http://theshoppingnazi.com Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/ This last winter I read Innocents Aboard by Mark Twain. The book is about one of the first luxury curses made from the United States through the Mediterranean region, and on to the Holy Land. Mr Twain documented his side trips and adventures with is unique sense of humor. Realize it took place a more than a century and half ago. We have come a long way in our vacation travels since then. Back then many countries did not like the idea of welcome American vacationers visiting. Today, we are welcomed with open arms. Talking with various people who take a vacation abroad have told me it can be less expensive than taking a weeks vacation at a Disneyland resort. The numbers I have ran show it to be pretty close. In the last couple of years I am seeing more and more people starting to really travel, again. One individual I know spent last week on a Norwegian Cruise  for the technologically minded. A fellow writer will in a few weeks be taking a week long vacation with his wife traveling throughout Ireland and England. I have talked to another individual who is taking his entire family to Costa Rica for a family vacation. All this global [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/plans-for-the-summer/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/camping-gear/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/camping-gear/#comments Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:30:15 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=7254 We are just a couple months away from summer. One of the great summer past times is camping. Winter storms, moderately cold weather, and getting stuck inside has got me thinking about the great out doors. Waking up to breathe the fresh chilly morning air is great. Climbing out from the ye old sleeping bag to fix a pot of hot coffee. Once it is done, to sip on that coffee while watching the morning sun rise over the near by mountain ridge. Family and friends waking up and gathering around the camp stove while breakfast is being fixed. Making small talk while waiting for the head cook to serve up a special recipe of eggs, and sausage. All such fond memories that drive me to places like Cabela’s and The Idaho Sportsman Show in preparation. Yes, Saturday March 3, I was there at the The Idaho Sportsman Show. I wondered through the booths exploring the newest fishing and camping gear. In the coming week I will be a Cabela’s and other stores that sell camping gear.  Later that day we went to Wal Mart. While there I wondered over to the sporting goods section. Since we are in need of a camping stove, I put [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/camping-gear/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/holiday-travel-prep/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/holiday-travel-prep/#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:00:12 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=6417 Traveling anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas and even through New Year Day can be a double sided coin. It is great time reconnect with family members. On the other hand holiday travel can be worst than exploring the Brazilian rain forest with a three legged mule. Statistics show more people travel in the time period around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do you remember seeing on TV, every year during this time of year all those people sleeping in airport terminals? What about delayed or cancelled planes, trains, buses, and cars? Most all of those problems were caused by weather. In the United States some of the busiest travel time is while we are having some of the harshest weather of the entire year. Traveling during these holidays is not always grim and bleak. If you must travel you may be able to side step a lot of the horrors of holiday travel and save a little money in the process. All you have to do is a few simple things. Plan Ahead - It is never too early to make holiday travel plans. In October you can take advantage of lower rates. Most flights have not started to fill up. Look for bargains from the [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/holiday-travel-prep/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/emergency-kits-part-2/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/emergency-kits-part-2/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=5147 Yesterday, I wrote about Shopping for Emergency Kits. When I finished I felt that I had done a very incomplete job in covering the subject. So, today, I have added a part 2. Because the you can specialize emergency kits for cars, trains, work, buses, and home, I do not expect this will be the last. In today’s post I want to cover emergency kits for cars. It is while we are driving about that we run the largest chance of being in or coming upon some emergency situation. Quite a few years ago, there was the Kim Family headed north out of the San Francisco Bay area into Oregon for a family road trip for Thanksgiving back in 2006. Through a series of wrong turns they ended lost and stuck in the snow for nine days. They survived by taking what they have and using it to their best advantage. We may never get stuck in such life threating situation, but we can certainly be prepared for the worst. That is why I have listed below 10 things you need to have in your car in case of an emergency. And keeping with The Shopping Nazi theme I will give you [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/emergency-kits-part-2/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/idaho-summer-vacation/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/idaho-summer-vacation/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:26 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=5083 Gas prices are still rising. This affects everything in the family budget from food to this summers family vacation. That is one reason why I like the Idaho Sportsman Show. We can get ideas on where we can go for a family vacation and still be within our budget. Last Friday we went to the Western Idaho Fairgrounds to see where and what we could go on our family vacation. It was there our daughter got to try fishing for the first time. My wife and daughter got to shoot air rifles. An I got look into planning a trip to a part of scenic Idaho we have never been. There were a few booths in the trade show area from Alaska, Oregon, and Mexico. Most were from various parts of Idaho. A lot of these were offering great family fun. The ones that stood out for me were; Youth Hunting Camp - The first event on my list was just for kids 9 to 16. This a day camp in Emmett Idaho, that exposes kids to hunting safety. They get to experience hands shooting of a bow to black powder rifles. This takes place on May 7. For more information you can [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/idaho-summer-vacation/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/plane-train-bus-or-car/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/plane-train-bus-or-car/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:00:24 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=4839 It does not matter if it is a short trip  across town or a long across the United States. There are many choices as far as the mode of transportation. I prefer walking for distances less than a couple of blocks. For distances up to 5 miles in warm weather I usually take my bicycle.  When the weather is bad, the car is my preferred mode of travel. Now when comes to trips of any length or time that is a total different store. The other day I was comparing air fares with the cost of taking a bus and driving. I realize there are many factors involved in making the decision as to what means of travel best fits the circumstances. What I found was four main things impact a persons decision as to what mode of transportation they should take.  They are Speed – The time it takes to get from point A to point B. Cost – I know many people who take a slower form or transportation just to save a few dollars traveling. Other have to take the more expensive way just for time sake. Comfort – There is nothing worst than getting to a destination and to tired to accomplishing what you [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/plane-train-bus-or-car/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/restaurant-star-ratings/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/restaurant-star-ratings/#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:08:52 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=3393 A few weeks back I wrote about the star rating system for hotels. Today, I want to look at the star rating system of restaurants. The reason why I am writing about the rating system for restaurant’s is I want to know and I want you to know what to expect when you walk into a restaurant. Are you getting your monies worth in terms of food and service? A quick search at Google.com revealed the Mobil Star Rating system. It is recommended because to get a rating form Mobil the restaurant has to pass a rigorous inspection and service evaluation. This includes cuisine, service, décor, and presentation. The Mobil rating system was started in 1958. The ratings were given by anonymous, paid staff members. A star ratings were to be from one to five stars, with no half-stars or zero stars. These star were to be based on objective criteria. A four or five-star rating was a considerable honor, with only a very few getting the top rating. Today it is managed by the same people who manages Forbes Magazine. I found a detailed explanation of  the Mobil Star rating system at ForbesTravelGuide.com. Below is where I summarized those star rating the criteria. Let it [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/restaurant-star-ratings/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/hotel-star-ratings-what-to-expect/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/hotel-star-ratings-what-to-expect/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:58 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=3220 My friend Ray and I were sitting around and talking about the rating systems for hotels. The question was brought up, “Is there a standard as to what I can expect from a 3 star as opposed to a 4 star hotel?” We agreed that it would be a good post for The Shopping Nazi. How else would you know if you are getting good value for your money. A couple of days later I received an email with five links that describe the rating system of hotels. They are Hotels.org, How Stuff Works, Forbes Travel Guide, Super Pages, and Go Europe at About.com. From each one of the links Ray gave me there was a little different. However, after doing some more research, I came up with some basic things that should be expected from each rated hotel. A one star hotel or motel will give you the most basic room and  bed with nothing else. Rooms are very basic and plain. They do not offer guests much more than a place to sleep. Two star hotels offer guests basic rooms with limited services. 24 hours front desk, and some many have an on-site restaurant or coffee shop. Rooms are clean, and housekeeping service is provided [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/hotel-star-ratings-what-to-expect/feed/ 1 http://theshoppingnazi.com/4-days-of-vacation-by-the-numbers/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/4-days-of-vacation-by-the-numbers/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:00:51 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=3187 We just got back from our get-a-way. Everyone needs to take a few days as a family and get a way from the pressure of life. This year, in quite a few years we took a vacation. It was largely because of the money we were able to save through practicing and writing about it in The Shopping Nazi. Now for the numbers as to what it did cost us for our little vacation. Lodging – First night was in a Holiday Inn, which cost us $109. The next two nights were a little motel in Sumpter Oregon. That was $120 for the two nights. Travel – We took out mini van for a total of 368 miles. If you remember back in August of 2009, I wrote that it cost us 68 cents per mile for drive Dodge Caravan. (We will be updating that post in the near future.) The cost of traveling was $250.24 Eating Out – We ate at restaurants 6 times for total cost of $149.00 Other Food – This includes snack, soda, juice, and food we bought to eat in out room to save on the cost of eating out came to approximately $50. Other Expenses – [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/4-days-of-vacation-by-the-numbers/feed/ 0 http://theshoppingnazi.com/who-is-booking-my-hotel/ http://theshoppingnazi.com/who-is-booking-my-hotel/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:00:55 +0000 The Shopping Nazi http://theshoppingnazi.com/?p=3093 It is summer time. Most of us has already booked our summer vacation. Some have gone through a travel agent. Then there are those who have listen commercial William Scanter and used PriceLine.com to get the lowest rate. But does PriceLine.com really give the lowest rate? In a effort to look a where to go for the best deal I took the major online booking websites and gave them a task. A couple that is 40 years want to spend 2 nights in San Francisco leaving Boise ID. They are going to book their room for August 14th, 15th. A mid August weekend. Now let us see who has the best rate! PriceLine.com – Here I chose a 3 star hotel in the Fisherman’s Wharf district. The search was simple. It came back with the lowest price of $45 per night. At the start I was told $123 was the best price. Hotels.com was my next stop for internet search of the best deal. Hotels.com offered me the Holiday Inn near Fisherman’s Wharf for $185, as there best deal. Travelocity.com offered me the same Holiday Inn for the same price as Hotels.com for $185. Orbitz.com, also came in with the [...]]]> http://theshoppingnazi.com/who-is-booking-my-hotel/feed/ 1