Ohmyword. I always forget how much work goes into getting ready for a vacation. Although I’ve been quiet on the blog this week, I’m working like a madman behind the scenes to be sure there’s plenty of great stuff for you to read while I’m petting the lions and wildebeests in Africa.
Meanwhile, I still have to get things ready for our house-sitter. And exercise every day. And eat well. And take care of my finances. And write my column for Entrepreneur. And maybe take some time to breathe. It’s madness, I tell you, madness!
I took some break from the madness today to take a look at some other personal finance stories around the web. Here are a few of my favorites:
First, I found a fantastic site while preparing my packing list for Africa. I usually loathe .info sites (they seem like havens for scammers), but TravelIndependent.info is loaded with great advice for budget independent travel. I mean, look at this travel packing list. It’s a frickin’ work of art! A thing of beauty! And other hyperbole! Seriously, if you’re starting to travel like I am, bookmark this place. It’s packed with information. (And it appears to be unmonetized, which is too bad. I’d love to support the owner by clicking his links when purchasing travel gear.)
Five Cent Nickel actually has a couple of interesting pieces this week. First, Nickel himself argues that you shouldn’t always automatically reinvest dividends. Dividend reinvesting is the core of many investment philosophies, but Nickel says that there are times you should do this manually instead of automatically. That article may be a little technical for most people, but FCN staff writer Laura has a good piece about how much your credit score matters, which is applicable to everyone.
Over at The Simple Dollar, Trent has put together a list of seven monthly bills most people have — and seven ways to reduce each bill. That’s 49 frugal tips in one blog post! Meanwhile, at Bargaineering Miranda Marquit offers five ways to know that investment scam stinks. Remember: If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Finally, a couple of things I found yesterday have spurred me to action. First, One Frugal Girl has a short post about a friend who can’t stop buying lotto tickets. Second, Rob at Cockeyed has pieced together his incredibly depressing mega-millions simulator, which lets you see just how futile playing the lottery really is. I hate the lottery. Sure, I’ve played it in the past, but mostly I’ve watched people who can’t afford to lose money on the games do so anyhow. These two pages got me so riled up that I wrote a long tirade. I plan to edit that down and combine it with the official Get Rich Slowly lottery simulator sometime soon. (As in: when I get back from Africa.) Watch for it.
Speaking of Africa — it’s time I get back to writing and editing. There’s still lots of work to do in the word mines before I can go pet those lions and wildebeests!
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Have a wonderful trip! I think I remember you posting very early on about Kris not being sure that she wanted to go on that trip. I am very glad you are both going together. Have fun and stay safe!
ETA: Not sure what your itinerary is nor how you feel about it, but here (in Europe) many tourists often take bulk packages of pens, pencils, crayons, colored markers, stickers, candy etc to give to the kids they meet along the way. Just a suggestion, do or discard as you wish.
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JD, I completely understand you not wanting to give out candy, but I know that the school / art supplies are things they really appreciate (and sort of expect at this point from foreign tourists … I realize that’s a whole other issue.)
My son is in an international (bilingual) school. I was at the school for parent-teacher conferences today. One of his teachers is on sabbatical, spending this school year in India. She has a friend (and some HS students!) coming to visit her soon, and posted a request on the board saying that if anybody wanted to, could they please send (the exact list I gave you) with one of the people coming to visit her.
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Have a wonderful trip! Hope you have a fun and relaxing time in the wild
Regarding the gifts, no chocolates, it will melt. Most of the US chocolates do at least. Hard candy might be better. May be some hygienic product pouches like toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, small sample sized packs put together. And also coloring books, crayons and pencils.
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JD – The site monetizes. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the home page.
http://www.travelindependent.info/amazon/index.htm
Maybe you can give them some tips to improve revenue.
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I did the “kid” list, Suba did the “adult” list! I would add disposable razors.
*JD is freaking out now that he realizes either he and / or Kris might need to do more shopping*
The bottom line is, you are affluent, and you are being a tourist in a poor country. You WILL be asked for “presents”. I lived in Madagascar, an EXTREMELY poor country, for 18 months, I know it’s not easy.
I think the Europeans have more experience than the Americans with this issue, only because these countries are closer, so the Europeans are more likely to visit them than your average American.
So either you give money, or you buy the overpriced souvenirs that you don’t really want. (One is OK, any more than one means Accumulating Stuff unless you want to give the item as a present.)
So (the reasoning here in Europe is), it is kinder and gentler to give people something they can really use. Be it a pen, a crayon, a bar of soap or a toothbrush.
It is VERY difficult to have this discussion without sounding patronizing, I am well aware of that.
J.D.’s note: Thank you. I appreciate the advice. And you’re right — I’ll have to do a little more shopping. The stuff we give away just frees up room for bringing stuff back, right?
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Exactly LOL! You and Kris have quite a few “young” friends, you will be able to purchase very beautiful sculpted animals at very little cost. Yet another way of “giving back”. They are fragile though.
Again, have a wonderful trip. I can’t wait to see your photos!
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Have an amazing trip!
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There’s an error somewhere in the code for the mega-millions simulator: the line at the bottom says that in total the players have won more than they’ve spent.
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I spent four wonderful weeks in Kenya . . . it changed my life. My outlook. My spending. My clutter in my house. My relationships with things, people. My love of animals.
Amazing.
Africans are the most friendly people in the world. Such smiles, and so welcoming . . . you will fall in love with everyone you meet.
Safe travels, have fun, take a ton of photos . . . and come back with a big smile on your face!
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Regarding gifts? Frankly, the thing I wished I had more of when I went were ball point pens. The kind that click open and close? EVERYONE wanted mine!
Kids like shiny pennies, btw. They have to be shiny though. They call them ‘Lincolns’ because they know that Lincoln freed the slaves. I had little kids tug on my shirt – “Lincoln! Lincoln!”. But only shiny pennies, bright ones. Dirty ones, they don’t recognize as being the same thing!
A suggestion — if you have a carry on that has room? Pack a lot of (new) kid shirts. Plain white ones, little onsies . . . there is such a need there for them and you can easily donate them. You can buy them new and just donate them at the airport when you land. And then voila – you have room to bring back souveniers!
Ack . . . I want to go back. Can I go with you????
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JD is being modest and loves hearing your ideas so keep them coming.
But in the interest of full disclosure, I thought I’d tell you that our packed bags include 100 colorful pencils, three dozen ball-point pens, 12 inflatable globes, and 30 child-sized notebooks. How do we give these away without seeming obnoxiously ostentatious? Will we be mobbed the first day and give away everything? We’re very curious to see how it will play out. An adventure awaits.
I love the penny idea and will go through our penny jar and see how many we can take along.
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I hope you have an amazing time. I’ve always wanted to go on a safari and see Victoria Falls, while I was in the “neighborhood.” I’m looking forward to seeing lots of photos with the smiling face of kids who just got crayons.
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JD: I wonder if you might consider posting fewer (or no) links to Trent’s blog. As you’ve learned from previous comments regarding Trent, people have major (valid) issues with his blog, his ethics, his occasionally illegal advice, and his censorship. I hope that the previous onslaught of diverse comments about Trent and his blog convinced you that there are legitimate issues. Your blog, on the other hand, is upstanding all around. I hope you’ll give Trent less press – I hope people continue to take less of his advice as he drives readers away. And there are so many other sources to cite.
Happy travels!
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Be sure to have a couple good pens for yourself. I’m currently abroad in a city in a more modern yet still developing economy, and still it took me 3 tries to find a pen that worked after the first 10 minutes of usage.
Pack those Cottonelle FreshWipes things for the days when you get traveler’s diarrhea. The local 1ply is fine for anything and everything else, but the wipes are crucial for the 6-10x/day period of “adjustment” to the local food.
A travel bottle of Woolite, it’s great at getting the dirt of hiking out of your clothes.
In the city, I have been using the local laundries, but the cheap soap or residual bleach in the machines is fading my colors fast and a couple favorite items now are ruined with blotchy colors. Even items I’ve had for a few seasons now are fading rapidly.
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What *country* in the marvelous continent of Africa will you be visiting, JD? I expect it will not be Egypt?
We did not get sick from Mefloquine but definitely needed those mosquito nets when we have visited Ethiopia.
Enjoy your time on the continent. Whatever country you plan to visit.
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@Kris (#11) and JD-
I would recommend finding an orphanage or school that you can spend an afternoon at. Not only will this be a GREAT use of your time, but you will have names and faces of kids to put with your memories of giving away those things you listed.
I would also recommend giving those supplies to the African teacher or principal or whoever you are in touch with and letting THEM be the ones to give the gifts to the kids.
I say this because I lived in Zambia for most of 2009 and it’s hard to describe the level of “give me” attitude that pervades much of the thought there. The best thing you can do is share personal love and laughs with the children and not perpetuate a “you are white and so you should give me something” mentality that is left over from colonialism and continued today by well-meaning NGOs.
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My day job is also the kind of job where you cannot truly escape without paying for it. The work with either be double when you get back or you need to do double the work in advance to clear your calendar before you go. I also (although I am sure not as much as JD) have the kind of job where if I don’t actually get away, I will not be able to enjoy an uninterrupted vacation.
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Don’t give out the gifts unless you WANT to, because you actually make a connection with a child, family, or school – please don’t spread the “white people give pens” business just because a child grabs your hand as you are walking.
If you still have a lot of the stuff at the end of your trip, request that one of the local guides/cooks whom I am sure you will meet donate them to their local school. They may keep them, but hopefully you will meet someone who you like so you won’t mind it too much. Adults will likely appreciate the globes btw.
Have an amazing trip, take your meds, drink water like crazy, buy 3-4 bandanas and detergent packets as soon as you arrive and leave your expectations at home. Can’t wait to read your posts when you get back!
Oh! one more thing – use the bandanas as your first exercise in bargaining, buy one from one vendor, then try to get a lower price on the next, and next, etc. Detergent packets will likely be fixed price
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Have a wonderful trip!
I’ve never been to Africa, but my dad traveled with a frisbee when he was there 30 years ago. He says it was always a conversation/game starter with kids and adults.
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JD-
What part of Africa are you visiting?
The suggestion of bringing school supplies is a good one. I don’t suggest bringing anything that comes packaged, the locals have no concept of a trash can and throw everything on the ground or burn it. Have a great time, Africa is a fantastic continent and it will give you appreciation for what we have in the US.
Cheers
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You’re going to have an amazing, eye-opening experience in Africa. I went there least year for three weeks and it was absolutely amazing. You’ll meet a lot of really cool people, as well as see a lot of beasts we’re used to only seeing on TV. When was the last time you had to stop your car on the highway because an elephant was crossing the road?
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Please be very careful, especially in South Africa. Talk to the people where you are staying and tell them your plans and ask where it is safe to go, just wandering around in Africa is a terrible idea. A local guide is a great idea, but definitely ask the people you are staying with for a recommendation instead of picking random people.
Children in more rural areas will appreciate your pens and small gifts a lot more than city child beggars who are very tough and disillusioned. City child beggars may even throw them back at you and say they want money.
If you don’t want to engage city beggars you should walk quickly, don’t talk to them, don’t smile, don’t make eye contact, just keep going. If you happily engage beggars be prepared for a crowd to form and want you to give them all your money. I would really save my gifts and charity for rural areas if you are going into any or give to a local charity.
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I just used the “Incredibly depressing mega-millions simulator” and think there’s a problem with it. Sure, the odds of winning are almost nil, and the site gets that point across, but if you scroll to the bottom of your results, it currently says that people who have played have won 161% of their money back! Somehow I doubt it’s using the same odds as the real lottery on that one.
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Have an awesome trip! I know I have mentioned this to you before….my parents are in their early 70′s and are heading to Africa in July (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana). Any tips you have for them when you get back would be hugely appreciated, I know.
Can’t wait to hear about it when you get back!
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@Debtheaven –
Please please please tell me about Madagascar!! It is one of my dream places to visit since I was in HS. They have ring tailed lemurs and so many living things not seen anywhere else on the earth. (I am sorry I am so irrationally excited about this but what an experience it must have been)
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Hi J.D.
Glad to hear you’ll be coming to SA! You may be surprised to know that you have a few readers here. Hope you have a great trip and please please try the local dried meats called “billtong” and “wors”.
Have fun!!!
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I’ve traveled and stayed regularly in West Africa since I was an infant. Regarding when to give out gifts. I would reserve the gift-giving for people who you are visiting and their children, friends, or family. Or other individuals or children that you’ve had some time of interaction with.
You’re not needing to walk down the street doling out pencils and candy to every child following you (and depending what part of Africa you will be in, you may be followed by tons of children–more in the villages and small towns than the cities). If you are visiting with a gaggle of children, it could be appropriate to to give “group gifts” like a frisbee or rubber inflatable balls (girls love these for handball, and boys love them for soccer). There will be plenty of people wanting to talk to you, see if you can visit a school, or donate group activity gifts to the schools. You’ll be amazed how much fun one ball can provide for a large group of kids.
My suggestions is to not bring a lot of children’s gifts. You can get them there much cheaper. The type of gifts you give really depend though on what part of Africa or part of the country you are visiting.
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Have a great trip!
Having done a bit of traveling myself, one thing I would usually recommend is that you bring one of those instant endothermic ice packs…you know, the ones you crush and they get cold really fast. Nothing worse than spraining your ankle in the middle of a host climate place, where ice is not at all available (especially if they don’t speak English and you have no idea how to describe what you need).
However, you’ll be in a part of Africa where English is very widely spoken. I lived in Botswana for a year, and it’s a beautiful country. I definitely second the caution on safety in South Africa. Definitely ask the locals in S.A. about safety and HEED THEIR WORDS! Get used to carrying your backpack on your front, safety-pinning your pockets shut and being extremely vigilant when you’re in the big cities.
I wouldn’t recommend bringing gifts to hand out to the children on the streets (unless it’s a ball for them to play with). It’s a cliche scene we see on TV here a lot, but in my experience,it’s not really like that. I think you’ll feel a lot better as a visitor, if you can pass through relatively un-noticed. Perhaps look up orphanages, schools, clinics, and find out what they need (blankets, clothing, dictionaries, medical grade cotton wrap, etc.). Also, if you’re going to take photos of children, always ask if it’s ok first and it’s also a good idea to only take them if you can actually offer to give them (or their parent/guardian) a print.
Tsamaya Sentle.
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