Your Number One Money Saving Tip

[janabug]

My money-saving tip works for folks who get paid every two weeks or 26 times a year. Whe you get paid 26 times a year, there are always two months a year when you will get three paychecks.. I get paid every other Thursday and this year May and November each have five Thursdays, therefore I will get paid on the first, third and fifth Thursdays in May and November.

 

I've always divided my bills into the "first pay" and the "last pay" of the month. So when there is a three-pay month (such as May and Novemeber of this year), I owe nothing out of the "extra/middle of the month" paycheck except perhaps a tank of gas or a few groceries. This year, the "extra/third" paycheck I receive in May will pay for my fall cruise aboard the Jewel of the Seas, and the "extra/third" paycheck I receive in November will take care of all my Christmas shopping.

 

If you followed all this, you'll see that the key to making this work is to pay your bills two times a month, rather than paying them every two weeks. Make sense? BTW, the first thing I do when I get a a new calendar is circle my paydays and highlight the two months that I'll be receiving three paychecks. I love looking ahead and knowing when I'll have "extra" money to spend!

 

I've been doing this for as long as I can remember and it's worked wonderfully for me! But yet, friends of mine get paid the same as I do - every two weeks - but they simply cannot grasp the concept of having a "extra" check two months out of every year, no matter how much explaining I do...

 

 

Cindy

 

I follow the "3 pay" month too!

 

That used to be how I caught up my credit cards, but as I got better at not racking them up in the first place I had to find a new good use for my 3rd pay. Cruising has happily filled that void;)

[KKB]

1-check many travel websites frequently for good deals on cruises/book inside or GTY in category you want

2-compare airfare booking yourself or thru cruiseline. once it was cheaper to do ourselves, once thru cruise

3-if staying a night before or after, look for hotels with free shuttle to port, free breakfast, maybe free cocktails. We got Embassy Suites on hotwire for less than $100. (it said suite hotel, so we suspecte it was ES)

4-bring wine/beer/cocktail fixings if needed

5-don't gamble (actually we MADE a lot of $ on first cruise BY gambling...don't expect it this time!)

6-DO buy a formal pic...sitting fees alone would cost you more than that 8x10!

7-Generally don't pay for specialty restaurants (although PALO on Disney was worth EVERY penny!)

8-Generally do your own excursions on shore.

9-Don't shop--we buy a gift for each child and usually one item to remember the trip by. Have not found anything I could not get at home

10-Be sure to catch free drinks...at art auctions, captatin's parties, etc.

[sandradeen]

Do not drink alcohol on the ship.

Seriously.

I know this is not possible for some, but it has saved me SO much money!

My ex ran up over $500 bar tab on a cruise by himself!

My husband (now) does not drink, and that has saved me a lot of money.

I don't drink much, but if I am going to drink I usually get the drink of the day (without souvenier glass) or a glass of wine and that has helped too.

[northern]

I agree with all of the previously posted suggestions.

A second way is to be a stockholder. I know that Royal Caribbean/Celebrity and Carnival [not sure about all of their associated line] give this OBC to holders of 100 shares of stock. Both companies sell for about $40/share, so we are talking about a $4000 investment. RCL/X offers $100/cabin for a week cruise, $200/cabin for 9 days, $250/cabin for 2 week or longer. I have 5 cruises scheduled this year on RCL/X, with a total of $1100 stockholder OBCs, so not a bad return on investment.(quote)

 

Hi TravelerThom,

I am booked on Carnival cruise and would not mind buying CCL stock if that would get me OBC. How do I find out how it works? I called Carnival and they told me that there is no such thing. I have a broker. Would he be able to find out? Also, if I buy a stock for my corporation would the OBC be available for my personal booking or do I need to buy a stock as an individual?

 

.

[2krazykats]

People have mentioned free cocktails. When would those occasions be on Carnival? Do they water them down to save $?

 

TIA

[luvs_2_b_spoiled]

When we booked our cruise in Nov 2005 for Feb 2007 we paid 1300 pp for our cabin. A few months ago I called for the heck of it asking if there is any discounts. the agent so no not at this time. I asked him to run a resident sale check for our cruise.. Yep- there was one. total price pp was now 703pp. WOW did I save a lot or what/

 

 

What is a "resident sale check", and why wouldn't that have shown up when he checked for a discount the first time?

 

Thanks!

[luvs_2_b_spoiled]

Sometimes a sale depends on where we live. Princess is having a sale for people who live in Penna for the week we were cruising. Lots of people I was cruising with lived in Mass and the resident sale did not apply to them.

This is a reason why its good to have a good agent. the agent will know exactly what discounts to look for. Iknew about the resident rate-- the agent did not so I asked and he found it for me. We have to show proof of residence with our drivers license when we check in

 

 

Sorry! Shoulda kept reading!

 

:-)

Janet

[jacromer]

I've heard this tip about buying photos cheaper on the last day to take advantage of a possible discount in price.

 

I'm on a 5-day, with Day 4 being an all-sea trip back to FL. Day 5 is de-embarkation day (in the morning).

 

What day would it be best to see if the price is cheaper? Day 4 or 5? Also, do I just go to the purser's desk? I am not sure where to go.

 

Thanks!

[Grannycb]

I know that Royal Caribbean/Celebrity and Carnival [not sure about all of their associated line] give this OBC to holders of 100 shares of stock. Both companies sell for about $40/share, so we are talking about a $4000 investment. RCL/X offers $100/cabin for a week cruise, $200/cabin for 9 days, $250/cabin for 2 week or longer. I have 5 cruises scheduled this year on RCL/X, with a total of $1100 stockholder OBCs, so not a bad return on investment.

 

This may answer some of the questions about OBC on associated lines.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit

Buying stock is something we will look into with our financial advisor. Thanks for the tip!

[FloridaFan]

I always try to check out the free things onboard. I take the free exercise classes, attend free classes, swim, go to the theater. I also try to book one big excursion that I'm thrilled over (or at most two) and then take it easy other days by walking around the port area, visiting museums, or just staying onboard.

[Cruisechik]

Shop around for rates!!!

 

I can't believe the difference I have found in rates for every cruise I have been on. My most recent one is $1000 cheaper with my TA than with any other TA I've checked. I have always found cheaper rates with a TA than booking directly with the cruiseline.

 

Get on an e-mailing list with as many on-line TA's as you can. I have a separate e-mail address for this. Some of my favorites are crucon, online vacation center, bestprice cruises, etc. I use *****, too.

 

Make sure you ask about agency cancellation fees and honoring price drops BEFORE booking. Travel Insurance should cover agency fees, but if you don't get insurance, you need to consider TA fees.

 

For airline tickets, I usually use FF miles, but try farecompare.com for cheapest fares. Priceline for hotels - much cheaper!

 

check military rates, teacher rates, firefighter rates, residency rates, etc if applicable. *****.com is very good providing these rates

[phish tales]

as a shareholder for 8 yrs. (bought at $19.00 a share) you get as follows:

3----5 nights---$50.00

6----8 nights---$100.00

9----13 nights--$200.00

14+ nights------$250.00

 

 

Phish Tales

[geoherb]

My number one money saving tip is don't have your heart set on one particular cruise. Narrow down your options to three or four cruises and then watch prices for a while.

 

For instance, last year we went on the Sun Princess for Christmas. I was watching the prices of several different holiday cruises. That can be one of the most expensive weeks to take a cruise--yet we waited until after the final payment date and got it for a lot less.

 

Another thing if you can be flexible with your travel dates is postpone your return flight to the day after the cruise. We've been able to save more than enough money to pay for a hotel by waiting to fly home the next day. Plus the airport was less crowded.

[Tropical Dreamer]

Hi,

 

Teacher rates??? I have not heard of this one before. Do you know if Carnival offers this and how do I check

 

Thanks

[TravelerThom]

…DH doesn't book until he can get the best price …

While on a number of my cruises the price kept dropping, on several the cheapest price was on first announcement. I took the X Millennium TA this March and signed up the day it opened; never saw a price that low again. I am booked on the X Century TA this December; apparently it opened “from” $790, I got in at $1059 [all prices with port but not taxes, just the way the line lists it], and it now has a lowest price of $1759. I used to think that cruises were like air tickets [you bought it, if the price drops, tough], but have been happy to discover that you can reprice if it goes lower [you do have to request the lower price]. So if you are seriously interested in a cruise put down a deposit and lock in the price so that it can only go down, not up. Usually you can get 100% refund up until 70 days or so before the cruise.

 

Note that Celebrity has changed their on-board booking bonuses; now not nearly as good as I reported on this thread some months ago.:(

[Grannycb]

as a shareholder for 8 yrs. (bought at $19.00 a share) you get as follows:

3----5 nights---$50.00

6----8 nights---$100.00

9----13 nights--$200.00

14+ nights------$250.00

 

 

Phish Tales

 

Reading the fine print, Carnival Corporation says the OBC program expires on July 31, 2008. Does this program renew each year or is this the end of the program? I’m interested but don’t want to buy in just when the program is ending.

[TravelerThom]

Reading the fine print, Carnival Corporation says the OBC program expires on July 31, 2008. Does this program renew each year or is this the end of the program? I’m interested but don’t want to buy in just when the program is ending.

I certainly have no control over this, but both Carnival and Royal Caribbean/Celebrity have renewed annually for quite a number of years.

[eaglewar]

as a shareholder for 8 yrs. (bought at $19.00 a share) you get as follows:

3----5 nights---$50.00

6----8 nights---$100.00

9----13 nights--$200.00

14+ nights------$250.00

 

 

Phish Tales

Carnivals web site says you cannot combine OBC's Do you know if they include Future cruise credits in this ?

 

eaglewar

[crazy4cruznatl]

When we booked our cruise in Nov 2005 for Feb 2007 we paid 1300 pp for our cabin. A few months ago I called for the heck of it asking if there is any discounts. the agent so no not at this time. I asked him to run a resident sale check for our cruise.. Yep- there was one. total price pp was now 703pp. WOW did I save a lot or what/

 

What is a resident sale check? Is that when you are already booked then they can see if there is a discount on that? Do all cruise lines do it? Also, do they just credit your card back, or can you have them apply whatever amount to your state room charges?

[GHG7F0]

Since I have a military rate, I take it I can't qualify for the obc for buying shares?

[cruiserbryce]

we have booked an inside cabin on our Mexico cruises...just dont find that there's as much to look at...especially on the shorter cruises...in 3 or 4 days how much time are you going to spend on a balcony if there are ports almost everyday

[TropicalSnowflake]

I have to agree with SueSea...we got the RCCL credit card several years ago and are now cashing in for our FREE 4-night cruise next May. However, after researching on CC, we have opened an NCL card because the return is so much higher!

[RIcruiser5]

 

A second way is to be a stockholder. I know that Royal Caribbean/Celebrity and Carnival [not sure about all of their associated line] give this OBC to holders of 100 shares of stock. Both companies sell for about $40/share, so we are talking about a $4000 investment. RCL/X offers $100/cabin for a week cruise, $200/cabin for 9 days, $250/cabin for 2 week or longer. I have 5 cruises scheduled this year on RCL/X, with a total of $1100 stockholder OBCs, so not a bad return on investment.

 

TravelerThom is correct... here's the RCI/Celebrity link...

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-shareholderbenefit

 

And Carnival's - which applies to all of their subsidiary lines...

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit

[RIcruiser5]

Oh - and don't forget they pay each pay a quarterly dividend, which adds to the ROI annually between credits (if you're cruising) and the dividend.

[qorc]

1. don't buy drinks and wine on the ship. Smuggle your own booze on board, get your mixer drinks from the round the clock eatery on board, and make your own.

2. Don't be fooled by apparently cheap jewelry, clothes, etc on the islands - they are just that -- cheap!! save your money.

3. stay away from the casinos. you might as well burn your money.

4. don't buy the artwork on board. That's one of the biggest scams going.

5. in fact, don't buy ANYTHING on board if you can help it.

6. specialize on one cruise line and get their "frequent cruiser" benefits. They do get better as you move up in "rank." we're just 2 cruises under diamond on RCI.