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Have you not seen the world yet? What’s your excuse this summer? If it’s that you can’t get the time off work or you weigh half a ton and you can’t fit into an airline seat, then I can’t help you. However, if your excuse is, “traveling is too expensive”, then I have some ideas….

1) Getting rid of your cell phone will save you about $1,000 over the next 2 years. Are you really so important that you need one? (If you’re an emergency surgeon, skip to #2)

2) Getting rid of that gym membership you never use will save you at least $500 over the next 2 years. (See: Jog in your neighborhood, invest in some home exercise equipment and/or walk places for a change!) If you take full advantage of your gym membership, skip to #3.

3) Getting rid of your digital television subscription (i.e. DIRECTV) will save you about $1,000 over the next 2 years. Just because you’ve seen an exotic destination on Survivor, doesn’t mean you’ve been there. C’mon now TV Traveler!

That’s $2,500 that you can use to take an amazing trip every other year. To stretch this amount farther you can travel during non-peak times of year and/or fly during the middle of the week.

Say goodbye to meaninglessly yakking on your cell phone about the last Desperate Housewives episode while you’re waiting in line for the stair-stepper … and say hello to a little adventure and sophistication.

Isaac Rau owns and operates several travel and destination sites including http://www.mycheapairfares.com and http://www.cheap-hawaiian-vacations.com, and enjoys administering the occasional swift kick in the arse to Procrati-travelers, TV travelers, and the like.

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Traveling requires advanced planning and these easy to follow travel tips can make any trip more enjoyable. Being prepared can help travelers avoid many frustrating situations. Have a smart plan when flying, plan your packing, and have a home security plan.

With today’s busy airports and increased security, it is crucial to come to any airport well prepared. Start and finish your vacation on a good note. Take time before any flight to ensure that you have a great trip by following these simple tips.

Arrive Early for your Flight - Most airports have long check-in and security lines. Plan ahead.

Bring Proper ID - Drivers License, ID card, or Passports may be required upon check-in.

Security Pouch - Place ticket information, travel papers and ID in one easy to reach travel pouch.

Seat Assignment - Be sure to call ahead for advanced seating.

Allow for Connecting Flights - Schedule at least 1 to 2 hours between connections.

Prepare to Wait - Bring snacks, drinks and something to occupy your time if you are delayed.

Carry-on Bag - Always have prescriptions with you. Be aware that toiletries and other liquids can break and leak in the non-pressurized luggage compartments. A spare set of clothes can also be helpful when making connecting flights. Lost luggage can take 24 to 48 hours to catch up to you.

Airplane Air Quality - Cabin pressurized air is sometimes thinner than “sea-level” and always very dry which can leave passengers dehydrated. Have plenty of water on hand. Some passengers feel “tired” during and after flights due to thin, dry air.

Safety - Familiarize yourself with your seat location on the airplane relative to the exits. Read all safety information provided by the airline. Count and memorize the number of seat backs to the nearest exit in the event that cabin visibility is reduced.

Be sure to pack smart. Ever taken twice as much as you needed on a trip? Packing for any vacation no matter how short requires good planning and organization. If you leave packing until the last minute chances are you will be frustrated later. Help anticipate problems before they occur by following these tips.

Have a Security Pouch. Place ticket information, travel papers, confirmations and ID in one easy to reach travel pouch.

Organize a Smart Carry-on Bag. Always have prescriptions with you. Be aware that toiletries and other liquids can break and leak in the non-pressurized luggage compartments. A spare set of clothes can also be helpful when making connecting flights. Lost luggage can take 24 to 48 hours to catch up to you.

Store Toiletries and Cosmetics in appropriate places. If they are not in your carry-on take care to place them in water tight bags away from clothes in case they break or leak.

Have a plan for Laundry. Pack large kitchen bags or an empty duffle to hold laundry. This is helpful if you are changing locations during your vacation. You won’t need to mix clean items with dirty clothes.

Pack a Beach Bag. Avoid having to look for all beach related items you packed by placing them in one bag. Place sunscreens, hats, towels, rash guards and bathing suits in a bag that can double as your beach bag. This is especially important when traveling with children. They will want to dive right into the pool or water when you arrive. Just grab one bag and go!

Keep clothes Dry and Fresh. When traveling to a humid climate it helps to pack clothing in large zip-lock bags opening only those you need. For fresh smelling clothes pack dryer sheets between clothes. Storing shoes in air tight bags will eliminate shoe odor in your luggage.

Avoid Wrinkles in your Clothes. Rolling items together with the most wrinkle-prone item on the outside of the roll can help reduce wrinkles. Another packing method involves laying wrinkle-prone items flat in your suitcase with the rest of the item lapping over the edge of the suit case. Place wrinkle resistant clothes on top of the clothes that are still lying flat and then carefully fold the wrinkle prone item over the clothes on top. If done correctly the result it a gentle curve that avoids a crease.

Plan Ahead for Souvenir Shopping. Pack an empty duffle in your luggage that can be checked-in as luggage on your return flight. This is a good way to have space for all your vacation souvenirs. It can also be used to hold dirty laundry.

Prepare your Home! Preparing your affairs at home before you depart is important for the security of your property. When leaving for more than a few days, be sure everything at home is secure. By following a few steps, your home will be ready for your vacation too.

Suspend all Routine Deliveries. Either stop your mail and paper delivery, or arrange for a friend to pick it up.

Create a House Watch Plan. Even if the paper and mail deliveries are stopped, have a friend come by the house each day to check for unexpected deliveries. They should also walk around your property to make sure everything looks normal.

Leave someone in Charge. Always let someone know your plans and your vacation schedule in case of any unexpected emergencies.

Pay Bills before Leaving. When traveling for more than two weeks, check with all utility companies, credit card providers and mortgage lenders to insure an uninterrupted flow of service with out incurring service charges. In some cases you may need to pay bills in advance of your departure date.

Many frustrating situations will arise when traveling. If you have planned ahead well, many of these pitfalls can be avoided, and those that are unavoidable are more tolerable. Plan ahead and enjoy your vacation!

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No matter what your interests, you will find something in Florida to enjoy. Whether you like mouse ears and theme parks, the warm, sunny beaches or the exotic wildlife, Florida attractions are hard to beat. With an increasingly friendly business environment, Florida is also a great place to do business!

When most people think of Florida they think of sunshine, palm trees and fabulous winter vacations. What most people don’t realize is that Florida is also a great place to incorporate. If you own your own business or are considering starting one, you owe it to yourself to discover the benefits of a Florida corporation.

For starters, there is no personal income tax in the State of Florida. While regular corporations are subject to a 5.5% tax on federal taxable income over $5,000, if you incorporate your Florida business and elect S status you can have your cake and eat it too! Florida S corporations are NOT taxable entities and are therefore not required to file state income tax returns (except for the first year). The result is this: you can have the benefits of a corporation, and pay no tax! But there’s more:

Unlike most states, Florida does not have any minimum capital requirements. So if you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of money, you can still take full advantage of incorporating without having to put a lot of cash into your company. Some states require you to fund your corporation with at least $1,000 in capital. Not so in Florida.

Another good thing about incorporating in Florida is that it’s easy to do and you don’t have to involve a lot of different people. For example, while many states require you to have more than one director and a different person for each corporate officer, in Florida the Director, President, Secretary and Treasurer can all be the SAME person! This makes it easy for smaller businesses that want the benefits of a corporation without all the hassle.

Florida is increasingly becoming a “business friendly” state. It already has some of the lowest annual fees and corporate reporting requirements in the country. But here’s some even better news: The shareholders, directors and officers of a Florida corporation can remain anonymous if they so choose!

The Secretary of State of Florida does not require the names or addresses of shareholders, directors or officers to be listed in the articles of incorporation. Since the State does not keep a record of who owns or controls the corporation, you can conduct business in Florida with complete PRIVACY.

One of the first decisions a business owner must make after deciding to incorporate is selecting the proper state of incorporation. While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer or standard, some states are better to incorporate in than others. Florida happens to be one of the better choices.

However, what’s right for some isn’t necessarily what’s right for everybody. If you are considering incorporating your business, then you owe it to yourself to examine all of the choices. Before making any legal or financial decision, always consult with an experienced and competent professional who knows you and your unique circumstances.

And be sure to mention Florida as one of the possible choices. Remember, Florida isn’t only for tourists: It’s for corporations too!

About The Author

Alex Goumakos is a CPA, business advisor and guest consultant of Active Filings LLC, a professional incorporating company that provides services in all US. (http://www.activefilings.com/). Alex can be reached by email at alex@activefilings.com. Get more free articles at http://www.activefilings.com/activenews/

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