#I have no regrets overspend money this weekend really

[nikelyzed]

JSeries Festival 2017 Report

Jakarta, 9th December Upperroom Annex Building 10th Floor

First of all sorry this report was written on broken English because I do believe it’ll be a total fiasco if I wrote it in Indonesian, trust me Please forgive me if there’s any grammar / spelling mistakes (´;ㅿ;｀) Also, taking photos was strictly prohibited when the talk show started inside the venue, that’s why I only have 4 badly taken photos on the photo session for the report orzz

If you’re looking for certain guest artist report please just scroll down because it’s gonna be a poorly written long ass report LMAO

This is the shortest dead-lined trip I ever done in my life, like it’s less than 2 weeks & I almost surrender because of office deadlines were crammed up into 4 days Also my phone was broken when the announcement was out Jakarta is a complicated place & I’m hella afraid straying there all alone, but luckily I have some friends who offer me place to stay ｡ﾟ(ﾟ^o^ﾟ)ﾟ｡

Special thanks to Maya & Shadent who let me stay at their place [and I still feel bad kicking Maya from her bed LMAO I’m so sorry orzz]

December 8th 2017

So the day before I was going to Jakarta, I woke up at 4am to pack my stuff but still almost late for the train departure LOL The train supposed to depart at 7.35am & I just arrived at the station at 7.20am I was running around like an idiot I swear 😂

I arrived in Jakarta at 11am  went to the ticket venue as soon as I can I met with friends I already know & some new friends, which I forgot--😂 They even let me touch their bromide collection [& took photo of it gsxcvjgacxg]

I’m screeching like an idiot when I saw SatoKiyo bromide because-- do I need to explain this part???  ((유∀유|||))

After exchanging email reservation with the ticket & having lunch, we went to karaoke & I almost lost my voice in the process

At night I really want to bang my head because I’m contemplating whether I should draw a gift for Ogotan or not since there’s no announcement of gift box for guest artist & I forgot to ask the staff about it too orzz But I decided to draw art gift for him in the night yet unable to finish because I was too sleepy, exhausted, & nearly heat-stroked because Jakarta heat is never a joke to begin with If you’re weak against sun-heat like me please bring umbrella / hat & put as many sunscreen & sunblock as you can, I mean it

December 9th 2017

The next day I woke up at 4am sharp but was shocked to my spine because Maya was sleeping on the floor instead on the bed  (´･_･`) Since we both still sleepy we decided to continue sleeping again but now it’s my turn to sleep on the floor ofc

We woke up again at 7am & doing satan speed preparations because the traffic is gonna be nasty if we’re late for real

We managed to arrived on the venue at 9am something I took a shortcut to get to the empty spot because my bag is hecking heavy & I can’t wait to sit, this resulting to the gate-border-thing to snap & fall, sorry security-san I’m too eager orzz

After that we sit on the line until open gate time I spend my time rolling around back & forth to some friends while waiting I even can continue the gift for Ogotan & finished it on time Since we forgot to buy envelope for the fan letter I decided to sacrifice my red folder file to contain all the letter for Ogotan

I swear I was nervous as heck when people start staring at it like hjvghcvaxhjdvvf no I’m not cheating on Ryuji this is just a normal gift yet some people still teasing me about it until now ((유∀유|||))

Oh I also met friends from previous karaoke session Alchemilla, Caneera, Kuyo, Maya, Evelyn, Salfa, Shadent, Nopi, Ika, Nindita, Nadya, & idk the rest please remind me because my memory was as bad as Higekiri or even worse---  ┏( .-. ┏ ) ┓

2:45pm Open Gate

We’re running a little bit late from schedule but finally we entered the hall I got the first row seat on the middle wing, I sit on the left side right across to the press chair row on the left wing Never have I felt so blessed before, it’s so close to the stage I swear I can even jump over the fence if I want to, but of course I won’t do that la I still have some sanity intact

The rest of this report was based on my memory so please kindly tell me if I made any mistake over the schedule / what the artist said or do OK?  |ω･`)

The MC was Hiroaki Kato [the cool & kind oyaji] also a pretty lady who I failed to remember her name oops sorry  (´･_･`)

In the opening we have many dorama screenings, & if you’re curious the list of dorama can be found here 

Saso Yuki fangirl section

The first guest artist to appeared was Saso Yuki the P*cari Sweat girl on youtube I never think she will be this pretty up close I swear she’s prettier IRL, the photo / video you saw were nothing hvfkacvxgyuedf  (///﹏///).｡oஇ

She greets & introduces herself in Indonesian. The rest of talk show was about acting & stuff. She also talk about the making of P*cari Sweat TVC Yuki Saso hope Indo & Japan can have greater relationship in the near future

IDK if it’s just me, but when I was too busy gaping like a fish & stare at her for solid minutes, she look at my direction and waved and smiled so bright AND I JUST DIED HDVGSHHJVCSJBC I swear she’s sooooooooo sooooooooooooooo pretty that you could melt when she’s smiling LOL I forgot things she said since I was dumb-strucked by her beauty

After that we had another screening time

Nano fangirl section

The next guest artist to perform was Nano She’s also gorgeous up close & she’s very happy to perform in Indonesia since she was cancelling her previous concert in Jakarta due to some circumstances She also told us that the venue her concert supposed to be held was this exact venue we’re sitting on & we’re going “whoaaa” in unison

When Nano was going to sing, the sound system died--- The audience was very supportive & cheer her up with kind words The Nano support team was amazing, you guys rocks!  (≧∇≦ ) If I’m not mistaken Nano sing “Savior of Song” & “The Crossing” It was amazing performance, we stand & sing along together

Next we have another screening time

Isomura Hayato & Yahagi Honoka fangirl section

After screening time, there’s guest artist arrived & I scream on top of my lungs because I thought it was Ogotan But false alarm, It’s actually Isomura Hayato from Kamen Rider Ghost & I still screamed anyway  ( ´༎ຶㅂ༎ຶ`) This talk session was also attended by Yahagi Honoka-chan & I was dumb-strucked by another beauty LMAO Seriously she’s so cute up close  (灬ºωº灬)♡

Their first impression of Indonesia was it’s hot but they both like it since its freezing winter on Japan Both talk a lot of things, about acting & stuff. Both were asked if there’s drama collaboration with Indonesia will they interested or not but of course the fans said the deadpanned big big no since Indonesia soap opera quality is kinda-- well-- you decide la--😂

I don’t remember what they talk because I forgot to take notes of it But there’s this section when Hayato-kun asked why he become a Kamen Rider, he said it’s his dream to protect girls [he clearly said ‘Josei’ here] Hiroaki-san teases us “Who want to be protected by Hayato-kun?” And this dork whose name is Hayato-kun just casually stretch his hands out to audience direction while nodding, like offering a hug Of course the fangirls roars the signature “KYAAAAAAAA” including me Who don’t want to be protected by a handsome guy anyway??  (//∇//)

Another funny thing, when I was staring right into Hayato-kun [he’s so gorgeous IRL I swear] idk if he realized I was staring or he’s actually looking at the press which is right across my seat-- He look at my direction A LOT & I pretend to stare at Honoka-chan, this happened many many times it feels awkward LMAO o)-(;;; I keep chanting “Hayato-kun please don’t look over here, just lemme enjoy your gorgeous face peacefully”, but he keep looking at my direction once in a while Oh well, considered it blessings  ( ´༎ຶㅂ༎ຶ`)

When the times up we had another screening TADAAAAAH it’s YOWAPEDAAAAAAA I was soooooo prepared to see Ogotan but since I can see towards the backstage entrance it’s actually a female silhouette walking to the stage

AND DAFUQ IT’S ACTUALLY YUKI KATO LMAO  😂 😂 😂

Being a country field person I’m, I still scream because she was also one of my childhood fav actress on Heart movie since she’s so cute & relatable as duck LMAO

She talked a lot about acting, awards she won in Japan, & so on The funny part is, when she was asked what kind of movie she like to watch she gesture “mampus gue” with her lips which can be roughly translated as “sht I’m screwed” 😂   

No worries Yuki-chan, we understand that fangirl feeling, really 😂 😂 😂

After talk with Yuki-chan, the kameko-ninja-guy set some band property so I relax a little, thinking it was Rei performance

Never been I’d be so wrong in my life

Ogoe Yuuki massive fangirl section

When Hiroaki-san announce the next guest artist I nearly fell of my chair because FINALLY OGOTAN APPEARED HOLYDUCKXVHSVKVXHTXAKOZ

I wonder if I actually died on the spot because Ogotan look so gorgeous & cute & pure & angelic idk man I’m wheezing my life out  (´×ω×`) He wore a suit which has the same color as my attire & I got teased again orzz

First he was greeting us with a broken Indonesian along with a sheepish smile His jumbled face when he ask Hiroaki-san how to read the Indonesian language, it was soooo so cute, so pure, so angelic, so fluffy hhhnnnggghhhhhhh He continue the gibberish Indonesian greetings cutely which we all failed to understand, the audience went “???” & he also went a little “???”  😂 

Its okay Ogotan, we still love you 😂 

His first impression of Indonesia was it’s extremely hot ofc Hiroaki-san offered if he had any intention to bike around while in Indo But of course the Ogotan support team won’t let him, giving him the no gestures and chanting “dame-dame-dame” together  😂  We don’t want Ogotan to bike in these messy road & of course Indonesian sun is unhealthy for his flawless skin so NOPE  ლ(ಠ益ಠლ WE SHALL PROTECT OGOTAN AT ANY COST!! - said someone

He talked about acting, dorama, and also butai. He explained to us the differences between dorama & butai, their specialty & so on For example is when he’s on Yowapeda butai he only use bike handle, while in dorama he need to bike for real

Between the talk he sends lots lots of heart gestures, both Korean heart finger sign & full fledged love hand sign toward the audience & there goes the audible “KYAAAAA” signature roaring from back to the front including me LMAO

He keep smiling & shooting heart & sending loves & waving & idk man

I feel so attacked when he look at a folder file I was carrying earlier I decided to showed it to him when he’s looking & making “it’s for you” hand gestures He smiled at me, HE SMILED AT ME FOR DUCK SAKE & SEND ME A FULL FLEDGET HEART SIGN WITH BOTH HAND & I JUST MELT IN THE NAME OF LORD I WAS NEARLY DIED LMAO  ｡ﾟ( ﾟஇωஇﾟ)ﾟ｡

It’s hecking embarrassing so I just cover my face with the folder file but Ogotan seems to know I was a weakling & he keep shooting me heart sign & tilt his head cutely & I died again & again LMAO OGOTAN STOPPP I CAN’T HANDLE IT GXBXCHSGLGBLTFXGKHS

[I need to apologize to Ryuji later I swear]

He talks about a lot of stuff but I barely remember what he talk on stage since what I heard & remember were just "KYAAA KYAAA KYAA” from start to the end I kinda feel bad for Hiroaki-san because his translations were drowned between sea of fangirl screams  ( ；∀；)

When the talk session time is up, there goes another fangirl scream, the saddest one you’ll ever heard, it feels like you just kicked a kitten / puppy

I was also started crying without I realize because I always cry when fangirling By I mean crying was rolling literal tears from my eyes because I’m a weakling to every people I adore including actors, singers, whatever

Here comes the angst I’m so so sad because we only can see him for about 15 minutes & after that idk when will we can see him again so I started crying for real but inaudible one ofc

By the end of the talk, Ogotan said something like : “Thank you for loving me. It was my motivation & it supports me to keep going on. Thank you very much & please take care of me too in the future”

I don’t remember the exact thing he said but he does say ‘Aisarete’ something something & on here my friend who understand Japanese better was already bawling  ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ ｡

AND CAN YOU GUESS WHAT?? HE LOOK AT MY DIRECTION AGAIN & SEND ME ANOTHER HEART SIGN & OF COURSE I WAS CRYING EVEN MORE LA OMFG WHAT A WRONG MOVE OGOTAN LMAOOO CRYYYYYYYYYYY  .˚‧º·(ฅдฅ｡)‧º·˚. He also kindly send me a “nakanaide” gesture with his lips & I’m sending him an OK sign while wiping my tears LMAO what am I doing with my life, really I started thinking if I’m being delusional & Ogotan never did any of these but please, just let me be 😂💖

After that Ogotan fangirl time was over & I’m still crying LMAO HAHHAHAH He keep shooting hearts & smiles so bright it can light up the whole universe The audience finally fall silent after he return to the backstage

After Ogotan talk is over, it’s Rei turn to perform At that time my soul was still flying & can’t even process what’s happening because my head hurts so much from too many screaming & crying LMAO

BUT TADAAHHHH there’s a surprise attack by the end of the event LMAO.

There’s actually some envelope attached at the bottom of each audience chair Inside each of the envelope there’s a name of guest artist written, there’re 10 envelope in total

7 of the lucky audience will get a board which autographed by the guest The other 3 was the luckiest mustard ever existed on earth who got a chance to take a photo with the guest artist LIKE (ノ-_-)ノ~┻━┻ Since I’m bad in gambling of course I don’t get any la what do you expect

I can hear envy screeching from back to the front, in this segment finally we’re allowed to took some photos, & there’s a crowd photo from the stage too but IDK Press-san tachi, I’m waiting for the better photo here  ( ˘•ω•˘ ).｡oஇ

I’m unable to took more than 4 photos because I was squished to the gate from back & it’s hard balancing phone with one hand so here comes the blurry quality photos I managed to snap between the chaos

While taking photos we managed to catch Yuki Kato attention Being the good fangirl we’re, we keep gesturing her “THIS THING IS FOR OGOTAN” while pointing at Ogotan continuously LOL She replied with hand gestures “How should I tell him about it???”

Ogotan seems realizing what’s happening & smiles to us cutely And the front row died again LMAO

I swear Yuki Kato is a fangirl in crime, thank you for helping us Yuki-chan!  ヾ(｡>﹏<｡)ﾉﾞ✧*

Finally, the event end for real  ( ´༎ຶㅂ༎ຶ`) I was running around to find a way to give Ogotan’s gift art & apparently there’s a gift box [which actually is a gift desk] prepared for it by the staff

We part our ways & I’m recharging my flying soul with friends, eating Yoshin*ya while contemplating whether is it a real life or just a fantasy

After that I went to Shadent’s home for resting, we watch some Kamen Rider episodes before finally collapsing on bed in less than 5 minutes LMAO

It was really a fun day, I’m having a great experience & I’m gonna cherish this memory forever ever ever and ever!!  ｡✧*｡( ´∩•͈ω•͈∩` )✧*｡

Otsukaresamadesu JSeries Festival Jakarta!  See you next time!!  (｡•̀ᴗ-)و ̑̑✧

Please bring Ryuji in the next event, I beg you  ((유∀유|||))

[shimmerjjang]

How to score awesome finds in thrift stores

As I browse through my feed, I have seen a recent rise on the ‘ukay’ trend - with fashion bloggers flaunting their awesome thrift finds. May it be that ‘ukay-ukay’ store on the street or the ubiquitous “surplus” sections of major department stores, one thing’s for sure - they’re incredibly cheap. But then, these nifty shops can be either a saving grace or an absolute nightmare as far as finds are concerned; many of us have a horror story or two of a bargain gone wrong. 

I’m personally no pro when it comes to scoring great thrift shop finds, thank goodness our friends from Lamudi helped us out! Here are tips they shared with me in navigating the thrift shop labyrinth, and getting the best bang for our buck.

Do your research

Maximizing your thrift shop experience entails knowing what you want, and where to find it. Even among thrift shops there are little niches and specialties, so it does pay to have a working knowledge of these. Looking for authentic fashion items from decades gone by? You aren’t likely to find these at the surplus store, and you’re better off heading to a specialty shop or fashion expo. Looking for elegant home décor and furnishings? Skip the shopfront loaded with boxes of books and vinyl. Narrowing down your options and itinerary early on by making a list gives you more time to spend in the store and zero in on what you will bring home.

Budget, in cash

Make shopping easier by bringing your entire budget in cash. Many thrift shop vendors, especially in bazaars or ukay-ukay, will not be able to take your debit card or credit card payments. Also, keeping your budget in cash helps guard you from overspending on items that seem appealing just because of their marked down prices; do you really need another pair of knitted legwarmers that are at 70% off? Keeping a tight hand on your cash allows you to prioritize the purchases you will not regret.

Start early

Being at the thrift shop during opening hours is one way to up your chances of snapping up the best stock. It also increases your chances of having the thrift shop proprietors and staff be on hand to help you search through racks and racks of wares. For this same reason, avoid coming through the thrift shop during peak hours or on weekends; you don’t want to be jostling a multitude just to get that nice jacket marked half price.

See everything, dig everything

Going to the thrift shop requires not only a good eye, but the patience to exercise it. You need to devote ample time to go through everything in the store; chances are, previous customers who have tried on items have placed them haphazardly throughout the premises and you might miss out on that beautiful dress that was misplaced in the men’s section. On the same note, do not be afraid to literally dig through bins and racks of clothes. During busy hours there is little time for staff to carefully sort through and reorganize wares, and oftentimes amazing items get buried at the bottom of the stacks.

Check once, twice over

Last but definitely not the least, make sure to perform a quality check on your purchases before trooping to the checkout counter. Inspect clothes for holes, stains, frayed hems, low quality material, and other design flaws. Check books for missing pages, make sure the vinyl records aren’t scratched, and ensure that the comfy rocking chair will not shatter when you plop down in it. This is important since most thrift shops will not refund “defective” items, and usually do not have a return or exchange policy.

Scouring through a thrift shop may take more time and effort than your usual shopping trip. However if done right, this venture gives a high return of investment; not only do you save much more money, you also get some one of a kind items with unique craftsmanship and even history. We hope that these tips will help make your shopping experience more fruitful and even fun! See you at the checkout line!

[readexplorerepeat]

Punta Cana: A guide to an all-inclusive family vacation

When hubby said "we are going to Punta Cana" I was excited, but not incredible thrilled as I've been with other trips, but the truth is that I didn't know what to expect.  Either way, we pack our bags and headed to Dominican Republic, an island shared with Haiti, located between Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, in the beautiful Caribbean ocean.  

First things first.  We always look for the best travel deals and family friendly spots.  For more information on how to travel on a budget read this first.  

When you budget for a vacation, it is important to remember a few factors.  First, how many are traveling.  Not to be obvious here, but the more people the more expensive it can get, but even with large families, there's always the option of Airbnb.  

This time, we wanted to do an all-inclusive type of hotel.  Dominican Republic is known for its many resorts and beautiful beaches, so we gave it a chance.  We found an amazing deal (expedia unreal deals are great sometimes) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.  

Granted that sometimes, if you book your hotel directly with the hotel's site, you can find even better deals.  Sometimes this hotel (depending on the season) has up to 40% and kids stay free.  Of course, they do these types of deals when kids are in school and chances are that you will only find adults there, but hey! If you can afford taking your family on a school week without missing any important tests or projects, this can be a very affordable option.  

Either way, we always pack light.  Even when kids are traveling.  I've adopted a minimalist way of traveling and I'm loving it.  For a list of things to pack when traveling with kids, check this out.  

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE PUNTA CANA AIRPORT

It is hot.  The plane landed and we got off the plane and into a bus, which took us to their immigration port of entry.  Lines were long, so be prepared to wait.  Have your immigration AND customs paperwork filled out and ready.  Once we went through immigration, you proceed to pick up your luggage and go through customs... which is technically just an officer collecting your form.  They might do a random baggage search, but we didn't see any of that.  In fact, there are people that work at the airport for a tip that will help you get your luggage and through the side so you don't stay in line...most of them know the custom's officers and they let them bypass the crowd.  Weird, yes, but it worked for us.  

Make sure you have transportation set up in advance. 

We were recommended Dominican Plus, and we are glad we used them.  Very reliable, incredibly friendly staff, and we felt safe the entire time.  Not to mention, very much affordable.  You can rent a van just for you and your family and they will pick up at the airport, and take you straight to the Hotel.  Round trip.  No other stops, no other people in with you.  Private van for a very affordable price.  You can go to their website or check them out on Viator (which by the way is highly recommended) to see their tours and other services while in Punta Cana.  

A TIP GOES A LONG WAY

One of the good things about an all-inclusive vacation is that tip is included in the price…well, that’s what they tell you. In fact, it is written on what’s included with your trip. But, look at it this way: yes, you might’ve paid enough to get there and have your dream vacation, so yes, it should be included in the price, BUT these people make no money out of it, and work incredibly hard every single day. They will not get rich if you tip them a little here and there, in fact, they will treat you like a VIP.

Here’s what you do: Always tip your drivers and bell-person at the hotel. Pick your favorite bar and get to know your bartender or poolside server. Tip him/her well ($10 might not be a lot for you, but it is for people in other countries), that tip, at the start of your day will create a ripple effect… Your glass will not be empty, you will feel like a VIP, because they will treat you differently from those who do not tip, IF you are drinking alcoholic beverages (why not! it is all-inclusive!) they will make sure your drink is better than all others. Don’t believe me? try it. You will be treated like royalty…it is your dream vacation after all.

HOTEL EMPLOYEES ARE HUMAN TOO. BE KIND.

This is something that you would think is obvious, but I was surprised by how many people treated Hotel employees and drivers like they were trash. It was sad. Yes, they are there to help you and make sure you have a great time, but please remember that a kind word, a smile, and a simple thank you can make a difference in the day of others… and it will give you good Karma points.

TRY ALL THE DRINKS

It’s free! Yes, if you are drinking a Pina Colada, and suddenly your taste buds decide you need something more dry…Do it! No outrageous-cocktail-price guilt attached. And after that try a specialty coffee to wake you up before Karaoke night. Yes, you get the idea.

TAKE CASH

We are all so used to plastic, that it’s easy to forget to withdraw some cash before your trip. Take cash with you because you will need it. American dollars are OK. It comes in handy when you tip or when you want to buy a quick souvenir. Keep in mind that most of these resorts have many stores and many choices to find small (or big) gifts.

PACK SOME FANCY CLOTHES

If this is your first time at an all-inclusive resort, you probably think that all you need is your swimming suit and flip flops. Well, yes, that is great if all you plan to do is to stay by the pool. But the truth is that you are going to want to try the amazing gastronomy that these resorts have to offer… INCLUDED IN THE PRICE.

Side note: to eat at some of these restaurants, you must dress up… a little. So pack a nice dress or two, and fancy flats or sandals. You will regret it if you don’t. By the way… it doesn’t really have to be so fancy, just something other than shorts and a tank top.

DO KARAOKE, GO TO THE DANCE BAR, GO SEE A SHOW

But, I have the kids with me! Yes, I know. We did too… Besides the Casino and specific adult-only designated areas, Most all-inclusive hotels that allow children are very family oriented and kid friendly. So, things like Karaoke, shows, and dance night are open to all ages. They might have a curfew for kids, but it’s usually by midnight. Believe me, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy yourself and your kids will love it too.

USE YOUR POINTS

When you book at certain hotels, most have a reward system or point system that gifts guests with incentives. Get informed about their rewards and use it! You may think that it’s a scam to lure you into buying extra amenities or packages..blah blah. Not always. We used our points (given to us by just booking on certain days) and used them towards excursions. All you have to pay is tax. We were able to swim with the dolphins and snorkel in the Caribbean ocean for next to no money! Thanks to the points we cashed. No questions asked, no extra spending. USE YOUR POINTS! If you don’t like excursions, you can also use points towards the Spa or even to buy souvenirs.

A side note: I did notice that the actual city of Punta Cana is quite dirty. The touristic sites are kept well and clean, but the rest of the city and streets are extremely dirty and full of trash. That sight made me double pledge to keep trash in bins and recycle ALL my plastic at home.

RELAX BY THE BEACH

Chances are your resort is on the beach. If so, take advantage of the privacy (or semi-privacy) that all-inclusive resort locations have to offer. Depending on the location, you might find paradise in your back yard. It is easy to get lost in the amenities that resorts have to offer, just take at least a few hours to admire nature and put your toes in the sand.

RELAX BY THE POOL

This one is pretty straight forward. Just pick a pool and enjoy. Most likely whatever all-inclusive you pick is going to have several pools to chose from. The best thing to do is wake up early, have breakfast and head to the pool of your choice to reserve a chair. Pools get pretty packed starting mid morning and after noon. But if you know that you will be spending your day doing nothing, sun bathing or enjoying cocktails while you read your favorite book (see suggestions here!), pick your pool and claim your seat. Get to know your bartender and/or poolside waiter, tip them well, and you will LOVE your day.

ALSO, HAVE FUN BY THE POOL

In many hotels, they reserve the main or central pool to conduct family friendly pool activities. Take a day or afternoon to get our of your shell and release your inner weirdo… in a good way, and not in a creepy way. Pool entertainers are usually pretty outgoing and with a contagious sense of adventure, get lured and participate. Fall off the giant inflatable in front of everyone, rock on in a pool of foam, paddle across the pool competing for best time, play polo or water sports. Just do relax, and have fun.

LAST THOUGHTS

All inclusive resorts are great if you have a budget and a family. You can drink, eat, and have fun without the guilt of overspending as everything is pre-paid. Want some ice cream at 10 pm? get it! Decided to try all flavors of coffee and accompany them with different pastries…do it! No-guilt attached… other than the overload of calories you will intake, your wallet won’t suffer.

GO ahead! Find your best choice for your family and do it. Looking for deals might be a tedious task sometimes, but it is sooooo worth it when you finally hit the jackpot. Piece of advice: search on Wednesdays and/or Thursday nights, since I’ve found that many deals are released on those days. If you search for vacations on the weekend, chances are that you will pay more… this is not always the case, but it’s worth the try.

ENJOY YOUR VACATION!

Do you have any other tips or recommendations? comment below! I would love to hear about it.

Always,

Mia

[endorsereviews]

13 Financial Tips for New College Grads

 I’ve mentioned how living at home is a great way to save, but many of my friends don’t take advantage of this opportunity. I’ve had friends living at home (making double my income) who have fallen into mountains of credit card debt…and this is without ANY bills! Since I’ve saved around $3,000 in the past three months I thought I’d share my tips for staying on track.

13 Tips for New Grads to Save Money

1) Make a Budget – Set a strict budget and stick to it! I have a few jobs and the one that pays the least is babysitting..about $100 a week. For the past few months I’ve been using ONLY this money for my expenses. Since I live at home and don’t pay for bills or food this was completely doable, but you don’t have to be as extreme as I’ve been. Creating a budget is all about finding what works for you and being aware of where you’re spending your money. Using sites such as Mint.com (don’t worry it’s FREE) will keep you on track and show you where you need to cut back.

2) Build Credit – It’s not a bad idea to have credit, but it can be tempting to spend money you don’t have. One of my friends racked up $6,000 in credit card debt while living at home. What?! Don’t make the same mistake. Take out a credit card with a low limit (I’d say $300-$500 a month) that you know you can pay off in full. Making the full payment each month will keep you responsible and prevent overspending. Also, take advantage of cards with rewards programs! This is a great way to make a credit card worth using.

3) Read Financial Resources – I love to read (I was an English major) so I constantly have a book in hand. I have to admit though, that even I rarely read books about finance. Recently I was told about the book Generation Earn: The Young Professionals Guide to Spending, Investing and Giving Back. Until I heard about this book I wasn’t really aware that there were books with financial advice specifically for recent grads. Reading books like this is a great way to invest in yourself and build your understanding of money basics.

4) Save at Least 20% of Salary – We recently held a twitter chat where we discussed living frugally versus living cheaply. Author Clare Levison explained that you should be saving at least 20% of your salary. If this seems too steep start small. Get used to adding to your saving every week, so it becomes a habit. As your salary grows start saving more. You can even have a portion of your check sent directly to your savings, so it will be there before you even have to miss it.

5) Invest Now – Whether in 401K, Roth IRA, or the stock market, investing your money will help you save and prepare for the future. When my mother passed away three years ago I inherited a small sum of money from her insurance policy. My father and I invested in a few stocks, a few of which doubled in value! I haven’t touched that money yet, but I don’t regret it. Living at home has made it possible for me not to have to dip into this nest egg and now I will have savings for the future.

6) Set Up an Emergency Fund – Most of my friends spend all of their income every week. While I understand how bills can eat up your paycheck, it’s important to set up an emergency fund. Emergencies can happen to anyone (yes, even us 20-somethings) so being prepared is key. Having at least $500-$1000 in an emergency fund is a great starting place for recent grads. But, eventually you’ll want to have enough saved to cover 3-6 months of expenses!

7) Get Advice from Friends and Family – I’m not saying to take the advice of everyone you know, but if you have friends who studied business or a relative who’s very successful feel free to reach out. Learning from others’ mistakes and successes is a great way to improve your own finances and simply add to your personal knowledge.

8) Use Free Online Resources – Read blogs! If you don’t want to dole out money on books, finance blogs can answer many of your questions. A few of my favorites (besides Bargain Babe of course!) are Wisebread, Bankrate, and the Billfold. These blogs offer answers to financial questions that you may not even have known you had. Educating yourself is the first step to being financially secure.

9) Splurge Occasionally – Living frugally doesn’t mean living without fun. I’ve saved money while still splurging occasionally. I have one rule when I splurge…I have to really enjoy this purchase. When I decided to join Crossfit (it’s steep at $99 a month) my friends thought I was crazy, but I had previously been spending $50 for a gym membership I hardly ever used. For me, this was worth the cost. If you want something (and you can make it work) feel free to splurge once in while. Just not once a week!

10) Limit Weekend Spending – It’s easy for the budget to go out the window on weekends, especially for recent college grads. Between drinking, visiting friends, and going out to dinners racking up a high bill is easy. But, you don’t have to miss out to save. Use sites like Groupon and Living Social to save when going out with friends. It’s rare I go out to eat without a coupon of some sort. My friends laughed at first, but have recently started adopting the habits they once called “weird.”

11) Make a Debt Plan – Just like it’s important to have a budget, it’s vital to have a plan for paying back debt. Many college grads leave college with thousands in debt (my boyfriend has $153,000 in college debt!) and it’s important to have a plan to pay this back. Make a strategy for paying off debt. Whether that means consolidating loans or being devoted to paying back a certain amount each month, having a plan is vital to getting out of debt.

12) Travel Frugally – I love to travel. In fact, I tend to spend the majorityof my savings on traveling. In my opinion, the key to traveling in your 20s (and on a strict budget) is traveling with groups. Right now is probably the only time it will be acceptable to squish eight people into a hotel room or road trip cross country with a car full of friends. Traveling with a group significantly cuts cost AND makes the experience so much more fun. However, you’ll also want to budget for trips. Make a strict budget for your getaway and stick to it!  This weekend I’ll be in Atlantic City with 15 friends and my budget is $150. It can be done!

13) Make a Down Payment Plan – You probably want to buy a house one day right? Well, you’ll need to be able to have enough for a down payment. While this can seem impossible when you barely saved enough for that first/last month of rent needed for your apartment, you can do it! A home that sells for $200,000 will typically require a down payment of $20,000 – $40,000. Determine how you can start saving for this. Do you have a plan for the next 5-10 years? Start thinking!

What are your tips for new college grads?

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