Get Paid to Shop Online

I love shopping.  Shocker.  Do you know a diva who doesn't??

I know, I typically wax on and on about earning points and miles, but there's just something about getting paid to shop.  I like to travel and I like a bargain.  With all the deals and savings offered with post-holiday sales, getting cash back takes the savings to another level.   That extra cash in your pocket can be put toward travel expenses or spending money for your next vacation.

So, how do I get paid to shop?

Ebates! Visit the website or download the app from iTunes or Google Play, click, shop and earn. It's that simple.  Ebates  also provides discount codes for many vendors for additional savings and to date,  has paid members more than $300 million in cash back.  Why would you want to leave money on the table??

Many of your favorite vendors and services, including travel sites, are in the Ebates network.  You can earn up to 8% cash back and sometimes double, when booking your next trip.

Try it today and let me know how much you save!

How Ebates Works:ere's how simple it really is:

Each store offers a different cash back percentage. Just look at the percentage next to the store name on the Ebates.com site to see how much savings you will earn.

Explore. Dream. Discover: Travel More in 2016!

Hello 2016! And Happy New Year to you and yours!

I've opted out of resolutions this year.   Instead, I'm focusing on a word to represent the year ahead.

My word for 2016 is joy.  Though I'm an optimist for the most part,  my definition of joy focuses on the determination to find happiness in both the amazing and most ordinary of things.  Travel helps me explore and discover the simplest and most awesome things.  This year, I plan to earn more miles/points and check off a few places from my bucket list.  If I can dream it, I can make it a reality if I put my mind to it.  Here's what I'm thinking: Panama, Turks and Caicos, Costa Rica (Caribbean Coast), and the Mediterranean.

If traveling more is on your list of things to do in 2016, kudos to you! It's a new year and you have a new opportunity to plan a vacation and actually take it! I encourage you to create a bucket list, discover new things and explore new places.  What is on your list of places or countries you'd like to see?  things you'd like to do? Let's make it happen!

 As things continue to evolve with our favorite travel loyalty programs, I'll be here sharing my favorite thrifty travel tips.  I'll keep you in the loop of what I'm doing to get closer to my travel goals and give you ideas for your own travel adventures.  Stay tuned!

Remember:  “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor

To Check a Bag or No? That, is the question

I HATE paying to check a bag.  Obviously, if I'm going anywhere for more than a weekend, a larger bag is preferred.  I mean, a diva needs options for wardrobe changes.  I'd love to go full on Diana Ross, and change six times a day if the occasion calls for it. But alas, pesky checked bag fees put the kibosh on that.  So for me, it's all about efficiency.

On my last trip to the Dominican Republic, I fit a week's worth of clothes and toiletries in a small carry-on with a few tricks and gadgets to quickly get through TSA and Customs.  I had more than enough and actually didn't even wear a number of things.  I have the art of packing light down to a science, I thought I'd share this info so you can keep that extra $50-$80 in your pocket on your next vacay. Wouldn't you rather bank that? Or use it to fund an excursion? Or better still, cocktails??

Helpful Items to Pack More Efficiently

• Packing cubes: Roll clothing as tight as possible to save on space. Ebags sell them in sets or various sizes but you can also find them at discount stores like Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Ross.

Travel friendly toiletries:  Without saying, you can find almost anything in travel-size. Most big-box stores and pharmacies have entire sections dedicated to travel size products.  Use solids wherever possible: deodorant, face wipes, solid shampoo (pictured on the right) and conditioner, Palmer's cocoa butter vs lotion etc.

Packable "bulky" Items:  a down jacket, rain jacket and/or a tote/backpack take up considerable amounts of luggage space.  I like taking a packable tote or backpack on vacation so I can carry personal items around without hassle. I mean, have you seen a bathing suit with pockets?? Investing in "packable" versions will be money well spent to avoid packing a larger bag to accommodate these bulky items over time.

The key to packing light is starting with a few pair of shoes and making sure everything in your bag works with your footwear. Thin fabrics and pieces that serve more than one function are ideal. For example, I have a reversible swim suit that still offers a bit of variety when I'm trying to limit the number of pieces in my luggage.

That being said, tropical vacations are easiest, since you really only need flip-flops, swimwear, lounge-wear and a few nice pieces to wear to dinner most evenings.   Cold weather trips are not too bad though, since you can travel in and pack your layers and reuse bulkier pieces, as needed. 

If you're traveling on an airline that requires you to pay checked bag fees, avoiding them is totally doable.  I find that putting aside items I want to take a few days in advance, allows me to get a sense of what goes with what, and helps refine the editing process. Edit, edit, and edit some more -- you'll need to leave yourself some wiggle room in case you want to bring back a few souvenirs.  

P.S. If you purchase these packing aids online, don't forget to visit your reward program's shopping portal to get miles or points for them.  Ebags has many of the packing items available on its website and offer a substantial amount of miles/points for your purchase.

Tax Time is Prime Time for More Mileage

It's that time of year...Uncle Sam wants his cut. I know, not exactly a parade worthy occasion but as you're sifting through receipts, collecting all 1099 forms, and making copies of your W-2s think of all the miles you can rack up. Whether you plan on doing your own taxes or working with a tax professional, you have a grand opportunity to get miles.  When you get your refund, save it for a rainy day or use it toward a dream vacation.

If you plan to do your own taxes, earn miles when you purchase tax software through online sites like Best Buy, Walmart, JR.com, Office Deport and Buy.com.

 H&R Block is offering 15% off online tax preparation plus 10 miles per dollar and Turbo Tax is offering 8 miles per dollar through the AAdvantage online shopping mall.

Check out your frequent flyer program's online mall to find all your tax-related mileage opportunities.  Just don't let these mileage deals pass you by -- Uncle Sam doesn't often provide occasions to help YOU get the miles you need to travel the globe.