The economic stimulus package set to reach 130 million households this spring may cause a surge in travelers looking for fun ways to spend their money. If you’re one of them, make the most of your money by considering destinations offering the most bang for your buck. Following are travel tips for those seeking an escape on a tight budget:1. Think seasonal. An effective strategy for stretching your travel dollar is to keep an eye on high-season versus low-season rates. For example, with warmer weather in the spring and summer, we tend to forget about the popular wintertime vacation spots like Mexico. Traveling to the beach between April and June provides an ideal time to take advantage of the off-season rates.2. Think quiet. Another travel tip for the budget-minded is to consider destinations that are hot spots in the wintertime yet slow down to an easy going speed as the weather warms up, such as Lake Tahoe and Jackson Hole. These well-known ski areas offer an abundance of outdoor activities once the snow melts. You’ll find hiking, biking, fishing and more without contending with the ski season crowd.3. Think local. The hefty price per gallon of gas may create a barrier when considering a road trip, but short road trips can offer an affordable travel alternative. Consider checking out an area within a few hours drive that is known for a particular attraction, or head off the beaten path and try some camping, or head to a spa for a weekend of relaxation.4. Think global. Wait a minute. Did we just move from thinking locally to thinking globally? Yes, international travel is not top-of-mind for a lot of U.S. citizens for a host of reasons, one being the struggling U.S. dollar. It hurts to think of exchanging a dollar bill in Europe only to receive half the value back in Euros. One way to avoid the exchange rate is to consider a European cruise since most travel costs are purchased in U.S. dollars up-front, thus minimizing the exchange rate loss.5. Think out-of-the-box. Instead of spending hours in front of your computer drooling over exotic photos of that fancy Hawaiian resort only to want to vomit at the site of the hotel rates, consider alternative lodging options. For instance, check out rentals – whether it be a house, condo or an apartment. Spending less on lodging may mean you could stay longer…hmmm…Also, check airfare costs for varying routes that will get you to your desired destination. Instead of flying direct, you may find that booking two separate flights to reach your travel destination will save a lot of money.I’m done thinking! I don’t travel often. I want what I want. I don’t want to skimp, but I have a budget to keep in mind. What to do? Find what you want and book it – you may just have to stay for a shorter amount of time to stay within your budget.
Finding Commercial Real Estate
If you’re interested in investing in commercial real estate, then the first thing you need to do is find some. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it, but until you know what you have available to invest in, then how can you know whether or not investing in it is a good idea?Finding commercial real estate is not as hard as you might think. Naturally it’s not quite as simple as finding a house, because there’s a lot less commercial real estate that’s available for sale. Still, with a little bit of effort you can come up with a good range of properties to choose from.Newspapers are always a good place to start when you’re looking for commercial real estate. Most big newspapers have a large real estate section, and often a separate section just for commercial properties. Target these newspapers and read them regularly, because this is where the bulk of available commercial real estate can be found.Nowadays, too, there are a number of online sites that specialize in commercial real estate. This can be very convenient, as you can use search features to help you narrow down your search quickly and efficiently. It’s also much simpler to look online for commercial real estate outside your local area. Sourcing newspapers from other areas can be quite difficult.Another option that many people overlook is simply getting in your car and going for a drive. If you have a particular area where you’re interested in finding commercial real estate to buy, driving through the streets is the quickest way to spot any for sale signs. Sometimes if a property has been on the market for a while, it may be harder to find in newspapers, and occasionally a commercial property may be sold privately by the owners.Remember, too, that finding the right commercial property may mean you need to expand your area a little. Because supply is so limited, a property may not become available in a particular area of commercial real estate for quite a long period of time. Expanding your areas makes finding the right property easier.It can be challenging finding the right commercial real estate, but it can also be enjoyable. It will take some work and research, and it’s possible you’ll need to bide your time until the right property comes onto the market. That’s okay – it’s better to take your time and buy the right property, than buy something just because it’s the first property to come along. Always keep your goals in mind and stick to them, even if it means waiting a little longer.