Browsing Tag: frugal diva

South Dakota

So many activities, so little time.  City of Presidents is the nickname for Rapid City where there are forty life size statues of former presidents on the downtown street corners.  That was how the Frugal Diva learned that she and President Madison were around the same height.   The Journey Museum takes you on an incredible trek through time as it tells the story of the Black Hills through interactive displays. Try on old clothes and read original letters from settlers while seeing how the geology of the area brought gold miners from all over the country. If you watched Deadwood…

Japan – Tokyo

For years all The Frugal Diva heard was how expensive it was to visit Japan.  It wasn’t even an option. Coffee was $12 and rooms were over $400. Indeed this is true if you stay at all four star hotels and buy your coffee at their cafe. However if you travel like a middle class Japanese person this country is very reasonable. Start with hotels such as the Hokke or APA chain and book in advance, way in advance since this is a busy town. The rooms are the size of postage stamps by American standards however they…

Japan-Kyoto

Getting off at the Kyoto Train Station, we walked through the ultra modern station marveling at all the shops and restaurants. In Japan the best hotels are near the train station and the most expensive one is actually part of the station. This shows how much trains dominate the mode of travel. We were lucky to get a place across the street since this part of the trip would involve many short hops around the area. Kyoto was Japan’s capital for over 1000 years and is the center of traditional Japan with over 1000 shrines. Plus there are beautiful…

How to Install and Maintain a Home Solar Electric System

The solar industry is growing at an astounding rate – according to statistics provided by the Green Tech Media, roughly two thirds (68% in the United States) of all solar photovoltaic (PV) systems worldwide have been installed since 2011. Installing a PV solar module can be an involved process (it usually takes around 3 months to implement the system), but in general, the benefits outweigh the effort and the costs tremendously. Installing a solar electric system is a long-term investment. While it can cost as much as $10,000 to go solar in California (costs vary from state to state…

Senior Savings

The Frugal Diva knows that getting older sucks.  Sure people say age is just a number but did you notice that no one under fifty ever says that – unless they are trying to comfort a senior citizen.  The number that really counts is how many dollars you save by embracing the discounts offers and reduced fees.  Proudly declare you want that senior fare, ticket, or meal for yourself or your parents or grandparents. The age for joining AARP is 50.  Flash that card proudly at  vendors on the AARP Benefits List. The National Parks offers the Senior pass (one…

New At AAA

As if the Frugal Diva didn’t already love AAA for all their travel discounts, they now have so many new ways to save. My buddy, Jennifer Moss of BabyNames.com, reminded me you even get a discount at Macy’s with your card.  Regal Theaters, various attractions and many others offer various ways to reduce expenses. Check your local club website for restaurant discounts in your area. AAA Club Rewards is their newest online feature where you can save on hundreds of discount offers each week from approximately 30,000 participating merchants nationwide.  In addition to these…

Celebrate Earth Day Everyday

The Frugal Diva thinks every day should be Earth Day. Recycle, repurpose, and replenish, it’s the best way to be thrifty. Since no one is an authority on everything,  here are my favorite resources for going green. 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…