It Pays to Become an REI Member: Tip-of-the-Day #330

I recently purchased a bday gift at REI for a close friend and discovered that by "joining" their membership program, I could enjoy a number of ongoing benefits, including an instant $20 cash card (which paid for the membership right there).

Since joining, I'm more and more impressed with the perks of membership. First of all, you get a 15% off coupon that is good for any REI labeled gear. Then there's the REI annual member dividend. This is your share of the co-op's annual profit. The 2015 dividend is comprised of your member dividend and/or your REI Visa card rebates. Each March, active REI members receive their member dividend in the form of an annual dividend notice. The refund is typically 10% back on eligible REI purchases. How cool is that?

REI members get special savings on bike shop services and ski shop services and discounted ski lift tickets at selected ski resorts. But, what really hooked me this morning, is the email I got regarding REI's discount on trips and classes. Travel the world with REI Adventures and learn a new outdoor skill with REI Outdoor School. REI members get special pricing on both! Here is a look at some of the upcoming fun:
How to Ride a Bike Class - $65 for members; $85 for non members
Hiking the Bay Area's Best Places - $25 for members; $45 for non members
Learn to Kayak - $70 for members; $90 for non members
And so much more!

The savings are awesome, the schedules are flexible (there are full moon night hikes in the mix!) and I imagine it may even be an opportunity to meet some hunky, athletic types in a very organic setting. #oldschooldating

Check out REI for more info. There's still a whole lot of summer ahead of us!

FREE San Francisco Walking Tours: Tip-of-the-Day #329

Last night I had the pleasure of sharing a Scorpion Bowl with a nice fella at Trad'r Sam's in San Francisco. Over the course of our Bowl, I discovered that among other things, he is a San Francisco City Guide. I had no idea what this meant, so he enlightened me. And, I hope that this "share" will enlighten you and your traveling friends, family members, and anyone visiting San Francisco!

First off, City Guides, a non-profit founded in 1978, is staffed with more than 200 trained volunteers who lead FREE history and architectural walking tours in San Francisco, 52 weeks a year, rain or shine! Wait. What?? Tours head out along the streets, sidewalks, and byways of San Francisco's most famous (or, in some cases, infamous) districts, as well as in some of its more hidden neighborhoods. There are approximately 30 different walks offered each month, with an expanded schedule, offered in May and October. Walks lasts from 1 1/2 to 2 hours and walkers meet at the place and time designated in the current Tour Schedule. No reservations are required.

On Saturday, August 1, there is a tour called "1850's San Francisco: Paris of the Pacific." It's described as follows: Gold Rush San Francisco had a large population of French Parisians. Their influence, abilities, and taste for the finer things of life helped San Francisco to blossom almost overnight from the mud of Yerba Buena Cove into a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city.

The directions are simply to meet at the corner of Clay and Montgomery at Transamerica Pyramid. How cool is that?

A complete list of tours can be found here: http://www.sfcityguides.org/descriptions_table.html

I find it fascinating that I've lived in the Bay Area all of my life and in San Francisco proper for 20 years and had no idea this FREE SERVICE exists!

You learn something new every day. And, even though I'm a native, I'm inclined to check this out. I'll let you know what I discover! 

Skip Your Next Trip to Starbucks: Tip-of-the-Day #328

A colleague recently introduced me to Medaglia D'Oro, instant espresso coffee that can be found on the shelf at your local supermarket. Skeptical at first, my co-worker made me a quick shot so that I could judge the quality for myself. Simply put, it was amazing. Incredibly rich, flavorful and downright impressive for "instant." If I didn't know better, I would have assumed it had been produced by an on-site espresso machine.

I quickly learned that a couple of rounded teaspoons, some raw sugar, and a dash of milk creates the most delicious cup of coffee I think I've ever had.

Over the Fourth of July I had headed north with family and we'd forgotten to bring our beans, filters, etc. Replacement is steep, so I suggested we pick up a container of Medaglia. I quickly squashed their skepticism once I poured the first cup.

A 2 oz. container is approximately $4 - about the cost of a latte at your favorite retailer. Considering the cost of drinks continues to increase (Starbucks just raised costs across the board by at least .15 cents) you may think about foregoing the latte, in favor of trying this instant espresso. It's hard to believe it's been around for years and I've only just learned of it. This week alone I've saved $25 by "drinking in."

The best part of waking up is Medaglia in my cup. Seriously.

It Pays to Price Out Pet Meds: Tip-of-the-Day #327

Image found on Simplycatbreeds.org
If you have more than one pet, you know that the cost of food, (litter in my case), vet visits, meds, etc. really start to add up. I currently have four critters at home and two of them are senior. Like aging humans, things start to break down. One of my cats has IBD (irritable bowel disorder) which I've been treating with Cerenia and one has inflammation in her joints which I treat with transdermal Prednisolone and Adequan. I treat the joint inflammation every other day and the IBD twice a week. The price of these meds, while not outrageous, is still costly enough that given how often I have to buy them, it was worth my while to look into where I could buy them for less. 

My comfort with the internet led me to Google. I found all kinds of online pet med sites that sold what I needed for far less than my vet's office. That said, some of these meds need to be stored very carefully and buying them online can be risky when you don't know where they've been. (It's similar to buying fine wine from an uninsured/untrusted source). So despite my inclination to save a bundle and order in one click, I instead started shopping around with local vet offices. I know and trust my primary vet but also know that they charge approximately 30% more for services and supplements. Sure enough, I called my backup vet and they had the same product for 30% less. 

Given that I have to replenish my stash every few weeks, that 30% really adds up and makes a difference to my pocketbook. So, I bought several months worth of what I needed from my alt vet. This same line of thinking applies to surgeries and/or anything you're going to be "paying up" for. A doctor I know takes her dog farther north when the dog requires any kind of x-rays or surgical attention. It's considerably less money than going to a vet in San Francisco and you're not sacrificing quality whatsoever.

A few minutes and a few phone calls may save you a small fortune over time.