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Trading goods in foreign markets and saving money

Save money on items in souks and market places abroad. Take some of the latest jeans or other gadgets when going on vacation.  I took some American jeans and traded them in the  Istanbul souk for some great gifts. I took 2 cartons of American cigarettes to an upscale jewelry store in Jerusalem and bargained like mad.  The store owner was so impressed that he offered me a job on the spot.  Unfortunately, I was leaving soon and couldn’t accept it.  I did  get some lovely gold items from  his shop.  As a nurse, I wouldn’t take cigarettes again. When I went to Egypt, our guide told us about the nurses before us, having to take a long bus trip  to a site, when the airplanes were on strike.  He dreaded their return that evening, fearing he would hear nothing but complaints. Imagine his surprise when the nurses were so excited and said it was one of the best days of their lives. A  nomadic caravan was in the desert and the bus stopped for it. The nurses got out, traded about everything on and with them, for lovely treasures from the desert, including jewelry and clothing. What a fantastic experience they had! Surprisingly, my kids t-shirts have been popular in Asia. This is a money saving tip, which is fun to do,

Exercise and Fitness

This is a resistance exercise that can be done at home, in a hotel room or cruise ship cabin, using a small hand towel. Stand with your legs apart and kness slightly bent. Put a small hand towel over your head and grasp the two ends, pulling on each end. Bend 5 times to the right and 5 times to the left from your waist, maintaining  resistance with the towel. Keep going. This is great to do while your body lotion is drying. Not only do your arm muscles get a work out, but you will feel it along your sides as well. This can be followed by doing some squats, easy to do when you are travelling. Stand with your legs apart with toes pointing outward. Lift your big toes to avoid pressure on your knees. Then lower your bottom, like you are going to sit down. Keep your back  in the same position, doing the bending from your knees. Remember to just take the stairs on cruise ships, then you can eat that great looking dessert.

Cruising for great deals – cheap travel

Find conferences around the globe in your profession and you travel to an exotic local as a tax deduction.  The IRS allows 1 international conference a year. Some people have gotten terrific travel deals by using local travel agencies in foreign locales.  They use frequent flier miles to get to Europe, Asia etc and have a native agency make all of the interior arrangements and save big bucks. As a single mother with a passion for international travel, I have to get the most bang for my buck. If you are retired or on a routine yearly schedule, such as a teacher, here is a great tip. Book your trip over a year ahead of time and take advantage of 2 for the price of 1 specials. We have taken several European river cruises on Viking River Cruises and paid the price of one passenger for two of us per cabin. All meals and shore excursions are included, so it is a big money saver for me. Ocean cruises, such as Holland America and Cunard also have better deals, the farther out you book. With ocean cruises, you get another discount if you book, while still onboard for a future cruise. Another trick a learned from two sweet elderly ladies who live around Southampton, England, is to keep a travel bag always packed and call cruise companies the day of or day before a ship’s departure. Southampton is a major hub for various cruise lines, so they often get unbelievable deals at the very last minute. They are both retired and have family that can watch their flat and house when that happens. If you live near a cruise ship terminal, this could work for you. Bon Voyage!

Skin cancer

People sometimes put off having moles and freckles checked, because they think that they are too young for skin cancer.  If you have a lot of freckles, having an all over body exam,  by a dermatologist is a good idea to establish a baseline. Two years ago, some very dear friends lost their son to melanoma.  He was out in the sun a lot,  playing golf and other sports and didn’t wear any sun screen. Here is a guide to determine if you should see a dematologist for skin cancer. This is an easy way to remember what deadly moles look like. ABCDE. Asymmetry.  Is the mole perfectly round (normal), or a different shape? Border.  Are the edges sharp (normal), or more blurred? Color.  Is the mole one color ( normal), or a variety of black, brown or red? Diameter. Is the mole under 6mm (normal) or over that size? Expert.  If your mole/s fall in these second categories, then see an expert (dermatologist). This is the guide that nurses use, and I want to add, if your mole is bleeding, also have it checked.  Sometimes a cancerous mole may stick up more (such as on the scalp) and you notice it that way. An acquaintance started feeling a small bump on her scalp when she was doing her hair.  This sun-loving woman had the bump checked out and it turned out to be cancerous (she was in her early 30’s at the time). Scalps can get sunburned too, so wear a hat in the intense sun.

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