Tag Archives: summer vacation

Shortening Summer Vacation

Know how to shut down an unruly kid in record time? Tell him that his school is shortening summer vacation. I’ve never seen a mouthy child go silent as quickly as I did last week while watching the evening news at our neighbor’s house.  Education leaders recently began serious talks about lengthening the academic year here. Of course, all my neighbor’s rowdy kid heard was:  “Next year, public school kids across the state could be dealing with a much shorter summer vacation.” The news reporter’s last three words nearly triggered an aneurysm in my neighbor’s kid. My child attends parochial … Continue reading →

Put Kids to Work

My parents were huge proponents of the idiom:  “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.” In other words, my mom and dad hated seeing their offspring sit around when there was work to be done.  And when you’re living in a home occupied by six people, there’s never a shortage of tasks to be completed. For me, summer meant tennis camp, swimming lessons and plenty of chores.  In my dad’s eyes, no job was too dirty for his little girl.  Looking back, I don’t begrudge my father for keeping me and my brothers busy during the dog days of summer.  In … Continue reading →

Disconnecting From the Distractions That Pull

One thing I discovered this past weekend is that even teenagers need a little peace and quiet. While I had been looking forward to our annual trip to “Camp Tranquility,” it proved to be just as therapeutic for my teens. Camp Tranquility is the name of the property that my father and stepmom own. It’s about 3 hours from our home, deep in the heart of the woods and beside a river. It truly is tranquil. I had been especially looking forward to going since the kids had been on their first week of summer vacation and my husband had … Continue reading →

Summer Savings Goals

Do you have your summer savings goals in place? If not, you might want to consider doing this. Having clear goals for savings will help you anticipate expenses, take advantage of bargains and keep your budget on track and give you one less thing to worry about in the summer, your money. Garage Sales Last year we didn’t do to well hitting the garage sales, and our budget paid for it. We actually had to pay retail for things such as kids clothing and school supplies. Ouch. Other things we did without, such as a new supply of books or … Continue reading →

What Are Your Summer Vacation Plans?

Are you planning to take the kids to Disney World or are you opting to travel to Hawaii or the Bahamas with just your spouse? Has the slumping economy forced you to stay closer to home, or is this the summer you finally take your dream European vacation? According to a new American Express survey, the family vacation is alive and well, and the current economy is not putting the brakes on summer travel plans. So, where do you stack up against survey respondents? According to the study, more than half of 2,000 adults questioned will be traveling with their … Continue reading →

Summer Vacation from Hell

The next time you feel like complaining about how your summer vacation was marred by delayed flights, flat tires, crabby kids, and horrible hotels, consider the hell a Nevada mom endured while taking a camping trip with her 11-year-old son last week. What started off as an innocent overnight trip with her son and their dog to Death Valley National Park, quickly turned into the worst summer vacation in Alicia Sanchez’s life. The 28-year-old mom was just released from a Las Vegas hospital where she was being treated for severe dehydration. Now Sanchez must return home to bury her young … Continue reading →

More Ways to Save Money on Luxury Summer Vacations

If you have been putting off taking a family vacation this summer because you simply couldn’t afford to take one, then I have some welcome news. Several luxury hotels are slashing prices on rooms in order to generate business. High-end properties that most of us would ordinarily only read about in magazines are offering attractive summer rates and special package deals to fill rooms. Take a look at some of the swanky lodgings that are trying to make up for a reduction in business travel this summer by offering red hot deals to vacationing families: NANTUCKET If you are looking … Continue reading →

Sizzling Savings During the Dog Days of Summer

As a child growing up in Hawaii I never quite understood why so many tourists would come to play on the islands’ beaches in middle of summer. Obviously, during the months of July and August it wasn’t the balmy temperatures that drove them there. Eventually, I figured out that most families plan their trips to the Aloha State to coincide with their children’s summer break from school, and while they might prefer to visit during the winter months doing so in July made more sense. And when you are traveling with a gaggle of children why wouldn’t you look for … Continue reading →

Summer Travel Tips: Pack Your Patience and Some Common Sense

Summer might be halfway over, but millions of Americans have yet to embark on their annual family vacations. For those of you who are planning to take to the skies during the last weeks of summer be warned–packed planes, tighter security, horrific luggage restrictions and frustrated fellow flyers await you. Still, if your situation is like mine there is no other option besides flying to visit family and friends abroad. Fortunately, there are some ways to make the most of flying during the peak summer season. By planning ahead and using common sense you can avoid travel hassles whether you … Continue reading →

Saving on Summer Travel—It is Possible Part 2

Are considering putting the brakes on your family’s summer vacation because you simply can’t afford it? You aren’t alone. Millions of families are reevaluating their annual summer getaways thanks to the exorbitant cost of fuel and the sky-high price of air travel. But the news is not all bad. There is a silver lining in the gray cloud of summer travel. Some hotels across the country are offering amazing savings to help lure cash strapped families to their lodgings. You might have to pay more to get there, but at least you will be saving once you arrive. Take a … Continue reading →