9 Apps That Help You Vacation When You’re on a Tight Budget

Chicago subway; March 2017

Vacations don’t have to cost thousands of dollars. You can travel on almost nothing. And there are tools available online to help you do just that.

This is your guide to figuring out how you can travel to one of your dream destinations without breaking the bank.

1.      Booking.com App

The greatest tool around for finding great accommodation is the Booking.com app. It aggregates everything from guesthouses to hotels to luxury resorts. The app has grown over the years to become the tool of the average person.

Apps like this have become so proficient because of technologies like master data management, so now is the time to start benefitting from them here.

2.      Mint

Saving your vacation is tough. This lovely little tool will help you plan for your trip by managing your expenses through logging everything from manual entries to your receipts from the store.

Perfect for saving every cent!

3.      Skyscanner

There’s no better tool for flights than Skyscanner. It monitors prices from every available airline to every destination in the world. You can search months ahead or you can look at a specific day.

It even has a cool feature where you can look at the prices for the whole month!

4.      Secret Escapes

Flash sales are every vacationer’s dream. Now you don’t have to get lucky because Secret Escapes will notify you of these ultra-low cost vacations in luxury hotels.

You just have to be flexible to take advantage of the hundreds of offers every week.

5.      Xe

Currency conversions can make or break your trip. A few points of difference in the currency could cost you hundreds of dollars. Begin monitoring the exchange rates a few months in advance and select the best time to convert your currency.

You’ll never get unlucky again!

6.      Detour

Detour will help you to save money on those expensive city tours. This app includes personalized audio tours for some of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

And the best part is the app is free.

7.      Rome2Rio

Sometimes there might be a cheaper way between destinations. Rome2Rio compares the prices of different methods of transports and includes links for where you can buy tickets for trains, buses, flights, and even boats.

8.      GetYourGuide

Figuring out where you should book tours is always a hassle. GetYourGuide is an easy way to book your tours without any hassle and without worrying about the price you’re going to get in the dirty tour office when you arrive.

9.      Debitize

This free app allows you to avoid debt and benefit from credit card rewards. This app pays your credit card bills automatically to avoid incurring interest rate charges.

So now you’ll be able to take advantage of those credit card rewards without worrying.

Last Word – Make Your Next Travel Destination Cheap

You’ll have no problems making your next vacation a memorable one. But now you can make it a helpful one with these nine helpful tools.

Saving for your vacation and making the most of it when you’re there has never been so easy.

Which of these tools do you think will be the most useful on your next trip?

Author Bio: Mark Alvarado is a freelance writer and digital nomad.

How to Avoid Creating Another Boring WordPress Blog

One of the main reasons visitors turn back from blogs straight after landing on them, increasing the
bounce rate, is the boring design and content. If you are planning on creating a WordPress blog that
is about your life, things and people you love, and want to personalize it, a standard template and a
few articles will not do. Below you will find a few tips on how to avoid creating another boring
WordPress blog.

Image via Christin Hume

Avoid Text-Only Posts

While publishing long articles and short stories might be something you created your WordPress blog
for, you should focus on entertaining your audience while providing the information. If you are just
about to start a WordPress blog, you should look for ways to add images, videos, and other interactive
features that will keep them coming back for more. The attention span of today’s generation is much
shorter, so you need to provide visual stimuli.

Choose a Modern Design

It is also important to consider that most people are reading articles and posts using mobile devices.
You need to choose a modern WordPress design that allows them to read the text and interact with
the site. The good news is that today you can find great templates for all purposes, and even
create a digital magazine to provide your visitors with a better reading and information consumption
experience.

Add Infographics

Many bloggers neglect this important and effective way of communication. Whenever you would like
to summarize or logically present information to your audience, you might want to create an infographic
that will entertain them and make the data more reader-friendly. Whether you are turning an old article
into a blog post, or would like to create new ones about your target market’s main problems, there are
plenty of free templates you can find online and put in good use.

Interact with Your Audience

Image via rawpixel

It is also important that you add that personal touch when blogging. Instead of simply talking to them
through your posts, add some video messages, too, so you can create a personal relationship. No
matter if you are planning on monetizing your blog or are using it to build your personal brand, videos
will help you achieve your goals.

Connect Your Social Media Accounts

Apart from your blog, your audience might want to connect with you through different
platforms. You can get them to sign up for your social media pages, or simply follow you.
People are interested in the person behind the blog, so make sure that you give them the
opportunity to get to know you on a personal level. You should, however, keep your personal
branding and your individual accounts separate.

Blogging can help you boost your reputation, build your personal brand, or even create awareness
of your products or services. Make sure that it is interactive, fun, and entertaining, so your audience
can engage with you and come back for more content. Don’t settle for a basic template; make your
personality shine through.

How To Stimulate Your Child's Mind

Image

As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your child is ready for the world, and that means
preparing them for adult life. This often tends to sound a lot easier said than done, and yet, it really
all depends on the direction that you go in. You could be one of those parents who constantly drill
your child and keep them on a tight leash throughout their early years, setting rules and creating
endless tasks for them to complete. But, this strategy can backfire, and once your child hits a certain
age, they may end up letting loose and becoming out of control because they haven't been allowed to
experience anything yet. So sometimes it's better to take things a little easier, and allow them to learn
but while having fun. It's all about stimulating their mind and showing them that there is more than
what they see in front of them. Letting them explore the neighborhood with a cool pro scooter can
also help them develop a sense for adventure. This approach will also give you more of a chance at
bonding with your child and building a solid relationship over the years.

Here's what you can do.

Encourage conversation through games.

As technology is getting more advanced, there are so many different kinds of virtual games out there
that cater to all different types of individuals. Final Fantasy XV is a game that allows you to build your
very own kingdom and protect it from all kinds of threats. You can find hidden treasure, you can
explore lost worlds, and you can even connect with your friends online. Games like this let your
child's imagination run wild because anything is possible. This will also develop your child's skills
and creative mindset.

Discover mother nature.

Mother nature is an incredible thing, it provides us with so much beauty in the world, and because of
that, there is so much to uncover. All you have to do is take a walk in the park to see it for yourself,
and many children don't do this enough anymore because they live in a different era. It is your job to
encourage this and let them feel the air caress their skin and bask under the sun. There is so much to
see, all you need to do is truly open your eyes and let it in. So when the weekend comes, take them
out somewhere nice and explore the countryside once more.

Introduce them into sports.

Sport comes in many different forms, and that's what makes it so much fun. Not only is it a great way
to keep your child fit and healthy, but it also teaches them so much that can be put towards their
everyday life. They will learn discipline, respect, technical strategies, and of course, teamwork. And
these are all things that they will greatly benefit from in their future. So have a look in your local area
and see what sports are available. If your child isn't sure as to what they want to do - that's fine. Think
of it as a trial and error process. Let them test the water until they find something they really love.

Summer of Productivity and Organization #2: Entertaining Box

Welcome back to the Summer of Productivity and Organization.

The older I get, the more I turn a little bit more into an introvert. Plus the older I get the less energy I have. I'm not the party girl I once was. If it takes too much effort BEFORE the party, event or celebration to get it ready, then I am a grumpy mess when it's time to socialize. THAT IS NO FUN.

The problem:

1. I can't find party stuff when I need it and lose a lot of time digging around in different places all over the house: in the actual party box, in a holiday box, above the stove, in a kitchen drawer, above the pantry.
2. Because I can't find what I'm looking for, I buy new stuff, wasting money!
3. The kids also can't find what they need when they want to have little impromptu celebrations.
4. The whole affair makes me NOT want to entertain, EVER. 

The solution:
The Par-Tay Box (or Entertaining Box, since it has everything in it I use to entertain guests)

Just start by locating ALL your party supplies: balloons, candles, cups, plates, napkins, plasticware, banners, streamers, and maybe even thank you notes and general invitations if you still do that kind of thing! You might think my box is lame ... you might have a TON of party goodies. You may have them in a pretty plastic tub with a lid. Yay for you! I am cheap and already had this box and the stuff fit in it!

There are the contents of my party box, compiled on Google Docs after locating all the goodies and putting them all in one spot. Then I took them all out and logged them before putting them back in the box.

I realize this still looks like a huge mess, but it's not so easy to organize all the different kinds of stuff we own. All I know is I can now find what I need and so can the kids! I got it organized before my birthday and Joel's!
IT IS ALL IN ONE PLACE!

See the others in this series here:
#1 Hand-me-Down Clothing Boxes

Home Remedies for Knee Pain That Really Work

Knee pain is often very debilitating, especially in severe cases, but there are many instances where it’s possible to treat the pain at home. Home remedies for knee pain are quite varied, although their effectiveness is dependent on the severity of the knee pain.

As with any home treatments, it’s important to consult your doctor before you do anything, as

they will know the best options for your circumstances. This is especially true if you’ve injured

the knee or if there is a crunching noise in the knee. This may require surgery or other

treatments.

However, in the case of minor injuries, inflammation, and moderate arthritis, it’s very possible

that home remedies for your knee pain will in fact work. Check out some below that may help

ease knee pain:

Cold Compress

One of the most effective home remedies for knee pain that really work is cold compression.

The simplest way to do this from home is to get a large amount of ice cubes and place them

inside of a plastic bag or towel.

Apply this to the sore knee, compressing it against the joint for around 10 to 20 minutes.

Leave the cold compress for a few hours, and then use it again if it still feels sore, doing so

several times a day until the pain subsides.

Ginger

While commonly used as an ingredient for food and drinks, ginger is also an effective

anti-inflammatory treatment. Compounds inside of the ginger root provide pain relief from

inflammation, making it a good way to treat knee pain at home, with ginger being sold at

most supermarkets.

Try combining some fresh ginger with boiling water, leave it to rest for around 10 minutes,

and then strain the ginger from the water. Add some lemon and honey for flavor and then

drink. Make several of these a day until the pain stops.

You can also use ginger essential oil by massaging a few drops onto the problem area or

adding a few drops into a hot bath and soaking the knee for 20 minutes.

Lemon

If your knee pain is caused by arthritis, then lemon may also work as an effective home

remedy, with the citric acid present in the fruit being key to the treatment. Citric acid in lemon

dissolves uric acid crystals, which build up in certain types of arthritis, meaning it could be

the cause of the knee pain.

Try slicing a few lemons into smaller sections and then wrap them in a paper towel and then

apply it to the knee, while you can also drink lemon squeezed into water in the morning -

make sure it’s on an empty stomach!

Tai Chi

This ancient Chinese martial art involves slow, deliberate movements that are known to

improve balance and flexibility, especially in older people. Research indicates that practicing

tai chi may provide relief from joint pain while improving range of motion, while the meditative

aspect of the martial art may help with the mental aspect of dealing with chronic pain.