Entry bubble 5 Tips to Save on Your Next Vacation

By: Leilani | June 11, 2009 | Category: Spanish

woman in the pool

It’s summer time and for many of us that means vacation! You’ve probably noticed that in the last few weeks we’ve updated the USA.gov and GobiernoUSA.gov Facebook pages with several government resources related to travel and recreation, vacations and summer.

So I thought it would be a good idea, given the current economy, to share with you 5 simple tips on how to enjoy a well-deserved vacation this summer without having to spend too much money.

1. Come up with a family budget that covers transportation, lodging, food and entertainment expenses.

2. Be flexible when choosing vacation dates. This will allow you to take advantage of special offers.

3. Compare prices and reserve as soon as you can so you can benefit from special hotel and transportation deals.

4. Verify the cancellation policies before reserving or paying for your trip.

5. Consider visiting free or low-cost local, regional or national attractions such as:

So what are some other tips or ideas that can you share with us on an affordable summer getaway?

Lea la versión en español

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: leilani   money   parks   save   summer   tips   vacation  

 

Entry bubble Tips for Keeping Pets Safe This Summer

By: Stephanie | June 17, 2008 | Category: Health

There's a new notice on the door of my neighborhood supermarket: "Don't Leave Pets in Hot Cars." As I read the sign, I learned that it's more than a gentle reminder—apparently it's the law in my county. king charles cavalier sitting on a beach with sunglassesEven though my 40-year-old pet turtle seems to like temperatures as hot as possible, the warm weather brings hazards to many of our warm-blooded pets that we may not even think about.

Like the sign on my supermarket door advises, don't leave your pets in the car when it's hot outside. In my county, people can be charged with animal cruelty if their pets are left in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked, if the temperature is above 70 degrees (which can get much hotter in a matter of seconds). Since dogs and cats are less efficient at cooling themselves, they react to the high temperatures and humidity faster than humans.

According to the Army Medical Department, signs that your pet is having a heat injury include a bright red tongue; thick, sticky saliva; rapid panting; and weakness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and shock. If your pet is overheating, you can lower its temperature by hosing it off with a garden hose or placing it in a sink or tub of cold water. Move the pet to a cool environment and contact your vet.

Another Army website reminds owners to provide shade and plenty of cool, clean water for pets staying outside, and to bring them inside during the hottest part of the day (if not simply keep them inside all day when it's especially hot). Exercise pets in the cool of the day, and be alert to hot pavement that can burn their feet.

If you take your dog to the beach, provide it with a shaded area and plenty of fresh drinking water, and rinse it off if it's been in salt water. And don't forget that pets with light-colored noses and fur can get sunburn, too.

The summer brings some other hazards to our four-legged friends, too, including cars leaking antifreeze and coolant that can taste sweet to a pet but be deadly, even in small amounts. And ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are most prevalent in the warm weather. As fellow GovGabber Colleen notes, check your pets to be sure they don't have ticks on them. Don't use human repellents that contain DEET on animals—check with a vet for the appropriate products. Lyme disease vaccines are available for dogs (my pup received the vaccine). Pueblo.gsa.gov offers information for both people and pets on the disease.

As we approach the Fourth of July, be sure to keep your pets indoors during fireworks, which can frighten them and damage their sensitive hearing.

Do you have any other tips for keeping pets safe this summer?

| View Comments [7] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: animals   car   cat   dog   heat   hot   lyme   pets   stephanie   summer   ticks   tips  

 

Entry bubble DOE Website for Energy-Saving Tips

By: Colleen | April 30, 2008 | Category: General

To continue on Joanne's "everyday is Earth Day" theme...gas pump

Anyone currently residing on planet Earth knows the cost of gas is soaring sky-high. Because prices at the pump are following the same trajectory as a spaceshuttle, it's important to find other ways to cut costs and reduce energy consumption.

Last week the U.S. Department of Energy launched a new website. The interactive page gives you a virtual tour of a typical home. Just click your mouse on different areas of the house and you're given tips and ideas about saving energy and costs.

One of the more interesting tips I found by clicking on the car in the driveway. It told me to "Get the junk out of the trunk and properly inflate your tires! An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your fuel efficiency by up to 2%."

Off the top of my head, if someone were to break open my trunk right now, they'd find: a pair of roller blades, a wool winter coat, my old non-functional laptop, my sister's semi-functional laptop from college, a garbage bag of old clothes I've been meaning to donate, and a heavy-duty ice scraper. And that's just the stuff of which I am AWARE. It's time for a vehicular spring cleaning.

Check out other suggestions for getting the most energy efficient appliances, and using mother nature herself as a natural means of heating and lighting. Little changes can add up to BIG savings, for both our wallets and environment.

What tricks do you have for saving money and energy? Any good tips?

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   consumption   doe   energy   gas   money   saving   tips