Getting Ready For Cancun
Posted on | April 15, 2010 | No Comments
Spring Break is over and if you missed it then it’s a great time to head to Cancun where it is always Spring Break. Make sure you bring the latest fashion in Mens Beachwear. The beaches in Cancun are some of the most beautiful in the world. If the beach is not for you then the clubs are also top notch. L.A. nightlife fashion is hands down Mens Suits but this is not the way to go in the clubs in Cancun. Sport Coats with a T, a nice pair of dress shoes and jeans are the best fashion here, leave the ties at home. I found a site that has great selections for fashionable wear in Cancun whether you want to get a tan on the fine beaches or head out for the exceptional nightlife, shop wiki is just the place to find out where to pick up your threads. Making sure the you take the right gear for your trip is a good way to maximize your experience in Cancun.
Since Spring Break is over flights are a lot cheaper and traffic is much better…. of course, driving to Cancun is very possible, but not very common… you’d have to have a lot of free time on your hands! Anyway, however if you travel, Cancun is one the hottest party destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Ironically, I do have a little time on my hands and am actually considering taking the drive, checking out some scenery along the way and seeing more of Mexico. I’m taking the philosophy that it’s all about the journey, not the destination… of course I know the destination is going to be great!
Real Estate Tax Benefit
Posted on | April 2, 2010 | No Comments
I like to talk about real estate because it’s interesting how different the process is to buy a home in the US versus buying a home in Mexico. It used to be that buying a home here in our own country was very straightforward and buying a home in Mexico was next to impossible because of government restrictions. I’m not saying it was completely reversed, but things are moving in an interesting direction.
In the US, it is now critical that you read up on all of the tax laws and credits before you buy a home. I’m sure you have heard about the real estate tax benefit that the government is offering to try to encourage people to buy a home. It’s not super complicated, but the bottom line is that you can now qualify for a tax credit if you are a first time home buyer and you make a moderate income level. The tax credit can be worth several thousand dollars, so make sure you read up before you purchase a home.
In Mexico, recent laws have made it possible to purchase real estate more easily for Americans. If you are purchasing a property that is not near the coast, it’s really easy, all you have to do is buy it. You can even get a loan, just like in the state. Secondly, if you plan to purchase a home alone the coast, you can easily do so through a bank trust. Again, much easier that it use to be.
So… more complicated (but, perhaps more beneficial to you) process in the us, and more straightforward process in Mexico. See what I mean?
Non-Cancun Idea!
Posted on | March 31, 2010 | No Comments
I had never been to a Rodeo before. Not in Mexico and not at home in the US. I have heard they can be a blast in both countries and I have always wanted to go to one to see what it was all about. Finally, I got my shot to check out the houston rodeo, and it was even better than I expected.
I also wanted to share with you the process I went through to find good seats. At first, I thought I would just get tickets when I got to the rodeo. Thankfully a friend suggested I buy my Tickets to the NFR on line, and it was very, very, very good advice!
See, this rodeo is much more than a simple event you stop by to check out. This is a major deal, and people drive and even fly in from all over the country to see it. As a result, you can get any old ticket without problem, but getting really good tickets is much harder.
Well, it’s actually not that hard to get good tickets if you go to the link I included above. The rodeo turned out to be an all day event for me and my family, and when you think about how much time you are going to be there, I think you’ll agree that spending the time and doing the research to get great seats at a great price is totally worth it!
Always Cool
Posted on | March 31, 2010 | No Comments
Seiko Kinetic Watches are just cool. It’s alway nice to have something cool in a hot place. It’s actually kind of funny the play on words, right? Those sun glasses are cool! People tend to want to be more “cool” when they’re in a hot place. Of course, they tend to want to physically be more cool as well.
This is what brings me to great ideas and timing for a gift. It’s tough, isn’t it? It seems like every day is a holiday. There’s bosses day, arbor day, Cinco de Mayo, bring your kids to work day and it seems like there’s always a day which, some of those days, it’s almost required to give a gift. Birthdays, Christmas, and Valentines Day usually entail gifts.
This is something that takes away the spontaneous factor. However, be careful. If you create a new “event”, I highly recommend not labeling it. What I’m recommending is that a thoughtful gift to your significant other just before going on vacation can really kick things off well. However, don’t label the gift “we’re going on vacation”. You don’t want to create expectations that you will now buy a gift before all future vacations… you very well may… but don’t set yourself up for that obligation early on.
Anyway, buying a gift right before vacation can be spontaneous and fun. It’ probably unexpected and that automatically makes the gift a little more special…. you should check out some of the watches provided in the link above as watches are a very popular “cool” gift.
Theatre
Posted on | March 30, 2010 | No Comments
Always a fun thing to do no matter where you are in the world. For Cancun Theatre, there is actually one called “The Cancun Theatre” which is downtown. They have various live performances throughout the year from ballet to classical orchestra. Of course, they have plays and live theatrical performances as well. If you want Ballet specifically, the Folklore Ballet Company can be seen every night at the Cancun Convention Center.
If you’re traveling to Cancun and like to see a city come to life, it’s a good idea to visit during one of the festivals, of which, Cancun celebrates many. Some of those include:
Now, we know that it’s not easy to get to Cancun unless you get a really inexpensive package. That’s okay. There’s plenty going on in your city. We know there’s 8% unemployment and some people are struggling. There’s something to be said for supporting your local community and there’s something to be said for getting a deal in the process.
If Boston is your home, you’re going to want to check out the Wang Theatre! If you are looking for tickets at a great price, click here: Wang Theatre Tickets. You’ll also be able to view their up and coming schedule which includes Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Diana Ross, Jesus Christ Superstar and many other performances. The theater was originally the Metripolitan and opened in 1925. In 1962, it became the home of the Boston Ballet and was renamed The Music Hall. But the building was in need of renovation and expansion. In the lat 1980’s, Dr. An Wang made a large donation and now it’s the Wangs Theatre!
I can’t mention a cool theatre in Boston without mentioning one in the Big Apple. Of course, there is much theater in New York but we’ll discuss the Gershwin Theater that dates back to 1922 and his hosting Wicked for the next year. If you want to see this play and this theater which was named in honor of George Gershwin, click here: Gershwin Theater Tickets.
Okay, so now we move South to Atlanta… and change the venue to music!! If you’re interested in Tom Petty, Alicia Keys or Bon Jovi, you’re definitely going to want to check out Philips Arena Tickets.
I know that I’ve left out Chicago, New Orleans, Florida California, Texas, the Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, Hawaii and most of the world! We’ll keep looking for local activities as we mix them in with Things to Do In Cancun!
Gold Speculation
Posted on | March 24, 2010 | No Comments
Well, treasure hunts really are fun but they’re just aren’t many real life treasures out there. Today, it’s all about the market. You may find a once in a lifetime stock or you just might be a great speculator when it comes to timing the market. Either way, many gold speculators have made a lot of money when they buy gold coins.
It’s funny, but I used buy on purpose. You might think that you lose money when you “buy” something but all savy value investors know that you make your money when you buy. As a rule, people that are selling are doing so for a reason and it helps you to remember that when you’re sitting at the negotiating table. It helps to have the ability to get up and walk away from the negotiating table. If you’re willing to walk away, then you’ll find yourself more successful in deal making. If your a buyer, another key feature is the willingness to buy today. If you have the money and you’re willing to commit to a price today, you’re more likely to get a deal. Sellers like to close deals so wait until you’re ready to buy, you have researched your price and then contact the seller.
My goal for you is simple: I want you to have more spare cash to spend on things to do in Cancun!!!
Take the ST Gaudens Gold Coin, for example. This coin has intrinsic value and the price of Gold is a determined by the market… but it also has collector value. There are websites selling this coin in various conditions for prices that range from $1500 to $2300. I would take a look at the market at large and decide how much this coin is worth to you and then I would pick up the phone and make an offer lower than what you want to pay… but it has to be reasonable. The seller may tell you to take a walk… but if they want to make the sale, they won’t. You will know where you stand. You can always walk away and buy it online for the listed price! You haven’t lost anything by negotiating.
Now, just as a matter of a timeless investment, Gold is the standard for currency. Did you know that you can hold Gold in a retirement plan? It’s sometimes referred to as IRA Gold. Gold that can be held in your IRA includes: an American Eagle coin, Australian Kangaroo (Nugget coins), the Austrian Philharmonic coins, the Canadian Maple Leaf coins, Credit Suisse (PAMP Suisse Bars .999), the U.S. Buffalo Gold un-circulated coins (not the proofs) as well as various other Bars and rounds. It’s certainly a fun thing to add to your retirement. I always figure that if you’re going to collect something for the purpose of value, it might as well be money… and it’s ten times better if that money is made of gold (as far as not losing value).
The time to buy gold is when the economic cycle is at it’s peak and the time to sell it is when the economic cycle is at its trough. Gold does very well in recessions but goes down (relatively) in times of economic prosperity. It’s just something to remember when you’re shopping for coins.
Specialization
Posted on | March 20, 2010 | No Comments
Well, this really isn’t something to do in Cancun… consider that the beach lockers are usually open air lockers and a place to store your flip flops while you take a dip into the ocean. However, when I’m not looking at things to do in Cancun, I am looking at business ideas. It’s an interesting dynamic and I want to go back a few hundred years to explain. In the early years, the market place was all about specialty tasks: blacksmith, carpenter, tailor, feed store, etc. It was all to the point. Yes there were general stores but most service oriented tasks were done by specialists.
Now, we still have those specialists such as welders, plumbers, electricians and so on and so forth. However, when it comes to the market place, we have larger super stores that bring you everything. The super stores like home depot bring you plumbing, electric, tile work, wood work and they provide both the service and the products. It’s the opposite of specialization… it’s the ultimate General Store.
What I find interesting is that the internet is moving people back towards specialization. It makes sense, right? The reason for a General Store or a consolidation of services is convenience. You can get everything in a one stop shop. Well, with the internet, how hard is it to go to another store? So we’ll see more and more of the emergence of stores like Locker Depot. Guess what they do? Of course, they sell lockers. For them, wide product selection is offering every type of locker possible. They’re going to bring you wood lockers and plastic lockers. If you want metal lockers, single vented lockers, double vented lockers or designer wood lockers, you’re going to find it at Lockers Depot.
It’s what specialization does. Storefronts can give you more selection in a single theme because they are a mass service for that product. Who would have thought there would be a store called diapers dot com? Next, it’s going to be juice boxes dot com. Mark my words!
Pondering a Beach Vacation?
Posted on | March 18, 2010 | No Comments
We know times are tough for many Americans. We know that people are pinching pennies, cutting costs and saving where they can. Vacations are one of those places where people tend to cut back. Often times, flying destinations go first for larger families. People tend to look local. Some people skip vacation all together. Vacation doesn’t seem like a necessity. However, I think it’s important to recharge the battery, take some time and relax. If you don’t, you get in a rut. You get tired, worn down and over time it begans to take a toll on your mind and body.
There are many local resorts. If you’re in Texas like I am, you can look to the lakes, the gulf coast or mountains in Colorado or New Mexico. They’re all within reasonable driving distance. When I lived back east, we used to head south to Virginia Beach, Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach is really starting to grow up. I can remember doing spring break there when I was in college (we were supposed to continue on to Florida but we met some fun female counterparts and ended up in Myrtle Beach the whole week. We found reasonable rates and a great series of options when rapidly searching for a Myrtle Beach Accommodation.
We stayed in a Myrtle Beach Hotel and I can’t remember which one it was. I just know that I’ve looked at Mytle Beach recently as a family re-union spot and really liked some of the choices in resorts. In mid-summer, you can get an Ocean View, 2 bedroom, 2 bath with a kitchen for just over 300 dollars. With a full family, it’s nice to put the kids in their own room, get them to sleep, walk out on the balcony, enjoy the evening ocean breeze, sip a glass of wine and enjoy the company of your spouse in peace. Having a few rooms in your suite makes that possible and makes the vacation enjoyable.
So, there are many choices with Myrtle Beach Accommodations and I have been enjoying looking through them. Some of the newer beach resorts are great for a large extended family. Everyone can have the privacy of their own rooms but still be close enough to make event planning and getting together very convenient.
It’s much cheaper than flying to Cancun, Puerto Rico or the Playa Del Carmen… don’t get me wrong, I love those places… but we’re trying to keep it a little less expensive or find fun beach resorts that don’t require airfare… so this is for those east coast residents looking for fun and sun on the beach (in driving distance).
Cool Cars to Rent
Posted on | March 18, 2010 | No Comments
Vacation is a time to splurge and have a little fun so I always try to rent something a fun. It makes the vacation even more memorable if you’re driving down the beach in a rag top. Whether it’s a jeep wrangler or chevy corvette, it adds a little bit more style to your trip and the goal is to have fun every possible second.
Now, if you don’t want to splurge too much (as sports cars especially are very expensive to rent), it may be worth your time to do a little research on vehicles in the market.
The Buick Enclave for example is a stylish mid-size crossover that is a good choice for a mid size family (like mine). I have 2 kids. My wife refuses to look at mini-vans so we’re looking at various options for SUV’s, sedans and crossovers. There are a lot of choices on the market and it’s a big decision so we want to do our research. A good way to do that is on vacation. Most rental car companies carry newer model vehicles. I haven’t seen any with the Buick Enclave yet… and it definitely hasn’t hit Cancun yet… but it’s even a good to rent a similar model just to see if the size, shape and handling of that type of vehicle is right for you.
Maybe you’re thinking about an electric car like the Nissan Leaf. I would certainly want to have a week to test it out before making the big purchase. Again, I haven’t seen this model at a rental car establishment yet but it’s only a matter of time. The Nissan Leaf is a true electric car and that’s certainly going to be more and more common as we move into the future.
And then there’s the toyota matrix. I have to believe you can get a good deal on any Toyota these days. They’re the founders of lean manufacturing but they’re in a hurt locker right now with all of the acceleration claims. Whether the claims are legitimate or not is still to be determined by the courts but it’s not looking good for Toyota.
Anyway, just some food for thought when you’re on vacation in Cancun, at the beach, in the mountains or just a weekend trip to the lake… renting a car can be fun or it can be research!
March Madness
Posted on | March 11, 2010 | No Comments
It’s a big month for television. March madness is a lot of fun. Even if you aren’t a basketball aficionado during the season, it’s a lot of fun to watch the tournament, especially if you’ve filled out a bracket. Like the Super Bowl, March Madness is a great excuse to buy a television of upgrade your service. As such, the television providers are in promotion mode. It benefits you financially to take a look at some of these DIRECT TV Offers, for example.
DIRECTTV Offers are all over the internet and television. It looks like they’re promoting 50% savings over the course of a year. They’re offering HD DVR upgrades. When you consider that many people spend up to $1500 on television every year. saving 50% is pretty big savings… over $700 each year…. and that’s a long way towards saving up for your vacation in Cancun.
That’s right, we know the economy is tough and we’re going to find as many ways for you to save as possible… so you can find more fun things to do in Cancun. We want you to have money for Scuba Diving lessons and flying lessons. We want you sipping Pina Coladas on a white sand beach! So, any time you can save money on monthly expenses, it can mean big long term savings with is exactly why you should check out DIRECTV Offers just to make sure your saving all you can in the long run… so you can afford get away to that tropical paradise and doing the things you really love to do!