Now everything is free – camping tips, finding participating campsites, how to safely start a campfire and even songs to sing – with registrations however they are doing this as a fundraiser. If you have the ability to donate or get sponsors in your area that helps the National Wildlife Federation keep up all these great programs.  Join with friends, coworkers, neighbors, or your family and see how spending a night outdoors creates lasting memories. Smores, anyone?

What chains lacks in charm they make up for in convenience, dependability and free Wifi. Find one that has a wide range of low priced choices and stick with it for the loyalty program rewards. My favorite is  Marriott which represents many different brands – Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Springhill Suites - just to name a few.

They are everywhere and the best course of action is to join the club and make your reservations on the Marriott site.  Check back before you leave, if the rates have gone down and there is still time, cancel your reservation and reserve at the new rate.  Now if you are going at high season to a crowded location, the rates are usually competitive however remember when you join the loyalty you are accumulating points towards a free night’s stay. When it is not high season or a less traveled road, the rates can be amazing, especially when you throw in a free breakfast at many locations.

The site is easy to navigate, holds all your reservations with no penalty for cancellation, and keeps track of your points.  There are also specials and vacation deals offered through out the year. And for those planning business conferences, they have plenty of options.

Why spend half your morning searching for a cup of coffee?  It’s nice to come down to the lobby, grab a bagel, muffin, some cereal, or fruit, then go back to your room to pick up your briefcase or tour guides. There are many chains however this one has always delivered the goods at a great price.

Now, it is possible to buy health insurance for your pets. Of course, the standard concerns apply. Does it pay? You have to ask yourself some pertinent questions:

• How much is the monthly premium, and how does it change over time and with respect to the age of your pet when you start the coverage? How does it change if you use the policy especially if you end up with a chronically ill pet?
• Can the policy ever be cancelled by the insurance company because you have used it too often?
• Are there limitations on the amount of the payments and acceptable fees? Does it take into account where you live? A specific operation might cost $1,000 in a big city and $600 in a smaller community. The insurance company might only allow $400 and pay only 80% of that.
• What is the deductible and how does it affect your premiums?
• What is covered and, more importantly, what is not covered?
• How long has the company been in business, and what is their track record?
• What does your vet think about the different companies and pet insurance in general?

In the end, it comes down to one thing. What will you do if your pet comes down with a chronic illness or has a serious accident? If you think you could let your pet go, you might be wrong. Faced with the prospect of losing your companion, you might not be able to do that. You might find yourself spending the thousands of dollars it will take to care for the loving creature that keeps you company and accepts you for who you are, warts and all.

That is the big question and, ultimately, the one that matters the most. If you are certain you would do whatever was necessary to take care of your pet, then insurance is probably a very good idea. If you are absolutely sure you would not and have had the experience that allows you to know this is true, insurance may be a waste of money.

Here is a suggestion. Sit on your couch and call your pets. While they are busy wagging tails, snuggling up and purring, make your decision. If your heart melts, and you can’t imagine life without them, pick up the phone and start to learn everything you can, so you can make the best decision. Otherwise, take a look at the numbers and make your decision based on the cold, hard facts. Regardless of why you choose to take out a policy, if you do, remember to read the fine print.

Guest post by Nancy Richardson who writes for Key Insurance Quotes.com and has four dogs and two cats. They were all rescues that didn’t even make it to a shelter. They were street rescues, and she loves them all.

Beginning May 7th – September 14th 2012, communities, students, families and school supporters (ages 18 and older) can vote for their local K-8 school at avery.com/giveback.

Avery is expanding the 2012 campaign to award 40 schools with much-needed educational resources and offering cash benefits through Avery’s partnership in Box Tops for Education®. Avery manufactures a large selection of school supplies such as binders, dividers, Sticky Notes, NoteTabs™, Hi-liters and Glue Stics, as well as a diverse selection of office and organizational supplies that will prove to be extremely valuable for schools across the country.

This year, Avery will award the top 35 schools with the most online votes in a tier-based structure:

- The top five schools with the most online public votes will each receive $10,000 worth of Avery office products and school supplies of their selection, 25,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons (redeemable for cash by schools) and ten $100 gift cards to be split among the teachers for purchase of additional classroom supplies; the school with the most votes overall will receive an in-school donation presentation.

- The next 25 schools with the most votes will each receive 10,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons (redeemable for cash by schools).

- 10 randomly selected schools with over 100 votes will be awarded 5,000 bonus Box Tops.

ProFlowers has these beautiful lilies and irises in a keepsake vase for $19.99 or a dozen assorted roses at the same price.  A great option when you are out of ideas and mom has too much stuff anyway.

Check my post about  magazine subscriptions or get her a museum membership for ideas that last all year long.

Make a donation in Mom’s name to her favorite charity.

Maybe Mom would like a night out, buy a gift card to the movie theater near her home or tickets from Goldstar.

Try Target for a special Mother’s Day CD . It makes a sweet gift paired with some Burt’s Bees products.

Amazon is still the easiest with the most variety and mostly free shipping if you order over $25.00. They even have a page set up with Mother’s Day suggestions and sales.

Topics that will be discussed include:

Is a home equity line/loan a good option to pay off higher interest-rate balances?

Can I use a home equity line to pay for my child’s college expenses?

What types of questions should I ask before applying for a home equity line/loan?

What is the difference between a home equity line of credit and home equity loan?

Solid advice about these important financial issues.

Here are the no fee programs the Frugal Diva likes best and why.

Staples – They give you $2 for every used printer cartridges and a percentage of purchases in a rebate check.  Watch for emails with weekly savings and coupons. Back to school is an excellent time to stock on supplies for the office.

Ralphs – Their points system allows you to get back a small rebate for Shell gasoline. They will email you items that garner bonus points and just by clicking you can make your way to savings. The coupons are loaded into your loyalty card and automatically deducted at checkout. No cutting and no forgetting.

DSW- Buy your way to the next pair of shoes. Plus a $5 coupon for your birthday and offers all year long for double points, free tote bags, and discounts.

Chicos – After an initial purchase amount, members receive an automatic 5% off and a coupon every month plus a birthday bonus, invitations to private sales, and special discounts.

Let me know what you think are great programs and I will add them to the post.

Let’s start with one of my favorite activities, spring cleaning.  Yes, I am a bit of a neat freak and love nothing more then to take everything off my pantry shelves, clean, and reorganize. Sometimes you just  have to admit that you are truly never going to use that bottle of caraway seeds. This site has so many great tips Planet Green on how to use kitchen staples instead of toxic cleaning products, ways to repurpose items, and how to recycle electronics.

Here are actitivies for Earth Day 2012 0n April 22nd.  You can start now with small acts that will help you and your community.

Even Amazon has gotten into the act with a shopping green page that includes clothes, household items, energy saving  light bulbs, and kitchen wear. When sending a gift you can also send a message about sustainability.

Learn that green in terms of clothing no longer means hemp sacks at Care2.  This site also gives great tips on crafts and healthy homes.

Energy Star is a government backed program with energy saving tips for home improvement.  Learn how to lower fuel bills by getting rid of drafts and having better insulation.

And for those who garden, Organic Gardening has 20 budget tips and even how to grow herbs indoors for apartment dwellers.

Let me know if you have other helpful sites and I will update this post.

Traveling can be exciting, exposing you to different people, languages, food and much more. Unfortunately, traveling can also expose you to different bacteria and viruses. Avoid returning home with unwelcome souvenirs using these stay-healthy tips:

Uncommon infections

Traveling overseas and to remote areas can expose you to foreign infections. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/) for the most recent risk factors, which you can search for by region. Allow plenty of time to receive any necessary vaccines or to begin medication. For instance, vaccination for hepatitis A requires more than one dose, with six to 18 months between each dose.

Seasonal illnesses

Flu and cold-like symptoms always seem to be floating in the air. To help prevent the most common infections, you should practice the most common hygiene habits:

-          Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (between fingers and under nails).

-          Use hand lotion to stay moisturized (bacteria can wiggle its way into the crevasses of skin).

-          Brush your teeth at least twice daily.

-          Drink plenty of (clean) water to stay hydrated.

-          Get sufficient sleep for natural energy.

Food allergies

Read up on the ingredients of dishes you may encounter on your trip. If you don’t know conch is a type of shellfish and you’ve got a shellfish allergy, your escape to the Bahamas could be ruined in one bite. It also pays to learn the language or regional dialect, so you know how to communicate your allergy to your server when ordering food.

Digestive woes

Jet lag, culture shock and general anxiety can send your stomach into orbit. Traveling throws off your internal clock, partly due to eating at inconsistent times of day. Be especially cautious of spicy, creamy or cloudy food and drink. These could be signs of contamination and/or triggers for indigestion. Also beware of undercooked meats, recent recalls and local label warnings. (Tip: if you’re advised not to drink the tap water, use bottled water to brush your teeth and order your drinks without ice.)

You don’t have to fly over oceans to be at risk for illness. Even a domestic ski trip can cause elevation sickness. Your best plan of attack is to practice healthy habits – regular exercise, balanced diet and good sleep – to keep your immune system strong for the journey ahead.

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Since 1994 Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins and supplements and has grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with many other helpful categories! Get the best price on vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and gluten free diet products.

Vitacost.com sells everything from Coconut Oil to Raspberry Ketones. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

The first installment of the series features John Rhett, Chairman of SunTrust Investment Services. As tax season reaches its peak, most consumers have considered the state of their financial outlook. This is the perfect time to take a holistic look and determine how best to invest and save for the future. In the first Facebook webinar, Rhett will share tips about how to use your tax return to get started with investing for your future.  He will discuss how to invest in today’s market, easy steps to improve your investment plan, the benefits of reevaluating your portfolio and more.

In the coming weeks, as home-buying season and spring renovations kick into high gear, Live Solid will host two more live chats to connect online viewers with SunTrust and industry experts on home equity and mortgages. Interested viewers are invited to submit questions in advance of each webinar.

To learn more about the series and submit questions, visit the Live Solid Facebook page. For dates and times of upcoming webinars, follow Live Solid on Facebook or @LiveSolid on Twitter.

Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you get a whole lot more!