Davepeanuts's blog

How to get the cheapest car rental deal?

Going on holiday is always expensive. Things can often go over budget and then the usual vacation catastrophe happens, like you lose your bag or your travellers cheques and it ends up costing you a small fortune. But holidays don’t always have to end up costing you the earth. Securing the right deals on your insurance, accommodation and car hire booking can make all the difference when it comes to getting the best for your buck.

To ensure that you get the best deal on your rental car the first thing you need to do is shop around. Thanks to the internet the ability to swap and compare deals is now yours at the touch of a button. Shopping around can save you a small fortune, all you’ll need to do is to work out all the necessary variables for your rental like size, style and age of driver and then compare them across a number of rental and price comparison sites.

Once you’ve settled on your make, model and car hire company the next thing you need to look into are the so-called ‘extras’ that usually come with any car rental package. A few extras here and there and some misread small print can soon end up. When booking your vehicle ensure that you read through and understand all the required material. For a good run down on what to avoid and what to look out for take a look at the Telegraph’s guide to car hire extras.        
 

How much money per year does it take to be happy? Not as much as you might think.

In the midst of a recession, where money is tight, it’s important to remember that wealth does not equal emotional happiness. However, it cannot be denied that there is a certain numerical amount needed to deal with the necessities of day to day life. Indeed, having a wedge of cash stashed away in your savings account will always leave you safe and confident in the knowledge that you’ll always be able to financially cope, no matter what life throws at you.

In a massive research project undertaken in the U.S. by the National Academy of Sciences, they have come to a consensus on how much monetary income is required to feel comfortable: The figure is in the region of $75,000 (Just under £50,000)

The research compiled by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton consists of over 450,000 responses, randomly selected from US residents. Each caller was asked a variety of questions about their financial status including questions based on day to day activities, expenses and debts. Callers were also asked about their personal banking practices, including questions about how they manage their current accounts.

The residents taking part in the survey were asked to rate various aspects of their life on a scale of zero to ten to measure their general happiness and emotional stability. A number of questions were used to directly determine the amount of stress the caller experienced both at home and at work.

The results were obvious to begin with. General happiness increased steadily with annual income, but began to show a trend, a curbing point were wealth stops becoming a benefit and even becomes a detriment to ones emotional happiness. According to the study the quality of the respondents' everyday experiences did not improve above an income of $75,000 a year.

The same is true of the downward scale. According to the research worries and stress increase as income decreases, again no real surprise there. The results also focus on the points that most closely relate to emotional burdens and shocking or painful events, such as death, disease, divorce, seclusion, which are exacerbated by poverty or lack or socialised services.

It’s important to remember though, that this research is not the be all, end all, answer. There is no claim here that your emotional burdens or problems will be magically absolved once you begin to make $75,000 a year.

The primary discovery is that income, or lack of, is much more of an emotional ordeal for those under the 75k threshold, as they might not have the financial capability to deal with everything life throws at them, leading to stress, worry, and feelings of helplessness. While those who make over $75,000 will find their emotions less swayed by how much money they make.

Taking a van trip? To lease or to rent?

Every year thousands of hippies, backpackers and gap-year students embark on the ultimate experience of their life by taking a few months road-tripping across the globe. The road-trip has become the ultimate expression of freedom and liberation, glamorised by the sixties and iconic films and books such as Easy Rider and Route 66.

Although riding across the states on a Harley Davidson sounds like a great idea, it isn’t exactly the most practical way of taking a road-trip, especially if you’re heading out with a group of mates, a tent and all the other bits and pieces you need for a six-month trip. 

Hiring a van is a much better prospect, but what’s the better option, van hire or van leasing? Before making any decision on the matter, it is important that you understand the differences between them and which of the two would suit your requirements. Let’s take a look at your options:

Van leasing

Van leasing is very similar to car leasing, where you pay a fixed monthly cost for the use of the van.

The advantages of this arrangement are:

•    Reduced capital – You only pay a fixed monthly fee.
•    Ownership – Depending on the contract, you may be offered the chance to keep the van at the end of the contract.
•    No depreciation risks – The leasing company owns the vehicle for the duration of the contract, and will continue to do so if you choose not to buy it outright at the end of the period.
•    Upgrade – At the end of your contract you can always take a new one out on a newer model.
•    Maintenance – Some companies offer regular maintenance in their contracts.

The disadvantages of taking out a leasing contract for a van are:

•    Mileage – The cost of leasing a van is based on the anticipated mileage that the vehicle will undertake while in your possession. You should think about this before signing any agreement.
•    Tied in – Once you have signed the agreement you are bound to its terms. If you feel that you may not be able to keep up with the payments, then purchasing a second hand vehicle outright may be a better solution.

Van Hire

Van hire is a temporary rental agreement that allows you to use a van for a limited period of time for a specific purpose, e.g. a house move.

The advantages of this arrangement are:

•    Convenient – No long term contract, just use the van for what you need it for and return it.
•    Size – Choose from several different size vans to suit your needs.
•    Expense – No need to invest in a vehicle if you only need it for a few trips.

The disadvantages of a temporary rental agreement are:

•    Short term – This is not suitable if you are looking to have a van at your regular disposal.
•    Inexpensive – There are plenty of van hire providers out there, giving you plenty of opportunities to find a good deal.

Of course it all really depends upon where you’re intending to go, how long you need to have the vehicle for and what sort of van you want to hire. If you are going to choose one of these options then make sure that you research each individual option carefully, going through all the small-print to ensure that you pick the most cost effective option for the road-trip of your lifetime.

Route66

Have a great flight with this guide to Sydney...

With a tonne of sun, bags of stunning scenery and some of the cleanest and trendiest cities in the world, it’s no wonder that millions of tourists book flights to Australia every year. What started as a backwards penal colony has now matured over time to become one of the most stunning and culturally exciting locations on the globe.

So what exactly is it about Australia that makes it such a popular destination with tourists and immigrants? Well let’s start with something any real native of the British Isles will appreciate and that’s sunshine. Yes, unfortunately the inhabitants of down under get a stonking average of 300 days of sunshine a year. A huge injustice if you ask me, especially when you compare that number to the British summer average of about 2 weeks with a few scattered showers.

But apart from the glorious weather you only have to look at the amazing scenery of a place like New South Wales to understand why so many people spend thousands on flights to Australia every year. In and around Sydney there are hundreds of beautiful locations to visit. Three of the most prominent such spots are Byron Bay, Jervis Bay and Lord Howe Island.

Byron Bay

759km north of Sydney is the bohemian settlement of Byron Bay, well known for its lush beaches, vibrant forest and laidback attitude. The bay is a well known hotspot for tourists, backpackers and surfers due to its tropical climate and great waves. It’s also well known by wildlife enthusiasts for its superb whale watching tours.    

Byron bay

Jervis Bay

Jervis bay is the very definition of the term ‘unspoilt beauty’. Set amongst the backdrop of rugged and mountainous scenery, Jervis Bay encompasses a series of natural secluded bays with clear blue waters and white sandy beaches. Again the bay is well known by tourists and wildlife lovers due to its surrounding 30 national parks.

Jervis bay

Lord Howe Island 

Just a two hour flight from Sydney into the Tasman Sea lays the UNESCO world heritage site of Lord Howe Island.  The crescent shaped island is 10km by 2km and comprises of craggy mountains which protects a stunning coral reef and lagoon. The island is covered by a lush subtropical forest with a number of interesting native flora and fauna.

Lord-howe-island

Of course don’t just take my words for it, just take a look at the pictures and dream....