Videotaping a Wedding - You Can Do It! [movie rentals online]
"ARGH!!! I’ve been asked to videotape a wedding!"
It must be safe to assume that, because you’re looking at this article, you’ve either made the decision to video tape someone’s wedding, whether that someone’s a relative, a friend, or you’re thinking about it. Or maybe you’ve decided to increase your stress level on a regular basis and do this as a business.
Whatever your situation, you can go ahead and put the stress pills away. Videotaping a wedding is easier than you think - especially when you’ve preplanned and thought it out a bit.
Today’s point-and-shoot video cameras mean that you rarely have to worry about focusing, lower lighting conditions, white-balance, and many of the other issues you had to take care of with the older camcorders.
You’ve been asked to videotape the wedding because you have either shown some talent or ability in this area, you’re the only one with a video camera, or you were standing in the wrong place at the wrong time (for you, that is). Let’s be honest though, by not hiring a professional (although some “professionals” leave a lot to be desired), the couple are not expecting a four thousand dollar, five camera shoot, complete with helicopter aerial shots.
Here’s a list of what you’ll need: [movie rentals online]
- Video Camcorder (hard to video tape without one).
- Couple of batteries and a charger - use one while the other charges; the more the merrier.
- Videotape or recording media - enough to cover the event and one extra for emergency use. You won't shoot six hours of footage but having at least six one-hour tapes allows you to change tapes half way through to a new one. Don't use the same tape that you used for the rehearsal and "topping" it up with footage of the ceremony. Use a fresh tape each time.
- Backup video camcorder for emergency use - if you can get your hands on one. Of course, you can always jump over the pews and grab someone else’s if yours packs in right at the exchange of vows – or maybe not.
- Extension power chord to use as power during reception – or in case both batteries die.
- Tripod if you’ve got one - not absolutely necessary but very nice at times.
- Running shoes or business cards - To run away from anyone else who asks you to do their wedding or to generously accept money deposits for future weddings.
The key to a good wedding video is planning. It’s better to have a slightly shaky shot of the wedding vows than none at all because you were busy plugging in the spare battery to the charger. Or you missed the entire ceremony because you found out on the day that you’re in a church that the clergy doesn’t allow video or still cameras, and so you didn’t get time to wine and dine and plead with them first. (Actually, if you are having problems that way, it’s best to get the bride and groom to do that). [movie rentals online]
On the week of the wedding - because some plans aren’t finalized until then or are last minute - sit and talk with the bride and groom. Get them to tell you everything that’s happening, where it’s happening, and when it’s happening. What do they actually want you to tape and are there some things that they don't care if they made it to the video or not. This could cut down your workload. Are you allowed to tape where the ceremony is? There are also some things that the couple isn't privy to, such as surprise slide shows, skits, and songs at the reception, a prank at the rehearsal, or a special guest who has been invited by the siblings. For these you have to talk to the master of ceremonies for the reception, whose name you get from the bride and groom.
Use those three by five index cards to point-form all the details: where you’re meant to be and when; key peoples names and roles (such as the name of the officiating clergy); addresses and directions if you need them; in fact, anything that you think will aide you making your day’s "shoot" go easier. (Yup, you’re now part of the movie club, so you get to use the entire movie-making lingo now).
Make sure you go to the rehearsal. Tell the person who's officiating the ceremony that you'll move around a lot at the rehearsal, but not at the actual wedding ceremony. It gives them a sense of confidence in you - that you actually take this seriously.
The rehearsal is the place to find out where the best spots are and where you shouldn't be. Take note of anything special that's going to happen, and where the best place is to be to capture that on camera. Don't worry, you'll be told if you're in the way. This is a super place to practice different types of shots and review them later to see what works and what doesn't.
Try shooting some shots of crowds from a low angle with the camera pointing up at them. Try some "overhead" shots, where, using the LCD monitor, you raise the camera over your head and point it down over the people. There's lots of room for experimentation. Shots like these add variety to your video.
On the day of the wedding, the general rule on what to shoot is that the bride and groom are the main focus of your attention. Everything else is secondary - not unimportant - but secondary to the main "action". When the actual ceremony is underway, only shoot secondary footage when there's little or nothing happening with the main couple.
Do make sure that somewhere in your footage you get a shot or two of all the guests in the church, or wherever the ceremony is being held.
If you're only using the camera's built-in microphone for sound, then you need to get in as close as possible to the couple when they are doing their vows or saying something important. Getting in close will eliminate those distracting surrounding sounds that the camera usually wants to pick up and will instead record the couple's voices better.
Keep your camera movements smooth and purposeful. When panning from left to right or right to left, move at half of the speed you think you should. If you're walking with your camera, use the LCD monitor on the camera and adjust the telephoto "zoom" lever until the camera lens is at its widest setting. This will keep camera movement to a minimum and won't make people get motion sickness from watching your video.
During the ceremony, keep the camera recording. It's better to be able to cut unwanted footage out later than to forget to switch the camera back to record, or worse, think that you pressed the record button all the way but didn't and you lose the vows, or the first kiss etc.
After the ceremony, make sure you follow the couple where they go. If they stop to do a greeting line then that is your opportunity to do some shots of them but it also gives you the opportunity to take off and do other shots of the guests, the outside of the church, the getaway car etc.
Most professional photographers don't want you at the photo shoot, so that's a great chance for you to go and set up at the reception hall, and also to recharge those much-needed batteries (not yours - the cameras!)
While you're at the reception hall waiting for the couple to arrive, videotape the decorations, the tables, and generally anything of interest that relates to the wedding. Also tape guests arriving, signing the guest register, mingling before the event begins etc. When people are seated, that's also a great time to videotape all the guests before everything begins to happen.
After you videotaped the couple arriving to the reception, the rest is speeches, dancing, the cake cutting, and just about anything they planned and a lot they didn't.
Once you're all done, flake out on the couch at home and sleep for a couple of days.
You did it! Congratulations.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Mave Binchy's Irish Stories - A Delightful Read
Mave Binchy's Irish Stories - A Delightful Read [movie rentals online]
Are you looking for an engaging summer novel to captivate you while lying on the beach? Or are you ready to curl up by the fire for a cozy winter's evening read? Even if you are just immersed in day-to-day life and seek the refuge of transporting yourself into another world you must pick up one of Mave Binchy's series of Irish novels.
Mave Binchy is the author of 'Circle of Friends'. The book was made into a movie starring Minnie Driver and the author has won many of fans by involving them with her tales of Irish citizens and the twists and turns that create fascinating stories out of ordinary lives.[movie rentals online]
If you relish the emotion and intricacies of relationships and the madness of triumph and tragedies that inflict themselves on everyday lives, you will find yourself captivated as she spins a story of average people of whom you truly feel could be your best friend or neighbor.
Her books have been called "Mesmerizing", "Remarkably moving" and "Compulsively readable" by reviewers.
In many of her novels, 'The Glass Lake', 'Evening Class', 'Copper Beech' and others, the stories of the lives of the characters emerge and become intertwined. As you become intimately involved with one character you will meet the other individuals in his or her life - at the restaurant, down the street and even during a foreign escapade.
As you travel their lives you will feel you have not only met this individual but understand their longings and place in this world based on your intimate knowledge of their past and their experiences.
When you read another novel, you will again meet these old friends as they are known to the current character. You will have the familiar feeling that you've known this town and it's occupants for years. In fact, you may well wonder if Mave Binchy knows them herself. The stories have such a ring of truth and the mixing of individuals so well thought out you believe she could indefinitely create this town of people with history, lives and futures as if they existed in the real world.[movie rentals online]
You will not come to the end of a novel with the feeling of regret as we so often do when enjoying an engaging tale because you will actually visit these characters again, at another time in their life. Just as moving away from your hometown can be painful, it is wonderfully reassuring to hear news or make a visit and see how life is progressing for these dear ones.
It is an understatement to say that Mave Binchy weaves a fine yarn - the truth is that when you close the book you will sense you've had a long talk over a cup of coffee with an acquaintance and after listening to their life story come away with a new friend. You will become enraptured with the details of their lives and surprised or moved by the trials and tribulations they've encountered. They will in fact become a piece of your memory in much the same way as friends from your youth and from far away have become a small piece of you.
Are you looking for an engaging summer novel to captivate you while lying on the beach? Or are you ready to curl up by the fire for a cozy winter's evening read? Even if you are just immersed in day-to-day life and seek the refuge of transporting yourself into another world you must pick up one of Mave Binchy's series of Irish novels.
Mave Binchy is the author of 'Circle of Friends'. The book was made into a movie starring Minnie Driver and the author has won many of fans by involving them with her tales of Irish citizens and the twists and turns that create fascinating stories out of ordinary lives.[movie rentals online]
If you relish the emotion and intricacies of relationships and the madness of triumph and tragedies that inflict themselves on everyday lives, you will find yourself captivated as she spins a story of average people of whom you truly feel could be your best friend or neighbor.
Her books have been called "Mesmerizing", "Remarkably moving" and "Compulsively readable" by reviewers.
In many of her novels, 'The Glass Lake', 'Evening Class', 'Copper Beech' and others, the stories of the lives of the characters emerge and become intertwined. As you become intimately involved with one character you will meet the other individuals in his or her life - at the restaurant, down the street and even during a foreign escapade.
As you travel their lives you will feel you have not only met this individual but understand their longings and place in this world based on your intimate knowledge of their past and their experiences.
When you read another novel, you will again meet these old friends as they are known to the current character. You will have the familiar feeling that you've known this town and it's occupants for years. In fact, you may well wonder if Mave Binchy knows them herself. The stories have such a ring of truth and the mixing of individuals so well thought out you believe she could indefinitely create this town of people with history, lives and futures as if they existed in the real world.[movie rentals online]
You will not come to the end of a novel with the feeling of regret as we so often do when enjoying an engaging tale because you will actually visit these characters again, at another time in their life. Just as moving away from your hometown can be painful, it is wonderfully reassuring to hear news or make a visit and see how life is progressing for these dear ones.
It is an understatement to say that Mave Binchy weaves a fine yarn - the truth is that when you close the book you will sense you've had a long talk over a cup of coffee with an acquaintance and after listening to their life story come away with a new friend. You will become enraptured with the details of their lives and surprised or moved by the trials and tribulations they've encountered. They will in fact become a piece of your memory in much the same way as friends from your youth and from far away have become a small piece of you.
Hospital Waiting Room Survival Tips
Hospital Waiting Room Survival Tips [movie rentals online]
Hospital waiting rooms are meant to function as temporary oases for an endless stream of confused, worried and often grieving people who need somewhere to pass the time while waiting for news of a loved one's health.
Unfortunately, if you spend much time in a hospital waiting room, the refreshing oasis can quickly come to feel like an endless desert. During the past week I've spent 3 days with my mom in the waiting room of a hospital intensive care unit - and I'm sure we'll be back, since my dad's cancer was just diagnosed. [movie rentals online]
Hopefully several of the coping strategies we quickly learned will be of help to you.
Coping with the People
If you spend much time in a hospital waiting room, you'll encounter more people than you'd probably expected. Doctors and nurses, certainly - but we also dealt with respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, a social worker, a Hospitalist (a doctor who specializes in the care of people in the hospital and who reports on an inpatient's condition to his/her primary care physician) and various staff such as x-ray technicians, cafeteria workers and maintenance staff.
It can be difficult to keep everyone straight, so a pad of paper and a pen is handy, as is a friend or family member to help you remember who said what. Experienced hospital staff understand that this is a stressful, confusing time, so don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure who this particular person is and why they are involved with your loved one.
It's also wise to acquaint yourself with the other people who are using the waiting room, especially if you run into the same family several days in a row, as we did. Once we'd exchanged names and brief "so what brings you here" stories, we were able to watch out for each other and tell visitors or nurses where the others were ("That family is here, they just went downstairs to the cafeteria."
Coping with the Facility
All waiting rooms are different, and ours was fairly large - but we didn't find the coffee machine or the message board until the end of our second day there, so it pays to look around. An ice machine was nearby, as were bathrooms, but we wouldn't have known where to look if we hadn't asked.
An annoyance to us was that people left cups and food trays everywhere - so not only did our "oasis" become cluttered, we didn't know if the people who'd been sitting nearby were coming back or had left for good.
Coping with the Passage of Time [movie rentals online]
Having someone to talk to helps enormously when you're stuck in a waiting room for any length of time (which is another reason to get to know any other families waiting with you.) Encourage friends and family members to come by, even if it's just before work or during lunch.
It also helps to have something to do other than read old magazines! So if you can grab your crocheting, or a book to read, or crossword puzzles or playing cards, odds are you'll make use of them. You can also bring your laptop - you may or may not have a network connection available, but can perhaps watch a movie or get some work done while you're waiting.
With any luck, your visits to a hospital waiting room with be few and far between, but these survival tips will help you stay sane during your stay.
Hospital waiting rooms are meant to function as temporary oases for an endless stream of confused, worried and often grieving people who need somewhere to pass the time while waiting for news of a loved one's health.
Unfortunately, if you spend much time in a hospital waiting room, the refreshing oasis can quickly come to feel like an endless desert. During the past week I've spent 3 days with my mom in the waiting room of a hospital intensive care unit - and I'm sure we'll be back, since my dad's cancer was just diagnosed. [movie rentals online]
Hopefully several of the coping strategies we quickly learned will be of help to you.
Coping with the People
If you spend much time in a hospital waiting room, you'll encounter more people than you'd probably expected. Doctors and nurses, certainly - but we also dealt with respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, a social worker, a Hospitalist (a doctor who specializes in the care of people in the hospital and who reports on an inpatient's condition to his/her primary care physician) and various staff such as x-ray technicians, cafeteria workers and maintenance staff.
It can be difficult to keep everyone straight, so a pad of paper and a pen is handy, as is a friend or family member to help you remember who said what. Experienced hospital staff understand that this is a stressful, confusing time, so don't be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure who this particular person is and why they are involved with your loved one.
It's also wise to acquaint yourself with the other people who are using the waiting room, especially if you run into the same family several days in a row, as we did. Once we'd exchanged names and brief "so what brings you here" stories, we were able to watch out for each other and tell visitors or nurses where the others were ("That family is here, they just went downstairs to the cafeteria."
Coping with the Facility
All waiting rooms are different, and ours was fairly large - but we didn't find the coffee machine or the message board until the end of our second day there, so it pays to look around. An ice machine was nearby, as were bathrooms, but we wouldn't have known where to look if we hadn't asked.
An annoyance to us was that people left cups and food trays everywhere - so not only did our "oasis" become cluttered, we didn't know if the people who'd been sitting nearby were coming back or had left for good.
Coping with the Passage of Time [movie rentals online]
Having someone to talk to helps enormously when you're stuck in a waiting room for any length of time (which is another reason to get to know any other families waiting with you.) Encourage friends and family members to come by, even if it's just before work or during lunch.
It also helps to have something to do other than read old magazines! So if you can grab your crocheting, or a book to read, or crossword puzzles or playing cards, odds are you'll make use of them. You can also bring your laptop - you may or may not have a network connection available, but can perhaps watch a movie or get some work done while you're waiting.
With any luck, your visits to a hospital waiting room with be few and far between, but these survival tips will help you stay sane during your stay.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
8 Moves of Leadership that are Rarely Spoken About
8 Moves of Leadership that are Rarely Spoken About [movie rental online]
Note: If you haven't seen the movie "National Treasure" and don't want it spoiled for you, don't read this article.
Part of success in life is the ability to lead. We all come across articles on leadership that list the "top 5" or the "most important" qualities that go into making one a leader. This article is about something a little different. :)
Below is a list of 8 rarely spoken of moves of leadership. A trait is something that is part of you. A move is something that you do - consciously or not. How many of these moves do you regularly make?
- Be alert to new potentials. "Reality" is not absolute. [movie rental online]
- Accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your opponents.
- Learn something new every day; promote in new ways every day.
- Search for and find answers in subtle clues.
- Improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses.
- Make at least one person you care about happy.
- Offer help, even if there's no apparent advantage to you.
- Never let negativity be your last word on the subject.
Now - Here is an example from the movies. Consider the movie "National Treasure" starring Nicholas Cage. If you haven't seen it, you should.
Let's look at Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) in light of the above (Don't worry. Not much, if anything about the movie plot will be given away to people who haven't yet seen it.)
- Be alert to new potentials. Gates was nothing if not alert in this movie. For example, he saw a weakness to the Government's procedures to protect the Declaration of Independence and saw through the so-called "reality" that "stealing" it couldn't be done. The result? A truly entertaining movie.
- Accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your opponents. In a way, this was the basis for the movie. His foil told Gates that he was going to steal the Declaration, and because of it, he and his former partner became opponents. But to stop him, Gates found himself inspired to do the very same thing - "steal" the Declaration, though for a noble reason and with a socially positive outcome. [movie rental online]
- Learn something new every day; promote in new ways every day. While most of the movie was about "learning something new," and there was little about "promoting," Gates did this, too. However, he learned that his soon-to be romantic interest Abigail Chase collected old coins and was missing one in a collection. When he warned her that the Declaration was about to be stolen, he accurately told her what she knew - that she was missing just one piece that would complete the set. Soon after, she received a gift from him - the very coin she was missing. This one act of generosity (an often unrecognized form of promotion) started the basis for the two of them to collaborate in the rest of the movie.
- Search for and find answers in subtle clues. Again - this entire movie showcased Gates' nearly Sherlock Holmsian ability to see what others miss, and more importantly to see the significance of the clues. For instance, when Gates found Charlotte, he also found a clue - a highly stylized smoker's pipe. Much later in the movie, Gates realized from the visual appearance of the pipe that it matched with another clue, a keyhole - thereby leading to the next step in the plot.
- Improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses. Gates successfully steals the Declaration. While making the getaway, a store clerk challenges him and he has to pay for a copy of the document - seemingly bad break in the execution of the plan. Not only does Gates finesse the situation, but it helps him shortly after when his foil grabs the copy instead of the original.
- Make at least one person you care about happy. Gates did this with panache. Gates made a gift not only to increase his cache of credibility, but also make the giftee happy in a truly unique way.
- Offer help - even if there's no apparent advantage to you. Gates has trouble with the law (needless to say) in this movie. Nevertheless, he helps the FBI recover the document from the bad guys, even though he knows he's going to go to jail for stealing it in the first place. The results are surprisingly enjoyable at the end of the movie.
- Never let negativity be your last word on the subject. In some ways Gates reminds us of a character in another movie: Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Arc. Whatever the negativity - no matter what the obstacles, he looked for and generally found ways to rise above it.
So now you have 8 "rarely spoken of moves" that go into the creation of leadership.
Note: If you haven't seen the movie "National Treasure" and don't want it spoiled for you, don't read this article.
Part of success in life is the ability to lead. We all come across articles on leadership that list the "top 5" or the "most important" qualities that go into making one a leader. This article is about something a little different. :)
Below is a list of 8 rarely spoken of moves of leadership. A trait is something that is part of you. A move is something that you do - consciously or not. How many of these moves do you regularly make?
- Be alert to new potentials. "Reality" is not absolute. [movie rental online]
- Accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your opponents.
- Learn something new every day; promote in new ways every day.
- Search for and find answers in subtle clues.
- Improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses.
- Make at least one person you care about happy.
- Offer help, even if there's no apparent advantage to you.
- Never let negativity be your last word on the subject.
Now - Here is an example from the movies. Consider the movie "National Treasure" starring Nicholas Cage. If you haven't seen it, you should.
Let's look at Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage) in light of the above (Don't worry. Not much, if anything about the movie plot will be given away to people who haven't yet seen it.)
- Be alert to new potentials. Gates was nothing if not alert in this movie. For example, he saw a weakness to the Government's procedures to protect the Declaration of Independence and saw through the so-called "reality" that "stealing" it couldn't be done. The result? A truly entertaining movie.
- Accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your opponents. In a way, this was the basis for the movie. His foil told Gates that he was going to steal the Declaration, and because of it, he and his former partner became opponents. But to stop him, Gates found himself inspired to do the very same thing - "steal" the Declaration, though for a noble reason and with a socially positive outcome. [movie rental online]
- Learn something new every day; promote in new ways every day. While most of the movie was about "learning something new," and there was little about "promoting," Gates did this, too. However, he learned that his soon-to be romantic interest Abigail Chase collected old coins and was missing one in a collection. When he warned her that the Declaration was about to be stolen, he accurately told her what she knew - that she was missing just one piece that would complete the set. Soon after, she received a gift from him - the very coin she was missing. This one act of generosity (an often unrecognized form of promotion) started the basis for the two of them to collaborate in the rest of the movie.
- Search for and find answers in subtle clues. Again - this entire movie showcased Gates' nearly Sherlock Holmsian ability to see what others miss, and more importantly to see the significance of the clues. For instance, when Gates found Charlotte, he also found a clue - a highly stylized smoker's pipe. Much later in the movie, Gates realized from the visual appearance of the pipe that it matched with another clue, a keyhole - thereby leading to the next step in the plot.
- Improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses. Gates successfully steals the Declaration. While making the getaway, a store clerk challenges him and he has to pay for a copy of the document - seemingly bad break in the execution of the plan. Not only does Gates finesse the situation, but it helps him shortly after when his foil grabs the copy instead of the original.
- Make at least one person you care about happy. Gates did this with panache. Gates made a gift not only to increase his cache of credibility, but also make the giftee happy in a truly unique way.
- Offer help - even if there's no apparent advantage to you. Gates has trouble with the law (needless to say) in this movie. Nevertheless, he helps the FBI recover the document from the bad guys, even though he knows he's going to go to jail for stealing it in the first place. The results are surprisingly enjoyable at the end of the movie.
- Never let negativity be your last word on the subject. In some ways Gates reminds us of a character in another movie: Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Arc. Whatever the negativity - no matter what the obstacles, he looked for and generally found ways to rise above it.
So now you have 8 "rarely spoken of moves" that go into the creation of leadership.
5 Holiday Travel Tips if You Are on a Budget
5 Holiday Travel Tips if You Are on a Budget [movie rentals online]
The holidays are here again. What an exciting time. What a stressful time as well. There are presents to buy and cards to send out. Parties to attend and perhaps a party to host. The tree is up and the lights are hung on the house. Now it is time to plan for this year's trip. If your budget is tight here are 5 travel tips to get to where you are going without breaking the bank this holiday season. Maybe these tips can even make your travel less stressful.
1. If you are flying and have presents to take ship them in advance. They will be there when you arrive and you do not have to mess with taking them on the plane. If you do take them on the plane do not wrap them. With the heightened security at airports they will probably just be unwrapped and checked anyway. [movie rentals online]
2. Consider renting an apartment or condo for a week. You can find some great deals online and save a considerable amount of money over paying for a hotel. Depending on the size of your family you may want to look into renting a vacation home.
3. Don't eat out anymore than you have to. Eating out is expensive. Use your rental to its full advantage and go to the grocery store and buy what you need to cook your own meals. Get the kids involved and let them help pick the meals and even help cook them.
4. Recreation during the holidays is one of the great benefits of having a family. You can play board games or card games. Take along a Frisbee or football and get outside and throw them around. When you rent a place for the week it offers you all kinds of ways to save money. You can take along your favorite DVDs and have some family movie time everyday. [movie rentals online]
5. If you rent a vacation home you might want to share it with another family. Being able to split the costs with someone you enjoy being around during the holidays can save you a lot of money as well. This idea may or may not work for you depending on the ages of your kids and the common interests of the family you travel with.
These are just a few holiday travel tips if you are on a budget. Even if you are not on a budget you can save some money during the holidays and have some quality time with your family that you might not get staying with a relative or in a hotel.
The holidays are here again. What an exciting time. What a stressful time as well. There are presents to buy and cards to send out. Parties to attend and perhaps a party to host. The tree is up and the lights are hung on the house. Now it is time to plan for this year's trip. If your budget is tight here are 5 travel tips to get to where you are going without breaking the bank this holiday season. Maybe these tips can even make your travel less stressful.
1. If you are flying and have presents to take ship them in advance. They will be there when you arrive and you do not have to mess with taking them on the plane. If you do take them on the plane do not wrap them. With the heightened security at airports they will probably just be unwrapped and checked anyway. [movie rentals online]
2. Consider renting an apartment or condo for a week. You can find some great deals online and save a considerable amount of money over paying for a hotel. Depending on the size of your family you may want to look into renting a vacation home.
3. Don't eat out anymore than you have to. Eating out is expensive. Use your rental to its full advantage and go to the grocery store and buy what you need to cook your own meals. Get the kids involved and let them help pick the meals and even help cook them.
4. Recreation during the holidays is one of the great benefits of having a family. You can play board games or card games. Take along a Frisbee or football and get outside and throw them around. When you rent a place for the week it offers you all kinds of ways to save money. You can take along your favorite DVDs and have some family movie time everyday. [movie rentals online]
5. If you rent a vacation home you might want to share it with another family. Being able to split the costs with someone you enjoy being around during the holidays can save you a lot of money as well. This idea may or may not work for you depending on the ages of your kids and the common interests of the family you travel with.
These are just a few holiday travel tips if you are on a budget. Even if you are not on a budget you can save some money during the holidays and have some quality time with your family that you might not get staying with a relative or in a hotel.
Movies in Your Mailbox
Movies in Your Mailbox [movie rental online]
First there was the remote control...you don't even have to leave the comforts of your couch to change the channel. Now you can have movies delivered right to your mailbox. You no longer need to even leave your house to rent DVDs! Some would say “How cool is that?” Others might lament, “How lazy is that?” Whether you agree or disagree with it – mail movie rental is big business, and likely here to stay.
Two of the big players in the DVD rental arena are Netflix and Blockbuster. Let’s take a look at both programs below.
Netflix launched its online movie rental service in 1999 and currently has more than 3,000,000 customers. [movie rental online]
With Netflix you can rent as many DVDs from the comfort of your home and have them delivered to your door in about 1 business day via U.S. Mail. There are no late fees and no due dates, and shipping is free both ways. Plans range from $9.99-$17.99 plus any applicable tax. When you finish watching a movie, simply put it in its prepaid envelope and mail it back to them. After they receive it, they’ll send you another movie.
Netflix has a wide selection of movies — everything from classics to new releases, with 40,000 titles. Their web site is available 24 hours a day and makes finding movies simple and convenient. New customers can try it free for two weeks. You can cancel your membership anytime; there are no cancellation fees.
Blockbuster now has a very similar online mail delivery movie rental program. Their program started in March 2005 and they have a online DVD library with more than 30,000 titles. Their monthly fee is $14.99 (plus applicable taxes) for an unlimited number of DVDs. You can have up to three out at one time. Return them in the postage-paid envelope and you’ll receive others that you have selected. Also as a member, each month Blockbuster give you two ecoupons for free in-store movie or game rentals. You can cancel at anytime. They also have a free trial membership. [movie rental online]
The up-side of these online, mail delivery rental programs is there are no due dates or late fees, you don’t have to go into the store and there are more available selections than the stores carry. The downside is that you have to wait for delivery in the mail. Only you can decide the pros and cons of which program fits you best. You have lots of choices now!
First there was the remote control...you don't even have to leave the comforts of your couch to change the channel. Now you can have movies delivered right to your mailbox. You no longer need to even leave your house to rent DVDs! Some would say “How cool is that?” Others might lament, “How lazy is that?” Whether you agree or disagree with it – mail movie rental is big business, and likely here to stay.
Two of the big players in the DVD rental arena are Netflix and Blockbuster. Let’s take a look at both programs below.
Netflix launched its online movie rental service in 1999 and currently has more than 3,000,000 customers. [movie rental online]
With Netflix you can rent as many DVDs from the comfort of your home and have them delivered to your door in about 1 business day via U.S. Mail. There are no late fees and no due dates, and shipping is free both ways. Plans range from $9.99-$17.99 plus any applicable tax. When you finish watching a movie, simply put it in its prepaid envelope and mail it back to them. After they receive it, they’ll send you another movie.
Netflix has a wide selection of movies — everything from classics to new releases, with 40,000 titles. Their web site is available 24 hours a day and makes finding movies simple and convenient. New customers can try it free for two weeks. You can cancel your membership anytime; there are no cancellation fees.
Blockbuster now has a very similar online mail delivery movie rental program. Their program started in March 2005 and they have a online DVD library with more than 30,000 titles. Their monthly fee is $14.99 (plus applicable taxes) for an unlimited number of DVDs. You can have up to three out at one time. Return them in the postage-paid envelope and you’ll receive others that you have selected. Also as a member, each month Blockbuster give you two ecoupons for free in-store movie or game rentals. You can cancel at anytime. They also have a free trial membership. [movie rental online]
The up-side of these online, mail delivery rental programs is there are no due dates or late fees, you don’t have to go into the store and there are more available selections than the stores carry. The downside is that you have to wait for delivery in the mail. Only you can decide the pros and cons of which program fits you best. You have lots of choices now!
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