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. 

If you saved $5 a day, at a 7% annual return, how much money would you have:
· In one year?  $1,890
· In five years?   $10,924
· In ten years?    $26,426
· In twenty years?   $79,639
(Calculations show savings of $5 per day, compounded daily at 7% per year)

Wondering which 529 plan to use?  Vist the College Savings Plans website of the National Association of State Treasurers, www.collegesavings.org.  It gives you detailed information about all the plans available. 

TCOH Authors Stacey Tisdale and Paula Boyer Kennedy bring their unique methodology to retirement planning in a financial special in the March issue of Oprah Winfrey’s “O” magazine. On the stands now!

And make sure that you provide for your loved ones by writing a will.  If you don’t have a will, the state in which you live controls how your estate is distributed.  Are you completely happy with the way your state spends your tax money?  Do you think you’d be happier with the way they would spend your personal money?  If not, then make sure you control how your money is distruted to your heirs.  See a trusts and estates attorney and write a will.

Stacey was on the Today Show again!  Here’s a link to her appearance:

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22653312/

Stacey was on the Today show this morning. Follow the link below to see her:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22488079/

Every human resources department in the country has a story about a happy former spouse who finds out that she or he has inherited money from the ex.  Make sure that your benefits go to the right people.  Check your designations at least yearly.  Since it’s the start of a new year, why not now? 

Ever wondered why that family down the street always seems to be in such good shape financially?  Chances are, it has nothing to do with how much they earn.  It’s much more likely that they agree on spending, have a budget and stick to it.  There’s lots of computer software available for budgeting, and this is the time of the year when it tends to go on sale.  But most financial planners use a spreadsheet they construct themselves.  Paper and pencil work too.  Divide your expense into categories, and track your income and outgo each month. 

Is buying a house always your best financial option? It depends on you and your life.

Does this sound like you?

• I’m much more likely to pay a mortgage than I am to put money aside for saving and investing
• I like working on a house and think renovations should be made with esale value in mind
• I plan to stay in one house for a long period of time

If it does, you might be happiest owning a home.

Or is this more like you?

• I think the stock market has better returns over time than real estate
• I have no idea where I will be living or what I will be doing in five years
• I would much rather have somebody else take care of upkeep and maintenance

If that sounds like you, it might make more sense for you to rent.