How to save money with cheap hotels booking

Hotel-Kakslauttanen-Finland

Travelling surely is one of our biggest pleasures in life. Seeing new exotic places, tasting delicious food and meeting other cultures are truly important and enriching experiences in one’s life. No matter what style of style or accommodation one chooses – it is a wonderful feeling when one’s travel dreams become actual plans and will be fulfilled.

In order not to experience big disappointments and financial disasters, it is advisable to do extensive research before the booking. Seeing your travel dreams come true, one wouldn’t want organisational issues to come in between. Getting these out of the way will not only save your trip, but also will save you some money with cheap hotels booking.

Unplanned Trip

Save Money on Hotel

(Image credit: Shena Tschofen, via Flickr)

There are travellers who believe that an unplanned trip is the very best, as it is the only ‘proper’ way to experience a different culture or place. 99% of the time this is not true, as this ‘proper experience’ will most likely turn into a nightmarish hunt for hotels and will cost you extra money and won’t give you what you were looking for. Therefore, booking your hotel in advance is the foundation of a pleasurable holiday. Furthermore, this can save you some extra cash that you can use to even further enrich your travel.

Use hotels comparison site

How to save money on hotel

 

There are different ways to research for your holiday. While tour operators and holiday booking agencies are a start, they don’t really offer you the cheapest prices. They usually add fees to the prices and therefore make it more expensive. However, they can help to get you a first indication. Finding the best deals for cheap hotels booking, one should use a hotel comparison site, such as http://hotels.moneydigest.sg. Once the destination of the travel is clear, one can start comparing hotels. Using the site above, one simply needs to select the travel days and number of guests. Use different tools to choose your price range in order to narrow down the hotel offers from you destination of choice.

Hotels Comparison

Compare across thousands of travel sites for cheap hotels booking

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Using a hotel comparison site will provide you with the possibility to book immediately via different travel operators. Instead of visiting Booking.com, Expedia and others, you better use this convenient one-stop platform, as you have the immediate overview over all available rooms within your selection for cheap hotels booking. In order to further save when booking a hotel room, one should be flexible with the travel dates. Sometimes a few days earlier or later can make a whole lot of a difference. Obviously it is also cheaper, if you choose to travel in the off-season. Hotels usually offer price reductions during that time. Therefore, it is highly recommended to try a few different date combinations for your travel on the hotel comparison site and opt for the best deal.

Another useful tip for saving money on hotels is to know your budget and travel plans at your destination. If you are planning on a relaxing wellness kind of holiday, you are most likely going to spend the majority of your time within the hotel premises and in their facilities. In that case it is well worth to go for a better hotel and spend perhaps a few dollars more. However, if you are for example venturing to explore a new city, then you probably will be out of the hotel for most of the time. In that case it really isn’t necessary to select a fancy hotel with various amenities, as won’t end up using them. Therefore, consider these facts when searching for a hotel with the comparison site.

Filters to suit your needs
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Filters

The filters on our hotels search engine, will give you all the options you need to make an informed choice for cheap hotels booking. Furthermore, it has one of the best selections for destinations around Asia as well as the rest of the world. No matter whether you are looking for a hotel in Bangkok or in Berlin – this site got a solution for you.

Don’t spend unnecessary money on hotels, but use it to fulfil your travel dreams.

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Couples, Who Should Pay The Bill On A Date?

The unspoken sentiment of “Who should pay the bill?” has been a hot debate over the years. Its answer however, changes over time.

The arrival of professional women in the workforce was delayed in most countries due to being denied to universities. For instance, Cambridge University only fully embraced women students during the late 1947. Across time there was an increase of women laborers in factories (e.g., textile or machinery). The 20th century solidified women and their rights in the workforce.

The younger generations were raised to empower equality in the household. Moreover, the quality of life is getting harder as economies fail. And so, there is a great need for both men and women to work regardless of social norms.

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for women to be earning more than the men they are dating or are married with. In fact, a study by Prudential Company in 2012 showed that approximately 53% of the sample was made up of women breadwinners.

Since both sexes are relatively equals, it will be interesting to know the opinion of the population regarding who should pay the bill. A poll by Cosmopolitan investigated that. According to the poll, less than 25% of women believe that their partners should always pay for the bill. And, about 40% of women think that couples shall always split the bill.

Image Credits: TheeErin via Flickr

Image Credits: TheeErin via Flickr

The results of this poll only highlight the fact that more women feel empowered to share the expenses. Although, 50% of women think splitting the bill can hurt the romance between two people.

Why would going halfsies hurt the romance between two people? Well…gender stereotypes that it may emasculate the male mate and even social norms impose against it. Furthermore, California therapist Susan Axtell says, “we’re more independent than ever but many women today still want to feel taken care of”. These irrational thoughts may hinder further verbalization of the desire to share the expense.

On the other hand, four out of five men believe that they should always pay for the bills on their dates or at least until the relationship is established.

The key to addressing this issue is to value each other’s money and to treat each other once in a while.

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3 Budget-friendly Places To Do Your Shopping Before Chinese New year

Chinese New Year Singapore

There are 2 reasons why all of us would be looking forward to Chinese New Year in 2015. Not only because there would be a long weekend for us to take a break from the flurry of work or school, it is also the time for us to indulge in all the festive goodies that are usually only rampant during this time of the year!

On the other hand, some would be groaning at the vast amount of work needed to prepare for the festival, such as the preparation of red packets and being laden with the overwhelming responsibility of whipping up a sumptuous meal for the entire family for the occasion. Not only do you need to feel the pinch of giving money away to the young and old, you are also expected to spend a lot of money on buying exorbitantly priced ingredients to prepare the meal. Besides having to buy ingredients in large amounts since the extended family would be present for the reunion, prices of the ingredients would have risen sky high due to the rise in demand and low in supply during this point of time.
Many dread the process, but we help you make it a little more enjoyable!

Woodlands Industrial Park

Woodlands Industrial Park

(Image credit: ST)

Many have raved about it, but just how many people really know about its hidden gems? Mainly well-known for their good bargains for food and goodies, many flock there during festive period to stock up.
Despite being an industrial area, there have been tours to Woodlands Industrial Park organised by community centres and other organisations to bring people to the popular outlets for grocery shopping. Honestly, I would admit that it is very much more convenient to travel there if you have a car as it is quite inaccessible where you can only get there via bus. But if you must, there is always bus service 964 from Admiralty MRT Station which can bring you there!

Personally, I have been patronising several distributors found there for my goodies fix such as J&C Fong’s Confectionary (they have excellent pineapple tarts and butter cakes) and Melvado’s with my family since young as my family love the good food and attractive bargains that can only be found there. Apart from the big companies like Frangrance, we can also find smaller suppliers opening booths at their stores selling items such as nian gao (traditional rice cakes) or even steamboat ingredients just for the occasion at a much lower price as compared to NTUC and the like. Customers can grab their groceries at wholesale prices and if you’re re to make a quick calculation, you actually would save a lot more from all the purchases you have made there.

Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s eve

Chinatown

(Image credit: bestofsingapore.sg)

Visiting Chinatown during the Chinese New Year period is mandatory, not just because one would go there to soak up the festive atmosphere, but also because that is a place to buy CNY goodies at crazily low prices. If you are one who don’t mind squeezing in the massive crowd, going to Chinatown on dates closer to the Lunar New Year would be one of the best times because that is when vendors start slashing the prices of their stocks, especially perishables like the Taiwanese Sausages, sweets and pineapple tarts in a desperate bid to get rid of them.

Johor Bahru

CitySquare JB

(Image credit: elgenahearts.blogspot.com)

If you are able to grab hold of your passport, go take a bus from Woodlands checkpoint to JB to do some shopping! Right outside the Sultan Iskandar CIQ Complex (if you are lost, I am talking about the Malaysian customs) are 2 large shopping malls just side by side, linked by a connecting bridge – City Square Mall and Komtar JBCC – where you can shop til you drop. Within City Square itself, there are various hair salons, nail parlours, massage parlours and boutiques to prepare for the occasion! Komtar JBCC has many sports outlets and beauty stores as well. Not to mention the number of restaurants and cafes in both malls that you can visit to rest your aching body from all the shopping. Definitely you would be able to find many things that you need for CNY!

Apart from these places, there are other means to purchase necessities such as going online to shop for clothes etc. because there is no change in the price. But always remember that the best way to avoid hassle is to start early!

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An 86-Year-Old Woman Spends $164,000 A Year To Retire In A Luxury Cruise Ship

After countless years of routinely work, most people cannot imagine a life without it. Retirement, a course that can happen either by choice or by circumstance, came as an easy decision for Lee Wachtsetter.

Lee Wachtsetter or commonly called as Mama Lee has been spending the past seven years on the luxury liner named Crystal Serenity.

Image Credits: YouTube.com

Image Credits: YouTube.com

She told USA Today that she was always fond of cruises. In fact, she has been on more than 283 ships since 1962. She spends about $164,000 a year to live cruise-ship lifestyle, which includes a single-occupancy seventh deck stateroom, all her meals, and the cruise’s entertainment.

In order for her to afford this, she sold her five-bedroom Fort Lauderdale-area home after her husband died.

Before her husband died in 1997, he told her to never stop cruising because both of them have deeply rooted love for it…and so cruising she shall! She chose the luxury liner because of their dance programs. Aside from frequent cocktail parties, Mama Lee enjoys watching movies, interesting lectures, and other free daily entertainment such as ballroom dancing.

Image Credits: Gary Bembridge via Flickr

Image Credits: Gary Bembridge via Flickr

The sea life has brought Mama Lee nothing but joy but the hardest part of her retirement is being away from her three sons and seven grandchildren. Luckily, technology paved way for regular Skype and email conversations.

She has been on the Crystal Serenity since 2008, a period of time that is longer than most of the crew. The relationship she built with the crewmembers made her feel close to home. On an interview, she once said: “The crewmembers bend over backwards to keep me happy. Some are almost like family now. If they don’t have what I want, they get it. Even if they have to buy it off the ship or make it to my specific needs.”

A YouTube clip of their Christmas dance show proves that she can still shake it even at 86…

To retire on a luxury cruise is truly a dream of a lifetime. It makes you realize how to live in the moment like Mama Lee — Dancing, Cruising, and Enjoying Life.

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8 Excuses Young People Use To Justify Their Spending

Admit it…when you are about to make a remorseful purchase, you will rationalize your spending with a whole lot of things. Oh how lovely it feels when you’ve refreshed your whole wardrobe! But, it may not be wise for your finances in the long run.

From being stressed to needing to look good for a special occasion, here are 8 Excuses Young People Use To Justify Their (Unnecessary) Spending

1. I HAD THE WORST DAY. I DESERVE THIS.

Isn’t it the worst feeling in the world when you’ve studied so hard for a final exam and failed the next day or when you’ve prepared so hard for a crucial presentation and choke the minute you went up on stage?

Certainly, it can change your mood negatively. Too boost your self-esteem you will buy the prettiest lipstick from MAC cosmetics or a new phone.
2. CELEBRATING MY GOOD GRADES, NEW JOB, or NEW APARTMENT

Since you have been promoted from your job, you better get a new coffee table, work dress, or a sparkly jewelry. You definitely feel that you shouldn’t look like old self. You want to embody an up-gradated version of yourself. Version 2.0!

3. I AM SO STRESSED. RETAIL THERAPY PLEASE!

That moment when you feel cannot do it anymore. You feel helpless and stressed with the situation you have been given. Hence, you will dive into retail therapy and drown yourself with material things to make you feel better. You may also swipe an expensive massage from your Visa Card. Ohh la la!

4. BEING AT MY PARENTS’ HOUSE SAVED ME ENOUGH MONEY.

After spending a week at your parents’ house you rationalize that you’ve saved so much money from eating home cook meals and using your their utilities. It helped you save enough money that you can now spend on the stuff you like.

5. SINCE I AM SPENDING, I MIGHT AS WELL GET THE BEST.

You feel that your money is more worth it if you bought nothing but the best beer, blouse, shoes, or concert tickets. After all, it is your own money.

Image Credits: Amélie Verleene via Flickr

Image Credits: Amélie Verleene via Flickr

6. THE “JUST THIS ONCE” PHENOMENON

You will be quick to purchase when everything is on sale and the item you like only has one size left…and it is your size! Just this once (you tell yourself).

Then you will feel that you have been eating too much processed food or instant noodles while you are living in your dorm. So, you will eat somewhere pricey but super nice for a change. Just this once.

7. I NEED TO LOOK GOOD FOR MY BF, GF OR MYSELF

The urge to buy an expensive article of clothing due to the constant need to look good for your boyfriend, girlfriend or yourself. Other than that, the person you dislike might be in the reunion party you will attend. You feel that it will be nice to show him/her how amazing you look now.

8. IT IS OKAY TO SPEND AS LONG AS I AM HAPPY.

Along with the previous excuses above, many have fallen prey to this statement: “It is okay to spend as long as I am happy”.

For instance, you went to a Game Console store with a single goal in mind—to buy the new GTA V XBOX game. But, you walk out the store with 2 games in hand (that is a 100% over your budget). At least you are happy!

Image Credits: Jason Devaun via Flickr

Image Credits: Jason Devaun via Flickr

I hope that by knowing these excuses, you will be aware and more cautious in your daily spending. 🙂

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