Now that you’ve budgeted and built your piggybank for your trip to Disneyland or trek through Delhi in Part 1: Stay Out of Debt, preparing for vacation takes more than just packing sunblock. Protecting your wallet and credit is a crucial step that many travelers make an afterthought. Don’t fall victim to credit card bill shock or an empty bank account when you get home. Take every step to secure your finances while you are on vacation.

A big question for jet-setting travelers: cash or plastic? There are benefits and risks with both, so here’s a breakdown of how to take the right steps with both.

Carrying cash?

Always bring an amount of cash on vacation for emergencies. How much you bring depends on what you’re comfortable with. If you

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BANGKOK UNDER RED SHIRTS

How about experiencing Bangkok these days ?

Tranvestites beauty contest in Northern Bangkok on April 25 (photo: L. Citrinot)

By Luc Citrinot, etn (in Bangkok) | Apr 30, 2010

For almost a month now, Red Shirts’ presence in the city center of Bangkok has filled up media reports –including this website-. They are still there and for the few tourists still daring to come to Thailand’s capital city despite travel advisories, here is now the lighter side of the story: YES. It is still possible for a tourist to enjoy Bangkok’s vibrancy, its shopping, its great food and its transvestites’ performance shows…

Of course, the newest attraction is to pass over barricades set up by Red Shirts at Lumpini Park. Many tourists venture over the fence for a picture. But anyone can walk the mile-long separating Lumpini Park from Siam Square and look. Foreigners are generally greeted by smiles and are even offered food and water.

Wel

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Once just the domain of downloadable tax forms and a prime candidate for a Plain Language overhaul, the IRS.gov web site has undergone a low-key, yet shout-out worthy, transformation in recent years – and this is good news for small business.

The IRS web site (www.irs.gov) is in fact now the home of numerous online tools designed to help small businesses and the self-employed better understand their tax obligations as well as help them improve their overall financial literacy.

This new customer-centric approach is all about using the speed, ease and accessibility of the Web to reduce the administrative burden that can weigh so many entrepreneurs down.

So without further ado, here’s a summary of some the most invaluable online tools and resources that IRS.gov has to offer small businesses.

1) IRS Virtual Tax Workshop for New Small Businesses

I first wrote about the IRS Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop earlier in April when tax season was in full swing. But, in

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Rather than working on your tan, summer may be the perfect time to simply work. Summer is approaching and if you’re a student or a teacher you may have some extra time off. Even if you already work full-time you may want to consider using the summer months to crack down on debt and earn extra income. The summer can be a great stretch of time to really knock out some of your financial goals. And the more you work, the less time you’ll have for spending money. Here are some tips for getting the job done.

Start Now: According to the experts, many companies are looking for their part-time summer workers now. Don’t wait until June to begin the hunt. Instead start your research by hitting up websites like snagajob.com that focus on hourly positions.

Set a Goal: Once you land a job, you’ll have a better idea what kind of money you’ll be making. This will help you set a realistic goal for extra income. Having a

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As the housing crisis worsens and the economy looks increasingly weak, most Americans are facing the reality that their finances are in a bit of a wreck. Chronic overspending, a lack of savings and too much bad debt has left many in a financial condition that they would prefer not to be in. Here are some top warning signs that your finances are in a wreck, and how to get out of the problem.

1. You spend more than you make.

It sounds overly simple, but many of us do not realize how much we spend in a month. Take the time to keep a log of how much you spend in one month and compare it to your salary. If the numbers are dangerously close, you’ve got a problem. Don’t forget to include your credit card purchases on there as well, since you will be paying for them.

Solution: Set a monthly budget that you can stick to. Add

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As regular readers of my blog you will know that I am passionate about small businesses, and want to see the awful mortality rate of small businesses fall dramatically. That is why my company, WinWeb.com, have started a regular feature to help small businesses to increase their profile, and even improve their SEO.

WinWeb.com are running a weekly competition where you can pitch your small business idea or service, free of charge, on their Facebook page. Then, all you need to do is get your friends and family to vote for your pitch using the “like” button. The only catch is that it has to be 110 characters maximum, plus a URL for your business; making it easier for Tweeting!

Got more to say than the 110 characters will allow? Why not upload a video to You Tube, then add it to our Facebook page. WinWeb.com will then feature it on WinWeb TV, gaining your small business even more exposure.

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