The Insurance Doctor

Category: activities

6 Tips to save $$$ on Holiday Shopping
Last year people spent on average $1,000 per child for the holidays. Heed these tips to avoid out of control spending:
1. JoinHoney.com: On your iPad, desktop or laptop click www.JoinHoney.com and add the extension. This extension (not for phones) automatically searches for the best price and attaches coupons, often cheaper than Amazon when you are checking out!
2. Make a budget: Budget X dollars per person and keep the list with you while shopping.
3. Points, Points, Points Credit cards, Verizon, AAR, and many other companies offer points to discount prices.
4. Buy Toys early others late: Statistics show prices are best on Toys early so buy those first and wait on other goods and services.
5. Search out Free Shipping: This can add up over multiple purchases.
6. Secret Santa: For Christmas celebrants consider a “secret Santa” where each person is assigned 1 person to buy for instead of buying for everyone. Set a price max and watch your stress levels go down. My family adopted this strategy years ago after my Mother calculated she was buying 80% of all family gifts.
November 25, 2019
5 reasons to visit northern California

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting friends in the far-north reaches of California. While the southern portion of the state is well known for its beaches and metropolitan attractions, northern California holds some notable destinations for travelers who venture north. Here are five attractions I had the pleasure of visiting recently.

1. Mount Shasta: A beautiful mountain town nestled between Redding and the Oregon border in the southern Cascade range. The town is situated at an elevation of 3,600 feet above sea level under the shadow of Mount Shasta with hiking, museums, art galleries and good cuisine.

2. Sundial bridge: Designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and constructed in 2004, this is the only functioning sundial bridge within the United States. It’s located in the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Spanning the Sacramento River the bridge sports a glass walkway where you can see salmon in the river beneath you. Also a great variety of walking trails and a museum. It’s a great stop if driving up to Vancouver and it’s also dog-friendly.

3. Pluto’s caves: Discovered in 1863 by a rancher looking for stray cattle these caves are not marked nor will you find them in any travel guide. We were tipped off by a local and had an outstanding hike inside of them. Bring sturdy hiking boots, water and a spirit of adventure.

4. Whiskeytown Lake: Stunning views and turquoise colored waters attract thousands of visitors to this lake. It’s a reservoir located west of Redding in Shasta County and is a favorite for locals. Kayaking and all motorized boating are permitted. Various levels of restaurants are available in the vicinity.

5. In and Out Burger: My favorite burger chain. Family owned restaurants who unfortunately have stated they will not expand to the east coast. Going west? Better grab one of these fantastic burgers and a tee shirt to make your east coast friends jealous.

Make this summer a productive one and contact Robert here today for a free financial review.

September 23, 2019
10 Reasons to Stay at the Bogota, Colombia BNB Inn
Colombia has an old stigma as a beautiful yet dangerous place to visit. Tourism is booming as there is so much culture and depth to this country. I strongly suggest staying at the Bogota Bed & Breakfast Inn.
1. Location: Nestled in cozy middle class Teusaquillo near the airport, downtown and the Bogota Botanical Garden. Downtown is 15 minutes and a $2-3 Uber ride anywhere. Easy one-hour flight to Medellin or Cartagena.
2. Safety and Security: 16 high-tech security cameras and a 500 lb. steel front door with remote, nice residential area.
3. Family-owned by a wonderful couple: Rick Estrada and Beatriz (Aunt B to me) Leon. Rick was born in Manhattan and grew up in Florida. Ex-military (USAF) he’s also a historian and runs the best tour. Bea, born in Cali (Colombia) and helped transform the community. They both speak fluent English and Spanish.
4. The Price is Right: The only true BNB in Bogota is under $100/night including breakfast, a briefing and fast free internet, business services and so much more…
5. Food: Omg the food is so good, they make breakfast to order. They cook traditional American, arepa with eggs and specialty dishes like Tamel. Also, excellent pizza and burgers as well as upscale restaurants are blocks away.
6. Clean and neat: They won the TripAdvisor Green Leader award for eco-friendliness. This place is spotless!
7. Sight-seeing galore: A plethora of options, Monserrate mountain, Nemocon salt mine (“Los 33” Antonio Banderas Chilean minor’s movie was filmed there), graffiti walking tour, gold museum and Guatevita the flooded city.
8. People and the scene: Cosmopolitan capital Bogota is home to warm, welcoming people who appreciate a small effort to speak Spanish. The city offers culinary, art and live music scenes that rival Buenos Aires or Mexico.
9. The “Rick Special Tour”: I suggest taking this tour the first 2-3 days in Bogota. Rick can customize the trip based on your interests. An encyclopedia of knowledge, he will give you a great picture of Colombia’s history past to present.
10. Feels like home: Unlimited library of music, I felt comfortable for 9 days wearing my PJ’s (pants only) around the house. Where else can you text the owners on WhatsApp and get prompt answers? Click the website above for video on each room and book the reservation!
April 2, 2019
5 Reasons to Visit Sicily
If there’s one place I love to visit it is ‘old country’, Sicily that is. If there is one destination that is ‘bucket list worthy’ it is Sicily.
1. Taormina: Sicily’s greatest resort, Taormina was built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. With great shopping and panoramic views of the sea and Mount Etna, Taormina is a must for Sicily visitors.
2. Mount Etna: The tallest active volcano in Europe, Etna offers a variety of different hikes. I was actually on the mountain in 1994 which was the last time it erupted.
3. Syracuse and Ortygia: Siracusa is a dramatic mix of old and new. It was once a key city in the Greek empire. Ortygia, thousands of years old is known as the old city. Having been bombed several times, Ortygia was rebuilt in what is called Sicilian Baroque. These wonderful places can be seen on the same day.
4. The Godfather tour: In Fiumefreddo (cold river) it’s about a 30-minute drive from Taormina. I haven’t seen it advertised, however, it’s a must for Godfather fans. The most famous scene shot there is when Michael’s Sicilian wife Appolonia blew up in a car meant for Michael. The property owner, Franco Platania was on the set as a kid in 1971 when Godfather 1 was filmed.
5. Food and wine: I have had several of my best all-time dishes in Sicily including Tiramisu and rice balls. Sicily is a must especially if you have been to Italy as many feel that it’s a different country!
February 12, 2019
5 Reasons to see the Shark exhibit in Coney Island
The Shark Exhibit at the New York Aquarium is a big hit!

Having grown up in Rockaway by the beach I was always interested in sharks. The movie Jaws kept me up at night. I just took my nephew to the Coney Island Aquarium shark exhibit and found out the following;
1. It’s half price all summer: At $15 for adults and $12 for kids, this represents great value for a fantastic time had by all. I’m told the prices will go up in the fall.
2. There are 115 species: Including sea lions, otters and a variety of colorful and interesting fish, sea turtles, and rays. Many people don’t know there are 26 shark species living in the New York area.
3. The $146 million upgrade: The shark exhibit is complete with a 40-foot tunnel and multiple tanks with stunning visuals.
4. Interesting tunnels and interactive exhibits: I’m going to leave a little of this as a surprise. The exhibits are very educational and kid-friendly.
5. Fish from around the world: There are local fish and species from as far as the Great Barrier Reef and Fiji.
July 25, 2018
5 Things to do on a Budget in New York City
NYC is a great place to visit however it can burn a hold in your wallet

Check out these options!
1. Top of the Rock Observation Deck and MOMA (Museum of Modern Art). You can get a combination ticket to visit both for $44 total and can even go on different days.
2. Museum of Moving Images. in queens just went through a multi-million dollar upgrade with the most collectible from tv/film. Adults $15 and kids get in for $9 ages 3-17.
3. Coney Island. home of the new Luna park where a 4 hour unlimited wristband can be purchased for $40, fixed date in advance for $29. While there you can see a Brooklyn cyclone baseball game for $20 or less and the aquarium with the new shark exhibit is currently half price $15 for adults, $12 for kids.
4. Rockaway Beach. Admission is free and parking at Jacob Riis park is
$10/day and $65 for the summer. Ride the waves, sunbathe, baseball basketball and various activities are available with no charge. Hidden gem.
1. Central Park. entrance is free and there are a variety of things to do or just relax or picnic on the great lawn.
Contact Robert today for your personal review of your budget, financial plan & financial freedom here today.
July 18, 2018
10 Tips to Save Money on Family Theme Park Vacations
Getting ready for an upcoming exciting theme park vacation for the whole family? It can be even more fun if you can save money before and during your excursion!
1. Visit in between Seasons: Early spring and late fall are often times to score great family deals!
2. Social Media: Follow your favorite parks on social media so you don’t miss out on offers and deals.
3. Smaller Theme Parks: Smaller parks can often run $50 per person per day ($100 for large parks) and can be really fun and with smaller waiting lines for going on rides.
4. Look for Package Deals: Multi-day deals will always decrease your cost per person per day.
5. Special Brand Discounts: Look for online and store discounts from AAA, the Military, Unions, and Seniors. Avoid buying tickets on Craigslist and eBay as they are too big of a counterfeit risk.
6. Book a room with a kitchen: There’s no need to eat 3 meals out every day! It’s much easier and healthier to eat 1 or 2 meals in per day.
7. Bring water and snacks into the park: You can buy a $5 case of water for the price they will charge for 1 bottle.
8. Consider buying souvenirs in town: You pay a premium every time inside the park for impulse purchases. Try going to the town stores, Target, supermarket etc and the identical goods are often available for half price.
May 15, 2018
5 Ideas for Summer Camp Care Packages
5 Ideas for the Summer Camp Care Package

This is the time when kids are getting dropped off at camp and parents are feeling a range of emotions from separation anxiety to the euphoria of free time! A great way to stay in touch is by sending your campers a care package within the first few weeks of camp. Keep the following in mind:
1. Brain/mind games: Studies show that kids can regress mentally up to 25% during the summer. Games like masterminds, puzzles, books and playing cards can keep them sharp.
2. Glow in the dark products: Party pack glow in the dark bracelets, sticks and Frisbees are fun and can be shared with bunk mates.
3. Battery operated: Fans, radio’s if permitted and electronics are always appreciated.
4. Snacks: Some camps no longer allow food in packages or have campers open the box while supervised. Try rice crispy treats which are nut and gluten-free so easily shared.
5. Make it personal: This is a great time to communicate feelings even perhaps some that you don’t often verbalize. A time to share words of wisdom by including a card and/or hand-written note. A little note can go a long way and have an everlasting effect on their summers and through lives journeys!While the kids are away at camp contact Robert for a free financial review this summer.
May 2, 2018
8 Fun facts about ML Baseball Spring Training
This week pitchers and catchers report for spring training. I get excited because the baseball season is beginning and winter is ending. These minor league stadiums are a lot of fun to visit. Enjoy these tidbits!
1. The Florida “Grapefruit league” and Arizona “Cactus league” are a 50/50 split which 15 teams training in each state.
2. Do you want a closer look at your favorite players than from your seat? Visit their spring training stadium where access rules are very lax.
3. George M. Steinbrenner Field (Tampa) has the same outfield dimensions as Yankee Stadium. It also sits directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
4. Surprise Stadium (Royals and Rangers) in Arizona has a merry-go-round in the right-field concourse.
5. The foul poles at Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Athletics) were originally used at the polo grounds.
6. Fans attending Blue Jay’s games in Dunedin, Florida get to hear both the Canadian and USA’s national anthems. They also have Labatt’s beer on tap at Florida auto exchange stadium.
7. Bright House Network field in Clearwater, Fla. Caters to Phillies fans serving Philly cheese steaks and Yuengling beer.
8. In 2017 the “Ballpark of Palm Beaches” (West Palm Beach, Fla.) will open and be the new home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.
  
  To hit a home-run with your personal finances contact Robert here today.
February 20, 2018
8 Fun facts about ML Baseball Spring Training
8 Fun facts about ML Baseball Spring Training

This week pitchers and catchers report for spring training. I get excited because the baseball season is beginning and winter is ending. These minor league stadiums are a lot of fun to visit. Enjoy these tidbits!
1. The Florida “Grapefruit league” and Arizona “Cactus league” are a 50/50 split which 15 teams training in each state.
2. Do you want a closer look at your favorite players than from your seat? Visit their spring training stadium where access rules are very lax.
3. George M. Steinbrenner field (Tampa) has the same outfield dimensions as Yankee stadium. It also sits directly across the street from Raymond James Stadium where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play.
4. Surprise stadium (Royals and Rangers) in Arizona has a merry-go-round in the right field concourse.
5. The foul poles at Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Athletics) were originally used at the polo grounds.
6. Fans attending Blue Jay’s games in Dunedin, Florida get to hear both the Canadian and USA’s national anthems. They also have Labatt’s beer on tap at Florida auto exchange stadium.
7. Bright House Network field in Clearwater, Fla. Caters to Phillies fans serving Philly cheese steaks and Yuengling beer.
In 2017 the “Ballpark of Palm Beaches” (West Palm Beach, Fla.) will open and be the new home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.
March 22, 2017