Thriftism

Your trip is booked, you've got everything you could possibly need pack and are heading to the airport. Who cares if you have a big suitcase - you already paid to check that thing! It's smooth sailing from here right? What happens when you land and have to pick up that huge suitcase? Maybe you're only staying in one spot so it isn't too unmanageable. Just have to get from the airport to the hotel. What about if you plan to explore different cities? Sometime you can leave a bag in the car, but who wants to drag a big, heavy suitcase into the hotel every day? Not to mention if you're taking the train or other public transportation you'll have to rent storage every day (try finding a place that takes full size bags) and try to fit it in the spaces on the train. NOT FUN! Even a carryon can get irritating in those situations, so why exacerbate it by over packing? Choosing outfits for a trip can be tricky and even stressful, especially if you're planning...

Heading to Germany? Check out this fun, free attraction in the heart of Munich. Watch for updated posts coming soon for a quick travel guide to Munich.

  There are plenty of reasons to have a garden, from saving money on groceries, enjoying fresh produce, or simply having a hobby that will keep you active. While we have already been through upkeep and produce specific posts, we want to now provide a few tips to get your garden ready for winter.   Why do you need to do anything?   Clean up plants before frost to make your yard clean up easier (prevent the green sludge). Fall garden care will make spring planting much easier. Get the most from your plants by harvesting all remaining vegetables and fruits before the frost. Add nutrients, soil additives, other good things to your soil for better garden growth next summer!     Getting Started   Being your fall garden care by picking any remaining vegetables or fruit. When I say any remaining, I do mean any and all . Tomatoes will ripen on your counter or in the garage, small cucumbers have many uses, and small peppers are still quit...

Time for our monthly goal check-in! Here's where we at Thriftism stand: Take 6 Courses Online A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment on Coursera (6/27/17) You and Your Money (7/15/17) Spanish Vocabulary Project (Began 7/31/17) Beginners German: Food and Drink (Began 7/30/17) Learning to Learn (Course Deadline November 5, 2017 Done with 3 weeks) Install Bathroom Heater✔ DONE!! So nice to have a warm bathroom. Stain/Finish Captains Bedframe No progress here, this one seems to be a challenge for us.  Read 12 Books Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown The Summons by John Grisham Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen  Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen Mansfield Park by Jane Austen A Convenient Marriage By Georgette Heyer Emma by Jane Austen (~80%) Persuasion by Jane Austen The Magregors, Grant (~50%) Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (Just Starting) Take 2 Trips (Mexico & Germany)   Trip 1✔ We ...

Located only 10 minutes from the Austrian border, Oberstdorf is a wonderful base point for travels around Southern Germany and the Western portion of Austria. The town itself is surrounded by three major mountains: Nebelhorn, Söllereck, and Fellhorn. This means you'll have amazing views on clear days and the option of in-town attractions or the more remote mountain hikes and gondolas. Keep reading for more information on things to do in the area!  How to Get Here Hohenems/Dornbirn Airport Car Public Transportation Book Bus Tickets  ~€33.40, 2 hr 50 minutes Munich Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€20, 2 hr 20 minutes Innsbruck Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€59.90, 5 hr Things to Do Hiking /Skiing - The same mountains that are great for hiking have skiing available during winter months. Click the link for interactive hiking trail map seen below. Interacti...

Located on the Rhine River, Strasbourg is only a short walk or drive away from Kehl, Germany. It's proximity to the border makes this town a great stop on your trip to Germany. Strasbourg is also the official seat of European Parliament and may be best know for it's historic Le Petite France section featuring canals and medieval style buildings. How to Get Here Stuttgart Airport Car Public Transportation Book Bus Tickets  ~€20, 2 hr 30 minutes Paris Airport Car Public Transportation Book Train Tickets  ~€30, 1 hr 50 minutes Things to Do Batorama Boat Tours - For only €13, enjoy a 70 minute boat tour of Strasbourg. Discounts available for children. Le Petite France - This picturesque area is what Strasbourg is best known for. Be sure to bring a camera as you cross over bridges from the modern world into history. Enjoy the old architecture and surrounding parks. The best part of all, is this attraction is f...

You've heard it all before-- "turn down your thermostat and save a bunch of money", but typically the person telling you this lives in an ice box and you're just not prepared to give up comfort to save a few bucks. There are some bloggers who will tell you to wear a hat and coat in your house to capitalize on savings... I am not one of them. You don't need to freeze to save money, but you should be turning your thermostat down. Still don't believe me? Keep reading to see how much you can save this year. The Data Depending on the climate you live in, your savings can range from 1.5-5% per degree you turn down your thermostat. Obviously, the colder your climate, the more you will save by keeping the temperature lower. Energy.gov states that you can save as much as 10% on your energy bill by turning down the thermostat as little as 7 degrees for 8 hours a day. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Engineering Department from Purdue University has put the figure ...