The only time we do not entirely love to shop is during the Christmas season. It’s not that we do not love Christmas (We wait for it the entire year after all) but because Christmas shopping can cause dire financial stress to our budgets. From shopping for gourmet food for lavish dinners to buying gifts for everybody – with a hundred heavy expenses, Christmas can often feel like a luxury we cannot afford to have. But then again, it’s Christmas, and you cannot “not celebrate” it. But you can certainly make some adjustments and try these Christmas shopping hacks that I’m about to disclose.
Do you know why some e-commerce websites keep coupon codes deep within the categories? Because we are too naïve of their existence. We shop without using the coupons, either because we’re incognizant about them, or we consider their hunt hassling. Mostly, it’s the former.
Thus, this Christmas, wherever you shop, make sure you check for coupons and cash back offers. Here’s one website that I recommend.
2. Compare prices on Amazon
Retail stores sell Christmas items at soaring prices. But you can get better deals on Amazon or any other E-commerce shopping website for that matter. So, every time you’re out there shopping, always make sure to compare prices. If you get better deals online, go ahead and buy.
3. Shop Christmas décor at the Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree is a chain of retail discount shops in the USA and Canada. If you happen to have one in your city, you can consider going there to shop for Christmas décor. You can get some amazing things at dirt-cheap prices – as low as $1. Hard to believe, right? Well, go see for yourself.
Alternatively, if you prefer a Target, you can find such cute decor in their dollar section at the front of their store. I’m sure you’ve seen all the influencers with the bottle brush trees (guilty here too!) all over their homes for Christmas. Those come from that section and really make decorating fun and easy.
4. Do Secret Santa
If you have too many people to gift to, skip the process entirely, and gift just one person; it will save you a lot of money. Secret Santa is a group game where everybody is assigned a person, for whom they have to buy a gift. The identity of the gift giver remains unknown till the end, so the gift receiver has to make a guess.
Another great alternative is to do a white elephant gift, which can be played one of two ways. The first is to get a trick gift, like my favorite — “cold hard cash” where you would buy a cookie tin, put an amount of money into the tin, and fill with water and freeze. The person believes it’s cookies, but when they pick it up, it’s cold, and inside they have to wait to see how much money is in it if you stack the bills together.
The other way to do white elephant is to get an actual good gift, one you would want to receive as well. You can read a story and everyone sits around in a circle to be able to easily pass the gift on a specific word. Each time the word is said, you pass your gift. When the story is over, you open the gifts in order and can ‘steal’ a gift from someone else if you want. It makes it kind of fun and lets others choose what they’d really like and keeps your costs lower.
5. Shop beforehand
As mentioned before, things get extremely expensive during Christmas because of the demand. However, for the rest of the year, a standard rate is maintained. This is when you can shop for Christmas to save a lot of money– you can buy gifts, or décor even when Christmas is months away. However, you might also have to arrange for space and pack the décor properly to preserve the novelty of your purchases.
I know someone in my family who shops and makes gifts all year long so they are completely done shopping before Halloween and it serves them well. They have an area in their home they put all the gifts and it works for them.
6. Keep an eye out for sales
Brands offer sales throughout the year, and that my friend is the best time to shop for Christmas. But in case if you are someone who remains oblivious of the sales, you have to change if you don’t want to be burdened by the financial stress of Christmas.
7. Prepare baskets
Instead of gifting someone one expensive gift, create a basket including little stuff that would together come out to become a thoughtful Christmas present. You can perhaps add dried flowers, homemade cookies and chocolates, cards, soaps and scrubs, anything that the person you are gifting to might like.
8. Register on Ebates
Ebates (now Rakuten) can be a God-sent for Christmas shopping. Rakuten is a reward website where you can shop and earn up to 25% cash back on online purchases. But for that to work out, you need to register on the platform; the cherry on the top – there’s no joining fee.
There are also several other reward sites you can choose, I also like using Capital One Shopping and Karma Now as they have a browser plug in that searches for discount codes at checkout. It makes sure you get the best price and save some money without really doing much other than clicking the check box to allow it to apply the codes and check other sites to see that you are getting the best price.
9. Create a shopping list and stick to it
This does not happen just during the Christmas season, but the whole damn year- we shop more than we need to and shop what we don’t need. Ergo, to prevent it from happening, consider making a shopping list and ensure you strictly stick to it. Before you make one, make sure to check what you already have. You wouldn’t want to buy things you already had.
10. Buy second-hand or do a yard sale of old Christmas décor
There’s no shame in buying second-hand things if it saves you from financial troubles in the end. Thus, you can either buy second-hand products or sell what you own in a yard sale. People who are looking to change their Christmas décor from last year while saving money might be interested in buying old Christmas décors.
In Arizona, every Friday, people have estate sales, and sell off many decor items as well as items you can use for gifts. These make great ways to negotiate and find some gently used items for your decor you may never have been able to afford. I personally love going to higher end ones to find items which I would love to have, but don’t want to pay the retail price.
Now that you know these hacks, you do not need to worry about Christmas shopping. By following these tips, you can save significantly and enjoy Christmas as you should! Merry Christmas and have a happy holiday season! We all look forward to saving money, don’t we? And I’m sure this includes you, so if you have some additional shopping hacks to share, feel free to drop them in the comment section.
Christmas might be a time of joy, but it can be a threat to your wallets as well. From shopping for gifts and décor to hosting fancy Christmas dinners, there are a lot of expenses involved. Some of which, one might easily manage, but those who can’t, always end up in dire financial crunches only to add more debt in the end. Nevertheless, Christmas is just around the corner and if you are afraid more than being
happy – you don’t need to anymore. You can still save money this Christmas. Who says you can’t have a frugal Christmas of your own. It’s easy – in fact, to help you out, here are some tips that you can use.
7 tips to save for debt-free Christmas
1. Start a Christmas reserve
You might have a reserve for retirement, medical expenses, emergency funds, so why not have a reserve for Christmas as well? It does make sense if it would help you remain debt- free during the holiday season. You can consider depositing a little money every month in the reserve. But before you do that, calculate your average Christmas expenses and then divide the amount by 12 (for every month). That’s the amount you need to reserve every month for the year-end Christmas season.
2. Determine the costly expenses on Christmas
If we’re talking money-saving for Christmas, you have to first determine where your money goes during Christmas time.
Is it gifting? Or is it décor? Or fancy dinners?
When you know where you lose money the most, you can then try to save in that particular category. For instance, if you find out that your money is majorly spent on décor, then how about saving by using the past year’s Christmas décor? Trust me; you can do a lot different from what you have. In other words, you can still decorate differently using the same materials. You just have to be creative. Moreover, don’t you feel ashamed in reusing the old décor, it won’t destroy the Christmas spirit – in fact, you will be more rejoiced when you know you won’t be in financial crunches.
3. Always go by a list when you shop for Christmas
Going without a shopping list can be deadly for your budget. You’ll end up buying more than you should, and what you might not even need. Thus, make a list of all the things you need before going to stores and spending your entire budget. And while shopping, make sure you stick to the list – nothing extra, I repeat nothing! Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you do not shop during Christmas days. Things become really expensive in the festive season. It’s really better to shop before even if you are months away from Christmas.
4. Make use of coupons and cash back
You’re seriously missing out on a lot if you do not use coupons and cash back available to you. Many websites and wallet services allow cash back and coupons that you can use to save money. Additionally, various banks offer credit card points on purchases. You can redeem those points to shop for free. For instance, even Amazon provides coupons. Visit the Amazon App, click Programs and features, and then finally click Amazon coupons. While you are at, don’t hold yourself back thinking you wouldn’t be able to save much. Little savings contribute to huge savings in the end.
When I was growing up, this was similar to layaway. You could put things on layaway and gradually pay them off over time. Because there were four of us kids, and my parents made very little, this was something my Mom used quite a bit. Alternatively, this is like credit cards today, because back in the 90’s I don’t know if lower income people even knew about credit cards. It certainly wasn’t advertised like it is today.
5. Look for cheaper alternatives
We all have our favorite brands, but in case you think that your brand favorites are expensive and you can find cheaper alternatives, feel free to switch. It would be worth it if it allows you to save money and remain debt-free in the end. Quite honestly, growing up, we had a lot of cheaper, more affordable alternatives. From cereal, to candy in our stockings, to the clothes we wore. It has made me appreciate the things I have now and the ability to buy nicer things. We are trying to pass that appreciation on to the girls by helping them understand the things they WANT versus the things they NEED.
6. Sell old and unused items
When it comes to things we do not need, our houses are full of them. Thus, what you can do is clean your house to find out such things. Such things can be anything from old laptops, phones, blankets, clothes, and even machinery. Once you accumulate such things you can sell them off on eBay or hold garage sales for the same. The easiest thing to sell when you have children, are toys and clothes. There are resell shops in most big towns and you can purchase gently used, but more affordable things at these places. This is especially great when your kids are young and growing quite rapidly.
If you are looking for electronics, I highly recommend Back Market for anything your family wants for the holidays relating to electronics. Back Market takes electronics that others may have traded in for upgrades and refurbishes them to like new, and sells them to consumers at a much lower rate. I have several iPads from them and they honestly don’t have scratches, dings, or anything wrong with them. They look brand new. They typically come in some sort of packaging from the brand, so you can easily make your family member happy as well as your wallet.
7. Lastly, make use of some Christmas hacks
Reserving the most important for the last, make use of money-saving Christmas hacks.
– Go for handmade gifts – Starting from handmade Christmas cards, to cake, and cookies.
– Opt for Giftcards instead of spending heavily on Christmas gifts.
– For Christmas dinners, encourage everybody to bring in dishes or wine.
– Send e-Christmas cards. Some websites allow you to send them for free. One such website is this.
– Sing Christmas carols, play poker and other games, as a part of fun Christmas traditions instead of going out to expensive and fancy places.
Finally,
Well, that’s it. Now you’re all ready to save money and be debt-free this Christmas. I hope this festive season brings lots of joy, happiness, and prosperity to you and your family!
Let’s begin with a gentle reminder – You have to enjoy Christmas, not stay afraid of it because of the usual heavy Christmas expenditure (that you have become accustomed to over the years.) Even though yes, Christmas expenses can be frightening when they can shake your budgets like a strong earthquake – but it doesn’t mean you cannot change it.
Remember, the rule is to control your finances, and not let the finances control you. This year can be a good start – plan a financially affordable Christmas that is also fun and joyous. If you don’t know how to, what am I here for? I’ve got 15 solutions waiting just for you.
15 effortless ways to plan a fun and frugal Christmas on a budget
1. Set your priorities
If your idea is to have a bunch of lavish but affordable Christmas dinners with a house stuffed with guests, here’s the bitter truth, you cannot have it all. You have to pick what’s important for you, is it the budget or time spent with extended family?
The point is, you have to keep your priorities straight. Ask yourself, what do you want more? And then begin accordingly.
2. Plan a budget for Christmas
From dinners to décor to gifts, Christmas involves some heavy expenditure. Just to make sure you don’t overspend, it’s a sagacious idea to create a budget for Christmas according to the limit you can spend on each category.
3. Start making a shopping list
You’ll be needing a bunch of things to plan your Christmas evening, so start making a list. When you are done, and go out there shopping, ensure you stick to your list. Make sure you do not shop extra and only buy those things that you need.
4. Think of some frugal Christmas traditions
Think which Christmas traditions can be frugal and enjoyable at the same time? Make a list, as these will be the activities you can opt for doing in the holiday season. My recommendations – Christmas carols, watching lights and decor around your city, and baking sessions with your family.
5. Think of affordable places you can do during the season
If you have to stick to a tight budget, the last place you’d want to end up is in a shopping mall. That being said, several events take place during the Christmas season all around the world, and depending on where you live make a list of some of those events that happen near you, and filter out those that meet your budget.
6. Create a reserve for Christmas
If you don’t want the blow to be hard, it’s wiser to start a Christmas reserve. Every month reserve a little portion for Christmas expenses. They can be used to fund your Christmas expenditure or cover up the extra expenses – if there are any.
7. Think of affordable gifts
This is probably the one area our budget goes out of hand. If it is the same story every year, consider other gift alternatives. For instance, if you are a good baker, you can make cookies and chocolate hampers. It would save you a lot of money.
8. Shop second-hand
Remember, there’s no shame in buying second-hand things if it saves you from financial troubles in the end.
9. Plan gift-exchanges games
You must be wondering, since when gift exchanges began being frugal? Well, they can be, given that there are specific gift exchange games like Secret Santa and The White Elephant.
10. Do your homework – list down all the websites where you can get discounts and cashback
Most people are naive enough to let go of some great deals that could have helped them save money. Don’t be one of those. Make a list of all the websites, wallet services, and card points that can help you save more.
11. Look for Dollar tree in your city
They are a chain of retail stores in America that sells goods for as low as $1. You can get some amazing décor and Christmas items for cheap.
12. Do Christmas shopping beforehand
Prices go up the sky heights during Christmas. Thus, it’s any day better to shop before the holiday season. In fact, refer to the list you made, and see which of those items can last till the end of the year.
13. Start saving wrapping sheets
This is something you have to do way before. Every time you get a gift, save the wrapping paper to reuse it. But, make sure you pull it off gently, without cutting and damaging the paper heavily.
14. Ditch the credit card
If you don’t want to become a sob story in the end, then don’t use your credit cards. It’s the worst thing you can do to yourself. Thus, consider paying through cash or debit cards.
15. Plan affordable dinners
Christmas and dinners go hand in hand. Thus, make a list of restaurants that would fit your budget. These are the ones you can go to for a fun and frugal dinner with your friends and family.
Christmas is a time of giving, and we don’t want you to miss out on the joys of the season because you’re worried about money. That’s why we put together this list of 15 easy ways for you to have a fun and frugal Christmas on a budget. From affordable dinners to ditching the credit card to shopping beforehand, there are plenty of tips here that can help you save money while still enjoying all the festivities. Plus, many of these tips can be applied no matter what your budget is. So tell us, how will you be more frugal around Christmas this year? We would love to hear from you!
Turqouise-toned water and white sandy beaches are probably the first images that pop to mind when you think of Hawaii. But did you know there’s a whole lot more to the Aloha State than meets the eye?
If you usually prefer exploring rather than spending days lounging on the beach, you’ll love to know that Hawaii is a haven for a ton of varied activities that range from hiking over volcanoes to chasing waterfalls and walking over Jurassic Park-like settings.
If you’re currently busy planning the places you want to see in Hawaii and find yourself struggling to decide what to see and do, I’ve put together a list of seven of the most amazing things to do in Hawaii, including Hawaiian destinations that absolutely need to be on your bucket list.
Amazing Things to Do in Hawaii
1. See the largest waterfall in Hawaii at Akaka Falls State Park
Set just outside the mesmerizing town of Hilo on the Big Island, Akaka Falls State Park is home to the tallest waterfall in Hawaii at a height of a whopping 442 feet!
In order to reach the falls, you’ll need to follow a short trail for about thirty minutes inside the forest. Even though the trail is short, it doesn’t lack when it comes to beautiful natural encounters. Including wild orchids, groves of bamboo, walls blanketed by ferns, and even a smaller waterfall.
2. Explore the NaPali Coast State Wilderness Park
Located on the beautiful North Shore of the island of Kauai, NaPali is an insanely beautiful stretch of a 16-mile coastline where you will find landscapes that look as though they came straight out of the Jurassic Era.
If you’re the adventurous type, you’ll love spending time exploring inside the park by hiking a few of its many trails. But you can also see its highlights from a distance by joining a boat tour or hopping on a helicopter for a birds-eye view!
3. Experience the nature around Hilo
Being the capital of the Big Island, you would expect Hilo to be filled with hustle and bustle. But this city actually harbors a pretty laid back vibe and calm atmosphere.
As you explore the city, you’ll be able to enter a few museums, check out the zoo, or simply stroll through its streets to admire the many historical buildings that dot the town.
Hilo, however, is more of a gateway than a destination. Especially for those keen to experience the lush nature that surrounds this area of the Big Island. From here, you can hop over to a ton of wonderful destinations that guarantee unbeatable outdoor experiences. Which range from trekking volcanoes, hiking to waterfalls, and traversing the lush rainforest.
4. Visit Pearl Harbor
Visiting Pearl Harbor is a sort of rite of passage for any visitor to Hawaii. Especially when you consider it the place where one of the most crucial events in the history of the United States took place.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, visiting Pearl Harbor is a wonderful way to step back in time in order to understand the events that took place here during World War II. Moreover, you will also be able to pay homage to the victims of the war.
After learning about Pearl Harbor, you can also hop on a naval boat and visit the USS Arizona Memorial Center. Which was constructed over the remains of the USS Arizona battleship. The memorial was built as a place where visitors can honor the lives of those who perished in battle against the Japanese Naval Forces when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Make sure you check the times the boat is available for the tour. We didn’t and just showed up at Pearl Harbor and the tour was already completed for the day. Even though Pearl Harbor quite some time ago, it was still a sobering experience. And it was nice to be able to take Steve’s mom and Grandma who was born a few years after the bombing took place.
5. See the beauty of Waipio Valley
More commonly nicknamed the “Valley of the Kings”, Waipio Valley is a wonderful place to visit in Hawaii if you want to explore one of its most emblematic natural landmarks as well as get glimpses into its royal past.
Waipio was once one of the most important centers for political and religious lives in Hawaii. Kings once resided in the valley, which makes it an interesting place to be to get an idea of what life in the Hawaiian monarchy was like back in the day.
6. Polynesian Cultural Center
One of the aspects that make Hawaii stand out from the rest of the United States is that, even though it’s officially a part of it, its residents still stay loyal to their Polynesian heritage and culture.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was created in order to keep the heritage and spirit of the Pacific Islands alive. While visiting, you’ll get the chance to learn all about the Polynesian region by strolling through villages, checking out natural areas. And taking part in activities and entertainment with a cultural focus in mind.
Plus, the Polynesian Cultural Center hosts some of the best luaus in Hawaii!
7. Tour a Kona Coffee Farm
The Kona region on the Big Island is world-renowned for its excellent coffee production. And there’s no better way to get acquainted with the area’s coffee culture than by visiting the place it comes from.
If you want to learn all about Kona Coffee, you can actually visit the farm it comes from. Where artisan farmers will tell you all about their process, starting from seed to coffee mug! We always go to a coffee farm or get coffee as a souvenir when traveling to any of the Hawaiian Islands. But the coffee farms in Kona are a real treat!
Which of these destinations are you most excited to visit in Hawaii? I’d love to know which one you’re looking forward to visit the most, so tell me all about it in the comment section below!
Are you looking for ways to earn money from Pinterest or probably wondering how the bloggers rock their monthly income by leveraging the power of pinning? I was in the same place; trying and finding all the ways to earn extra cash using Pinterest.
In this piece, I’m going to take you on the ride that will open the doors of wild possibilities of earning through Pinterest and make this visual search engine your money-making machine.
This is no BS guide as everything here is tried and tested.
How to make Pinterest your Money Making Machine
Here’re some of the ways to make money using Pinterest:
But first, if you’re new to Pinterest; I would highly suggest you spend some time and learn thoroughly how it works.
Pinterest is not like other social media channels and your readers out here are looking for the solution. Once you’re clear with their pain-points; you can easily pitch your solutions to them.
Pinterest can be a great resource for businesses, but it’s important to set up your account correctly and make the most of the features available.
To start with, you’ll need to create a business account rather than a personal account. This will give you access to more features, such as the ability to create pins with rich data (including prices and availability) and track analytics on how your pins are performing.
You can also create pins using design tools from Pinterest itself, or use a URL shortener like bit.ly to make them shorter and more eye-catching. I also like to use split.co which allows me to see who has clicked on what link, and make a small commission when someone purchases or even signs up for their platform. It’s a win-win for me!
1. The best way to earn from Pinterest is to create a blog
It indeed is not an easy job to run a profitable blog but it’s all worth it in the end. Start a blog and submit your website to Pinterest for the claim.
Once it’s done, create your Pinterest profile, add a head-shot image and write the description using all the keywords you wish to rank for.
Now when you are done with at least 3-4 blog posts; you can create eye-catchy pins for your Pinterest boards. I would highly suggest creating the boards that are relevant to your blogging niche.
Moreover, do not forget to add keywords to your board and pin titles along with the descriptions. This will increase the chances of your pin going viral.
Now that you have a blog and a Pinterest account for the same, make sure that you’re consistent enough with your pinning strategy. Pinterest is the best medium of gaining traffic, especially for the new bloggers.
As you start getting more traffic from Pinterest; your blog’s page views will also skyrocket which will enable you to apply for various ad networks.
Bloggers earn handsome passive cash just by displaying ads. Isn’t this super cool?
But what if you don’t wish to start a blog and yet want to earn from Pinterest?
Here’s the solution:
2. Earn through Affiliate marketing without a blog
You can totally earn through Pinterest even without having an actual blog. Besides driving traffic from Pinterest to your blog through affiliate links, you can simply add the affiliate link straight for the product or the services.
However, be careful here because many companies don’t allow the direct linking of their products on Pinterest; Amazon for instance.
Make sure to use rich pins for your products – these will show extra information like pricing and stock levels when someone clicks on them. The more eye-catching the pin, the better it will perform.
You can also save time by scheduling pins using a tool like Tailwind, which will automatically post them at the best time for your audience. It’s been recommended to schedule the pins in your Pinterest account to get better organic engagement, but if you don’t have time to do that, maybe create pins one day a week or month and try to schedule them as best as possible.
Make sure to remember that Pinterest is a social media platform used like Google. That means that you should be creating great content, using keywords in your pin descriptions, and engaging with other users to get the most out of it.
Thus, do proper research before adding product links to your Pinterest pin. Moreover, also disclose your affiliate relationship while pinning by using the hashtags like #affiliatepin or #affiliate to your pin description.
Overall, Pinterest can be a great way to market your business – just make sure to use all of the features available to you and experiment with what works best for you! You can even add links created from Pinterest to other social media platforms to gain more traffic.
3. Be a Pinterest VA
Do you love Pinning and spending time on Pinterest? Here’s how you can earn by being a Pinterest VA.
Pinterest VAs are in huge demand especially for the bloggers having less time on hand. You can charge for pinning their content, designing the pins, handling their boards, planning their Tailwind account. You can be their Pinterest manager and manage multiple accounts while earning a handsome amount.
I so love this idea of being a Pinterest VA as it gives you the liberty of working on your own terms, freedom of charging as per your capability, and most importantly; building relationships with bloggers.
If you’re a people person, you’ll totally love earning by being a Virtual assistant on Pinterest.
Another way you can use Pinterest is as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant for businesses outside of blogging. Every business that wants to sell something these days is on Pinterest and many won’t have full time staff to help them take care of all the responsibilities of Pinterest. You can help them with their Pinterest accounts by creating pins, scheduling pins, and doing other tasks. This is a great way to make some extra money if you’re good at Pinterest and have some free time!
If you want to work as a Pinterest virtual assistant, make sure the business has a Pinterest business account, first and foremost. You don’t want to put in all the work and then realize you can’t look at the analytics or any other back-end information.
If you already have an established Pinterest account and create product pins and rich pins that perform well, you could create and sell Pinterest templates to bloggers, businesses, and others that could bring in additional income for you and help others who can’t create on their own.
In the end, making Pinterest your money-making machine is not as challenging as you may think in the beginning. Whether it’s through affiliates or VA or through a blog; making money on Pinterest is totally possible and people are actually doing that.
Pinterest can be a great money maker if you use it correctly!
Here are some tips to get you started and complete if you are working for other businesses as a VA:
1. Make sure your profile is complete and includes a link to your website.
2. Use keywords in your pins and board titles to help people find you.
3. Pin regularly and make sure your pins are high quality.
4. Drive traffic to your pins by sharing them on other social media platforms.
5. Monetize your pins by adding affiliate links or selling products/services through Pinterest.
6. Experiment with different strategies until you find what works best for you.
Pinterest can be a great way to make money if you use it correctly! By following these tips, you can start generating income from your Pinterest account and make it your money making machine. Good luck!
If you’re in the planning stages of your vacation to the Aloha State, chances are you’re feeling pretty daunted with the number of options available, especially when it comes to beautiful beaches worth checking out.
Hawaii’s coastline is absolutely dreamy and pretty extensive, which pretty much means you can’t really go wrong when it comes to deciding what beach to head to next. One thing you definitely need to keep in mind, though, is that where you ultimately decide to go will depend entirely on your interests and overall travel style.
Whether you’re traveling with small kids, want to spend a day surrounded by luxury, or prefer to mix things up and combine a beach day with time out in nature, Hawaii is guaranteed to please. Below is a list of the best beaches to visit in Hawaii!
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Hawaii
1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
If what you’re after is a spot that combines beach time and nature, look no further than Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on the island of Oahu.
Located only thirty minutes away from Honolulu, Hanauma is a perfect place to head to in order to escape the bustle and hustle of the city without straying too far away from the city’s amenities.
While here, you can spend the day snorkeling through its glass-shaped bay. Where chances of spotting Honus (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles) from a close distance are pretty high as they love swimming close to the shore.
After you’re done exploring the surface, you can continue scouring the preserve on foot by following the Koko Bay Trail, which will take you all the way up to a volcanic crater!
2. Wailea Beach
Love luxury and want a chic place to hang out for a day? If a resort vibe sounds like your jam, Wailea Beach is a must on your plans.
Wailea Beach is actually not only ranked as one of the best beaches in Hawaii. But it also often makes it to the top beaches in the world. Amenities are aplenty at Wailea, including cabanas, bars, and food. This means all you really have to worry about during your visit is choosing what bikini to wear.
Another highlight of Wailea is that it offers a wide array of activities. Including snorkeling, body surfing, and boogie boarding in case you feel like getting out into the ocean.
Plus, Wailea is considered a prime spot to catch sights of migrating whales during the winter months!
3. Lanikai Beach
Not only is Lanikai considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the Hawaiian Islands, but also in the entire world.
Wrapped up by miles and miles of bright blue water and soft white sand, Lanikai offers views like no other. In fact, Lani Kai translates into “heavenly ocean” in Hawaiian language. Which is a pretty fitting description of what being here feels like!
Thanks to its calm waters, Lanikai is a perfect place for swimming. Kayaking is also a favorite activity to try while at Lanikai. And you can actually kayak your way to two small islands that sit close to the shore!
4. Punaluu Beach
Set right between Pahala and Na’a’ehu on the Big Island of Hawaii, Panauluu Beach is one of the seven black sand beaches on the island, all of whose dark-colored sand was created by lava from the nearby Kilauea Volcano.
Aside from admiring the natural wonder that is black sand, Punaluu Beach is also a popular spot to see endangered green turtles and hawksbill turtles. So make sure you keep your eyes out for them! Moreover, Punaluu also provides picnic spots, snorkeling opportunities, camping grounds, and various beautiful hiking trails.
5. Kapalua Beach
Back in the 90s, Kapalua beach was considered the best beach in the entire United States. While that’s no longer the case, it still remains one of the most beautiful beaches in Maui and entire Hawaii.
Kapalua provides the perfect opportunity for visitors to experience a classic Hawaiian beach feel. With a palm-fringed shore featuring golden sand. And blue waters as clear as they can get. The weather and environment on this northern part of Maui is also something to see. As it’s vastly different than the beaches a bit south.
A popular activity at Kapalua is simply relaxing under the sun’s rays, but snorkeling here is another prime thing to do, especially for first-timers. Thanks to the fact that there is a coral reef located right by the shore, you can spot tons of colorful fish and even a few sea turtles without having to stray too far away from the shore.
6. Makalawena Beach
If you’re into quiet beaches and usually prefer to go to places away from the typical tourist route, Makalawena Beach is a perfect place to do just that.
Set on Hawaii’s Big Island, Makalawena is located pretty close to Kekaha Kai State Park, making it a great destination to combine beach and nature on a day trip.
Despite its unraveled beauty, this beach still remains a bit of a hidden gem due to the fact that it’s a bit tough to reach it. To get to it, you will either need to drive on a 4×4 or walk for about half an hour from the parking lot. Still, once you get there, the extra effort is definitely worth your while!
Are you currently planning your beach-hopping adventure in Hawaii? Which of these beaches sparks your interest the most? You can’t go wrong and won’t be disappointed in any of the choices! I’d love to know which one of them you are most excited to check out, so let me know in the comment section below!
money. Secret Santa is a group game where everybody is assigned a person, for whom they have to buy a gift. The identity of the gift giver remains unknown till the end, so the gift receiver has to make a guess.
you are someone who remains oblivious of the sales, you have to change if you don’t want to be burdened by the financial stress of Christmas.
and shop what we don’t need. Ergo, to prevent it from happening, consider making a shopping list and ensure you strictly stick to it. Before you make one, make sure to check what you already have. You wouldn’t want to buy things you already had.
Christmas as well? It does make sense if it would help you remain debt- free during the holiday season. You can consider depositing a little money every month in the reserve. But before you do that, calculate your average Christmas expenses and then divide the amount by 12 (for every month). That’s the amount you need to reserve every month for the year-end Christmas season.
you might not even need. Thus, make a list of all the things you need before going to stores and spending your entire budget. And while shopping, make sure you stick to the list – nothing extra, I repeat nothing! Additionally, it’s important to make sure that you do not shop during Christmas days. Things become really expensive in the festive season. It’s really better to shop before even if you are months away from Christmas.
to find out such things. Such things can be anything from old laptops, phones, blankets, clothes, and even machinery. Once you accumulate such things you can sell them off on eBay or hold garage sales for the same. The easiest thing to sell when you have children, are toys and clothes. There are resell shops in most big towns and you can purchase gently used, but more affordable things at these places. This is especially great when your kids are young and growing quite rapidly.
here’s the bitter truth, you cannot have it all. You have to pick what’s important for you, is it the budget or time spent with extended family?
and go out there shopping, ensure you stick to your list. Make sure you do not shop extra and only buy those things that you need.
for Christmas expenses. They can be used to fund your Christmas expenditure or cover up the extra expenses – if there are any.
fact, refer to the list you made, and see which of those items can last till the end of the year.
harbors a pretty laid back vibe and calm atmosphere.
where one of the most crucial events in the history of the United States took place.
want to explore one of its most emblematic natural landmarks as well as get glimpses into its royal past.
a part of it, its residents still stay loyal to their Polynesian heritage and culture.
to get acquainted with the area’s coffee culture than by visiting the place it comes from.
how it works.
VA.
Oahu.
island, all of whose dark-colored sand was created by lava from the nearby Kilauea Volcano.
remains one of the most beautiful beaches in Maui and entire Hawaii.
and nature on a day trip.
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