The Best Time of Year to Buy Anything

Gym Memberships: Snag Back-To-School Bargains

We all know about the January deals, but September, when kids go back to school and parents are free to work out, is also a good time to get a discount. Live in a college town? Gyms will often slash fees during the summer, while gyms in resort towns do so during the off-season. Pay for an entire year up front, and many clubs will tack on a few extra months for free.

Car Smarts: Wait for Fall

October and November are ideal months to get a great deal on current model year vehicles, says Michael Waterman, executive editor of Vehix.com. Next year's models are already in stores, and dealers are anxious to move the older—but still new—cars off their lots. Manufacturers will often help with bigger incentives, cash-back programs and low interest rates.

Another way to secure a great deal on a new car is to know when a particular model is being replaced by an updated version. For instance, in 2011, Ford replaced the old Explorer with a completely redesigned crossover, and Honda updated the popular Civic with a new model. "Smart buyers realize these new-model updates often translate to deep discounts on the current models," says Waterman.

You also have a better chance of getting deals toward the end of the month. "Dealers might be a car or two short of a monthly sales quota that will give them a big bonus from the manufacturer," says Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds.com. "That's why they'll discount the car to you—whatever they lose on the deal, they'll make up in their bonus."

Gadgets: High Tech for Low Prices

Have your eye on a new digital camera or MP3 player? Ask the store manager when a newer model will be released (often October and November). Beforehand, companies tend to slash prices on the older models, or bundle the item with extras, like a free printer. Here's why: Stores close out "old" inventory just before getting the newest gadgets in time for Christmas, according to Kaplan.

Home Renovations at the Beginning of the Year

Michael Kaplan, author of The Best Time to Do Everything, says January is the slowest month for contractors - and when they tend to be the most negotiable on fees.

Fresh Flowers: Avoid the Holiday Rush

Sending a floral bouquet for Valentines Day, Mother's Day or another holiday? Order at least a week beforehand, and have it delivered two or three days early to avoid the holiday markup—typically 10 to 20 percent. During non-holiday weeks, shop on Tuesdays, often the slowest sales day of the week. Also be sure to ask the florist to make a bouquet using whatever flowers are in season. As with produce, you’ll get the best deal on what’s growing now and it will also be the best quality.

Jewelry: April, July and August

Why? Jewelers will negotiate in April (after tax time), and in July and August (because there are no gift-giving holidays in those months)

The Two Key Times of Year to Buy Furniture

The best time to buy furniture is typically January or July, says Jaclyn Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Home Furnishing Alliance. Since new furniture styles hit the showroom floor twice a year (in February and August), stores will slash prices on older merchandise in order to make room for new arrivals.

Best Time of Week to Get a Haircut or Manicure Is...

Many salons advertise discounts (up to 50%) for early-week appointments; nail salons in some neighborhoods also cut prices on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Groceries and Produce

Taylor Hough shares her best-buy calendar, which she first compiled for Frugal Living for Dummies. Hint: Go with what's in season.

January: turkey, apples, grapefruit, oranges, and pears

February: candy and chocolates (after Valentine's Day)

March: frozen food

April: broccoli, cauliflower and eggs

May: soda, hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, asparagus, and pineapples

June: dairy products and tomatoes

July: berries, corn, cherries, squash, watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, plums, peaches, and nectarines

August: squash, green peppers, lettuce, berries, apples, peaches, apricots, and fresh fish

September: apples, broccoli, cauliflower, and canned goods

October: pumpkins, cranberries, grapes, oranges, sweet potatoes, and yams

November: turkey, sweet potatoes, yams, and post-Halloween candy

December: oranges, apples, and grapefruit

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/money/Best-Time-of-Year-to-Buy-TVs-Computers-Jewelry-Gym-Memberships/6#ixzz1fgwpweYt

Stress Relief For Busy Professionals

Everybody knows what it’s wish to feel stressed. Deadlines looming, clients waiting which is even before you look at the daily commute. Regardless of how relative it is, it is easy for work related stress to maintain piling up.
You might have perhaps heard that stress can impact your wellbeing and your relationships, but are you aware that it may also harm your job? Stress has been shown to decrease productivity, creativity and effectiveness, so being stressed can limit your risk of career success.
The way to Overcome Stress
The best way to eliminate stress is a two-pronged strategy which supports decrease the number of pressure upon you and boost your physical and mental power to take care of it. Here are a few great stress reducers that are quick, simple to apply and won’t get in the way of your respective already busy life.
1. Relaxation
For many individuals, me included, it is easier said than done. Breathing exercises and stretching are simple, effective and will significantly improve your capability to deal with stress. Seeking to is they may be accomplished your desk or while walking about the office, in order to easily included these questions busy day.
Meditation and yoga will also be very helpful, though you may need to get started with classes.
2. Personal time management
Ever believe there aren’t enough hours inside the day? Finding out how to prioritize and turn into effective with the time can help to lessen stress levels.
Try keeping a diary for just a week of the method that you spend time everyday and exactly how long each task takes. I bet you’ll be surprised at the final of every week where exactly your time will go. You may then reorganize and reprioritize as needed.
3. Exercise
With most people it is just a case of either loving it or hating it! Whatever your feelings there isn’t any doubt that exercise has several benefits and helping to reduce stress is one.
The reason being active is this kind of effective stress reducer is it helps you to remove hormones we release into our blood when stressed. And it also gets better: the endorphins that exercise releases into the blood can improve your mood for 120 minutes, so exercising before be employed in the morning is a great method to ensure that you are in an upbeat mood for your big morning meeting.
4. Laughing
Yes it may be that easy! The main advantages of laughing include boosting our natureal defenses by increasing immune cells and decreasing stress hormones. Laughing at your coworkers in the workplace is not always a good thing to complete, but wait, how about using a funny calendar in your desk, or a screensaver which enables you giggle?
5. Healthy Eating
A respectable diet boosts your ability to battle stress-related illnesses. A diet plan packed with refined food and sugar on the other hand will probably leave you with low energy, moodiness and prone to illness. But those vending machine can be quite persuasive by mid-afternoon, so bring healthy snacks to be effective to avoid temptation.
It can be hard enough to navigate the tricky, competitive whole world of work with out the side-effects of stress slowing you down and causing you to be less productive. A little time to carry out proven to reduce stress techniques will allow you to perform at your best close at hand most.
Gillian Fairclough helps busy professionals move from stress to success and build fulfilling, enjoyable careers. And if you’re starting to feel the stresses and pressures at work accumulating, you can find more great information on how to conquer stress at Zest Career Coaching.
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Rent or Buy? 10 Cities Where It's Better to Rent

There are so many great cities in which to rent rather than buy a home right now, and for not all that much money. The latest Trulia Rent vs. Buy Index shows that even though it’s a better deal to buy than rent in 72 percent of the U.S. at the moment, rental rates are pretty low in most places.

Still, the study behind the index found that a “nation of renters has emerged as more Americans rent by choice or due to unforeseen financial difficulties.” And yet, renting is only less expensive than buying in four of the cities covered in the study, including New York City and San Francisco.

But even though buying is a great deal, no one at Trulia is surprised that U.S. consumers are renting.
“Since the start of the ‘Great Recession,’ many former homeowners have flooded the rental market. Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia, in a press release announcing the study.

“Though necessary for achieving true economic recovery, stricter bank lending practices have also further aggravated the struggling housing market in the short term. Even highly-qualified home buyers face intense scrutiny on their income, savings, existing debt and credit history before they can get a mortgage loan.”

The 10 best cities to rent rather than buy include:

1. New York
2. Seattle
3. Kansas City
4. San Francisco
5. Memphis
6. Los Angeles
7. Fort Worth
8. Oakland
9. Portland
10. Albuquerque

Real Original Article

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Cooking Ideas for Busy Professionals

For many New Zealanders, the thought of cooking for themselves and/or their family at the end of the day is a daunting prospect. However, with a little planning and the help of some handy hints it needn’t be.
Basic Ingredients
Quick, tasty meals need not be at the expense of healthy and low cost options. Basic ingredients for your pantry such as rice, pasta, couscous, flavoured tomatoes, fish, canned beans, canned soups can form the basis for a hearty meal, or be added to a soup or as a base for a pasta dish.
Frozen vegetables in the freezer can quickly add serves of vegetables to your meals. Some salad greens in the fridge will complete a simple meal of steak and salad with a minimum of effort.
Time-savers

• Make a bigger batch of a dish if your food budget will allow it. This will mean you can heat up leftovers the next night, or put it away in the freezer for another night. Alternatively, have it for lunch the next day.
• Cook extra rice and freeze leftovers. Pull it out and throw some frozen vegetables, egg and meat if wanted, for easy fried rice.
• Make a big pot of mashed potato, and use the leftover to top a cottage pie. If you have the oven on to cook something, quickly chop some potatoes, kumara, pumpkin, and bake them. These vegetables can be reheated on their own or used as the basis for another meal such as roast vegetable lasagna, or a roast vegetable soup.
• Consider buying healthy convenience foods - quick cook rice, or fresh pasta cooks in less than 10 minutes. Look for them on special, there are many Weight Watchers and low fat options available to keep your kilijoules low, even on instant meals.
• Invest in kitchen appliances such as a slow cooker and use it to make casseroles, soups, cooked whole chicken, baked potatoes, risotto, or a health grill to quickly cook meat while removing the fat.
• Make meals in advance at the weekend and freeze part or whole meals to take out during the week.
• Cook savory muffins or scones, which can make a meal with a bowl of soup.
• Look for recipes where you can use a basic recipe and adapt it to make different meals. For example, create a meat and tomato sauce which can be used for spaghetti bolognaise, nachos with some beans and lasagna or cottage pie. This sauce can be frozen and used when needed.

There are websites available which allow you to enter ingredients you have and it gives you possible meal recipes such as Healthy Food Guide.
Make your own takeaways and get your children involved
This will save you money and doesn’t take that much work. Think of the time it would take you to drive, order and pick up your takeaways. It's enough time to put some crumbed fish pieces, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, or burgers on to cook, with some home made fries (these cook quicker if cut smaller and/or cooked for 5-10 minutes in the microwave), or frozen chips. Plus once again, it's a healthier version of a commercially made treat meal.
Buy ready-made tubs of falafel, make patties, add tomatoes, beetroot, lettuce and put in a burger bun.
Make pizzas with bought bases or use a bread maker for easy and tasty pizza dough.Let the kids create their own flavorings.
Cook smart!
Consider investing in a good recipe book or two which have quick, easy recipes which can become your weeknight lifesavers. This will also mean you can plan your meals and your grocery shopping. Once you have a few tried and true recipes up your sleeve you can avoid culinary chaos.

Source: http://www.nzs.com/new-zealand-articles/lifestyle/cooking-ideas-for-busy-professionals.html

De-stress Your Life Instantly

Between work, raising children, managing household chores and taking time for yourself, your everyday life can easily leave you overwhelmed and exhausted. Leo Babauta, author of The Power of Less, offers seven steps to quickly de-stress your life.

Breathe Deeply
Concentrate on your breathing for five breaths, Leo says. "If you're feeling stressed, close your eyes and focus on each breath as it comes in and then goes out," he says. "Focus on the breathing and let any other thoughts drift away."

Take a Walk
Getting up and moving around gets your blood flowing and calms you, Leo says. Try walking around your office building or going outside for 10 minutes to get some fresh air.
Focus on One Thing
Instead of trying to do everything at once and multitasking, learn to do one task at a time, Leo says. "It's less stressful and more effective," he says.
 
Choose 3 Tasks
Instead of trying to tackle a laundry list of tasks and projects, pick the three very important tasks that you want to accomplish today, Leo says. "Focus on doing those before anything else," he says.
 
Simplify Your Schedule
If your schedule is packed with appointments, meetings and tasks, it's stressful, Leo says. "Try to schedule less, which means getting out of less important commitments," he says. "Leave space to breathe."
 
Live in the Moment
Worrying about what might happen or replaying things that have already happened are stressful ways of thinking, Leo says. "Instead, focus on what is happening now," he says. Practice in five- to 10-minute intervals at first, and you'll begin to improve, Leo says.

Read Original Article: De-stress Your Life Instantly

Earth Day Deals & Steals

EARTH DAY DEALS /  FREEBIES

Earth Day is turning 40 this year. To celebrate, many businesses are offering consumers free stuff, chances to win valuable prizes, and some good deals.
Here's a sampling of Earth Day freebies:

Gain free admission into all 392 U.S. national parks now through Sunday, April 25.
Trade in six plastic bottles or soda cans for a free hat made from recycled bottles at the Disney Store on April 22.

Babies R Us will give you a free reusable tote bag if you bring a valid coupon (PDF) into its stores through April 22. Plus, you'll get a 25% discount off all the clothing and shoes you can fit into the bag.

Evos is giving away free organic milkshakes served in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The healthy fast-food chain has locations in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Origins is offering a trade-in program on Earth Day only. Bring one of your current skin-care product bottles -- empty or full, from any brand -- to an Origins counter and receive a free full-size cleanser. Choose from Checks and Balances Frothy face wash or Perfect World antioxidant cleanser with white tea.
Get a chance to win a $20,000 green home makeover by registering on the Purex website by April 30.

Enter a sweepstakes to win 1 of 10 smart fortwo vehicles by making a pledge to help protect the environment on Safeway's website through April 27.

Sign up for the Drive Home Green sweepstakes on Target's website through the end of the month. The grand prize is a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. You could also win bicycles, electric scooters, a national park trip, and other prizes.

Add a green pledge to the Sierra Club's Earth Day map for a chance to win a trip for two to Hawaii.
 
Source: Earth DayDeals

Ways to Ease Your Everyday Worries

We know Mama was right when she said, "Money can't make you happy." But we also know financial worries can shake us up. As we wait for the economy to turn around, is there anyone who isn’t feeling anxious? If you’ve been laid off and there’s no job in sight, you may feel like life is whirling further out of control with every hoarded dollar you spend.

But that “so-scared-I-can’t-breathe” feeling doesn’t have to take over. You can stop it by deliberately tuning out fear and turning up the volume on other things like love, faith and community. Focusing on life’s positives can help you feel grounded.



“We tamp down fear by noticing the blessings and opportunities the economy has handed us,” says the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. “Having less money for eating out can result in healthier meals eaten with family, and more time to build and strengthen relationships.” Being aware that there are others who are worse off may spur you to volunteer.



Here’s another thing: A financial challenge such as an impending foreclosure, a layoff, a house worth less than the mortgage, is just a problem to get through. How we deal with that problem may shape us for good or ill, but the fact that it happened to us says nothing—we’re the same people we were before.



Even in the depths of the Great Depression, when 1 American in 3 was out of work and there were breadlines everywhere, people still managed to fall in love, play with their children, sing along with the radio, enjoy life. A lesson we can learn from those times is that there are always pockets of joy, and many ways to foster inner peace.



1. Accept that troubles are part of life. With all the focus on celebrity lifestyles during the past decade or so, “it’s almost as if we’ve been told life is supposed to be perfect all the time, and something is wrong with us if it isn’t,” says Victoria Moran, author of Living a Charmed Life. “That’s not true!”



Sometimes you just happen to be the person whose car runs over a nail in the road, and you end up with a flat tire. You didn’t do anything to deserve it. Being careful won’t eliminate every last chance of picking up a nail. Neither will being nice and working hard on your driving skills.



In the same way, you aren’t any more unlucky than anyone else if the economic slowdown is creating new difficulties for you. The answer to “Why me?” is “Why not me?” When you keep reminding yourself that life has its ups and downs, you’re better able to “change your default setting,” as Moran puts it. “All of a sudden, ‘Everyone’s healthy, and we’re safe and content, even now,’ becomes as good as ‘Rich and getting richer,’” she says.



2. Don’t obsess over the news. Molly Peter, a real estate agent and mother of four in Bethesda, Maryland, never watches the news anymore. “It’s surprising how much more positive I feel every day,” she says. Instead, she listens to music or an audiobook while in the car or cooking.



This technique is OK to use as long as you’re not in denial about the upheavals going on, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a University of California, Riverside, professor of psychology and author of The How of Happiness. Of course you want to stay informed—just don’t let it overwhelm you. “Your life will be happier if you focus on affirming things,” rather than things that depress you, says Dr. Lyubomirsky.

September is National Sewing Month

Back in 1982, then-President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation #4976, declaring September as National Sewing Month:

Tens of millions of Americans sew at home. Their efforts demonstrate the industry, the skill and the self-reliance which are so characteristic of this Nation.

In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our economy the Congress has, by Senate Joint Resolution 205, designated September, 1982, as National Sewing Month.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September, 1982, as National Sewing Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of Sept. in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eightytwo, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh.

Ronald Reagan

Currently, two organizations – The American Sewing Guild (ASG) and Sewing & Craft Alliance (SCA) – keep this month-long celebration going by encouraging sewers new and old to pick up a needle and get sewing. Sewing is definitely seeing a resurgence. From creativity to thriftiness to therapy, there are as many reasons for sewing as there are sewers. During the month of September, sewing retailers, machine manufacturers, teachers and sewing groups offer promotions, specials, classes, challenges and more from coast to coast.

The National Sewing Month website offers a wealth of information for anyone interested in learning to sew, honing her skills, or taking on this year's sewing challenge to Reuse, Remake, Restyle. Prizes include sewing equipment, fabric, sewing notions and tools, and more. So get sewing!

Contact JoAnn at: joann@gardenofdaisies.com or http://www.gardenofdaisies.com/

Apartment Recycling

Apartment Recycling

The “Company Profile” is an Earth911.com series highlighting consumer goods and services making a difference through product stewardship and recycling. Products and services featured do not pay for placement and are not endorsed by http://www.earth911.com/.

For many apartment residents, the inconvenience of recycling – separating, storing and hauling – is often a main deterrent to keeping recyclables out of the trash.

When Jonathan Hildreth, owner of Waste Management Concierge, founded his business in 2006, he sought to offer a premium recycling service that would change all of that.

Making Recycling Rewarding

Hildreth’s company picks up recycling and trash five, six or seven nights a week from the residences it works with, making it easy for every tenant to recycle as much as possible using one bag for everything. Here’s how it works:

• Property managers sign up for the concierge service and determine how many nights a week they would like recycling and trash collected.


• Waste Management Concierge provides each residence with recycling information and separate bags for trash and single-stream recycling (aluminum, plastic, glass, cardboard and paper can all be placed in one bag).


• Residents leave their recycling and trash outside their doors for an evening collection between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.


• Waste Management Concierge brings the trash to the community’s dumpster and transports all recycling back to its sorting facility in a small truck where it is weighed and separated.


• The communities that recycle the most receive incentives such as gift cards and parties that are paid for by the funds generated when recyclables are sold.

Read More: Apartment Recycling

New Uses for Old Things!

New Uses for Old Things!

New Uses for Aluminum Foil
It's a versatile kitchen tool, used for everything from holding in heat to protecting your pans―but it also removes wrinkles, scrubs glassware, and more.

Use Egg Slicer on Strawberries
A clever way to repurpose an everyday item.

Original purpose: Slicing hard-boiled eggs.

Aha! use: Cutting strawberries and mushrooms. Give this classic tool a permanent spot on your kitchen counter and―presto!―you'll have perfect slivers of your favorite summer foods.
Reward: Sleeker food and less chance of nicking a fingertip.

Baby Spoons as Serving Utensils
A clever way to repurpose an everyday item.

Original purpose: Playing airplane ("Here comes da wittle plane...") with your babies. Now, though, they're your teenagers.

Aha! use: Serving party dips or condiments―a chic alternative to setting out a bottle of French's.

Reward: No gunky bottles, plus a way to reuse shower gifts from, oh

Kitchen Towel for Preparing Rice
A clever way to repurpose an everyday item.

Original purpose: Drying hand-washed glasses.

Aha! use: Steaming perfect rice. Once the rice is tender, remove the pan from the heat, place a folded towel over the saucepan, replace the lid, and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes. The towel will absorb the excess moisture.
Reward: Great rice, no mush.

Read More: New Uses for Old Things!

Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks

Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks
By Amanda Hinnant

Keep a Journal
If the last entry in your diary is a cryptic scribble from 2003, stop writing and start printing―e-mails, that is. Since you’re probably already summarizing your life in e-mails to your friends and family, print them out and paste them on the pages of a blank notebook, suggests Oriah Mountain Dreamer, author of What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul (HarperOne, $22, amazon.com). “It’s like my yoga teacher once said about working out: ‘All you need to do is stretch for five minutes a day,’” Mountain Dreamer says. “Of course, once you get going, it feels so good, you’ll wind up doing more.”

Run Errands
“Plan the order of your stops in a clockwise direction,” advises Susan Hamersky, owner of the Los Angeles–based errand company California Concierge. “That way, you avoid all the time-consuming left turns.” Also, schedule your errands so you can drop things off on your way out and pick them up on your way home, says Dan McMackin, a spokesman for UPS and a former driver. Keep a cooler in your car for perishables, too. Then a stop at the market doesn’t have to be immediately followed by a run home to the refrigerator, says Julie Hagenmaier, founder and CEO of My Girl Friday, an errand company in Cincinnati.

Get Your Daily Vitamins
Try a bowl of Total, says David Grotto, a registered dietitian in Evanston, Illinois, and a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. The cereal is fortified with 100 percent of the daily value of 12 vitamins and minerals. Drink the milk, too―it will add even more vitamins, including those it washes off the cereal, Grotto says.

Turn Day Wear Into Evening Wear
Work is over, and you're ready for cocktails. Transform your office self for a night out with these tools.

• An extra pair of earrings. Always have two pairs―one small and one dangly. You can also attach clip-on earrings to your pumps.
• A lightweight shawl. "It's an easy new focal point for your outfit," says fashion consultant Leah Feldon, author of Does This Make Me Look Fat?: The Definitive Rules for Dressing Thin for Every Height, Size, and Shape (Villard, $15, amazon.com).
• A fancy pair of pumps. Or a pair of strappy sandals.
  Black eyeliner. For a smoky look, line your outer rims close to the lash lines, then smudge with a cotton swab, says New York City makeup artist Mally Roncal.
• A peachy cream blush. "The color will uplift your cheeks and eyelids," says New York City makeup artist Lea Siegel.

Get Cut Flowers to Bloom
First try cutting the stems at an angle, then placing the bouquet in warm water. If that doesn’t work, use a blow-dryer with a diffuser to simulate the sunshine’s warmth, says Denis Chandler, the owner of Bloomsberry Flowers, in Wilmington, Delaware.


Buy Clothes Without Trying Them On
You have good reasons to avoid the dressing room―long lines and fluorescent lighting among them―so skip it altogether by sizing yourself up first at home, says designer Cynthia Rowley. Note how your favorite clothes look when you hold them to your body, and recall that when you're shopping. If the fabric of a pair of jeans or a skirt doesn't exactly meet the edge of your waistline when you hold it up, it won't fit correctly, Feldon says. And the next time you're in a hurry at the department store, remember this measurement trick from Rowley: The distance from the side of your neck to the tip of your fingers (on an outstretched arm) is about the same length as your inseam.

Catch Up on Current Events
Nobody likes being out of the loop. Here's how the people who bring you the news get up to speed.

• I do a quick scan of CNN.com and AssignmentEditor.com, which allows you to access any newspaper in the country, and I read the Wall Street Journal's "What's News" section, says CNN's Paula Zahn.
• I put C-Span on in the background while I put away dishes or pay bills, says Mark Halperin, the political director of ABC News and the editor of The Note, on the network's website.
• On the Internet, scan the New York Times and the New York Post, says Post editor Isaac Guzman. Then watch a 30-minute roundup on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Speak a Foreign Language
¿No habla español? No problem. You don't need to complete a six-month course of elementary Spanish to make your way in Madrid. “Get a little pocket language book, and instead of attempting to learn the language, learn a few key phrases,” says Harold Jenkins, a Chicago-based travel agent and a frequent traveler. Elizabeth Lunney, cofounder of New York City's ABC Language Exchange, recommends Berlitz Phrasebooks because they’re “easy to navigate, come in many languages, and help with pronunciation.” Don George, global-travel editor for Lonely Planet, says the following words and phrases are the most useful:
Hello
Good-bye
Yes
No
Please
Thank you
Excuse me
Sorry
Do you speak English?
I don’t understand.
How much?
I would like…
Where is…?
Train station
Bathroom

Read more of this Article By Amanda Hinnant