CruisinEurope

Brad, it's for the "you-never-knows"

 

Luggage rip? Fix it with duct tape.

 

Lose the hem in your dress or trousers? Fix it with duct tape.

 

Closet door keeps banging in the night because it doesn't latch properly? Fix it with duct tape.

 

Children won't stop yapping? Well, you get the idea. :)

ROTFLMAO!

LOVE the bottom reason! :eek:

We're heading out on our first family cruise and now that roll of duct tape will be SURE to go in!!

My 5:

Binoculars

Xtra contact lenses for DH and I

over door shoe thingy (thanks CC boards! great idea)

travel mugs/ kids sippy cups

highlighters & post it notes

I absolutely LOVE this thread!!!

Amazing that its been going for 4 years and there are only a handful of posts that are off topic/etc.

WAY TO GO!

MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!!!!!!!!!!

(i posted in another thread, but meant to post it here).

In reading all of these posts, I have to say that I am probably the oddball out. I don't want to get into a whole thing - - but I have to say that the way that I'm able to cruise and enjoy all of our other vacations is because I began to look for ways to increase the size of my checking account.

I read a great book called "How to Get Rich Without Winning The Lottery" - and applied a lot of those principles.

Some are taking longer to "pay off" than others - but my bank account balance is growing monthly - - even in this "bad economy". :rolleyes:

I'm not meaning this to be negative in anyway. I am just trying to say that we all have choices and we all have the opportunity to move our lives in the direction that we want them to go.

If we don't do it - who will?

Y'know?

:D

Now - in general - I do have "budget tips" that I use to help fund my vacations:

- I buy in bulk when I can and freeze what I don't need right away.

- I do a lot of legwork myself in looking for the best flight deals, hotel deals, etc. For example, staying from Friday - Monday vs. Thursday - Sunday just saved us $1000 on airline tickets for our trip on Friday.

- We rent videos vs. going out to the movies (unless it's one that we REALLY want to see on the "big screen" - which is seldom).

- I buy my books etc. online vs. retail. (amazon dot com is my fav)

- I am an eBay shopper and look for great deals there before I buy retail

- we don't have 1000 channels on our tv.

- we don't drive the newest cars or try to compete w/our neighbors for who has the biggest, newest, etc.

- i am a big fan of online shopping and constantly am checking "coupon" sites for "codes" for things like free shipping, % off of order, etc.

- I use our "points cards" for our daily shopping and pay the balance each month. Those points do add up fast!

Regardless of the balance in my account - I enjoy being frugal and hunting for the best deal.

I don't think there is any "right or wrong" (as has been implied earlier in the thread) - - just what works for you and your lifestyle.

We were on the Sun Princess for our millenium cruise in December 1999. We were travelling with two other couples. On the first formal night, one of the husbands was complaining about how uncomfortable his tux was. This gentleman and his wife are both on the large size and he doesn't usually dress up formally in tuxes, etc. Well, all through dinner he couldn't get comfortable! He kept fidgeting saying "how can you guys stand these tuxes!" Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore and just before dessert he left to change. Well, the next night at dinner we heard the real story! When he and his wife were getting ready for dinner, he took the first pair of black pants that were in the closet. They were hers!! Not only were they toos mall for him, he was wearing them backwards!! On the next formal night he was much more comfortable in his own pants!! She had to send hers out to be pressed because the knees were facing backward! :eek:

maybe its because i've been reading this thread from start to finish, and it's now almost 11pm -- but I am IN TEARS after this post!

seriously -- TOO FUNNY!!

This is an AWESOME thread!!!:D :D :D