Sunday, September 14th, 2008
Love to shop? Then subscribe to my RSS feed to be the first to find out what's hip and happenin' in the world of shopping. Thanks for visiting!
Admittedly I have something of an OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). I have two bottles of hand sanitizers near me all the time - one in my car and the other in my tote bag 
.
It was round about the time of the SARS outbreak (don’t ask me when that was, quite a few years ago, I think) that I had to rush out and buy my first bottle of hand sanitizers for the kids to take to school to wash their hands before recess.
I’ve been carrying a bottle of anti-septic handwash around with me ever since. To be honest, I do have a little problem with shopping cart handles which, as I read, are the dirtiest things ever.
Sure they look clean but apparently they’re home to all sorts of bacteria. Can you imagine if someone sneezed on it while shopping? Yikes. Okay, I know germs and bacteria are everywhere. Don’t even get me started on that .
I was beginning to think I was wierd until I saw a lady fish her hand sanitizer from her handbag and proceeded to rub her hands together after her meal at a restaurant. So I’m not wierd after all.
A hand sanitizer is very convenient for when you travel considering it’s not always possible to find a convenient place to wash your hands. It’s rinse-free.
Posted in health & beauty, tips & ideas, travel & vacations | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Still on the topic of cars, you know, we’ve just gotten so used to driving that it’s hard to go anywhere without a car. Even when you travel to far-off places on holidays, you still need a car to get around, like it or not.
My girl friend has gone home to Scotland to see her folks. Even though she’s a native there, she hires a car from Car Hire Edinburgh Airport so she’ll have a car to use while she’s home.
CarRentals searches through a huge database of suppliers to find you the lowest rates for car hire. You can save by using this service not just to hire cars in the UK but also anywhere in the world.
Posted in , save money, travel & vacations | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
It’s true what some people are saying. It’s not just the high price of petrol but the domino effect of high fuel prices on the overall cost of living. But still learning how to save petrol is a worthwhile initial step. Since it’s within our control, I don’t see why we shouldn’t do it.
So here are a few more tips in addition to the ones I already listed here:
(5) Avoid sudden accelerations and decelerations so as not to incur higher petrol consumption. In other words, take it easy and drive smoothly.
(6) Plan your travel logistics. Map our your errands mentally before you go. Instead of running out to do one errand at a time, group them together and get them done all at once.
(7) Carpool or walk, whichever suits your purpose.
(8) Switch off your car engine when idling.
Not hard to do at all. I think it’s good practice because by saving petrol, we’re not only saving our pockets but also the environment.
Posted in save money, tips & ideas, travel & vacations | No Comments »
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
Face to face with yet another hefty fuel price hike, I’m sure the question on everyone’s mind right now is how to improve your petrol consumption and save money on petrol. The way I see it, the price of petrol can only increase, given that it is a limited natural resource. So we might as well figure out how to save money on petrol right here and now.
Here are a few things I’ve been doing since the last fuel price hike to improve on my petrol consumption and minimize my petrol bill:
(1) Pump petrol in the mornings or evenings when temperatures are cooler. The volume of petrol contracts in cooler temperatures which means you’re getting more per litre.
(2) Ensure that your car tyres are well-inflated. Tyre pressures differ for different cars so check your car’s recommended tyre pressure in either your owner’s manual or on the sticker that’s usually on the side of the driver’s seat. Under-inflated tyres will cause your car to consume more petrol. I normally get mine checked once a week or two.
(3) It’s time to lose weight. No, not you, silly, your car! Throw out all that unwanted stuff you’re carrying around in your car like those boxes of books you’ve been meaning to give away or that golf bag that’s there even when you’re not playing golf that day. The heavier your car, the more petrol it consumes. So clean it out.
(4) Don’t speed. Stick to driving below 100 kmph and you’ll be saving petrol. See, there’s good reason for your mom’s advice not to speed. Okay, if you must know, there’s this thing your car does that’s called ‘drag’ which drinks more petrol if you go above a certain speed. That’s all I can tell you in a nutshell because that’s all I know about ‘drag’ 
.
These are just a few tips to start you off with. I have a few more tricks under my sleeve on how to improve your car’s petrol consumption and help you save money on petrol in the process. So stick around.
Posted in save money, tips & ideas, travel & vacations | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
I don’t own a lot of fine art. I’ve collected the odd piece or so on my travels. But I appreciate a good piece of art and this includes the paintings and sculptures I see in hotels and friends’ houses. What’s interesting is how art enthusiasts would travel far and wide to acquire a piece of art.
The Park West Gallery is home to the largest collection of fine art which instantly makes it the favorite haunt of art enthusiasts from all over the world. Their auctions around the US and Canada are a hot meeting place for artists and collectors.
It doesn’t mean though that their auctions are only conducted on land. Their affiliate company, Park West at Sea, does cruise ship auctions which are very popular with those who are vacationing at sea.
Posted in , shopping places, travel & vacations | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
If you’re going to be traveling, this is obviously the best time of the year to be doing so. If I could get away, I’d do it too looking at how easy it is to book a luxury vacation with Travel Store USA.
They have travel packages to anywhere in the world. So whether it’s Acapulco or Costa Rica vacation packages you’re after, you’re sure to find one to suit your style and budget.
I love surfing and bookmarking travel sites even if I’m not planning to travel immediately. That way, when I’m ready to go on vacation, I know exactly where I can get the best deals for money.
Posted in , travel & vacations | No Comments »
