Prepare for your Long Vacations or Road Trips!
Contents at a Glance
Lock All Doors & Windows
You may have remembered to lock the doors, but are the windows locked? That would make it really easy for someone to break in, especially on ground levels. Other doors you may have forgotten about are barn/garage doors, cellar doors, and in-law apartment doors. Check all of these! Get a Housesitter
Maintaing the illusion of presence in the home while you are away is one of the best preventative measures you can take to protect your home.
One of the things burglars look for while scoping for potential break-ins is activity. If the TV is going, someone is home, the house looks occupied, cars are in the driveway...this is a huge deterrent to a thief. A house sitter will fulfill all of these needs. Ask someone you know, and they're likely to do it for free...you're much better off having house guests eat some of your frozen pizza than have a burglar come in because the house was vacant!
Road Trip USA Women's Pink T-Shirt
Price: 17.99 
A great way to keep away the wrong people: motion detectors.
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Automatic Light Timers
Automatic light timers placed strategically throughout the house can maintain that illusion of the house being occupied that you want to portray. Light timers can be purchased everywhere from grocery stores to hardware stores and are simple to operate. Some suggested places to use them would be the kitchen, bedroom, and living room areas--placed that thieves know are occupied during certain times of day. Start the lights before the sun goes down just to be on the safe side, and have them turn off when you would normally go to bed.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byLight Sensors
Backyard and front yard light sensors are a huge deterrent. Nothing ruins a burglar's cover like bright light and exposure. Installing light sensors might be just the thing to stop prowlers in their tracks.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byPet Care/Lodging
You'll want to arrange this far in advance, since pet lodging is becoming more prevalant, places fill up quick! Often you can board your pets safely at the local vets office. If you find this type of service not your thing, ask a friend or neighbor to check up on your cat, or if you have a dog, to take the dog in exchange for cash, or returning the favor.
Many hotels now allow pets to stay for free...check Pets Welcome for a list of hotels that do allow pets.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byImprove your Mileage!
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Yes, I Love My Hybrid Car
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Yep, I am a rabid Prius owner. I got it for the environment. I love it for the mileage, especially after the gas prices here jumped over $3! When hybrid cars first came out in Japan, I thought I'd wait a few years until they'd worked out all the kinks...
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Auto Repair
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Auto repair and maintenance is an important part of owning a vehicle. Even the most reliable vehicle requires regular maintenance to help it keep running smoothly and problem free. This lens will help provide the auto repair tips and resources to hel...
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How to get a better mileage on your car or truck and save money on gas
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With the latest rises in gas prices, many people find themselves in a difficult situation, unable to afford gas for their cars. This lens discusses various methods which would help you save money on gas and increase fuel economy. Articles as well as...
Fill Bird Feeder
An empty bird feeder says "we're not home!"
Whether the feeder is empty from neglect, you ran out of seed, or you're not home, it's just one extra hint the thief might catch on to and reassure him that the home is a good target.
Brome 1024 Squirrel Buster Plus Wild Bird Feeder with Cardinal Perch Ring
Amazon Price: $54.99 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $100.00
6 feeding stations, a cardinal perch, a spring mechanism to discourage squirrels, and its easy to assemble nature make this an excellent birdfeeder. Oh, and over 60 reviewers have given this one a huge thumbs up!
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire...a popular summer road trip destination!
Discontinue Paper Service
That paper on the front stoop has been sitting there for a week...along with 5 other newspapers! Everyone knows you're not home. Why not have someone take it in, or discontinue the service for a week?
Clean & Dust the House
While it may not seem that important, coming home to a clean house is. The last thing you'll want to do when you get home is clean, or have the thought of cleaning on your mind while your on vacation.
Dyson DC15 Animal Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Amazon Price: (as of 12/19/2009)
List Price: $0.00
The Dyson "Animal" Cyclone Vaccum is a huge step up from old vaccums...it actually cleans the floor! It's very easy to empty, and there's no bags to buy so there's less waste. The biggest selling point of this machine is its abillity to pick up dirt...it really works, and works well.
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Prepay your Bills
Prepaying your bills is a necessity if you're going on a road trip or long vacation. If you bring a laptop, you can pay your bills while you're on the trip using a secure internet connection, or you can just mail your seperate payments in early.
Take out the Trash
![Seventh Generation Trash Bags, Tall Kitchen, 13-Gallon, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 12) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HHABVY7TL._SL160_.jpg)
Seventh Generation Trash Bags, Tall Kitchen, 13-Gallon, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 12) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
Amazon Price: $56.54 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $56.54
Recycled plastic bags are one of the better ways to go in terms of garbage. These bags are durable, sturdy, and dependable.
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Get Reading Material for the Trip
Slash
Amazon Price: $20.12 (as of 12/19/2009)
List Price: $27.95
It's just fun. You won't learn much from reading this book, but hey, it's vacation! That's what vacations are for, and not everything has to be about education. Let your mind turn to mush for just one book and relax. This one is a great example, and the tales offered are pretty outrageous.
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Why a Vacation is so Essential
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How to Take a Break!
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It seems cliched, but everyone in the world is always in a rush. Does the rushing really get people anywhere, or are they just treading water? Sometimes, you just need to take a break. That break make be much more important and should come more ofte...
Take out the Cash
Hit the bank the business day before you leave for your trip, keeping in mind most banks are closed on holidays and Sundays! Take out enough cash that you know you will need to get by. A charge card/cash combination works best on trips, so that you're not carrying too much cash in hand.
Trip Planning Lenses...
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Budgeting for a Road Trip
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Gas prices have fallen and there's never been a better time to take a road trip! There are many different ways that you can save enough cash to offset the cost of fuel that aren't too hard and won't put a damper on your road trip. Saving isn't hard -...
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What to Bring on a Road Trip
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There are the necessities for road trips, and there are the items that will improve the quality of your road trip. Both can be equally important to have a good time on your trip...from technological help like navigation systems to old, trusty road at...
Shut off Power Strips
Electrical power strips save you cash by eliminating the unnecessary flow of energy to your appliances and electronic equipment while they are not in use. This will especially add up while you are away on vacation! One more thing: get one with surge protection. These will help reduce power surges that might overload your computer and other electronics from thunderstorms and other electric disturbances.
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San Diego...a Cool Place to Road Trip
Turn on the House Alarm
Skylink SC-100 Security System Deluxe Kit
Amazon Price: $93.66 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $129.77
An affordable piece of equipment that is worth its weight in pure gold. It's also at a very reasonable price! For peace of mind, it's worth it, isn't it?
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And now you're off!
Now that you're all ready, you can head on your road trip!
Lock the Doors!
Run through all of your locks in the house...back, front, cellar, is everything locked? Time to set the alarm, and you're out and on vacation!
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Hush Style Padlock
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A Quick Checklist of Everything Discussed Here...
- Lock all doors & windows
- Have someone else check up on your residence
- Discontinue paper and mail services
- Automatic light timers
- Light sensors for front/back of home
- Water plants
- Arrange pet care
- Fill bird feeders
- Mow lawn, maintain property before leaving
- Clean and dust house
- Clean refridgerator of old food, use it up beforehand
- Take out last bag of trash before leaving
- Pre pay bills, make sure all bills will be paid while gone
- Get cash for the trip
- Get reading material for the plane, car or hotels for you and everyone else
- Tune up the car, check fluids, get an oil change
- Shut off power to any unnecessary items. Unplug and use power strips.
- Shut off water
- House alarm on, alarm clock off, drapes closed.
- You're ready to go!
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Northern U.S. Road Trip
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When planning a road trip in the United States, there are two popular options: the northern route and the southern route . We'll be analyzing the northern route here, covering the states from Maine to Washington state. If a road trip is in your futur...
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I-95 Road Trip
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I-95 runs right down the east coast of the United States, hitting major cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Miami, as well as some of the best sites the country has to offer! A trip from Boston to Miami is approximately 1500...
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How to Plan a US Road Trip
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There's nothing like taking a road trip across the USA. Going by car gives you a greater appreciation for the vastness and wide array of parks, forests, cities, museums, beaches and cultures the United States has to offer. By taking a cross country r...
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Grand Circle Road Trip
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The area of the United States that includes northern Arizona, northwest New Mexico, southern Utah, and southwest Colorado is often known as the "Grand Circle" of the southwest. The Four Corners region of these states provide a concentration of some o...
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Planning a US Road Trip: The Southern Route
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If you love warmth and sunshine, this is the perfect US road trip for you where you'll get to see 8 different states. Some of the most unique areas of the country are all easily accessible from I-10, a highway that begins in Los Angeles and ends...
Guestbook
Did we forget something for the checklist? Leave it in our guestbook below!
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Reply
- Respect2Glory Respect2Glory Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
- We pack a Set of Coolers in our camper (for just the right size for the job) small for picnics for two - medium for snacks or family lunches - large for a party, or just to keep all of your drinks (and kids) out of your small refrigerator.
We have a cooler in the bottom of one backpack that holds 6-8 cans (depending on how big your icepack is) and which is ideal for a hiking picnic.
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- JudyDunn JudyDunn Dec 20, 2008 @ 11:28 am
- Great reminders. I am planning on getting a cooler for drinks and snacks along the way to save a few dollars.
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- NewRiver NewRiver Jul 21, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
- Excellent!
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- whiteline whiteline Jul 15, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
- Nice lens kiwisoutback! Hey Thanks for the "VBW" (virtual biker wave) I've rolled you on to my Packing for the Road lens. Great tips no matter how your Road Trippin'!
"Ride Safe"
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Reply
- sisterra sisterra Jul 9, 2008 @ 11:15 am
- Great checklist!
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