The Sookie Stackhouse saga is one of my favorite series, of late. HBO agrees with me and has made the books in to a popular TV series called “Trueblood”. Sookie is a fun heroine and the Vamps she hangs out with are sexy, strong and fun to read about. You can pick up this latest book in the series at Amazon for only $9.99 for the hardback which is listed at $25.00. It’s a great read!

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Today, we’re talking to Gabriella, who recently turned her travel blog into a subscriber-only website that provides readers access to unique travel experiences and great deals on travel. She has insightful advice for those of us who are trying to “make money on the internet”. You can contact her at info@theexplorateur.net if you have any questions about her site or her experiences.

Tell us about your business: The Explorateur is a website that showcases honest reviews on hotels, information and insider tips on new happenings in the travel world, and exclusive offers at amazing hotels worldwide, for subscribers only.

Why did you start this business? I love to travel, have a passion for discovering new places. I am also aware that no matter what budget people have, they are always looking for a good deal on travel. And, with The Explorateur, we always have a great exclusive for them at a fantastic, unique hotel or venue around the world.

What is your background? I started out working at a tour operator, in the department handling contracting and advertising programs. After 6 ½ years I took a different direction and started my own company (Trumarketing) that handles sales, marketing and PR for hotels and destinations worldwide. I launched The Explorateur as more of a hobby and a blog, but it quickly took shape and turned into a more comprehensive venture with a more defined goal and reach.

What skills did you need to acquire for your new endeavor? The ability to adapt to a VERY dynamic, ever-changing environment. Everything about travel is different now: the way people get information, the way they process it, and the things they’re looking for. We have to be on the pulse of what makes sense for people who love to travel. We also have to negotiate the best deals possible and utilize different forms of social media to enhance our visibility while minding our own limited budgets.

Biggest challenges? Information overload. There is so much info, so many people saying so many things that it’s almost impossible for a consumer to keep up. But, by carving out a niche such as a pathway for exclusive deals, it keeps readers engaged and loyal to the e-publication.

What have you learned and advice to others: Always be willing to learn and take constructive advice- nobody knows it all and part of the biggest challenge in starting your own venture is tackling the unknown. Look to people who can help advise you or guide you based on their own experiences, while following your ideas and instincts as well.

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Getting your body ready for the beach? I’m still scared to put on my swimsuit after seeing Valerie Bertinelli’s 50 year old (perfect) bikini body on that Jenny Craig ad. But you don’t have to join a gym, hire a personal trainer or pay a bundle to look great (or good enough). There are a lot of tools to help you discover a healthier you for free. Here are some of the places that you can get free training tips and workout moves to get that body pumped and gorgeous.

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Need a new car? It seems like now is the time to get one, especially if you’re willing to drive a GM or a Toyota. But before you shop, it’s important that you do your research to maximize your dollars. This is especially important for the “big ticket purchases” that we will undertake as the economy improves and people have more money to spend. To help you out, we have done OUR research and have some advice for you about the right time to buy certain categories of these big ticket items.

Home Theatres and Flat Screen TVs – New models come into stores in May so you should be able to get a deal on the last year’s model in June or July, according to Consumer Reports.

Cars – In general, the last Tuesday or Wednesday of the month, when quotas are in play for the dealerships, are the best days to go car shopping. Edmunds.com also says that if you can wait to get a new car, wait until the end of the year, when the dealers need to get rid of their old models to make room for the new models.

Ski Equipment – ALWAYS wait until the end of the ski season (April or May) to buy skis or boots. This is probably stating the obvious but you never know what kind of crazy, knee-jerk shoppers are out there.

Furniture – January and July are the months that retailers get in their new lines, according to Better Homes and Gardens magazine. You can get great deals on floor models and last year’s collections at that time of year.

We hope you have money to spend but if you do, make sure you plan before you shop!

Darcy Ratner and Julie Arnheim
Founders, Rubbingnickels.com

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Earth Day is coming up. What is it and how are you going to celebrate?

The April 22 Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution. Earth Day’s goal is to “inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth’s environment”. It is now celebrated in more than 140 countries.

On Earth Day, many communities honor the earth with outdoor performances. Others carry out acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day in communities include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, rolling out programs for recycling and conservation, and encouraging the use of recyclable or reusable containers for lunches. Some people take political stands and work on petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.

Rubbingnickels.com has been an advocate for the environment since our founding in 2008. To get some ideas about how to honor the earth on April 22nd, visit our Eco-thrifty tab on our home page. Maybe you’ll start a garden with the help of our Teacher Debbie. Or you could do a “household plastic purge” or a “home energy assessment” to become more Eco-thrifty in your home.

Get creative and celebrate the Earth!

Julie Arnheim and Darcy Ratner
Founders, Rubbingnickels.com

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