You bet. Housekeepers work hard and it's a miserable job cleaning the room that a stranger has slept and bathed in. I leave the money each morning with a note saying "for the housekeeper", even if I'm staying several days.   I have not infrequently received notes of thanks from the housekeeper in return.

Mom should be glad the girl is doing laundry.  I know a number of preteens who would wear the same undies and socks two days rather than do wash.    My suggestion would be to split it: parents buy 3 pairs of undies and 3 of socks, daughter's allowance picks up the other 3 pairs of each.  And if Mom wants to repeat t...more

How is one supposed to figure out how much the meal cost, anyway?  Bring your checkbook and a blank check, ask the caterer (or the mother of the bride) what the per head cost is, then fill out your check accordingly?  Please.   And I sincerely hope my wedding day was not the best day of my life.  It was the day that ...more

I'll argue on some types of clothing.  I am not going to make a blouse, a skirt, or my own shoes.  But if you already know how to knit, it is likely cheaper to make your own hat or fashion sweater than to buy it.  If you don't know how to knit, there are plenty of books at the library and demo videos online to teach yo...more

Do what you love AS A HOBBY.  Don't assume that if you love something, people will pay you to do it.  They will pay you to do something they need done.  Figure out something you do well that otherswill pay you to do, and do that.    And don't be afraid to change jobs or locations.  Also, don't rule out a location jus...more

Heck, that's not new.  I believe it was United I was on last year and nobody wanted to pay more for "Economy Plus" seats, so all the exit row seats were empty.  The flight attendants were trying to persuade people to upgrade because there was nobody to handle the exit row in an emergency, but they weren't allowed to le...more

We regret the things we did not do far more than the things we did.  If you can find the money for this by being frugal in other areas, even though it IS a great deal of money for a trip, then go.

We got a reminder of what the stuff smells like a couple of years ago, when the tank of odorant at Southern California Gas's plant sprang a leak.  There was no leak of actual natural gas, but there certainly was a smell.   And I would like to say how sorry I am for the mail carriers who had to deliver all those stink...more

Oh yes it is possible to drink $63 worth of soda.  Carrying on one's own beverages is a good idea, as long as they don't spot you doing it.  (Yes the suitcase weighs a lot when you arrive on the ship.  A case of diet soda will do that.  The suitcase will be a lot lighter at the end of the cruise!)