Werry's in Middle Smithfield, Studebakers in Bartonsville change hands

Two Pocono icons changed hands within hours of each other Thursday.Studebakers Restaurant, the popular, throwback eatery on Route 611 in Bartonsville, sold to Tommy and Christy Lin. The restaurant’s new owners also own Ichiban Oriental Restaurant, near the East Stroudsburg Kmart, and Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse in the Bartonsville Plaza.Studebakers may be best known to passing motorists for its vintage Studebaker on display in front of the building.For 16 years, [...]

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Annual report shows higher revenue in 2014-15

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau at its annual Report Luncheon for the 2014-15 fiscal year at Camelback Lodge on Oct. 22 reported total revenue of $7,108,534, an increase over the past fiscal year, generated by approximately 25.6 million visitors during the year.“This year had its ups and downs. As a region, we faced the unthinkable last fall. But, I saw the Pocono Mountains come together as a community in a way I have never have,” said PMVB President and CEO Carl [...]

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Businesses can pursue low-cost business loans

NEPA Alliance has several federal and state loan programs available for small businesses in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties. These low cost loans offer lower down payments and standard loan term maturities for machinery and equipment, land and building acquisition, construction and renovation.To learn more about NEPA and its loan programs, contact Dave Nat or Paul Macknosky at 570-655-5581 or 866-758-1929. Eligible [...]

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Pet shop owner's customer care grows new business

Country Critters recently celebrated one year since opening with a grand birthday bash at the Dingmans Ferry pet store and a major expansion.Visitors to the store on Sept. 26 enjoyed balloon animals, free popcorn and cotton candy, and even free gold fish to every child whose parent said “okay.” “We expanded the store three months ago -- literally knocked down a wall and doubled our space,” said Jason Ganly, store owner, who also gave away free [...]

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Eight Romantic, Affordable Honeymoon Destinations

The average couple in the United States spends $3,400 on their honeymoon, according to Conde Nast Bridal InfoBank. This post-wedding getaway is supposed to be a time for the bride and groom to relax and enjoy each other’s company alone after all the hustle and bustle and stress of the wedding. However, if you pay more for your honeymoon than you can afford, it can cause some financial stress of its own after you get home — and no one wants to start off their brand-new marriage under financial duress!

So if you’re looking for some affordable honeymoon trips to begin your marriage on the right financial foot, check out the amazing destinations we’ve gathered for you below. Each is romantic in its own way and, best of all, you can enjoy most of them while spending only half as much as the average American newlyweds, depending on where you live and how far you have to travel.

Before we share these top locations though, here are some tips to help you get started with planning your honeymoon from a financial perspective:

Tips for Selecting an Affordable Honeymoon Destination

Set a budget: This is the most important step when planning your honeymoon. It’s amazing to dream about an amazing Mediterranean cruise through Italy and Greece, but if you want to keep your spending under $2,500, that type of honeymoon would definitely break your budget.

Itemize your budget: A budget shouldn’t just be a number. You should really sit down and itemize it. For example, calculate how much you want to spend on flights, the hotel, food, activities and excursions, and even souvenirs. All of this will give you a clearer idea of what kind of destination you can afford.

Even better, choose a place that is all-inclusive. That’s what I did for my honeymoon: Since I write about budgeting for a living, I didn’t want to be stressed with small purchasing decisions — like if I wanted an extra glass of wine at dinner. (Spoiler alert: I always got the extra glass!)

Go non-traditional: It sounds great to lay on a Caribbean beach with a little umbrella drink in your hand, but there are many places to see right here in the U.S. that might offer more adventure, culture, or sightseeing that’s off the beaten path. You can go hiking, camping, see the national parks, or couch-surf your way across the country. I know that doesn’t sound romantic — but for the right couple, it would be downright memorable and fun. This is your time as a newly married couple, and no one else’s — so don’t be afraid to spend it the way you want to.

It’s for relaxing: One thing to remember about honeymoons is that they are for relaxing! I find that many people try to cram as much as possible into their honeymoons, setting up tours and wine tastings and excursions all day long. This type of trip is absolutely awesome when you’re a couple or a family and you want to see the world — but trust me, after months of planning a wedding, it really is best to relax. Find a place where you and your new spouse can sleep in without feeling guilty that you’re missing out. You can always go on another vacation in the future, so use this one as a chance to enjoy the quiet after the wedding.

Affordable Honeymoon Destinations

Option No. 1: Charleston, S.C.

Travel & Leisure readers voted charming Charleston, S.C., the best city for a romantic getaway.  Photo: John Hoey

Price: From $220/night

This Southern Belle of a city is known for its romantic charm — Travel and Leisure readers ranked it the Best City for a Romantic Escape in 2015.

And the Vendue Hotel here is a great spot for a honeymoon. The small boutique hotel is within walking distance to much of what charming Charleston has to offer, and the concierge can help you book dinner reservations and offer you advice on what to see and do. Renowned for its incredible customer service, the staff puts a little extra Southern hospitality into all their interactions with guests, and it shows.

At $220/night, it’s far less than many of the top hotels in Charleston, leaving room in your budget to stay for a few nights, eat out, and travel for less than $1,700 total, depending on where you’re traveling from.

Option No. 2: Quebec City, Canada

Admit it: You thought it was Europe, didn’t you? Photo: Artur Staszewski

Price: From $133/night CAD

If your dreams of Paris or Prague have proven too pricey, Canada’s Quebec City might sate your international itch — after all, the locals speak French and you need a passport to get there. With stunning old-world architecture, fantastic restaurants, and a compact city center perfect for strolling, Quebec is a beautiful and romantic walled city to explore.

What’s more, you’ll get more for your dollar here — literally. With the U.S. currency as strong as it’s been in years, prices here are at a steep discount versus a year or two ago.

There are plenty of affordable hotels, B&Bs, and Airbnb options in Quebec, but if you want to splurge, try staying at the Chateau Frontenac – the city’s most iconic building and a fixture of the skyline.

Option No. 3: Treehouse ‘Glamping’ in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Price: From $138/night

“Glamping” — glamorous camping — is an emerging trend. Basically, it’s luxury camping — not nearly as rugged as pitching a tent in the great outdoors and sleeping on the ground. And while we love regular old camping around here, your once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon might be just the time to “glam” it up a bit.

Many areas offer glamping, from the Adirondacks to the Rockies, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with this treehouse that you can rent in the Santa Cruz Mountains outside Monterey Bay, Calif. It has everything you need for a cozy and romantic getaway — and I mean really away, like up in the trees. And at $138/night, you can afford to stay for a few days!

Option No. 4: New Orleans

Price: From $103/night

New Orleans hotels can be quite pricey, especially in or near the French Quarter. However, the city has plenty of cheap and unique Airbnb vacation rental options, and you can find some surprisingly affordable New Orleans guest houses.

One French Quarter guest house that would be perfect for a honeymoon is the Inn on St. Peter. If you’re into five-star luxury, this isn’t the accommodation for you. However, if you want to be just far enough from the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street to sleep, but close enough to walk to everything each day (and maybe stumble home at night), this is a great choice for you.

New Orleans has untold amazing restaurants, jazz clubs, and tourist attractions, but there are also many bargains to be had when it comes to fun and food. Best of all, there’s always free entertainment to be had in the French Quarter: Music follows you wherever you go. A few days in the Crescent City, and your marriage will definitely be off to the right start.

Option No. 5: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Price: From $175/night

Most people get married in the summer, but plenty more tie the knot in the off-season. If you exchange vows in winter or spring, you might be longing for a relaxing beach vacation, complete with Caribbean sunshine, lapping waves, and tasty rum drinks.

The good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a Caribbean getaway. Travel sites such as TravelZoo, Priceline, and Expedia routinely often offer discounted deals on vacation packages to plenty of popular destinations.

Right now, TravelZoo is advertising a rate of $175/night at the luxurious Candado Vanderbilt hotel in San Juan – the No. 1-rated hotel in Puerto Rico by TripAdvisor users. With flights to Puerto Rico both frequent and fairly affordable from most U.S. airports, this is one Caribbean dream honeymoon within reach, even on a budget. Just watch out for hurricane season in late summer and fall.

Option No. 6: Colonial Williamsburg

Price: From $225/night

Many people visit Virginia’s historic Colonial Williamsburg each year, but they probably don’t realize that you can actually stay in one of the historic homes inside of Colonial Williamsburg. This would give you an unparalleled location to access many different sights and restaurants by foot, saving you money on a car rental.

Either way, for anyone who finds beauty and romance in history, a stay in Williamsburg is perfect for a quiet weekend stay where you can cozy up with your new husband or wife in a historic home, stroll down the cobblestone streets hand in hand, and enjoy some award-winning food. It’s truly an experience unlike anything else.

Option No. 7: Cape May, N.J.

Photo: Alan Kotok

Price: From $109/night

Cape May, N.J., is a wonderful place to visit any time of year. In fact, visiting in non-summer months is the perfect way to cut down on your honeymoon costs. Cape May is known for its beachside location, its many historic homes, and its quiet charm.

The Carroll Villa Hotel has had many positive reviews over the past few months. It’s a lovely bed and breakfast with an in-house restaurant and it’s within walking distance to the beach. This is a great way to visit the northeast part of the country without spending the money it would take to visit New York City. New Jersey is often overlooked but, as a recent transplant here myself, I can assure you there is much more beauty here than you can imagine!

Option No. 8: Road Trip

 

Price: Varies

The whole point of a honeymoon is to spend some time away from it all with your new spouse — and nothing quite says “I love you” like riding shotgun with the one you love on a care-free joyride. If you can’t decide on a honeymoon destination, why not go on a road trip?

You can plan out your route ahead of time or just go where the road takes you. Block out a set number of days and hit the road. You should have a budget in mind for gas and lodging, but in general a road trip might be a great way to spend quality time together, explore the country, and save money in the process.

Other Ways to Save on Your Honeymoon

• Register for it: There’s a website called Honeyfund that operates as a registry for honeymoons. Essentially, you can create your dream honeymoon complete with dinners out and airfare, and your wedding guests can pay for different parts of your honeymoon for you. This is especially great for couples who already live together, who might already have traditional wedding gifts like a blender or silverware. Create your dream honeymoon here and have your family and friends chip in to make it happen.
• Take a weekend trip: People seem to think honeymoons have to be large, extensive affairs that span two weeks. However, a quick night or two in a beautiful hotel near you is also really special. If you can’t afford a big trip, know that it’s completely fine to do something quick and close by. No one says you have to regale your children with tales of your exotic beach vacation. As long as you’re with your spouse and enjoying time together away from everything and everyone else, then it should be a wonderful honeymoon.
• Postpone it: After a wedding, many people can’t immediately take more vacation days in addition to the ones they already used for their wedding, so they postpone their honeymoon. This is a great way to settle into married life and save for a future honeymoon. In fact, it can be a fun goal you work on together with your spouse. Try not to postpone it more than a year after your wedding, though, as life tends to intervene and you want to make sure it does actually happen!

A Final Note

Like many aspects of planning their lives together, people tend to really go overboard when it comes to paying for a honeymoon. However, the whole point of a honeymoon is to give a newly married couple some time together to enjoy the very beginning of their married life.

In order to do this, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Sure, anyone would love a lavish trip around the world, but what’s really important is that you spend the time with the person you love most. If that’s your main goal (and it should be), then you definitely can travel to some amazing places, have a memorable time, and not break the bank in the process.

Where did you travel on your honeymoon? Was it memorable and affordable?

Related Articles:

• 20 Tips for a Frugal (Not Cheap) Wedding
• Where to Find Affordable Wedding Invitations
• Tips for Finding Affordable Engagement Rings
• Tips for Finding Affordable Wedding Rings
• Check Out These Beautiful, Affordable Wedding Venues

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When Financial Improvement Is Just a Phase

Sarah and I hit our financial bottom almost a decade ago. We made some hard choices, started turning things around, and those changes are still going strong in our lives.

We’re still saving a large portion of our income – around half of it each year since 2012. We’re still debt free. We have no interest in changing our direction, either. We’re happy with our day-to-day lives (at least in terms of our spending… sometimes simultaneously being a parent, a working professional, and an active person in the community adds up to some stresses).

At the same time, I’m not unaware that many life changes are just phases for people. Sometimes, people try on a life change for a while only to find that it’s not right for them, like a period when they exercise vigorously and then slowly stop doing it. Other people use it to achieve a much shorter-term goal, like someone who diets like crazy for two months to hit a certain weight.

Financial improvement can be much like that. Maybe your financial goal is a short term one. Maybe you’re wired to dive deep into something for a while and then move on to something else that excites you.

Do these things sound familiar? Perhaps you turned to financial improvement when you nearly lost your car or your apartment and you’re trying to push through some changes so that repossession is far away. Perhaps you’re trying to figure out a plan to make it possible to buy a house. Perhaps you’re just really excited about financial changes right now, but you’re self-aware enough to recognize that it could just be a phase.

Whatever the case, there’s a good chance that the financial improvement you believe in so strongly right now is just a phase, one that you will grow bored with in a year or two and move on to something else.

And that’s okay.

The fear that many people have of that change, however, is a sensible one. They’re afraid of just losing all of the progress they’ve made. It’s a fear not too different than someone who has seen great progress on a diet. They’re afraid that when the time comes and they stop being so strict, they’re going to lose their progress and revert back to their previous state, one that they were unhappy with.

The same thing is likely true for many people who hit financial bottom and work hard for a turnaround. Once you stop being so strict on yourself, there is undoubtedly the potential to find yourself right back in that situation again, and that’s a miserable place to be. Not only are you in that financial hole again, but now you’re older, with fewer years between then and retirement with which to dig out again.

What kinds of things can a person do now to ensure that at least some of the positive benefits of the path to financial independence remain when the fire goes away and the focus in your life moves onto something else? Here are six key things you can start implementing now that are going to be incredibly easy to maintain (or very hard to get rid of) once your passions move in a different direction.

Automation, Automation, Automation

Many of the best financial moves you can make are ones that are handled automatically. Once you set them up, money just transfers from account to account without you having to lift a finger. It just happens and the money is safely saved.

Having those kinds of automatic contributions in place is a great way to protect yourself against changing life interests. It requires effort to undo an automatic plan, and when you’re thinking about doing so, you’ll likely retain enough knowledge about smart financial choices and the positive life impact that they can have that you won’t bother undoing that automatic transfer.

Here are several potential ways you can do this.

Set up an automatic contribution to your 401(k) plan at work. Sign up for your 401(k) plan, then set up a healthy contribution right out of your paycheck. Make sure you’re contributing enough to grab your full employer match, then just forget about the whole thing for a long while.

Set up an automatic contribution to your own Roth IRA. If you’d rather control the plan yourself, set up a Roth IRA with an investment house (I use Vanguard). It’s really easy – quite similar to opening a savings account – and once the automatic contribution is in place, it just grows quietly and steadily, pushing you toward a secure retirement.

Set up an automatic savings plan to constantly refill your emergency fund. Ask your bank to transfer a small amount from your checking account to your savings account each week so that you have an emergency fund in place for unexpected events.

Set up automatic contributions to 529 plans for your children. If you have children, it’s not a bad idea to set up a college savings plan for them. Just automatically contribute a small amount each month to that plan and they’ll have some cash in hand when it comes time for college.

Set up automatic savings for any life goals that you may have. Are you saving for a down payment? A replacement car? A move across the country? Whatever your relatively short term goal is, you can automate the savings for that, too. You may find it easier to open an online savings account for this at a bank like Ally, but once you’ve done that, you can easily automate the savings.

Set up automatic investments into a taxable account for early retirement or career switching. Maybe you just want to invest using a taxable account for a goal ten or fifteen years down the road, like switching careers or opening a small business. In that case, open up a taxable investing account (I use Vanguard, again, and it’s not much harder than opening a savings account) and contribute automatically to it.

Focus on Better Daily Routines

Human beings are creatures of habit. I’ve found that time and time again, when I firmly establish a routine that doesn’t require a lot of extra time in my life and is just a better replacement for an older routine, I tend to stick with that new routine for good. If I start shopping at a new store and reach a point where I know where the items I regularly buy are at, for instance, I’ll just stick with that store unless there’s a good reason to switch again.

Use this period when your passion for financial improvement is high to find these kinds of patterns in your life and substitute more financially responsible ones. Do these new things over and over and over until they feel normal to you, in which case they are your new normal and it will take effort to change.

Here are a few such routines that you can implement.

Make the discount grocery store your default grocery store. Start shopping at the low-cost grocery store in your area where you can be sure the prices are pretty low. Shop there every time until you’re familiar with the store and where to find all of your usual items. Once you’ve done that, the store will be your default place to shop and you’ll save money each time you shop there.

Have a cheap morning routine. If you stop every morning for coffee, figure out how to make an approximation of that yourself and save $3 or $4. Once you have a good routine, it’ll actually be quicker just to make it yourself at home before you leave and you’ll save a few bucks a day.

Make taking a container of leftovers completely normal. Make it your goal to take a leftover container to work each and every day. Do it for a month or two. Most days, it’ll contain leftovers; some days, it might be a sandwich or something you made yourself. Soon, the routine of just eating at your desk or in the break room will be normal to you and going out to eat will feel like a big waste of time and money.

Invest in Things That Keep Costs Low

There are many, many things you can invest time and money in right now that will consistently save you money down the road without any additional investment of time. These things are one-shot improvements that reduce your ongoing energy costs, fuel costs, and other expenses.

The best time to take on these kinds of improvements is now, when you’re really excited about financial change. Later on, these moves might not seem as compelling, but if you do them now, you’ll simply be able to enjoy the savings both now and then.

Here are four of my favorite changes along those lines.

Install LED light bulbs everywhere. LED light bulbs are more expensive up front, but they last twenty times as long as normal incandescent bulbs (and about ten times as long as CFLs) and use about 20% as much energy. Over their lifespan, LEDs will save you at least $100 over incandescents in the form of reduced energy costs and the lack of a need for replacements. At our house, we have replaced almost every bulb with an LED, keeping the incandescents around only as emergency backups.

Caulk your windows. Applying caulk around the edges of your windows reduces the amount of air flow that can occur, keeping warm air inside in the winter and keeping it out in the summer. Both of those things can reduce the cost of your energy bill.

Install door sweeps. Similarly, door sweeps reduce the air flow along the bottom of doorways, keeping the warm air in during the winter and the warm air out during the summer which, again, will save on your energy bill.

Get a lower-cost cell phone. Look into low-cost providers like Ting and see if you can find a great plan that works for your needs at a lower cost than the cell provider that you currently use. There may be some costs involved in switching, but you’ll recoup those costs pretty quickly with the lower monthly bills.

Explore Low Cost and Zero Cost Interests

All of us have hobbies and interests, but many of those things come with real expenses. If you engage in an expensive hobby like shopping for clothes or golfing, you’re essentially signing up for a constant drain on your finances.

Instead, use this time to explore some new interests in your life, ones that don’t require a constant influx of money.

When I went through this period, I rediscovered my passion for reading rather than collecting books. I started hitting the library on a weekly basis, checking out books of all kinds and just devouring them in my spare time. That time came mostly from hobbies like video games and trading card games, both of which were quite expensive.

If you’d like to dabble in some low cost activities, here are some good places to start.

Your local library Not only is the library a treasure trove of books, movies, CDs, and audiobooks, it’s often the meeting point of a lot of special interest groups. Check out the bulletin boards and the pamphlet section of your local library for more information.

Meetup Meetup is a great place to find out about groups in your area that meet up to discuss, share ideas, and participate in all kinds of different things. Go there, browse everything within a 25 or 50 mile radius of your home, and check out some of the more interesting events.

State and national parks Not only do nearby state and national parks offer an infinite array of things to visit, they also usually offer a number of programs that can channel one’s interest in the outdoors. You can also check out your city’s local parks and recreation programs.

Build New Friendships

One of the best parts about getting involved in new interests is that you tend to meet new people and, inevitably, if you keep doing those things, some of those new people will develop into new friends. Involving yourself in an activity makes this process easy because you’re already committing together to something that you both have an interest in, so you already have something in common and something to talk about as a starting point.

For some people – and I’ll include myself in this – this kind of social interaction is easier said than done. Introverts like myself tend to build a handful of strong friendships and just stick with those relationships.

However, it’s often the friendships that you have that are causing you to spend more than you should. If you have friends that are into expensive hobbies or have expensive tastes, they’re often taking you along for the ride and causing you to spend, too.

As Jim Rohn puts it, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

If you can build some strong new friendships, you’ll find that their frugal perspectives will help keep you in a more frugal mindset as well, even after the newness of your financial journey wears off.

Here are some strategies for building new friendships that have a more frugal bent to them.

Engage in something related to your shared interest outside the group. I’m involved in a couple of board game clubs in the area, but I’ve started playing games with some of the members that I’ve clicked with in other contexts. We’ve met for lunch for quick card games and had events at people’s houses where we play games that would have less interest to a large group.

Host dinner parties. Invite a few people to your house and make a low-cost dinner for them. Sit around together, enjoy the meal, have some great conversation, and maybe do something simple like play a card or a board game. Not only does this make for a fun evening, it’s a great opportunity to get to know someone better and to really start building a friendship with them.

Suggest outdoor activities that don’t involve a fee. Anything that’s appropriate will do, whether it’s simply going on a hike in a park, getting your children together at a playground, playing a game of soccer or ultimate frisbee, or simply having a picnic. As long as there is no up-front fee for participation, it’s going to be a fun social way to spend time.

Keep One Question in Mind, Always

Train yourself to keep one question in mind whenever you’re even considering spending money. Whenever you’re about to open your wallet, ask yourself this:

What do I value out of this thing I’m about to buy/do, and is there a cheaper way of getting the same or a very similar value?

Quite often, the first part of that question will stump you. What exactly are you getting out of this purchase? Why are you even considering spending your money in this way?

There are many reasons why we buy and when we allow ourselves to stop and look at those reasons, many of those reasons seem utterly nonsensical and foolish. Are we really attracted by the packaging? Are we really buying this item because our friends are buying something? Are we doing this out of some sort of weird guilt that makes no sense?

The worst one is when you’re buying an item because you think it will trigger some change in who you are. There is no purchase on earth that will do that. Only you can change who you are.

The second part of the question often catches you in situations where you’re overspending on something. Is there a way to get what you want out of this item without spending as much? If so, why aren’t you tackling that avenue?

This second part often comes as an encouragement to shop around on all of your purchases. The truth is that very few purchases are both important enough and urgent enough that you must buy them right now. Almost all purchases can wait for a while, and when you wait for a while, you give yourself a chance to shop around for a better price.

Another advantage to waiting around for a while is that you get an opportunity to figure out if this is a purchase you really need to make. Is this an item that will actually provide a real benefit in your life? Or is it just something you wanted in the whim of that moment?

Ask that question constantly. Keep going at it until that question naturally pops into your heart every time you make a purchase, even every time you pick up an item in the grocery store. When it’s natural and you actually listen to that question naturally, you have a tool that will serve you no matter where your path goes.

Final Thoughts

The full path to financial independence isn’t a path that everyone will follow. For some people, those initial steps – the ones that fix the immediate problem – are going to be enough to fulfill their needs. For others, financial independence will seem like an exciting path at first, but the excitement will wane over time.

Regardless of where you are on your path, the tools described above will help you out. They’ll set you up for continued success even when the excitement of financial progress starts to wane and your life focus moves elsewhere.

After all, just because your passions move in a different direction doesn’t mean you can’t continue down a positive financial path. Just because other things are now in your heart and mind doesn’t mean you can’t spend less than you earn and save for the future.

Good luck!

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Your Rent’s Probably About to Go Up. Here Are 5 Ways to Pay Less

For many Americans, the first of the month means one thing: Rent is due.

If you already feel like you pay your landlord too much, we come bearing bad news: A recent report states it might get worse.

“The number of U.S. households that spend at least half their income on rent… could increase 25% to 14.8 million over the next decade,” Bloomberg reports.

Eek. Spending half your income on rent is a scary prospect because it leaves little room for other necessities — like saving for retirement, emergencies and college.

How to Combat Rising Rent Prices

If you’ve found yourself paying more and more for rent over the past few years, now’s the time to start making changes.

Here are five options to consider.

1. Make a Move

A guaranteed way to save money on rent? Moving to a cheaper city or state.

Try one of these affordable small towns, cities for working parents or cities for singles. And check out these cities that will actually pay you to live there.

2. Find Roommates

Want to stay in your neighborhood, but still cut costs? Get a roommate — or three.

Not only can you get more space for less money, you’ll also have people with whom you can share the cost of utilities, furniture and maybe even food.

3. Buy a House

You may think you can’t afford a house, but in some cases, owning can actually be cheaper than renting. (Here are the 10 hottest zip codes for first-time home buyers.)

To help mitigate the costs, you could become a landlord yourself by purchasing a duplex or renting out rooms in your new home.

4. Barter With Your Landlord

What skills do you have that your landlord might need? Maybe you could build a website that showcases all of her available properties or paint the exterior of the building.

Think about what you have to offer, then barter with your landlord for a lower monthly rent.

5. Rent Out Your Space on Airbnb

Using a site like Airbnb, you can rent anything from a couch to an entire house.

It’s important to tread carefully, though; many leases don’t allow for subleasing, and you could face eviction if your landlord finds out. We’d recommend discussing it upfront (and perhaps splitting the profits) rather than trying to go behind his back.

Don’t let rent ruin your budget. If you’re willing to make a few sacrifices or changes, you’ll discover ways you can pay your rent and still have a life.

Your Turn: Do you pay a boatload for rent? How does it affect your finances?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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