What to do before leaving on vacation

The post below was originally posted on my camping blog, but it applies to vacation preparation as well.  I hope you enjoy it!

When you leave to go on vacation, you want to make sure that it appears like you are home, so as to deter thieves (or other busybodies).  Here's what you need to do to take care of that:

1.  Stop delivery of your newspaper(s) during the time you are gone.
     You can take care of this by going to the newspaper website. Most newspaper websites have a page called "subscriber services," where you can enter a vacation hold.  If your local newspaper doesn't have a website, you can call the newspaper's circulation department and they will take care of it.  A bunch of newspapers accumulating in the driveway is a big hint that you are on vacation.

2.  Put your mail on hold.
     You can put a vacation hold on your mail very easily on the U.S. Post Office website - click here to go directly to the page where you can put your mail on hold.  Or you can also go to your local post office and fill out a form.  If you are using the USPS website, you will need to set up a USPS account if you don't already have an account.  A USPS account will also allow you to access the Informed Delivery app, which will let you know what mail you would have received that day if you had been at home. 

3.  Leave lights on in the house, or set them on a timer.
     We have 2 table lamps that we leave on while we're gone.  Both of them can't be seen by folks passing by, but they still make it look like someone is home. You can put your lamps on a timer so that they will go on at a certain time. You can also buy wi-fi smart home products that you can set via your smartphone to go on and off at the times you choose.  For help selecting smart home products, visit www.cnet.com.

4.  Lock the doors and windows.
     This should be self-explanatory, but people often forget about locking the windows.  Thieves can get in through the windows too. If you have a garden shed, be sure to put a lock on it. Thieves like stealing lawn equipment too. 

5.  Don't leave trash cans and recycling bins at the curb or out in the alley.
     When your trash cans and recycling bins are out at the curb and your neighbors' aren't, that's a big sign to thieves that no one's home.  Conversely, if you're going to be gone (like on a week-long trip) on a day that trash is collected, see if a neighbor will take your trash cans and recycling bins to the curb and replace them in their proper spot when empty.  If everyone's trash cans are out and yours are not, that's also an invitation to thieves.

6.  If the driveway will be empty while you're gone, have someone park a car in your driveway (and move the car in and out of it periodically).  
     There are thieves that will case a house for a few days so they can figure out the best time to break in.  If they see that your driveway is always empty, even though you have taken the proper precautions, they will soon figure out that you're not home.

7. To keep a really close eye on your home while you're on vacation, purchase a Ring or other smart doorbell system.  

      A smart doorbell system will send notifications to your phone while you're away in case anyone tries to break in or a package is delivered.  

Here are some hints for the inside of your house:

1.  Take care of your pets.
     Some of the motels and resorts in Branson allow you to bring your well-behaved dog (see their websites for details), but if you have to leave Fido at home, make arrangements with a neighbor or a pet sitting service to look after the dog, or board him or her in a kennel.  Cats can take care of themselves, but make sure that there is plenty of food and water and that the litter box is clean.

2.  Turn off and unplug all electrical items such as the computer, TV, etc. or if not unplugged, make sure they are plugged into surge protectors.
     It would be horrible to come home from a fun vacation to discover that all of your electrical items are fried due to a lightning strike or a storm.

3.  Wash the dishes and put them away.
     It's no fun to come home from a trip with dirty dishes in the sink.  Dirty dishes can also attract bugs.  Your cat or dog would love all the little leftovers, which can make your pet sick.

4.  Water indoor plants.
     Plants can dry up quickly if you don't water them for a few days.  You can also buy those water globes to make sure your plants are watered.

5.  Put all food away.
     Any food that is left out on a countertop or table is a temptation for a house pet.  It can also attract bugs.

6.  Tell a trusted neighbor that you are going away for a few days and give them your cell phone number.
     You need to be reachable in case of a disaster that damages your house, or if someone breaks into your house despite all your precautions.

This next item doesn't pertain to either of the above categories but is important just the same.  Don't post on Facebook, Twitter, or any kind of social media that you are away from home on vacation!  There are folks who troll Facebook and other social media sites looking for this kind of information.  If you have a smartphone or a laptop, post periodic status updates while you're away, but not the kind that would indicate that you're not at home.

I also like to make sure my house is clean before I leave on vacation - there's nothing worse than coming home from vacation to a dirty house.

I hope these tips are helpful.  If you have any other tips, please comment below.  Thanks for reading!  Until next time -

Happy travels!

Diane

On the road again

Unless you live a far distance away from Branson, you will probably be driving your vehicle to get there.  The tips below will help make your road trip to and from Branson pleasurable and money saving experiences as well.

Gasoline
Gas prices are through the roof in most of the United States right now.  You may be surprised to learn that gas costs less in Missouri, due to Missouri's lower sales tax rate.  That being said, there are still ways to save a few bucks on gasoline.

Go to gasbuddy.com before your trip and find out which stations on your route have the best prices on gasoline.  If possible, fill up your gas tank at gas stations in the larger cities on your route.  There are smaller gas stations that stand alone (without any buildings near them) near interstate exits, and they charge more per gallon.  The owners figure that if you wait until you almost run out of gasoline before you fill up your gas tank, you'll pay their exorbitant prices.

If you drive a SUV or a 8 cylinder gas guzzler, consider renting a car with a 4 cylinder engine to save money on gasoline.  Just because a car has a 4 cylinder engine doesn't necessarily mean it's a small car.  Our family's current vehicle is a 2010 Jeep Patriot, which is an SUV with a 4 cylinder engine.  There is room for 5 people to ride comfortably, an area in the back for luggage, and a roof rack for even more luggage (but we usually don't need that).  During our maiden voyage with the Patriot to Branson last year, we went from southwest Illinois to Branson on almost a full tank of gas.  We stopped at Quik Trip in Ozark to top off the tank. 

While you're driving on the interstate, follow the speed limit and keep acceleration and passing to a minimum.  This will also help you save money on gasoline.  Make sure your tires are filled to the proper air pressure and you have a clean air filter.  This will help your gas mileage.  It's not a bad idea to check all the fluid levels in your vehicle for leaving for Branson, or for any trip.  It's no fun being stranded on the side of the road with an overheated radiator. If it's warm enough to roll down the windows, use the air conditioner instead - you will save money on gas.  Driving with the windows open at highway speeds produces a drag that causes the vehicle to use more fuel. 

Food
It is about a 4 hour drive from our house to Branson, so we always stop in either Lebanon or Rolla for lunch.  All of the bigger cities along Highway 44 have the usual fast food restaurants, so bring your fast food coupons and save some money on lunch.  Or you can pack a picnic lunch and eat at one of the rest areas on the way.

Rest areas
There are some very nice rest areas on Highway 44 in Missouri.  The buildings are clean and modern, and one that I know of has a playground for kids to burn off some energy before hitting the road again.  Most rest areas have vending machines with food, soda, etc.  However, the prices are expensive.  Save money by bringing your own snacks, soda, and water from home.

If you don't have room for a large cooler in your vehicle, purchase a collapsible or soft sided cooler.  They are relatively inexpensive.  We used one of these for the first time last year on our trip to Branson.  When we got to the hotel, we emptied out the leftover water and ice in the bathtub and wiped out the inside with a towel. When we were ready to head home,  we then got a bag of ice from the gas station for the cooler.  Collapsible coolers also have shoulder straps, which come in handy for picnic lunches or packing up the car.

If you have any other suggestions for saving money on a road trip, please comment below.  Hope this post was helpful!  Until next time -

Happy travels!

Diane