Since it’s the time of the year for spring vacations, I will be posting a few tips this week about how to have a reasonably priced vacation.

First tip:  Unless you are a foodie, whose main purpose in life is to eat out as much as possible on vacation, find a place to stay where you can prepare some of your own meals.  A room with a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker will let you prepare instant oatmeal and soups, coffee and tea, make microwave popcorn, and have cold water always available that does not cost $1 a bottle.  You can bring the coffee, tea, popcorn and soup with you.  If you have access to a food store, you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and sandwich fixings for lunch. 

Other things to pack - knives, forks, spoons, serrated knife, salt, pepper, sweetener, plastic mugs.