I buy my dresses on ebay and goodwill boutiques, seriously!! Beautiful for a fraction of the price!! We have a boutique here on Sanibel Island!! I bring my own wine and water on board, save change all year long, we don't gamble or pay bingo, or buy art!! I do buy jewelry on board, if I can find a piece I love that I have not seen before!! I pick up tops, shorts, capris, bathing suit, shoes, all year long at sales, not rushed. I bought a couple of satin jammie bottoms at Wally, and a couple of tank tops, that double as jammies, and sitting on the aft late at night!! Comfy!! For final payment, our tips are already put aside, so don't have to worry about it last minute, and we bring several $5 & $1's for tips for cab, porters, any help along the way!!
Sue, you and Karen seem to think alike. She has two sundresses that she get complimented on constantly on the ship. Both came from Target on the 50% off rack in the fall. They hung in the closet until spring.
Ebay, thrift shops, Salvation Army, sales who knows after you leave the store. Isn't it funny how some people are hung up on high end stores.
Even our high end shopping is straight for the sale racks
Harry, I used to pay full price for the designer clothes, It wasn't the name as much as the quality and fabrics I was looking for!! One year we were at our place in Maine, and just for the hell of it, we went into a consignment store and I was hooked. I found name brands, quality and fabric that I was used to, at a fraction of the price!! Just like new, many with tags still on. Now I am a fanatic!! I would much rather have the thrill of the hunt, and find clothes that I knew was an out of sight price, that was a bargain!! We also have a Kids boutique here on the Cape, and they are top of the line!! The kids look awesome every day, and I paid pennies on the dollar!!:headbang2 I have no embarrasment at all, and tell everyone that asks, where I got something!! I don't feel like a cheapskate, I am a smart shopper!!
Again Sue, we think very much alike. Keep up the good work. Isn't it fun. And I agree we we don't hide the fact either. Why should we, it's our money and we can spend it as we see fit
I do the shop year round also. When I see a great sale on an item I buy it for a future cruise item. I do yard sales too. Sometimes you can find great formals for next to nothing.
I will allow myself 10 dollars for the casino. I look at it as a little entertainment. If I win great. If I loose then I don't play anymore. Sometimes I don't even go into the casino.
If there is a shore excursion through the ship that is something hard to do on your own I might book through them. Most of the time I do as others and get a taxi to take me where I want to go.
I don't buy hardly anything through the gift shops on board. Unless it really jumps up and says you have to take me home. (inexpensive still) I don't buy. I did have to get the cuddley little stuffed animals when I went to Alaska.
I shop around for cruises that are good deals. I make sure to watch to see if pricing goes down and ask for either an upgraded cabin or a reduced cruising fare.
I shop for my own airfare. It is usually a lot more expensive through the cruiseline.
I'm new on here...hello everyone Just wondered in you are able to take wine etc. in your luggage aboard Holland America cruise ships...off to Alaska with my mom...first cruise for both, but would love to save where we can. Neither are big drinkers, but would love a glass or 3 of wine in the evening when away... thanks for your help cheers, Sandy
we're not doing the formal nights so that cut out that expense, we wanted to be smart casual & casual this time & keep the suitcase packing down. I buy clothes all year long at sales, for all reasons. luckily, bought alot of clothes for our honeymoon last yr. and havent worn them since so didn't need much at all this time... don't have many used clothing stores around here and Salvation army stores are not nice up here.
we save all our loose change everyday/week in a bucket and whatever money is in our wallets/pocketbooks on payday, goes into an envelope for our spending $ on trips. be real surprised how fast this all adds up. for this cruise, not having to take any cash out of savings !!
bringing big thermal cups to keep filled w/ cold water or ice tea, not big soda drinkers or even drinkers, going to p/u some ginger ale in terminal store before boarding for cabin fridge. only get one bling, and buy local artists things & food etc for souvenirs. my one failing, collect Teddy Bears ( have 60 ) so try to get from each island. will buy an album from ship for pics, have for all 3 others. and the gifts for our 7 grandkids..
shop around for tours, depends on what island whether go off on own or thru ship. keep to the lower priced tours thru ship and if don't like any of them, then don't book. this trip staying on ship for one island, will go into town for bit but take advantage of people being gone and peace & quiet on board.
$25 for casino and that's it. work too hard to give it to a machine..
oh ice cream is my weakness, so on CB since have to pay for it, might run up a little bill .
this trip have a nice OBC, got it for being "bumped" off our org. sailing of 4/19. so that's paying for our 3 tours.
I can't drink cause of meds am on and DH is not much of a drinker, will buy one or two.
So the cruise lines don't make much off of us. except the balcony cabin, won't settle for less, its too special & enjoyable for us.
well if anyone stuck w/ this to the end, I thank you.
I cut back all year and watch my pennies. When it's time for my cruise i don't cut back on anything. I want to have the time of my life and don't even think about the money I'm spending.
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I bring my own wine and water on board, save change all year long, we don't gamble or pay bingo, or buy art!! I do buy jewelry on board, if I can find a piece I love that I have not seen before!! I pick up tops, shorts, capris, bathing suit, shoes, all year long at sales, not rushed. I bought a couple of satin jammie bottoms at Wally, and a couple of tank tops, that double as jammies, and sitting on the aft late at night!! Comfy!! For final payment, our tips are already put aside, so don't have to worry about it last minute, and we bring several $5 & $1's for tips for cab, porters, any help along the way!!
I have no embarrasment at all, and tell everyone that asks, where I got something!! I don't feel like a cheapskate, I am a smart shopper!!
This is VERY true! 
Just wondered in you are able to take wine etc. in your luggage aboard Holland America cruise ships...off to Alaska with my mom...first cruise for both, but would love to save where we can. Neither are big drinkers, but would love a glass or 3 of wine in the evening when away...
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