Traveling involves a lot of trade-offs. Money is always a big issue after the decision is made to fly somewhere exotic or historical; can you afford to see all the sights and live comfortably? It’s never easy to balance what you want to do and what your disposable income allows for.

In order to stretch your money the furthest, you need to look for deals from the get-go. All it takes is a little research and creativity, and with the savings, you will be better equipped to experience your destination to the fullest.

Plane ticket costs

Most vacations involve flights, and this is where you should start saving money while traveling.

Travel during the low season

If you are averse to research when it comes to traveling, the easiest way to save money on flights is by vacationing during a destination’s low season. This usually translates into hundreds of dollars in savings on a plane ticket.

You’ll benefit the most from low-season traveling when the place you are visiting is hospitable year-round. Many exotic islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific, for instance, always have good weather — it doesn’t matter when you go. Visit Europe in the winter or early spring, and on top of a cheaper ticket, you’ll find that attractions and hotels are less crowded.

Book early

Those who only have vacation time during the busy winter and summer breaks can still find ways to save on their plane tickets. One method is to book months in advance. Those who buy tickets a year or eight months — even three months in advance — will find prices to be quite reasonable. Often, airlines will not make the price drop too obvious; if they give you a rate that seems too high, ask for a discount and you may score a deal.

Fly during the week

Similarly, travelers who book flights that leave in the middle of the week often receive discounted prices. The reason is simple: Most people prefer traveling on the weekend, whether it’s for business or pleasure. Pick a flight that leaves on a Wednesday, for example, and you could save a few dollars.

Go standby

A popular method of traveling among backpackers, students and the thrifty is flying standby. Airlines will inform these people of a flight opening only hours or minutes in advance; it is up to the traveler to be at the airport, ready to hop on a plane. As a “reward” for filling seats on short notice, standby fliers usually pay for tickets at discounted prices. If you’re alone or simply don’t mind the short notice, this is a good way to lower your flight cost.

Consider a stopover

Often, if you give travel agents a date of departure and a destination, they will return with dozens of opportunities. Many will disregard flights with stopovers because they’re an inconvenience. The next time you travel, however, consider booking a flight with a stopover; you might have to sit at the airport for a while between flights, but you can save a substantial amount of money.

Browse the web

Above all, the best method to find the cheapest flight is to do research on the web. High season or low, London or Timbuktu, you’ll find a ticket that’s right for you. Why? Simply because you have access to virtually all the carriers (and flight finders like Expedia.com and Travelocity.com) the world has to offer. You’ll be able to compare prices, find the best discounts and buy without leaving your chair.

Stay at a hotel for cheap

Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you should also be saving on lodging. Like the plane ticket, finding a comfortable, inexpensive room to sleep in requires planning. Some research can be minimal, such as cutting out a coupon from an “entertainment book.” If you want to save more than a few dollars, though, you’ll have to work a little harder.

Search rooms online

Once again, the internet provides the best arena in which to find competitive hotel rates. Search sites like Hotels.com and compare prices from hundreds of hotels in cities all over the world. Booking on your own saves the extra cost of paying a travel agent for the job.

Ask about meals and promotions

If you find that your package includes unnecessary extra fees, phone the hotel and inquire about them. For instance, you may not want the Continental breakfast included in the price, especially if you’re staying in a party place and will be sleeping in past 10 a.m. every day anyway.

There are other important things to ask. Travelers who really want to save on meals should look for hotels that offer kitchenettes so they can buy cheap food from a grocer and take care of the cooking themselves. Also, there are often promotional deals that buyers aren’t aware of. Ask about them and you might get a surprise, like a room upgrade or a discount.

Ask for company discounts

It won’t hurt to ask your boss if your company receives any special discounts. Often, businesses that send workers all over the world have deals with certain hotels; even if you’re going on a leisure trip, it may be possible for him to hook you up.

Rent an apartment

One alternative is to avoid hotels altogether. We’re not suggesting you wander the streets like a bum; instead, think about renting an apartment. This could be an ideal decision for longer stays; the rental cost will generally be less than the price of a hotel room. Finding an apartment usually requires connections, however. If you like this possibility, start networking — who knows what could happen?

Stay in a hostel

Finally, the most effective way to save money on accommodations is to stay in a hostel. These simple places may be little more than a roof over your head, but they serve their purpose and allow you to spend more money on cool attractions and activities. Scope out the safe, clean ones on the web or ask experienced travelers to direct you to the right places.

Cheap rides

You’ve found a great price for a plane ticket and booked your hotel room. The one question that remains is: How are you going to get around? There are always taxis, but they’re often expensive, and in some places, unsafe.

Use public transit

If you’re staying in a city that boasts a safe and efficient public transit system, use it. Metropolises like New York, Montreal, London, and Paris all have great train, bus and subway systems that are cheap, albeit a little dirty. Get a map of all the routes, purchase a daily or weekly pass, and be on your way.

Use the ol’ railroad

When in Europe, most backpackers elect to hop from country to country by train. You’ll find great deals for rail passes, and the trip is scenic, quiet and fast. In Australia, luxury buses tour the coastline all year long and students often take advantage of the low fares to travel Down Under. Trains and buses remain efficient ways of going from point A to point B, wherever you are.

Rent a vehicle

If public transportation doesn’t give you the freedom you want, rent a car. Again, like renting an apartment, the cost pays off if you plan on staying at your destination for a while. Just make sure you know the written (and unwritten) rules of the road.

Map out your itinerary

Whatever mode of transportation you choose, you can save money by creating an itinerary. That is, plan out your days so that you are always visiting attractions in the same neighborhood, instead of crisscrossing around the city and wasting time and money.
general tips

There are more ways to save when traveling than just with your plane ticket, hotel room and method of transportation. Here are some more tips:

* Visit countries with favorable currencies. If it’s a toss-up between going to country A, which has a weak currency, and country B, which has a strong one, go to country A. Next year, country B’s currency may get more competitive.

* Book everything as a complete package. Not only does this save you time, it may provide you with discounts as well. All-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, for instance, often feature these savings.

* Use your credit card. Purchase your plane ticket or rent a car with your credit card and receive free insurance if your card offers this benefit.

* Take advantage of contacts you may have at your destination, even if you don’t know them too well. Often, friends and family are glad to show off their city to visitors.

* Travel with a large group to receive discounts on flights, attractions and hotel rooms.

* Look for promotions at the landmarks you visit. Sometimes, you’ll find coupons that offer a few dollars off to see the world’s coolest attractions; these can go a long way.

* Finally, compare all prices online. Don’t settle for a package vacation, hotel room, train pass or plane ticket until you’ve visited a few travel and auction sites.

A dollar saved is a dollar earned

Whether you save $1,000 on a round-trip plane ticket or a few dollars at the entrance to the Louvre, you’re doing well, my worthy traveler. Each time you pocket savings, you’re putting yourself in a position to better enjoy your trip. Practice these research methods and your vacation will turn out to be even better than you expected.

Save Money While Traveling Provided by AskMen.

The World Is Yours… If You Don’t Get Cocky

“Say hello to my little friend.” ~ “Scarface”

Like the submachine gun Tony Montana wielded in “Scarface,” your credit cards are powerful. They can open doors, but they don’t make you invincible.

Denise Winston, money expert for Money Start Here, says, “Just because you own a gun doesn’t mean you know how to use it.” The same principle applies to credit cards. “Respect it, practice using it, clean it, and keep it in a safe place… maybe even under lock and key.”

Having credit cards can lure you into a false sense of security. The best financial protection is a good credit score, which can “dictate the quality of your life – where you live, what job you have, and what you drive,” says Winston.. “Managing and protecting your credit score can make deals happen and command respect.”

Be Wary of Favors

“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” ~ “The Godfather”

Unless you have a gun to your head, think twice before signing up for a rewards credit card. Real-estate lender Todd Huettner, president of Huettner Capital, says, “Card promotions can lower credit score more than other cards.” Plus, every new card requires a credit inquiry and disturbs the average age of your file, both of which ding your score, says credit education expert Solomon Algazi of Credit Servicez.

Most interest-free periods are costly, with rates over 20 percent if the balance isn’t paid in full by the end of the promotion, says Huettner. “They offer these discounts to make money on finance charges.”

No doubt “The Don” will collect on his favor, so “Only use the promotional card that saves you money if you have money to pay off the purchase immediately,” says Huettner. Miss the drop-dead payoff date – it’ll cost you an arm and a leg.

If It Looks Like a Rat, It Probably Is

“If you had any idea of what we do, we would not be good at what we do, now would we?” ~ “The Departed”

“This quote sounds like the guys who created credit score algorithms,” says Huettner, who acknowledges that the ways to improve your score are often opposite of what you might think:

• Do open a new account. If you don’t have much credit, add some. You need breadth and depth – at least three cards open for at least two years. Boost your score further – get approved for a limit that’s double or triple what you plan to charge on the card.
• Do close accounts. You don’t need a charge card for every store at the mall. Open accounts will show you can manage credit, but too many cards (more than 10 or 15) are suspect.
• Do use a credit card. Make a charge to one or two cards twice a year. Pay them immediately. Demonstrate that you can manage your credit.
• Don’t use a credit card. Having unused cards helps your utilization rate, showing you can have access to credit and not use it.

“It’s never the amount of money you owe that tanks your credit score,” says Algazi. “It’s always your debt utilization ratio – the amount of your overall available credit you’ve used up. The higher your ratio, the lower your score.” For example, a $10,000 combined credit limit on three cards and $7,000 in credit card debt means your utilization ratio is a high 70 percent. “The ratio gives a general idea of the leverage of the individual along with the potential risks the individual faces in terms of their debt load,” says Algazi.

Unlike gangsters, credit cards don’t honor a “code of silence.” Misuse them and they’ll go straight to the credit bureaus to ruin your financial reputation.

You’re on Your Own

“Everybody had their hands out. Everything was for the taking. And now it’s all over.” ~ “Goodfellas”

“Until recently, money was easy to come by,” says Gail Cunningham, vice president for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “Now interest rates have gone up, credit lines have been lowered, annual fees have been added on, and accounts have been closed.”

As “Goodfellas’” Henry Hill says, “Your murderers come with smiles… as your friends… and they always seem to come at a time that you’re at your weakest and most in need of their help.” Says Cunningham, “The credit scoring model is similar to the Mob – pay on time or you’ll suffer immense pain!” But it’ll be a lower credit score – not the muscle – that comes knocking.

When you’re strapped, you might be tempted to utilize payday loans and non-traditional forms of credit that are willing to do business with you… for a price. Instead, create a budget, track spending, and try to save. “Lack of savings often delivers the financial knock-out punch, causing people to make decisions that aren’t in their best interest,” says Cunningham.

Don’t Gamble with Credit

“The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.” ~ “Casino”

Credit card companies are out to make dough. Don’t gamble with your score. Play by the rules. Aaron Patzer, vice president of personal finance at Intuit, offers tips to stay alert for anyone who might try to blow up your credit score… or your car:

• Hire informants to watch your back. Set up bill reminders with lenders to prevent late payments, which have the biggest impact (up to 35 percent) on your credit score.
• Steal your credit report. It’s free, so there’s no crime. Check carefully for errors – they can be like brass knuckles to your score.
• Diversify your operations. A good mob boss diversifies. About 15 percent of your score depends on your credit mix – credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages.

Whatever your credit situation, don’t be afraid to go to the mattresses to win the financial war. Keep a close eye on what’s yours and never underestimate the other guy’s greed.

5 Things You Can Learn About Credit from Gangster Flicks is provided by Experian.com

If your New Year’s resolution included some sort of financial goal, odds are you’ve struggled to keep up with it already. While most people know they should keep some sort of budget, and many genuinely try to, most run into the reality of it all: tracking all those receipts and logging each purchase takes a huge amount of time. Even for those who started with the best intentions, most soon fall behind. That’s why a growing number of people are turning to web- and mobile-based personal finance solutions. Plus, you can access your data from anywhere and it’s easy to keep up with your expenses.

If your main struggle with finances has been forcing yourself to sit down after a long day at work to balance your checkbook, read on for our roundup of a few tools that can turn the tide with the best personal finance apps out there.
you want to:

Manage your accounts with the least work possible

Mint.com: Web, iPhone (free)

Download

Mint is a free web-based application that tracks your spending and your account balances. Mint’s claim to fame is that the site automatically retrieves your financial data from your banks, credit card companies and the like, and tracks your net worth, spending and even divides your purchases into categories for you — so that Amex charge from Taco Bell at 1:43 a.m. on Saturday will automatically get classified as “food.” From here, it’s easy to set budgets for each category and even receive texts or e-mails when you’re low on funds or about to go over your budget in a category.

The downside to all this is that, yes, you’re giving Mint.com all your financial information so they can review your complete financial picture. The information is held on their servers, and they claim to use the same level of security as bank websites do, but you’ll need to head over to Mint.com to see if the security policy is something you’re comfortable with. If you are, mint is a free, powerful and nearly totally automated service to track your finances.

Pros: Free, versatile, automatic, good companion website
Cons: Requires you to share your financial data, not as powerful as more complex tools
you want to:Control what gets tracked and how by hand

Pocket Money: iPhone ($4.99)

Download

If you’re hesitant to hand your finances over to a company like Mint.com to be automated, no need to worry: There are lots of options that allow you to track your spending by hand. And if you own an iPhone, then Pocket Money is worth checking out. Features on Pocket Money include support for multiple accounts — checking, savings and credit cards — and a deep set of options to configure repeating transactions. So you can put in your car payment to apply monthly rather than having to do it by hand each month. The budgeting section allows you to set up the required monthly budgets, but also supports other budget lengths from daily all the way up to annually. Once everything is in, the reporting feature will give you access to graphs and charts to help you analyze your finances. Finally, your information can be exported to both Quicken and MS Money, so you log spending on the road and then work with the data when you’re back home.

Of all the apps we reviewed, this one has the most competition in its category. There are many alternatives to Pocket Money, so look at a few before deciding — many apps have a free demo version available, so there’s no reason not to take a few for a spin. Still, Pocket Money gets our vote for having a large feature set, the ability to export data to other programs, and it even allows in-app purchase of additional reports, graphs and so on for people who want even more features.

Pros: Flexible account setup, repeating transaction and auto-repeat speed up entry, powerful budget features
Cons: iPhone only, $4.99 while some other apps are free, advanced features require additional in-app purchases

Send and receive payments from anywhere with PayPal (free)

Download

While not a budgeting software, PayPal has a number of robust features that deserve a mention. If you bill clients directly or work freelance, PayPal payments are a quick and easy way to move money around. With access to the web or your phone, you can send payment requests or even pay others. Whether you’re trying your hand at using eBay as a side income or tracking billing and payments for your personal business, PayPal can be an indispensable part of the process. And if you’re trying to curb your spending, try this trick: PayPal offers free debit card accounts that can be “charged” instantly with funds from your PayPal account. So, move some money to the PayPal card as your “fun money,” and when the card’s out of funds, you’ve exhausted your entertainment budget for the week. This kind of self discipline can help you stick to a budget.

Pros: Free, easily pay and send bills to vendors/clients, debit card lets you keep funds earned via PayPal separate from your other finances
Cons: Only moves money, so you need a second app to track spending and budgets
you want to:

Cut back on impulse spending on credit: Debt Dog ($0.99)

Download

We all know that buying on credit can add a lot to the “true cost” of our purchases, and we’ve been told that paying more than the minimum can dramatically cut the time to pay off debts. But do you know just how to calculate these changes? Debt Dog makes it easy; you just select the interest rate for a purchase, and the amount to be borrowed. Debt Dog then calculates the true cost of the loan (all accompanied by the oh-so-helpful sound effect of money being flushed down a toilet). You get the amount it will cost after finance charges, and how many months it will take you to pay off the debt. You can also add additional payments on top of the minimum and Debt Dog will show the savings in interest and the faster payoff. If you’ve struggled with putting things on your credit card, or you’re thinking of making a major purchase like a car, the eye-opening calculations from Debt Dog are a bargain at 99 cents.

Pros: Simple interface, easy to understand
Cons: Limited application, no down payment option for larger purchases
you want to:

Track mileage to expense for work or deduct from your taxes: MileBug ($1.99)

Download

If you haven’t been tracking your mileage, you’ve been throwing money away. You can, of course, expense qualified travel expenses for your job, but you can also be deducting travel from your taxes. It’s beyond the scope of this article to explain what mileage you can deduct, but study up — at $0.55 cents a mile the deductions can add up to huge savings at tax time. If you’re ready to start tracking mileage, check out one of the many mileage apps in the app store.

We like MileBug; it has a simple user interface and powerful functionality for people who need to track mileage for multiple vehicles or multiple businesses. You simply set the starting odometer before you start your drive, then ending odometer value when you reach your destination. The app calculates mileage then logs the trip. The logged trips can be e-mailed at any point as an Excel-friendly report for you to hold onto till tax time. Best of all, these reports can be filtered to export only work-related trips, trips in a certain vehicle and so on, making it a snap to prepare your company expense report or any other information you need.

Pros: Stable, versatile and affordable
Cons: Doesn’t use GPS to track mileage
app-ly yourself to save cash

While this certainly isn’t a comprehensive list, it should be more than enough to get you started. The app world is exploding in popularity, and there’s sure to be an app that meets your needs for a financial program. Research a few, take some for a spin and decide what works best. The secret to successful budgeting is to stay on top of inputting your financial activity, and the best way to stay current is to have mobile access so you’re always up-to-date.

They argue with their husbands, care for their kids, and pamper their pets. They get makeovers and remodel already-extravagant homes. And they spend, spend, spend. They’re the Real Housewives of Bravo TV’s successful reality series, and watching them offers an entertaining glimpse of living large. If you look beyond the glam though, the “Real Housewives” are just real women – with lots of credit lessons to learn. We spoke to some “real” housewives who found out the hard way just how important it is to keep an eye on their finances.

Clueless about Credit?

Gretchen Rossi, the youngest “housewife” at 32, is a member of the cast of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” Rossi was a realtor when she quit to care for her fiancé until he succumbed to leukemia. Though he left Rossi a sizeable gift in his will, she contends that as an independent businesswoman who purchased her own home, car, and other possessions, she doesn’t need a man to take care of her – or her finances.

Cassandra Ladd found herself taking the financial reins from her husband early in their 18-month marriage. The 24-year-old public relations agent from Austin, TX, admits she had limited experience paying bills but quickly discovered her groom was in much worse shape. “He went six months without paying his cell phone bill in college. Luckily for us, it was in his mother’s name.”

Ladd switched all bills to her name but has noticed finance charges increase when she made a late payment. “That’s a mistake I only made once,” says Ladd, although she’s unsure how it has affected her credit score because she’d never obtained a credit report. She speculates, “My credit score can’t be good as I’ve got lots of college debt, even though I pay everything on time… now.”

Credit Lesson Learned: Know the Score

Your credit score is a three-digit number that speaks volumes to lenders about your ability to repay a car loan, mortgage, or credit card debt. All scores are calculated on payment history, amount owed, length of credit history, and types of credit used.

The best way to know your own score is to request one personal credit review a year from any of the three main credit scoring bureaus. It won’t hurt your credit, and the results may surprise you. While Gretchen Rossi’s ability to purchase a home and a car indicate that she has a reasonable score, Cassandra Ladd’s youth and the amount she owes are all factors in how she’ll rate.

Budget, What’s a Budget?

Sheree Whitfield of the “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is a divorced mother of three who appears to juggle her business and social lives with aplomb. But Whitfield’s confession that she doesn’t budget her money did come back to haunt her. When the hefty settlement from her former husband failed to materialize, Whitfield’s mansion fell to foreclosure. Though she managed to send her debut fashion collection down the runway, Whitfield’s financial future may be at risk.

Clarky Davis wasn’t big on budgeting, either. The self-professed “Debt Diva” with a money management blog to match, says, “I was the poster child for poor financial decisions,” buying clothes, shoes, and nights out on credit. It wasn’t long before the North Carolina native had closets full of clothes and $10,000 in debt. But careful budgeting and a strict payment schedule pulled Davis out in three years.

Credit Lesson Learned: Play Your Cards Right

You have to be in it to score. Lenders want to see that you’ve established a good payment history and having one or two credit cards are essential for building a financial profile. Just don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Paying your credit card bills on time each month is a must to keep your credit score strong, advises Davis, noting the goal should be to reduce your debt to available credit ratio. Those payments must fit your budget while allowing you to maintain living expenses without relying on more credit. Davis says, “Payments should be significant enough that you’re whittling down your principal, not just covering interest. Try to always pay more than the required minimum monthly payment and if possible double that payment.”

I Don’t Want to Talk About It

Though Tamra Barney, the 42-year-old stay-at-home mom of four on “The Real Housewives of Orange County” is often outspoken, she and her husband don’t know how to talk constructively about money. The result? Their finances have taken a hit and their decade-long marriage may be on the rocks.

This doesn’t surprise Darshanna Hawks, who knows first-hand how difficult it is for couples to talk about money. Hawks, a relationship coach in Charlotte, NC, says she and her husband did not discuss their finances the first few years. “We lost money due to mismanagement and not tracking anything in the past,” admits Hawks. The couple implemented a “prosperity plan” that Hawks says is a positive spin on a budget. Now she helps other couples navigate their way through these highly charged conversations, and recommends finding a financial advisor or credit counselor. “[Find] someone who has no bias to help facilitate a conversation, go over the what-ifs, and make a plan.”

Credit Lesson Learned: Seek Professional Help

Though the credit problems that land you in the office of a credit professional will be reflected in your credit report, don’t worry about credit counseling affecting your score… it won’t. Even with assistance, it is important to scour your report for errors, keep an eye out for identity theft on dormant accounts, confirm your credit line(s) with creditors, and review your spending habits.

Whether you are affluent or just getting by, draw up a sensible budget, pay your bills on time, and set reasonable financial goals. If you establish good financial habits you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a good credit score.

Credit Lessons from Real Housewives is provided by Experian.com

For many Valentine’s Day is something of a Hallmark Holiday but whether you take it seriously or not, one thing’s for certain. The money earned from all those flower, perfume, and candy sales can have powerful repercussions for the economy. Cupid will be busy this year. The ubiquitous, pudgy winged icon is expected to elicit over $14 billion in much-needed consumer spending this Valentine’s Day according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2010 Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. That works out to approximately $103.00 on average per person for traditional Valentine’s Day purchases.

Not too shabby for a day’s work, and it’s not even his best year. According to NRF research, spending for Valentine’s Day peaked around 17 billion in 2008, when the average expression of love cost a whopping $123 per person. Since 2009, consumers have been seeking more economical ways to show their loved ones they care. (Total Valentine’s Day spending for 2009 was estimated at $14.7 billion, or $102.50 per person.)

Nonetheless, our battered economy could surely use the financial stimulation.

Wondering where people are putting all those heartfelt dollars and how all this consumerism is affecting the economy? Here is a brief rundown:

Candy

According to the NRF survey, candy will remain a popular item among consumers with 47.2% planning on purchasing candy for their valentines this year. Valentine’s Day candy sales generally account for about 4% of total yearly candy revenue according to the National Confection’s Association. Industry sales estimates for the week of Valentine’s Day in 2009 topped $448 million.

Flowers

According to the Society of American Florists, Valentine’s Day is considered the busiest holiday for fresh flower sales, accounting for 40% of annual revenue. But with Valentine’s Day falling on Sunday, florists are expecting lackluster business. The NRF reports that 35.6% of consumers are still planning to buy flowers this year, and according to the industry research firm IBIS World, total flower sales should hover around $1.35 billion.

Cards

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlehet/100261919/

Greeting cards remain a Valentine’s Day favorite for consumers with 54.9% of those surveyed by the NRF stating that they are planning to buy them this year. According to Hallmark Research, Valentine’s Day is the second most popular time for sending greeting cards (Christmas takes the top spot), and according to IBISWorld, total greeting card sales for 2010 are estimated at $784.30 million.

Other Gifts

The weeks preceding Valentines Day generally bring a spike in jewelry sales. But all indications suggest that this year the sales of jewelry items will be sluggish as consumers continue to hold back on spending. Of those surveyed by the NRF, 15.5% of consumers will be purchasing jewelry (down from 16%), while clothing and other accessories will be sought by approximately14.4%. IBISWorld projects about $1,308 billion and $1.31 billion in sales respectively.

Eating Out

This year, 35.6% surveyed by the NRF are planning to celebrate the holiday weekend by eating out. According to IBISWorld, since Valentine’s Day comes out on Sunday, the number of consumer dollars spent on dining out is expected to increase from last year to roughly $7.86 billion.

Romantic Getaways

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photon_de/3289196475/

The holiday weekend should also see an increase in travel and local romantic getaways. IBISWorld projects Valentine’s Day travel to generate some $2.05 billion.

Other Purchases

Aside from these categories, Valentine’s Day is sure to drum up business for those who sell party favors. The sales of electronics should also see an increase as well as the sales of movie tickets.

And now a couple of things to make you go “hmmmm”…

Treats for Your Pets

According to the NRF’s survey, the average person will be spending $3.27 on their four-legged companions. Huh? No comment.

Spyware and Surveillance Equipment

Last year, USA Today reported that the demand for tracking devices and private investigators surges around Valentine’s Day as suspicious individuals try to catch their spouse’s infidelity. Whoa, way too much to comment on…

How will you be spending those Valentine’s Day dollars this year?

How Valentine’s Day Helps the Economy provided by fastupfront.com.

(Money Magazine) — After a tough 2009, you may be looking for some help in getting 2010 off to the right start financially. Unfortunately, finding objective, affordable, individualized advice from a live person can be a challenge.

Many “financial advisers” are simply brokers who get paid to push products. And while fee-only planners, who don’t earn any commission, may have fewer conflicts, they typically prefer to work on contract with people who are already quite wealthy. Then too, the cost can go well into the thousands per year.

What to do? Below, you’ll find some better ways to get the help you need, no matter what your resources.

What you can get: Answers to basic strategy questions, like “What percentage of my retirement money should be in stocks given my age?”

How to find it: Individuals and firms that offer free advice typically have a vested interest in selling you something. But you may be able to get some limited help from a financial pro with no agenda via your employer.

More than 90% of large companies offer investment education as a benefit, says consulting firm Hewitt Associates. Third-party companies are often contracted for group seminars, and some also have trained advisers who will answer questions by phone. Ask your human resources department whether your firm has such a program and what it provides.

What you can get: Two to three hours with a fee-only planner who charges hourly. It’s enough time to solve one major issue, such as “How much should I save for college?”

How to find it: While advisers that charge this way are in the minority, it’s easy to find them. MyFinancial-Advice.com links you with planners who will answer questions by e-mail or phone for a fee based on an hourly rate of around $150. (You can get a quote before committing.)

Or, if you’d like to meet in person, choose from the 300-plus hourly planners associated with Garrett Planning Network. Gather the relevant paperwork in advance, or you’ll end up paying for more hours than you’d like.

What you can get: A full financial review and workup. While most fee-only planners get paid on a percentage of assets under management, a large number are willing to provide a comprehensive one-time assessment — on everything from budgeting to real estate to retirement — for a flat fee, says Bill Baldwin, who is the chair of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

How to find it: Start by visiting napfa.org and clicking “Find an Advisor.” Contact three to five planners in your area, explain that you are looking for a one-time financial review, and ask for a quote. It’s likely that many planners will be willing to create a session for you

Forbes cannot promise retirees “paradise on $30 a day.” Quite the opposite. We promise seniors wishing to move out of the U.S. that they will not find paradise anywhere. Each country is unique–with assets and liabilities–and the key to successful retirement as an ex-pat is carefully matching your own personal priorities and finances to the country that has caught your eye.

To help matters along, Forbes has compiled its own list of the 10 best retirement havens, based on a wide variety of criteria ranging from safety to retiree-friendly visa requirements to decent medical care. The countries on our hit list: Austria, Thailand, Italy, Panama, Ireland, Australia, France, Malaysia, Spain and Canada.

No place is perfect. Some countries rank high in one area but lower in others. Australia is by one well-regarded rating, the Country Brand Index, the most livable place in the world. (For the Country Brand and other rankings, see “Retire At Home Or Abroad?”)But if you plan to return to the U.S. frequently, Australia makes for a long slog. Canada is No. 2 in the Country Brand ratings and certainly convenient for Americans, but its harsh winters are well-known. Italy scores high on quality of life, medical care, and even cost of living and climate for retirees residing in the Southern parts of the country. But its complicated taxes and bureaucracy require patience.

So, the key to any decision: Know yourself and do your homework.

If you’re a sun-worshiper determined to protect your assets from overreaching Western governments, consider countries like Panama or Malaysia.

If you are solidly middle-class with a taste for high culture, then there are pleasant surprises to be found in Europe. Who would have known, for example, that France is so friendly to American retirees? Or consider Ireland. Its top personal income tax rate is 43%. That’s not terribly appealing on the surface, but a couple over 65 is entirely exempt from Irish tax on any income below $59,000.

Are you eager to live abroad but totally tone-deaf to foreign languages? That’s a fine argument for Australia, Ireland or Canada. The key to lowering costs and receiving first-rate medical and other services in foreign countries is the ability to “work the system,” and to do that, you have to speak the local language passably well. Sheila Trifari, an American who had cancer while retired in Paris, says she received excellent medical care precisely because she was fluent in French and could work her way through the local medical establishment.

On the other hand, going totally native can bring on unexpected and powerful bouts of homesickness. Kathleen de Carbuccia, president of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, recommends that prospective retirees seek out cities, towns or villages where there is an existing American or English-speaking ex-pat community. Fellow ex-pats will be of great help during those inevitable moments when cultures clash, and they’ll perhaps help you see the humor in the situation.

Decent and affordable medical care is a key issue for retirees, of course. Most nations, when a retiree applies for a visa at their consulates, require proof of income, such as private or public pension payments and bank account statements, as well as proof of private medical insurance. They don’t want seniors who haven’t paid into their health care systems to become a burden on the locals who have been paying into the system all their lives.

Don’t panic. Finding coverage is eminently doable, and we have laid out how to go about it.

But listen to Donald Johnson, an 80-year-old American retiree in Paris, when he says, “the largest advantage we have is our health care [in France.] We are not sure we could afford to return to the U.S., where health care costs are completely out of control.” In short, factor the costs of medical care into your overall analysis, because in many cases even the costlier E.U. countries become attractive when the quality and cost of medical care is included in a retiree’s projected budget.

Look for the unexpected snafu in your plans: Most American retirees abroad receive their income in U.S. dollars; their expenses are in a foreign currency. Managing this currency risk is one of the most difficult elements of living abroad, and it is likely to be a growing issue, as we enter a period of prolonged dollar weakness.

So, be wise. If you calculate you’ll have to live month-to-month on your pension and Social Security payments while in a European city, then consider village life, or one of our lower-cost alternatives, like Thailand, where you’ll have enough income to maintain a cash reserve and a fine quality of life. No one, after all, wants to be forced home when the dollar drops 25%, as it can sometimes do in a period of just a couple of years.

But there is a means, on our list, to eliminate even the currency risk, if that is your priority. Exotic Panama, that sunny nation in Central America, gateway between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, has adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Move there and your assets and liabilities are matched.

So, retire abroad, by all means, for it can be richly rewarding. But do so with eyes wide open. Have you thought of where you would retire? As I leave to Costa Rica for a fishing trip on Wed I will keep a sharp eye out for you as this might be a perfect candidate!

Photo: Callahan

Great article to share from Mint.com

Pssst. Hey, kid. Yeah, it’s me, in the trenchcoat. Want to earn 3 to 5 percent interest on your checking account? Well, you can. There’s a catch, of course, but it’s not a big catch, and you don’t have to do anything sneaky. (Trenchcoat notwithstanding.)

Over 600 credit unions and community banks offer reward checking accounts, and nearly 1.5 million customers have signed up. With a typical reward account, you’re required to use direct deposit and e-statements, and you have to use your debit card at least a dozen times in each statement period. Fail to meet the criteria, and you forfeit nearly all your interest for that month.

In return for putting up with this rigmarole, you get around 4% interest on the first $25,000 in the account and around 1% on anything over $25,000. You’re automatically reimbursed for up to $25 in ATM fees per month. No minimum balance is required, and it’s otherwise exactly like a normal checking account, including federal deposit insurance.

“If you use a debit card as often as you tie your shoes, it’s a slam dunk,” says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

Four percent just for giving your debit card a workout? With “high-interest” savings accounts offering less than 1.5 percent and regular savings accounts offering jack sh—er, even less, reward checking sounds too good to be true.

But it’s legit. Banks make money off reward checking in several ways.

1. Every time you use your debit card, the bank gets a cut of the Visa or Mastercard fee that the merchant pays.

2. The bank attracts new money by offering high rates on new deposits without having to pay higher rates on its existing deposits.

3. Naturally, the bank is counting on a certain number of customers failing to clear all the hurdles and thereby forfeiting their interest for the month. It’s like those mail-in rebate cards you forget to mail in. “That higher interest rate really only applies to a consumer who’s meeting those requirements month in and month out,” says McBride. “For somebody who only meets it half the time, the cost of those incremental deposits isn’t 4 percent, it’s 2 percent.”

4. Reward checking customers keep big wads of cash in their checking accounts, and that’s money the bank can use for loans. According to Bancvue, which provides consulting services to community banks, the average reward checking customer maintains a seven times higher balance than a typical checking customer.

Karawynn Long of Seattle is in the seven-times-higher category. Long, who writes the personal finance blog Pocketmint, opened her reward checking account with Bank of the Sierra last fall. She went from keeping $2000-$5000 in her old checking account to close to $25,000 in her reward checking. “I’m basically using it as a savings account stash for twenty, twenty-two thousand extra dollars,” she says.

Is a reward checking account right for you? “Whether or not this is going to work for you really boils down to whether this is a fit for your financial lifestyle,” says McBride. “If you’re going to have to keep a running tally of how many debit card transactions you’ve done so you can make sure you clear that threshold every month, this probably isn’t going to work for you.”

Long, on the other hand, is making $1000 a year, risk-free, just for parking extra cash in her checking account. “I haven’t actually had to change my behavior,” she says. “We haven’t had to do anything differently or make any purchases with a debit card we wouldn’t ordinarily have done, but it does require a little extra monitoring.”

There is the issue of fraud to consider. The banks promise that customers are fully covered in the event of debit card fraud, and I believe them. But debit fraud exposes you to many dangers and annoyances that credit fraud doesn’t: you may face overdraft fees and not know when you’re going to get your money back. I don’t mean to worry anyone unnecessarily; I would personally feel comfortable keeping my money in one of these accounts, but you have to check in regularly online and be on the lookout for trouble. “It is something that requires you to pay some attention to it, unlike where you just throw stuff into the savings account and never look at it,” says Long.

Low interest rates on CDs and savings accounts have driven the growth of reward checking; the number of reward checking account holders has approximately doubled in the last 18 months, according to Bancvue’s sister marketing company, First ROI. What happens in a few years, when the Fed raises interest rates? Reward checking may become less attractive next to, say, a 5 percent CD, once such a thing exists again. Then again, you have to have a checking account, and any interest on it is better than none.

Matthew Amster-Burton, author of the book Hungry Monkey, writes on food and finance from his home in Seattle.

NewTimes.com

By DAVID STREITFELD