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Five Budget-Friendly Ideas for COVID Conscious Summer Fun
By Jean Chatzky* The great outdoors offers a variety of low-cost options for safe excursions in the age of Corona. With high school and college graduations in full swing, and COVID vaccination rates rising by the day, the urge to travel for many people is growing stronger Although summer is traditionally a time when people spend more, planning safe summer getaways doesn’t have to break the bank.
Creating a budget for your trip, and planning ahead, are great ways to make sure you and your family or other traveling companions make lasting memories. Here are some budget-friendly ideas for summer fun in the age of Corona:
Road Trips to State and National Parks
One way to stay safe this summer and satisfy your wanderlust is to take a road trip to a state or national park to soak up some scenery and sunshine for way less than theme-park admissions.
And while many national parks don’t charge entrance fees, there are four days left in 2021 when all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Those remaining dates in 2021 are: August 4, which marks the one-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act; August 25, National Park Services birthday; September 25, National Public Lands Day; and November 11, Veterans Day.
It’s important to note that face masks are still required on National Park Service-administered lands where physical distancing can’t be maintained and in all national parks buildings and facilities. Park operations vary based on local public health conditions. Before visiting, be sure to check the park’s website to make sure it will be open when you plan your trip.
Day Trips to Beaches And Lakes
Heading to a public beach or a lake for a day trip can be another low-cost option for summer fun that won’t cost much more than the gas to get there if you plan ahead. To lower food costs, bring a blanket and pack an ice chest for a picnic lunch.
Before you go to a lake or bay, check out prices for kayak or canoe rentals for an affordable excursion. And don’t forget about sites such as Groupon where you can still find deep discounts on activities close to home or anywhere in the U.S. you plan to travel this summer.
Hiking Close to Home
Bored with making the block in your own neighborhood? Grab your sunscreen and water bottle and head to nearby parks and trails for a new hiking adventure. Not sure where to go? The American Hiking Society, at americanhiking.org, offers maps of nearby hikes and rates the skill-level needed to enjoy each nature trail. The site also offers a variety of resources for beginners and seasoned hikers to get the most out of your next walkabout.
Zoos and Public Gardens
You can become a tourist in your own town, or another destination within driving distance to save on hotel stays. Zoos and public botanical gardens are great outdoor destinations that can keep you and your family occupied for hours while still keeping a safe distance from other groups. Before you go, check out a company’s website to look for deals or days when park admissions are lower for locals.
Movies, Music and Art in a Park
Many cities are sponsoring outdoor socially distanced (and often free of charge) movie nights and art walks to help families beat back the stuck-at-home blues. Same goes for concerts and plays. Community theatre groups also are getting creative, planning performances in public gardens and other outdoor spaces where it’s more practical to observe social distancing precautions.
*This guest article is from the “Your Money Blog” in ‘Mid Oregon’s Digital Banking Credit Savvy resource’. It is made possible by Savvy Money. “Five budget-friendly ideas for COVID conscious summer fun” by Jean Chatzky with Casandra Andrews was published in May 2021.
Create A Strong And Unique Password
Most of us know by now not to use the same passwords for different accounts. Yet some of us still do. But users who continue to use passwords they know have been exposed in a hack are truly flirting with danger. In a recent study, Google found 1.5% of passwords are still being used despite those users knowing they’ve been compromised. There’s no shortage of mega breaches and hacks in the news that expose countless passwords and other data. But many password users don’t heed the warnings. A security researcher discovered more than 22 million unique passwords and over 770 million email addresses were made public on a popular hacker forum earlier this year. The massive discovery is believed to be the largest data dump to date. With numbers like these, it’s no secret that continuing to use exposed passwords puts those users at risk of being exploited yet again. Here is how to create a strong and unique password.
Most of us wouldn’t hand our car keys to a car thief, but reusing compromised passwords may be doing just that. Hackers who get passwords from data dumps or buy them on the dark web have the keys to enter sensitive accounts. Data breaches result in hacked passwords. Those passwords give access to an account. And that access can lead to the theft of other PII (Personally Identifiable Information) like bank and credit card information. Those who reuse the same compromised passwords for different accounts can also become victims of credential stuffing. Hoping to access even more accounts, hackers “credential stuff” stolen passwords. They do this by trying them on other accounts belonging to the same user. Since this type of hack is on the rise, so are the opportunities a hacker has to steal even more PII. Either way, reusing passwords involved in a hack or breach can be a lose-lose situation.
Password Protection
Change passwords immediately after finding your account may be exposed in a data breach.
- Use strong and unique passwords for each account and change them regularly. Include letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Use two-factor (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) when available, as they provide additional layers of security when logging-in.
- Keep passwords to yourself and don’t share them.
- Be aware if of others watching when you type a password and always logout, and close the browser window if applicable when done.
- Check password strength, if a website offers a strength analyzer when creating an account.
- Avoid using passwords with unsecured Wi-Fi as they can be intercepted and stolen.
Create a Strong and Unique Password
Need a tip for creating passwords you can remember? Try creating a base password of at least six characters. Then add some characters from the related website to that to create your password. For example, if the base password is “XP2#z%” and your account is at acme.com, your password for that account would become “XP2#z%Ac” using the first to characters of the website on the end.
Teach It: Studies Show Financial Education Pays Off
By Chris O’Shea* The results are in: Giving kids early financial education pays off in smart money decisions down the line. In one study, from the National Endowment for Financial Education, kids who participated in financial education courses made better choices when it came to paying for college.
The study found that students who took financial literacy courses from an early age were more likely to apply for low-cost loans and grants to help pay for college. They also were less likely to use private loans or carry high-interest credit cards. As MSNBC reports, this finding is important for a couple reasons. First, the report shows financial education can help young people avoid crushing student loan debt. The study is also important because other studies have shown that when students are aware of higher education payment options, they’re more likely to attend college.
The connection between financial education and smart money moves isn’t limited to paying for college. In one study, kids who were taught financial courses had higher credit scores. In another report, a positive correlation was found between teenage financial literacy and net worth.
Adults aren’t off the hook either. Multiple reports have found that the more financial literacy adults have, the better money moves they make. Adults with high financial literacy are more likely to make timely loan payments and less likely to have high amounts of debt. Clearly, there is little downside to teaching and focusing more on financial education.
*This guest article is from the “Your Money Blog” in ‘Mid Oregon’s Digital Banking Credit Savvy. resource’. It is made possible by Savvy Money. “Teach It: Studies show financial education pays off” by Chris O’Shea was published in April 2021.