Your Guide to Saving Money When Going on a Cruise

If you are going on a cruise and want to stay within your budget, there are a few key things that you must know. A cruise can make for a very relaxing and fun holiday, but it can also get expensive if you aren’t well-educated. Most people don’t take into consideration all of the additional costs associated with a cruise once you get onboard. This article can help you have the time of your life while keeping your spending under control.

Get a Restaurant Package

While you certainly have the option of eating in the main dining hall (which is free), you might want to opt for a package that will allow you to visit some of the other restaurants onboard. One of these packages will let you dine at certain places on the cruise ship a certain number of times during your trip. Take the time to look over some of these options before deciding which package you want to buy. This can be an excellent way to save money on your cruise.

Look for Special Deals

Most restaurants on cruises offer discounts at certain times of the day, so you will need to be aware of this. You could save some money by simply eating one of your meals a bit earlier or later than you normally would. Make sure that you check to see if this is the case with the cruise that you are going on.

Go to the Spa on a Port Day

You will most likely be able to get a fairly steep discount on a spa visit on a port day. This can provide you with the perfect opportunity to get a relaxing massage and other services for some pampering. If you are willing to stay in while most of the people on the ship are out and about, you will be able to save a decent amount of money. Take a look at the spa services you have to choose from so you know what your options are.

Give Appropriate Tips and Nothing More

Make sure that you give the wait staff on the cruise ship appropriate tips without going overboard (no pun intended.) A tip of 15-20% is fairly standard in most places, but bars on cruise ships often include the gratuity in the bill. You can always leave extra, but it might not be a good idea if you are on a tight budget.

Explore by Yourself

You have the option of going on guided tours on port days, but they are going to cost you extra. Going off on your own can save you a lot of money, and it will give you the perfect opportunity to have an exciting adventure. Just make sure that you know where you are going and stay safe. It’s a good idea to learn about the areas that your ship will make port in before you go on your trip. This will make it easier to get around by yourself without any major issues.

Get a Drinks Package

If you plan on drinking alcoholic beverages while on your cruise, make sure that you look for a good drinks package to get. Those who do not have one of these packages will likely end up spending a lot more money than they planned to. You will be given a certain number of drinks that you can order each day before you start paying extra. There are certain packages that offer unlimited mixed drinks or beer for a certain amount. Take all the time you need to find a package that will match your needs. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for specials on drinks throughout the cruise.

Explore Your Cruise Options

Perhaps the best way to save money on a cruise is by taking the necessary time to research your options. There are lots of different cruise lines that you can go with, but you will need to narrow down your choices. Make sure to choose a company that has a solid overall reputation. Go online and look for reviews of a few different cruise lines before choosing one in particular.

Take a close look at what you will get with each cruise so that you can get as much as possible for the money you spend. Some cruise lines are better than others about giving their customers good deals. If you know someone who has taken a cruise in the past, you should ask them if they can give you a recommendation.

Anyone who is planning on taking a cruise needs to keep all of these things in mind, because it is far too easy to go over budget. These tips will allow you to enjoy yourself on your trip for less.

Tips for Becoming a Shrewd Borrower in 2018

If you want to become a shrewd borrower, there are a few tips that you must follow. No matter what kind of loan you require, you need to keep your wits about you. There are lots of horrible mistakes that you can make when borrowing money if you aren’t careful. While you will have many great opportunities to get the money you need, you must be smart about it. The more discerning you are, the less like you will be to have regrets later on.

Always Look at Your Budget

Before you apply for any sort of loan, no matter what the amount, you should always take a look at your budget. By doing this you will be able to determine whether or not you can really afford to take out the loan. You certainly don’t want to borrow any money that you won’t be able to pay back on time. If you don’t already have a household budget written down, you will want to have one before applying for a loan.

Ask Yourself One Simple Question

Anyone who is thinking about getting a loan should ask themselves one question: “Do I really need it?” You shouldn’t take out a loan unless you absolutely need one. Those who borrow money for frivolous reasons will end up wasting a lot of money on interest. If there is something you want but don’t really need, save up for it. It might take a while to get what you want this way, but it’s better than paying a lot of interest and other fees when you don’t need to.

Do Your Lender Research

You should never choose a certain lender to borrow from before you have taken plenty of time to research your choices. There will be some lenders such as Emu that are more trustworthy than others, so it pays to review your options. This research can go a long way towards helping you get the money you need without getting ripped off in any way. Look up reviews for each lender as well as other information that will help you in narrowing down your list.

Turn to the Government First

Whether you are looking for a good deal on a mortgage or student loans, the government could help you out. Before you start looking into the various private lenders that are out there, you should explore this option. Government-backed student loans usually come with lower interest rates, and the terms tend to be very reasonable. There is nothing wrong with borrowing from a private lender, but it’s not always a good first choice.

Compare Rates

There is no point in paying more interest than you need to on your loan, so you should do some shopping around. Find out how much interest you are going to pay with at least a few different lenders. Those who spend only a couple of hours doing this research significantly increase their chances of paying less for their loan. This is especially important if you are planning on getting a long-term instalment loan like a mortgage.

Review the Contract

You will inevitably have to sign a contract with the lender that spells out all of the terms and conditions of the loan. Make sure that you sit down (with your lawyer if necessary) to review these terms. It is important that you have a full and complete understanding of the contract before signing on the dotted line. Read through the fine print to see if the lender tried to slip in any hidden fees or other shady things that you’ll want to know about. If anything in the contract doesn’t make sense, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.

Apply Online

These days applying for any kind of loan is easier than ever because of the internet. If you want to save yourself as much time and effort as possible with getting a loan, the internet can help. You will be able to fill out and submit a loan application online within about 15-20 minutes, depending on the type of loan. Once you have submitted the application, you will hear back from the lender via phone or email. This is by far the most convenient way to get the loan you are interested in.

Final Thoughts

Getting a loan is a big deal, so you don’t want to borrow any amount of money without thinking everything through. These tips can help you borrow the cash you need to buy a new house, car, or anything else without any regret. Most of the loan mistakes people make can easily be avoided by keeping these things in mind. Remember to never allow yourself to be pressured by any lender. You have numerous options that you should explore before making a decision on a certain person to borrow from.