Starting to plan for your spring break trip now in February is a great idea! Planning in advance can save you time and money. First tip, decide why you are getting away. Is it to relax, see and do new things? Second tip, set a budget for how much you are willing to spend on your trip. Make sure to include every little detail into your budget calculations. Gas money, money for snacks or a bottle of water, money to tip servers, taxi drivers or house keeping - these little details can add up quickly and catch you off guard. Third tip, don't go over your budgeted amount. A great way to stay within your budget is to pay everything with cash! The fourth tip, vacation in uncommon areas (i.e. not touristy). Due to the recession, many people have discovered that staycations are a great way to get out, relax, see and do new things without spending a lot of money. If you have the privilege of living in Colorado, there is a plethora of places for you to go. Hot or cold, it is all relatively close by.
If you want to get away from the snow and cold that we have received lately, go down to Arizona to warm up. Phoenix is approximately 585 miles from the Denver metro area and the temperature this time of year is 60 to 70 degrees. Also, with current fuel prices the cost in gas for you to drive to Phoenix would be $121 round trip - currently the cost of a round trip airline ticket. The difference between flying and driving is that the price of gas and driving won't go up as dramatically if you wait as opposed to purchasing airline tickets.
If the cold and snow don't bother you then plan to visit one of the many unique areas that make up Colorado. For instance, visit Colorado's wine country on the Western slope. Visit Colorado's casino towns, or relax at one of Colorado's hot springs. If you enjoy taking in great artwork drive to beautiful Salida, Colorado. This little mining town has artwork that could be seen in big metropolitan areas like New York City.
Whether you decide you are getting away to rest and relax, or to see and do new things, you don't have to travel across the country or around the world to find it. Do your homework, and you will discover what you are looking for is in your own backyard.
Below are some great sites for you to check out and get ideas on what to do and how to save money on your spring break trip this year.
http://www.colorado.com/HotDeals.aspx
http://www.travelmath.com/
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Dear Just Be: We took advantage of the $8000 tax credit and bought a house! Now we need to move - any moving tips?
Congratulations on your new home! Moving can be an exciting time- a time of new beginnings and fresh starts, but can also be a source of stress for many people. To help alleviate that stress here are some pointers for your next move:
1. Plan ahead and get ample supplies. Get more boxes that you think you may need - you can sometimes find good, sturdy boxes (with lids or flaps to close) at grocery or liquor stores. If not you may inquire at shipping stores or with your moving company about purchasing boxes. Also have bubble wrap and/or newspaper on hand, a spiral notebook, pens, markers and colored stickers.
2. Create a packing log in your spiral notebook. The log can be a simple 3 column list. The first column in the box number, so go ahead and start numbering down the left side of the page; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... The second column is the room in the new house the box belong in and the third column is a brief but detailed description of what is in the box. It is also helpful to create a color-coded system for your boxes and have this legend on the packing log, i.e. green=kitchen, blue=living room, etc. A you complete your log it will read something like, Box 1, Green/Kitchen, party trays, platters.
3. Create a packing area if possible - this is where you will store your packing supplies and boxes as they are packed.
4. Start packing early. Pack those items you don't need now or right away after the move, such as summer clothes in winter time, Christmas decorations if you are moving in March, etc.
5. As you pack, put like items in boxes together, i.e. lamps with light bulbs, cords with appliances. Also keep things together that will go into the same room in your new home.
6. Once a box is packed, seal it with tape,put the a color sticker on it- corresponding to the room it is to go into, i.e a green sticker for kitchen supplies, and log the box in your packing log. Also, with a marker, write the box number on ALL sides of the box.
Having a color-coded system can assist movers identify where to place the box in your new home, without having to have access to the packing log or read difficult handwriting. Keeping a log, numbering all of the boxes, allows you account for each box as it is delivered.
7. If you have a chance, clean your new home BEFORE you move in, so it is move-in ready on moving day. Sweep and vacuum floors, dust of shelves and clean out drawers. It is easier to do this before your new home is filled with boxes and furniture.
8. Place signs around the various rooms of your new house as to where you'd like boxes to be stacked. If possible make notes on walls/floors as to where you'd like your furniture pieces to be placed.
9. Keep a few boxes aside for last minute items, toiletries, clothes you may need right away, etc. Consider moving these things yourself in your own vehicle so you know where they are at the new location. (You may also want to keep important documents with you, such as birth certificates and passports, keys to both homes, contracts for the properties, recent bank papers, etc.) Also, keep aside cleaning supplies so that you can clean your old home after you've moved everything out.
10. As you are packing be creative with space - use your luggage as a container to fill, along with buckets, trashcans, laundry bins, etc.
Hope you find these tips helpful and we wish a happy and easy move to your new home to you!
1. Plan ahead and get ample supplies. Get more boxes that you think you may need - you can sometimes find good, sturdy boxes (with lids or flaps to close) at grocery or liquor stores. If not you may inquire at shipping stores or with your moving company about purchasing boxes. Also have bubble wrap and/or newspaper on hand, a spiral notebook, pens, markers and colored stickers.
2. Create a packing log in your spiral notebook. The log can be a simple 3 column list. The first column in the box number, so go ahead and start numbering down the left side of the page; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5..... The second column is the room in the new house the box belong in and the third column is a brief but detailed description of what is in the box. It is also helpful to create a color-coded system for your boxes and have this legend on the packing log, i.e. green=kitchen, blue=living room, etc. A you complete your log it will read something like, Box 1, Green/Kitchen, party trays, platters.
3. Create a packing area if possible - this is where you will store your packing supplies and boxes as they are packed.
4. Start packing early. Pack those items you don't need now or right away after the move, such as summer clothes in winter time, Christmas decorations if you are moving in March, etc.
5. As you pack, put like items in boxes together, i.e. lamps with light bulbs, cords with appliances. Also keep things together that will go into the same room in your new home.
6. Once a box is packed, seal it with tape,put the a color sticker on it- corresponding to the room it is to go into, i.e a green sticker for kitchen supplies, and log the box in your packing log. Also, with a marker, write the box number on ALL sides of the box.
Having a color-coded system can assist movers identify where to place the box in your new home, without having to have access to the packing log or read difficult handwriting. Keeping a log, numbering all of the boxes, allows you account for each box as it is delivered.
7. If you have a chance, clean your new home BEFORE you move in, so it is move-in ready on moving day. Sweep and vacuum floors, dust of shelves and clean out drawers. It is easier to do this before your new home is filled with boxes and furniture.
8. Place signs around the various rooms of your new house as to where you'd like boxes to be stacked. If possible make notes on walls/floors as to where you'd like your furniture pieces to be placed.
9. Keep a few boxes aside for last minute items, toiletries, clothes you may need right away, etc. Consider moving these things yourself in your own vehicle so you know where they are at the new location. (You may also want to keep important documents with you, such as birth certificates and passports, keys to both homes, contracts for the properties, recent bank papers, etc.) Also, keep aside cleaning supplies so that you can clean your old home after you've moved everything out.
10. As you are packing be creative with space - use your luggage as a container to fill, along with buckets, trashcans, laundry bins, etc.
Hope you find these tips helpful and we wish a happy and easy move to your new home to you!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dear Just Be: My friend mentioned something about a Restaurant Week, what is that?
Many cities host what is called a Restaurant Week. It is a way to showcase and celebrate the restaurants and culinary scene that make up that city.
In Denver this event has become so successful that it has expanded from one week to two weeks. This year it will be held starting this Saturday, February 20 to March 5, 2010. During this time you can eat really well (at least three-course meals) for not a lot of money - $26.40 for one person, $52.80 for two people (get it, 5280 – the distance for a mile – Denver is the mile high city). Tax and gratuity are not included in the amount. But not a bad deal overall.
Check out the link below for Restaurant Week to see if that restaurant you have been dying to try is participating. There is no better way to experience a restaurant than through Restaurant Week!
http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/
In Denver this event has become so successful that it has expanded from one week to two weeks. This year it will be held starting this Saturday, February 20 to March 5, 2010. During this time you can eat really well (at least three-course meals) for not a lot of money - $26.40 for one person, $52.80 for two people (get it, 5280 – the distance for a mile – Denver is the mile high city). Tax and gratuity are not included in the amount. But not a bad deal overall.
Check out the link below for Restaurant Week to see if that restaurant you have been dying to try is participating. There is no better way to experience a restaurant than through Restaurant Week!
http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/
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