me-downs. If you’re moving long distance, it could actually cost you more to move your old furniture than to buy used furniture in your new location. In fact, scoping out garage sales and second-hand stores can be a great way to get to know your new neighborhood. So donate anything that doesn’t have sentimental value and don’t forget to get a donation receipt for your taxes!

When it’s time to start packing, don’t spend a fortune on new moving supplies. Put a message out to your local freecycle group for moving boxes (read the article “Learn to Freecycle” if you’re not sure what that means). Or check with grocery stores, hardware stores or bookstores in your area – these businesses pay to recycle boxes every day and may be happy to let you have them for free. Newspapers and linens like towels and sheets can take the place of more expensive bubble wrap and packing paper. Two things you shouldn’t scrimp on – good black permanent markers and strong packing tape!

The type of moving arrangement you need will depend largely on what and how far you’ll be moving. Moving a few boxes across town requires a different set-up then a move across the country. The most common arrangements are:

Do it yourself: Using your own truck (or a rental), you and your buddies pack your belongings, load them onto the truck, drive the truck and then unload everything at your destination. While this is typically the cheapest route, watch out for unexpected costs like rental truck insurance, mileage fees and pizza for your moving buddies. For local moves, check with nearby moving-related businesses for a good deal on a rental truck. A friendly storage unit company I used for one college summer let me use their truck for free!

Space-based rental: Major truck carriers like ABF U-Move and Broadway Express or portable storage unit companies like P.O.D.S. let you pack your belongings and charge you based on the space you use. They do all the driving and deliver your boxes to your new location. You’ll still save money over a full-service moving company and you’ll avoid the hassle of driving a semi-truck on unfamiliar roads. If you use this type of service, set aside anything that you’ll need immediately for transport in your car – if the truck is delayed, you could have to wait awhile for your possessions.

Full-service moving company: These companies load your boxes, drive the truck and unload everything in your new home. For an additional fee, they may even pack your boxes. This is the most expensive moving option, but if you’re under a lot of stress, the saved energy might be worth the extra cost. When you’re shopping for quotes, get as accurate an estimate of the items you’ll have to move as possible and get details on any extra charges up front. If possible, try to plan a mid-week or mid-month move when the movers aren’t as busy. However, if you’ve hired movers, DO NOT let them move things like your computer or things that are irreplaceable if damaged. Move these yourself. You’ll take much better care of them than the movers will - even if you mark a box as “fragile”.

A final word of caution – be careful who you do business with. The internet is full of horror stories about damaged possessions, lost trucks and items held hostage for extra money by unscrupulous moving companies. In fact, the moving industry ranks 14^th out 1,100 industries the Better Business Bureau tracks in terms of customer complaints. So get references from friends and check with the BBB and websites like MovingAdvocateTeam.com and MovingScam.com before signing a contract. Doing a little background research beforehand will help your move go as smoothly and easily as possible.

You cut back on your expenses, clip coupons, and watch out for clearance sales, but sometimes that’s not enough – sometimes you need to bring in a little extra cash. Working as a mystery shopper is a terrific way to score a few extra bucks – it’s fun and easy, and, because you choose which assignments to take on, it fits into any schedule. Read on to learn how to get started in this exciting field.

First, the basics. As a mystery shopper, you visit a store and make observations anonymously, which you report back to the agency that hired you. You may be asked to purchase certain products, observe employees behavior and responses, or survey the general condition of the store. In exchange, you’ll receive a small payment and, in most cases, reimbursement for any purchases made. As you gain experience, you may be invited to review hotel stays, nice bars and restaurants or rental car companies – all on the employer’s dime.

Sounds too good to be true, right? After all, why would people pay you to go shopping? In fact, businesses and companies gain a great deal of information from a mystery shopper. In an age of increasing competition, businesses must provide the best possible customer service in order to retain customers. By hiring a mystery shopper, businesses get honest feedback on how well they’re performing and what needs improvement. The results of a mystery shop may uncover weaknesses that management was unaware of, allowing them to take action to improve the customer experience.

To get started, you’ll need to sign up with a mystery shopping agency. Check out the forums on the Mystery Shopping Providers Association for user reviews of the major agencies, or search Google for agencies in your geographic area. Try to identify a number of major national agencies and smaller local groups to ensure that you have a steady flow of jobs in your area. Visit their websites and fill out the application, which will likely ask for a writing sample and references – just like any other job. A word of caution – stay away from websites that sell you lists of agencies. You can find all that information on your own for free.

Once you’ve signed up with several agencies, you’ll be notified about available jobs that you qualify. You may receive email notices or phone calls, or you may need to log on to the agency’s website and search for jobs manually. Only commit to jobs you’re sure you can attend – the agency is counting on you to complete the jobs you sign up for. When you sign up for a job, you’ll receive complete instructions detailing exactly what you’ll need to do during your visit and what paperwork you’ll need to turn in. Follow the instructions as closely as possible – you may not be eligible for compensation if you don’t complete the assignment correctly.

After you’ve finished the shop, submit your follow up paper work as soon as possible. You’ll remember details better and recall your interactions more clearly. Give as much detail as you can on the report, but be sure you’re answering the right question! Most mystery shopping agencies use ranking systems based on the quality of your reports and your reliability as a mystery shopper. Your ranking will go up if you regularly submit good quality reports on time. Before you know it, you could be spending the night on the town with dinner and drinks provided by your new employers.

I am a dog person. I love the wagging tails, the licking tongues and the simple companionship that these pets provide. But I hate the way the expenses seem to pile up. First it’s the shots, the food, the toys and then the new carpeting I need after training a puppy. Despite all that, I could never give up on my furry friends – nor could any other true dog lover that I know. Fortunately, cutting down on these pet-related expenses is easy with a few of the following tips.

If you’re thinking of getting a dog, one of your first major expenses will be shots and medications. Puppies are required to have certain shots as they grow up, and these can be costly. If you’re adopting an older dog, you may need to purchase medication to treat existing conditions. Check with your local pet stores to see if they offer any special low cost vaccination clinics, which can save you a lot of money. These events can charge lower rates because they don’t have all the extra overhead associated with a full veterinary office.

You’ll also want to check with your local government to see if they offer any pet-related services. Some cities and counties offer low cost vaccinations and spay/neuter procedures that you can take advantage of. Since these procedures lead to fewer unwanted, unhealthy pets being born, the city benefits by cutting down on animal control and sheltering expenses. You benefit by saving lots of money on the same exact procedure that would be done at a veterinary clinic.

If you find that your pet needs medication, you’ll get a better deal ordering them online from a discount store. You can find basic pet medications like flea and heartworm drugs at companies like 1800petmeds.com, which offer the same products at lower prices. You’ll still need a prescription to order certain products online, but your veterinarian is required by law to give you a valid prescription that you can use anywhere to purchase needed medications. Just fax it to the online retailer and you’ll be all set.

Pet food is another necessity to keep in mind. Hopefully, you’ll wind up with a dog that will eat anything in sight – not a picky eater whose taste buds will tolerate only the finest in doggy cuisine. Whatever food you purchase, try to get it in as large a quantity as you can. You’ll save more money by purchasing in bulk than buying tiny ten pound bags each week. If you’ve got a picky pooch, check with your local feed stores or farmer’s supply stores – you may be able to find specialty brands at lower prices.

If you’re a pet owner on a budget, indulging in doggy day care, pet spas or any of the other chic pet establishments that have recently popped up is probably out of the question. If your dog is too big to be washed at home, check with your local pet store to see if they have a pet washing station with bigger wash tubs and longer hoses. And if you crave a dog-free day of doggy day care services, why not pair up with a fellow dog owner? One week, you drop off your dog at a friend’s house for the day and then return the favor the next week. You’ll both get a little break without breaking the bank.

Always keep your eyes out for pet store discounts in your newspaper and coupon circulars, and watch your local pet stores for clearance sales. You might be able to get that fancy toy you’ve been eyeing at a substantial discount. And keep in mind that the things pets love most aren’t necessarily store bought toys. My dog is never happier than when he’s chewing on a homemade tug toy made from heavy duty rope found at the hardware store. So don’t let the expenses of pet ownership scare you off – you can share your life with man’s best friend without going broke.