Reviews by linnber

linnber says "I'm saving money over everyone I know." about Tracfone

linnber — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:55:56 GMT

I have been a Tracfone user since 2001, and I see no reason to change anytime soon. The phone obviously has it's pros and cons, but it's perfect for someone like me. Everyone I know uses a 'monthly plan' for their phones, so this is much cheaper than that, at least for me and my family. I'm certainly not a person who uses my cell phone very often, but I use it a few times a week. Here is my experience:

* Use the current online deals to get the best value. For $99 you get a phone, a year of service, and about 400 minutes of phone time. The current phone they have advertised (as of 12/07) is a decent little flip phone. For additional expense, you can have a phone with more bells and whistles. Even with tax, this works out to about $9 per month--most of my friends and family pay at least $39 per month for the plan they have.

* My husband bought me a Tracfone phone that does all of the 'fancy' stuff, including taking pictures. This phone came with double minutes for life,...

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linnber says "Great free site with lots of support available!" about Sparkpeople

linnber — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:31:15 GMT

I think the SparkPeople site is fabulous! I'm not actually dieting, but try to lead a healthy lifestyle. I have tried my share of sites and programs over the years, and SparkPeople offers the same ideas and help--but absolutely free!!! As with any program, you have to be willing to work it to get the results. But they will guide you every step of the way, and the exercises, articles and nutrition information are top-notch, in my opinion. I would highly recommend this site to anyone looking to get healthier or lose weight. You really can follow the ideas on SparkPeople and make wonderfully positive changes in your life!...

linnber says "It won't pay for college, but maybe a textbook or two." about Upromise

linnber — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 21:25:52 GMT

The UPromise idea is great--shop and dine as you usually would, and the companies you support will put money into your kids' college education funds. There are lots of companies and products participating in the online shopping section, and it's easy to sign up and use the promotions. UPromise doesn't overwhelm you with junk e-mail or phone calls (just a simple periodic statement of your earnings). If you can convince any friends or relatives to sign up to support your children, their shopping and dining can help, too. The biggest downside I've found is that the savings don't exactly pile up. I haven't yet been motivated to transfer the money into a 529 plan, but obviously I will at some point. There are very few restaurants near us that participate, and none of our local grocers or drugstores are part of the program. If you're interested in saving a little extra for college, then go for it; the results might buy a few college textbooks in the end....

linnber says "Great place for Family Ski Vacation" about Smugglers Notch - Smuggler's Notch, VT

linnber — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:29:45 GMT

We are a family of 4 (one daughter, one son) and we have been to Smuggler's Notch twice: first in March, '06, and again in March, '07. The first trip was our first-ever attempt at skiing. Smugglers Notch offers everything you need in one location, which made it much less intimidating for us as new skiiers. The resort handles your lodging, lift tickets, ski rentals, etc., and guide you through it all every step of the way.

The first year we went we rented the condo, and the rental included everything we needed including beginner ski lessons. When we compared prices to going out West, the prices were unbeatable. The condo was older, but nicely maintaned. The kids loved the FunZone game/play area, and the pool and hot tubs are decent enough. The shuttle service will take you anywhere around the resort you want to go, and the shuttle drivers we had were super friendly and helpful. The little market had everything we needed, but fairly pricy. The restaurants can also be a...

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linnber says "My family LOVED the Pearl" about Norwegian Cruise Line - Pearl

linnber — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:01:22 GMT

My family (myself, husband, son age 12, daughter age 10, and mother-in-law) cruised on the Pearl in late May/early June of 2007. We had a wonderful trip! It was our second cruise on NCL. We like the flexibility and ease of freestyle cruising.

Embarkation: In Seattle, we arrived early at the pier, and had practically no wait getting on the ship. I know that embarkation can be a very hit-or-miss experience, and we have had our share of bad experiences. But this particular set-up seemed to be very well run and all went smoothly. Once on board, EVERYONE was trying to get lunch and it was kind of crazy and congested; nowhere to sit. But after a while the crowds started flowing better as people got into their cabins. Again, this is fairly typical of what to expect from our experience.

Cabin: We had 2 cabins: an inside cabin, and a mini-suite with a balcony. Both were nicely maintained by the staff, and comfortable. The mini-suite on NCL just had 2 beds; the one 'main'...

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