Thursday, October 30, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Save! Save! Save! 💰
One of the most important steps to taking any travel excursion is to create a budget (don't just look at it either, actually follow it 😉)
You know those Friday nights when your at the bar and you drop $50+ on a bar tab and those patron shots sounded so good? Guess what? Those bar tabs add up! Sure it's fun in the moment, but what satisfaction does it really give you? Personally I just get a nasty hangover and $50 less in my bank account. Don't get me wrong I am guilty of this at one point or another until I started making my budget a priority again.😖
Here's something to consider:
Make your budget and trip your priority.
Your friends will understand, even if they give you shit for not hanging out. If you work in the service industry like me, pick up and extra shift at work. I try to work 6 days a week in order to save for my trips, it's hard, but in the end so worth it!
If you don't, just try to stay home and remind yourself why you are doing it by googling images and research the place you are working towards.
Cut things out of your life that you don't need!
Ladies and gentleman I'm talking about those extra monthly bills for things that you aren't actually using.
Netflix
Xbox live
Tanning memberships
Gym memberships (admit it, some of you have this and only go once a month) it's called running shoes and a sidewalk... Utilize them since they are free.
Quit smoking
Buy less designer brand clothing
This is my golden phrase:
Are you ready?
Avoid paying retail at all costs! Anyone who actually knows me personally knows I am a bargain hunter supreme. This includes online and even sometimes at stores.
These following websites are your friends:
eBay
Amazon
You know that loose change that always ends up on your floor?
Throw it in a jar!
I can't tell you enough how quickly it will add up!
Today I turned in coins to
COINSTAR (found in most grocery stores)
When all was said and done I walked out of there with a $70 amazon gift card with no fees. They only charge a processing fee when you opt for cash. Use the giftcard when you have that urge to buy something. I've found a lot of incredible deals there.
I have another jar which holds cash which I consider my savings jar. Every month I load it up with the tips I make and at the end of the month I take a trip to the bank to deposit it into my savings account.
There's many other ways to budget which I will touch base on in another post to come soon! Happy saving friends!
Favorite Travel Apps 📱
Looking for some cheap domestic and international flights?! Look no more! This app has seriously saved me hundreds of dollars. It's an extensive search and also if you are flexible, it will show you the cheapest flights by a whole month! 👍
✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️ ✈️
Next up: Hostels
Let me clear something up. You are not going to get brutally murdered by staying at a hostel. That only happens in movies. Okay, glad we've moved on from that because I've heard it quite a bit! "Aren't hostels dangerous?!"
Far from dangerous my friends. They are the most socialable environment you can ask for during a trip abroad. Hostels give you the oppurtunity to meet people from all over the world with the same common passion: TRAVELING!!
Staying at a hostel is like staying in a room full of bunk beds. I've stayed in private rooms with 1 or two beds all the way up to 20 bunk beds! That was interesting but still completely manageable. Fellow travelers respect your space and are usually very friendly.
By far the best part of hostel living is the price tag. Jeez, it's dirt cheap! talk about saving your pennies! This app is my #1 go to for hostels!
🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠 🏠
For all your money exchange rate needs! I've used this app numerous times to quickly see how much money something would cost in my home currency. Keep it efficient and simple stupid 😊
💴 💵 💷 💶 💳 💴 💷 💴
Lastly, for your budget activity needs there is viator! Need I say more?
Cheers!
xx Smerbs
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Japan Day 2
So we wake up and check out of our hostel with bags back in hand again. Take the Shinkansen train to Kyoto. When we arrive in Kyoto its a bit overcast and the hostel wasnt the easiest to find. On our way to Kyoto we stopped in this city called Nagoya. I will say, none of us were impressed and the wind was crazy for some reason there. However we did see a cat temple (or so we called it because there were stray cats surrounding it) Well back to kyoto. We checked into our hostel called A- Yado which was in the Gion district (better known as the infamous geisha district) We get our stuff to our room which was a 10 bed dorm ( 5 bunks ) which was a little crammed for my taste but we made it work. The first night we just got settled in and planned our next day. After some planning we got hungry and ventured out to find some ramen. (Soup with meat and noodles) and stumbled across this place that was recommended to us and DAMN it was good. On the train i also tried some chips that tasted like pizza. True story.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Japan: Day 1
Flight was 11 hours from LAX to Narita. Felt like forever!
Arrived to the terminal to be greeted by my friend Grace from London and her friend Chalice. Let me tell you a little about Chal; she's almost 6 foot, beautiful features, 90's style clothing, & bangs of different pastel colors ( Fringe as she calls it) They say first impressions mean a lot, and lets just say i knew she was going to be one of those people you never forget. We catch the train to the city and get to our hostel around 10 pm. The first night was a quick one, went to sleep to wake up to catch the Shinkensen (Bullet train) to Kyoto. I used my first future toilet!!! This thing has a button that sprays water into your vagina & another button for your butthole.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
You want to know what happiness is?
“It’s waking up in the middle of the night, shifting under the blankets & feeling the heart of the person next to you. You turn around & see them in their most peaceful, innocent, & vulnerable state. They breathe as though the weight of the world lies on anyone’s shoulders but their own. You smile & kiss their face in the gentlest manner so as not to wake them. You turn back & an involuntary grin forms on your face. You feel an arm wrap around your waist and you know it doesn’t get any better than this.”
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
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- Ashley Ann Marie Smerber
- I stop to smell the roses, and see the good in everything. I am 23 years young. Creative and aggressive. Fun loving & adventurous i want nothing but a good time. This blog was made for me to look back on my life and smile..