5 Things To Consider Before Choosing A Student Living Option

After you manage to get into college, your next major priority is finding decent student accommodation. Student living options are notorious for their scarcity as well as their limited comfort, so you must make do with what you have. Still, there might be several considerations that may help you make the best choices.

  1. Affordability

Before you even start looking around for student accommodation, ask yourself about your finances. Are the viable options even within your budget, or will you have to scrimp and pinch all semester long? It might not be worth all that hassle at the end of the day, especially when you have demanding studies as well.

Along with the rent, you should always remember to count the utility bills when calculating the total cost of living somewhere. Find out if utilities are included within the rent, and if there are any other charges incurred on a monthly/weekly/daily basis.

Calculating like this will help you decide whether a private renting is actually better than student accommodation or a home-stay. Living further away from campus might mean lower living costs, but increase transport costs.

  1. Personal Preferences

If there’s something important to you in your lifestyle, it might be a good idea to consider it before deciding upon your student accommodation for the next few years. For instance, you might not love the crazy, wildlife that college students are infamous for. If you crave peace and quiet, you have the option to choose apartment living.

You might also want to be close to a gym or the train station, which just might be possible. Students looking for LA housing might be able to find some at this website https://www.themadrid.com/.

  1. Location

Speaking of living away from campus, the location of your student accommodation is usually quite important. You have to see whether you can manage walking within the neighborhood, or whether you have some issue that might require your personal transport system. Students looking for UC Davis housing might also have to look at the public transport options.

If the public transport system in the area is smooth, cheap, and hassle-free, the location of your accommodation might not be a glaring issue.

  1. Facilities

The generations before us might have relied on libraries and hard copies of everything, but the Internet has been a necessity for students for quite a few years now. This is why you need to make sure of a reliable Wi-Fi connection in the buying you’re planning to move.

Without internet availability, you won’t be able to study from your own place or submit assignments on time. College students now need to stay on top of their emails, look up burning questions right away, and even hold conference Skype calls in certain situations. A dedicated service in this area is indispensable, so don’t underestimate or ignore this factor.

  1. People

If there are people at the student accommodation with you, they should be at least tolerable enough to live with for some years. See if your instinct tells you to commit to this situation or not, and then take the next step.

These people include not just your roomies or housemates but also the warden or landlord/lady. Make sure to chat with everyone who’s going to be a part of your life if you sign that lease. There’s also no harm in asking current tenants what they think about the staff. Having some friendly people around can make a huge difference in your student years, while unpleasant people can make you miserable.

What’s Next?

Probably nothing can come close to the comfort you’re used to at home, but getting the best possible student accommodation will definitely help your college experience. Consider the factors above, and get ready for your first taste of independence!

A Wedding In The Backyard

What’s a wedding about? Is it about the officiant? Is it about decoration? Is it about the buffet or the open bar? Is it about the chairs or the venue? Is it about the limousine or the reception? Is it about the honeymoon? Or is it about the two people celebrating matrimony? Obviously, the latter is from which all the former descriptors come.  

Two people getting married represent the most important focus of a wedding ceremony. So why do you need to spend $20k+—as is the average—on a ceremony which is only collateral to the main event? A backyard wedding can save thousands of dollars, and be a lot more fun. You can be creative in thinking about your wedding decoration such as displaying your unique wedding hashtag to make it more trendy and modern.

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Hold the reception there, too, and you can make the event a sort of informal family reunion. With the help of a quick people search, you could even use this special occasion as an opportunity to reunite with old family friends and long-lost loved ones that you have lost touch with over the years. A wedding is a perfect chance to reconnect with those you care about!

You could even host your bachelorette party in the backyard! All you’ve got to do is plan it in advance. You can decorate more expensively while saving money, and there is much potential for memory-making. Also, don’t feel as though this is merely a cost-saving option. There can actually be more elegance about a backyard wedding—remember The Godfather?

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Expanding Potential

Something else which many don’t think about is that when you cut out unnecessary costs, you free up potential. Saving thousands allows you to maybe explore more remote honeymoon locations. Or, you might be able to spend more time enjoying your new nuptials. The honeymoon is one of the most important parts of the wedding. This is when it’s first tested.

It’s also a very romantic time, and you’ll want the right wardrobe! While you’re saving money, you might consider buying dresses from online options like Azazie. They have all kinds of choices, and very affordable. A backyard wedding gives you more to work with—but don’t forget to use some of those savings on clothing you find overseas!

Some brides also like to get a little work done before the wedding itself. Going the backyard route could free up resources which allow you to use top-tier Las Vegas cosmetic surgery options. There’s no telling how you might spend your conserved resources.

Or you might not spend them at all. New marriages are often on the edge of financial difficulties for several years. It could be wise to save some money instead of spending it immediately. Still, there’s this to consider: money isn’t stationary. Do you think riches give you security? Only for a time. But Bear-Stearns was a top-five investment bank on Wall Street, and it went bankrupt in 2008.

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Don’t Forget The Truth Of Reality

It’s possible to reach the very top financially only to have the rug pulled out from under you. At that point, what value will all those hours spent raking in the dough have? Then, only the experiences you couldn’t buy matter to you: relationships, those pristine silent moments of beauty in a natural environment, or intimate time with your spouse.

Since these are the most important things, whatever you spend your money on should necessarily be aimed at facilitating better memories and life experiences. These are what truly makes a soul rich and healthy. Perhaps you should go all out on your honeymoon. Perhaps you should go all out on your wedding. But even if you do, the backyard route can be smart.

Going all out in a venue where you have total control allows you to stretch your dollar.   It could allow you to go all out in other areas, like renting a limousine; check out Limo Find for more information.  Still, there are different ways to host a wedding all around the world, and you don’t have to stick to any set parameters. Whatever you do, ensure you focus your wedding ceremony on what matters: two people coming together, and becoming more than they were.

 

Pest Control And Its Importance

The annoyance of pests, if not effectively controlled, can be harmful to business and homeowners. Pests have the ability to creep in unnoticed at first, then become a huge problem with safety, contamination and financial downfalls of the homeowner. Therefore, in order to educate and inform you about the importance of pest control, below are a few highly regarded facts on pests and what problems they bring, if not controlled properly.  If you pest control issues, check out New Jersey Pest Control to see how they can rid you of your unwanted guests.

Your Safety And Your Health Concerns

A lot of research has gone into helping people become aware of the health concerns that pests bring into homes across the world. Pests continue to grow and infest thousands of homes on a daily basis, and can infect those that have weak immune systems. Over two million people automatically have allergic consequences from insects and rodents. Moreover, if that is not a huge issue of concern, pests can harm a house through chewing wires and spreading diseases into humans and animals. All of this combine is just a scratch on the surface of the problems they bring into each home, therefore they have filed away as a huge health concern for families.

Pest grow in numbers and putting the wrong treatments to evict them only causes them to increase their reproduction rate. Pests are not only a nuisance, but they can be extremely harmful to the health of people if they are not properly treated. A lot of people try to solve the problem themselves but wind up finding a professional like Moxie Pest Control at https://www.moxieservices.com/ instead.

The Contamination Of Pests

The contamination that a pest can bring is not only affecting your health but also to your food. Every pest is attracted to food that is just lying in your pantry waiting to be consumed. If you are not aware of a pest problem in your home, you could be contaminated through your own food source and not understand why you are constantly getting sick. In addition, since pests have the ability to grow in areas that are not treated with professional solutions, home remedies can actually increase the amount of contamination. If some home remedies were used improperly, it can spread mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms that can contaminate your food and health supply. A professional contractor gives you the safety precautions to take while your home is treated. In addition, they can find the core source of the contamination with ease. When doing it by yourself, it could take hours, days, or not at all.

Downfall Of Your Financial Costs According to the New York Times, “Trying to get rid of household pests, whether they are just nuisances like ants, cockroaches, and mice or potential house-destroyers like termites, exacts a toll in time, frustration and cost. And often, it means turning to professionals.” Professionals have the ability to reduce costs to get rid of the pests. However, if you are looking to get rid of them yourself, then you may not get the right remedies and could cost you thousands of dollars over the course of the infestation. Choosing to exterminate the pests yourself is never

recommended because you may just be stopping the problem for a short period. A professional can share their experience with you on how to protect yourself safely and financially.

Professionals And Technology

A proper pest control company will have insights on new technology and research that helps homeowners get rid of the pests for good. They have a great deal of experience and ideas on how to better serve their communities on a larger scale. According to Simply Sweet Home, “Insects can look similar to each other, and mistaking them can mean the difference between killing them and wasting money on do-it-yourself solutions. Experts see more of the subtle differences and signs, so a professional evaluation leads to proper diagnosis and treatment that will ensure the intruders are gone for good.” Therefore, finding a professional with the right experience can be essential to the expulsion of the pests.

Final Thoughts

Pests are nasty and unhealthy creatures that find numerous ways to get into your home, sometimes without you even knowing they are present. Hiring a pest control company is a property owner’s best bet at stopping and destroying pests. In order to be aware of the safety, health concerns, contamination, and financial difficulties that come with pests, talk to Moxie Pest Control now and get back to living in peace and comfort.

Taking Care of a Family Member at Home

The family is the basic unit of society, and it is important for each member of the family to take care of one another. For most people, their world revolves around their family, and they are giving everything to make sure that everyone would have a wonderful life. Sacrifices are also involved when it comes to the decision making that would affect everyone within a family. Whenever a family member gets sick, each member would have a special role in making sure that their sick family member would recover in a short span of time. It is also important to provide care to any family member who will be requiring special medical attention.

However, what should be done to ensure that everyone in the family would receive proper care? Here are some of the tips that the family should consider when they are providing home care for a sick family member.

1. Create a list of the things that need to be accomplished. Assign tasks to everyone, especially when it comes to providing care for a sick family member. Each family member should take a task, which might include feeding, bathing, and looking after a sick family member. Oral hygiene is also important, so be sure to consider it as well. Giving credit for those who finish their task successfully would also help encourage other family members to perform their jobs better. If you can afford it, provide rewards for those who are doing a good job.

2. Monitor your emotion and keep track of it. Try to hide your emotions and feelings to other family members to avoid discouraging them. If you wanted to release your emotions, try to lock yourself inside a room. Make it private, and try not to be seen or heard by others. It is normal to release extreme emotions during these hard times because taking care of a sick family member can be stressful.

3.  If there are other family members who can look after the sick, try to provide yourself with alone time. You may need professional help and looking for a caregiver may be the perfect solution.Do not forget to tell other family members that you would like to be alone for a moment, and they will be giving you permission. Try to go outside or visit other places, and take a short break from giving care to a family member to recharge yourself. Provide this same luxury to other family members who are feeling burned out so that they could continue providing care to their loved ones.

4. While providing care to a sick family member, do not stop yourself from doing the things you like. You can actually play video games or read a book while looking after a sick family member.

5. A fast recovery requires a healthy diet. Make sure that everyone in the family is eating healthy foods, and taking their vitamins and mineral. If you are having a hard time feeding your sick family member, try using medical products like Joey Kangaroo which will make it easier to feed them. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs at all cost, because it would produce negative effects and can worsen the condition of a sick family member.

6. Ask for help if you could no longer do the things alone. Everyone in the family will be more than happy to help out if someone needs assistance. Remember that tasks can be completed easier when everyone is helping one another.

7. Remember to take a rest. Sleep if you are feeling tired. You should also consider your health because it might deteriorate over time.

8. You also need to consider your limitations. If you cannot do something, try asking other family members to help you out. Balance and distribute the work that will be performed by each family member to help you accomplish more things.

9. Do everything that you can, and hope for the best. A sick family member can still recover, and everyone should not lose hope easily.

10. If you are the only one providing home care for a sick family member, try to reach out to other people who have experienced the same thing and ask for guidance. They will be more than happy to help you out, especially if you are already feeling down about the things that have happened inside your home. There are organizations that have a special team who could visit your home to help you out with your problems It might be a great opportunity for you to grab.

How to Apply for a Bike Loan with Zero Down Payment?

Two-wheelers are one of the most preferred vehicle choices, regardless of age or gender. While cars are also a sound investment, it is not the ideal choice for areas with high traffic like metropolitan cities. Two wheelers have the advantage of skipping this traffic and ensuring comparatively lower commute times. Moreover, a two-wheeler loan vehicle is relatively low maintenance. Here is a guide that dictates how you can apply for a zero down payment bike loan. But, before you decide to opt for a loan, make sure you meet these criteria:

The Eligibility Criteria

The minimum age to avail this type of loan can vary depending upon the type of creditor and the type of loan. If you are seeking a zero down payment loan, the minimum age requirement is 23 and a salary of above INR 20,000 per month. The loan amount secured can be anywhere between INR 3000 and INR 5 lakh.

Calculate the EMI Online Some of the best creditors will have an EMI calculator to help borrowers understand their loan amount, monthly EMI, total amount payable and tenure period in more detail. You can plan your expenses well in advance and moreover, decide whether a particular loan is feasible for your budget or not.

Application Procedure for the Loan

There are no provisions for a zero down payment bike loan. However, you can get one using funds from a personal loan.

The Personal Loan

A personal loan is a type of loan, which requires zero down payments and no collateral. However, personal loans have certain parameters that need to be approved of. They are level of income, your credit score, and credit history. If you have a great credit score, you can get instant loan approvals at the best interest rates. One of the biggest advantages of a personal

loan is that the creditor has no control over how you spend those funds. Hence, you can finance your bike using personal loans.

How to Apply for a Personal Loan?

Applying for a personal loan is very easy. You can follow these steps:

Step 1: You need to first fill the eligibility form that is available on the website of the creditor. Your eligibility will be automatically checked by the online tool.

Step 2: You must now look for various offers that are available on personal loans offered by different creditors and check whether you meet their eligibility criteria. Further, narrow down the list of options and then choose the best one based on requirement.

Step 3: You will receive an instant e-approval from the creditor.

This application is received electronically and representatives from the concerned department would get in touch with you. The status of your loan application can be further checked online or via SMS and emails.

Unfortunately, there is no zero down payment loan that you can avail directly. Hence, the best route to take is to be eligible for a personal loan first.

How To Make a Kid’s Room Safe

 

Fortifying The Home

Babies and children bring many joys to the home. Their energy and innocence can be a light that transforms a life. However, because of their curious nature, they can sometimes get themselves into a bit of trouble without meaning to. For parents who want to make sure their rooms are kid-friendly and safe, you should consider some of these tips.

1. Stowing Away Weapons

Many homeowners have weapons in the home either for safety or to complete a collection. While they may serve a purpose or just look really cool, they’re also just as fascinating to children. Even if you practice gun and knife safety with your children, the safer option is always to keep the weapons out of their hands in the first place. An effective method of doing that is to store them in a lockbox. As soon as you’re considering to have children in the home, you should find a locksmith like South Perth Locksmicks that service many suburbs in Perth to build you a lockbox that can keep those dangerous items safe. By stowing them away, the risk of your children finding them and playing with them is removed.

2. Store Away Medications

Every household has medication within it. While they may serve a medicinal purpose for you, in the hands of children, those medications could be toxic. You see a pill, but they likely see a colorful piece of candy. To keep your children safe, you should store and lock away those medications. You can do this by storing them in a lockbox as well. That way even particularly intelligent children have no way of breaking into the storage device and getting into your pills.

3. Carpet Instead Of Hard Floors

One aspect that families don’t always consider for their homes is their flooring in terms of safety for their children. While hardwood floors and laminate flooring may look nice, their hard exterior can create a problem for children who like to run and jump around. It’s a bit easier to injure their skulls and break their bones on a hard floor than a carpet. If the prospect of stains concerns you, one compromise that you can consider is to designate one room as the playroom and fill that room with carpet. In that room, the children can run amok as they need.

4. Stabilize Shelves And Dressers

A final aspect to consider is the shelves and drawers in your home. Children love to climb. One of those things they like to climb is shelves and drawers. If those items aren’t properly stabilized, they can fall and severely injure the child. To improve the safety of your home and ensure your child’s safety, you can easily attach a stabilizer to the shelves and drawers to make sure they don’t fall if a child attempts to climb them.

With these tips, you can keep your child safe in any room of your home.

4 DIY roofing tips that will save you tons of money

 

People don’t like spending the money if they’re not forced to. This is especially true when it comes to home maintenance.

There are so many things on which we can save when it comes to cleaning, maintaining and fixing. One of the biggest culprits is the roof. This area of the house requires lots of attention. Most roofs last from 10 to 15 years but with enough time invested, this period can easily be prolonged up to 20 years. If you consider that the cost of a new roof can go up to thousands of dollars, it is obvious that a periodic maintenance can save you a lot of money.

There is no need to rely on roofing contractor, a roofing company or a roofing service. Here are some awesome DIY tips that will help you achieve that goal.

1. Make a periodic checkup

The most important things about roofs is consistency. Going to the roof once in 5 years or only when something is broken will not cut it. Instead, you need to make a continuous effort of checking the roof every 6 months and making the necessary fixes. By eliminating threats as soon as they appear, you’re making sure that the roof (as well as your house) don’t take any additional damage. Humidity can be really problematic and if you allow it to affect your home, leaks will appear overnight.

2. Remove faulty shingles

Most homes in America rely on shingles. These products are very cheap but are also very fragile. Stronger wind can easily blow them away. Debris can also be very damaging to them as well. This is why you need to detect issues and address them as soon as possible. If you think that the surrounding shingles are also troublesome, it is much better to remove them altogether. Shingles affect each other so when making repairs, you have to be sure that the issue is resolved.

3. Repairing gutters

Gutters can be really problematic. If there is any damage to them, rainwater will not be drained properly. Instead, it will start splashing the side of your house which can be a real problem (especially for wooden structures). Debris is another thing you need to pay attention to. During

autumn, a lot of leaves and smaller pebbles will end on your roof. If they are not removed, water will remain on the roof and will increase humidity potentially leading to leaks.

4. Check the chimney

Object that surrounds the chimney is known as flashing. Flashing is usually made from lighter metals which makes it prone to damage. Unfortunately, flashing is crucial for sealing the area. If it’s faulty, water will start penetrating your home.

With these simple but awesome tips, you will be able to repair your home as if you were a roofing contractor. Just make sure to be meticulous, pay enough attention to issues and react to them as soon as they appear.

Author’s bio: Doitrightroofing.ca is a roofing company in Vancouver with more than 10 years in business. They have hundreds of repaired roofs in their portfolio and are a BBB A+ rating roofing contractor.

7 Tips to Creating Your Perfect Winter Wardrobe

Your winter wardrobe should compromise of a combination of your favorite seasonal colors, styles and fabrics, which you can mix and match throughout the season.

To ensure you look effortlessly stylish from December through to March, you’d be smart to invest in seasonal staples that will look great in the rain or snow.

For help perfecting your look, check out these seven tips for creating your perfect winter wardrobe.

1. Invest in a Parka Coat

Top of your list should be the perfect coat, which should effectively protect you from the bitter snap.

One style that will never let you down during winter is the handy parka coat, which will keep you warm and cozy during the chilliest of temperatures.

It’s a staple style that every woman should have hanging in her closet when the weather takes a turn for the worst.

2. A Cashmere Sweater

A cashmere sweater will not only make you feel all warm and cozy, but it is also a flexible garment, as it can be dressed up or down.

For example, it can look great with or without a collared shirt and can complement:

* Skinny jeans

* Midi skirts

* Printed trousers

* Leather pants

* A leather jacket

3. Knee-High Boots

There’s no reason to compromise on style this winter. Unleash your inner fashionista by donning a pair of knee-high boots, which will protect your legs from the elements while adding a touch of style to a winter look.

As a result, you won’t be afraid to brave the snow or sleet when traveling from A to B.

4. A High-Quality Pair of Jeans

It’s time to say goodbye to exposed skin and hello to clothing that will keep you nice and snug throughout winter. Of course, there is no better garment to have hanging in your closet than a pair of plus size jeans, which can complement almost every item of clothing you own, from a thick sweater to a pretty blouse. Jeans can also look great when paired with ankle and knee-high boots.

5. A Knitted Jumper Dress

If you want to show a little leg this winter but stay both warm and protected from the colder temperatures, a knitted jumper dress could be an ideal solution.

Not only can it be worn alone, but the dress can be paired with a pair of thick tights and/ or knee-high boots for added warmth.

You also can choose from a form-fitting design or a relaxed style, depending on your preference.

6. A Blanket Wrap Scarf

Every woman needs a winter-warming scarf to top off her look. One style that’s sure to be your best friend this season is a blanket wrap scarf, which can look both chic and effortless.

There are also endless ways to style this staple seasonal accessory; for example, you could wrap it around multiple times or carelessly place it across your shoulders.

Due to its flexible design, you could potentially reinvent your look every day.

7. A Turtleneck

You cannot class yourself as a true fashion lover until you have purchased a turtleneck.

The flexible garment can look great when paired with a sweater or sleeveless dress, but it can also be worn on its own with jeans and boots for a simple yet fabulous style.

Ways to Decorate Your Home with Your Favorite Family Pictures

Personal touches can help you convert your house into a beautiful home. However, finding various ways to incorporate a portrait display or favorite family photos into interior design can prove to be challenging. For example, color schemes, using favorite photos for home decor, other art pieces and the overall atmosphere must be put into consideration not to mention the pictures themselves.

Your family pictures are special and each one of them carries specific memory which means that you should let those memories live on. Both friends and family members will love to see photo to painting wall decorations and pictures of your family’s grandparents. They will also enjoy seeing the photos of your embarrassing second school pictures as well as those family images where your loved ones began laughing right before being taken.

Here are excellent ways to decorate your home with your favorite family photos:

Turning Your Pictures into Paintings

Turning pictures into paintings is one of the best ways of displaying your favorite family photos. Since every homeowner is not a painter, you can hire a professional to convert a family photo to beautiful painting in nearly no time at all. This option provides a timeless and iconic look to otherwise dated and ordinary looking family portraits and photographs.

This option also provides you with an opportunity to choose from the available painting types that will match the color of your walls. It also helps you to turn the extra-special and cherished memories into something you and your family will enjoy each day. For example, a beloved pet can be immortalized thanks to cat and dog paintings done by artists via a photographic source. Turning your photos to painting will help you convert the moments that define you and your family members – including pets – to display in a perfect place in your home.

Hanging on the Wall

The living room is where most homeowners choose to hang their favorite family photos. Depending on your requirements, you can create gallery walls and dedicate them entirely for this purpose. You can also decide to combine your traditional framing styles with the rest of the furnishings, accessories, and accent walls. A nice place to hang some of your favorite family photos would be on the accent wall behind your sofa or over the fireplace.

Also, you can decide to greet your guests with beautiful walls of family portraits. Hang them on the wall opposite to your front door so that the guests entering your house can be in the position to see them. Simple tasks such as a photo to painting and displaying your best pictures on your walls will not only make your home more inviting but also make everyone feel welcomed.

LED/LCD Rotating Image Frames

Currently, digital picture frames are slowly replacing the traditional picture frames, which adorn the walls and mantelpieces of most houses across the world. As you move away from the film cameras towards a technological world where everybody regularly takes thousands of snaps each year, it makes sense to have a low-cost solution to attractively displaying your favorite family photos.

You can use digital or led rotating image frames to display your family photos since they are a perfect solution to your display problems. They allow homeowners to display, store and view hundreds of photos on single frames. You should understand that not all LED or LCD rotating frames are the same meaning you will need to do some research to select the perfect ones for your home.

Great Money Hacks for Travelling

At last you’ve made plans for that trip of a lifetime that you’ve been talking about for years! You’ve found the best kennels, you’ve visited Creditfix for those handy budget tips and you’re also looking at phrasebooks. To really make it happen, you need to save enough money to pay for your flights and for your living expenses.

Wait until the afternoon to book your flights

While we all know that the prices of flights vary according to the time of year and even the days of the week, what’s not so well-known is the way they fluctuate during the day. You’ll find that the middle of the afternoon is best because business travellers book their flights in the mornings and demand drops later on in the day.

Use flight alerts

One good trick is to set up a few alerts that’ll let you know when the prices of your target fares fall suddenly. Once you get the alert, you’ll need to move quick so make sure you have the funds ready to go.

Look for cheap accommodation

Your hotel or villa may well cost more than your flights, so try to be flexible about where you stay. Look at villas or hotels outside of the city, or even hostels and Airbnb places. Renting a flat or villa also means you can save on food expenses as you can make breakfast and a packed lunch, or cook dinner in the evenings rather than eating out all the time.

Shop like a local

If you’re self-catering, then follow the natives to their favourite shops and stalls so that you can get the best local produce at local prices. Think about bread, cheese, butter, oils, fruit and veg, as well as meat and don’t bother looking for goods imported from home – eat like a local because it’s cheaper.

Avoid airport bureaux de change

Get hold of your currency before you set off. The final few days before you set off on holiday can be busy so make sure you have enough cash to see you through the first couple of days of your holiday. Avoid airport exchanges though, as they’re eye-wateringly expensive.

Hone your haggling skills

You can haggle anywhere, not just at street stalls and markets. Ask for discounts in hotels, shops and restaurants; if you’re polite and friendly, all they can say is no. You may have to pay the stated price for your meal,

but an indulgent waitress might give the kids an extra scoop of ice cream. It’s always worth a go.

Buy some city passes

You should always look for these city passes when you’re going to be somewhere for more than three days or so. You’ll usually get discounted public transport, cheaper museum entry and sometimes vouchers for shops and restaurants.

Dine out at lunchtime rather than dinnertime

The cheaper menus are usually at lunchtimes, so if you do like to eat out as part of your holiday experience, shift it to earlier in the day. Cook for yourselves in the evenings most nights and save up for a lavish evening meal towards the end of your stay.