best travel resources | Recommendations | Bubbly Moments

This recommendations page contains Bubbly Moments’ favorite services, products, and companies, from Mint to Airbnb, Rakuten, Wag!, Zillow and many more. Financial companies like Vanguard and Fidelity work behind the scenes, helping clients build wealth. And, by using this resource list, you can do the same, while also saving thousands of dollars! Check out these apps, sites, tools, and best travel resources, all of which were curated to make your life easier and better. 

Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below, but these are all highly recommended products. Everything on this page has been verified and/or personally used by our team.

Lifestyle Resources

Who doesn’t love Audible! When you don’t have enough time to just sit and read, you can subscribe to Audible. It is a great way to listen to books when you commute or when you go for a run. It lets you easily read for 2 hours a day, all while accomplishing other tasks!

Audible is currently offering 30 days of membership free, plus 1 free audiobook credit (2 for Amazon Prime members). After the trial, subscribers receive one credit each month, good for one book, regardless of price. The Premium Plus membership costs $14.95 a month after the first 30 days, which you can cancel at any time, while still keeping the books you’ve already purchased. You will receive 30% off the price of additional audiobook purchases. (For a less expensive option, choose the Audible Plus membership. It costs $7.95 a month, and allows you to listen to thousands of included titles, but does not offer any additional book credits.) Also, if you have friends who use Audible, you can also exchange books for free.

Check out this Audible 2 Free Audiobooks Promotion to sign up for your free Audible.com trial today.

Rakuten is a great website that allows customers to earn cash back on online purchases from major retailers.  Our team has used Rakuten for over five years, earning Big Fat Checks from the site for as much as $759.32! The Rakuten website, the Rakuten app, or the Rakuten Chrome Cash Back Plugin give you easy access to website deals. Rebates receive a commission bonus for every sale and shares a majority of the bonus with the users. All you have to do is shop through Rakuten on your web browser or mobile app, and purchase your items through this website. Stores include, but are not limited to Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sam’s Club, Nike, Walmart, Lululemon, and Lowes. You’re not only getting cash back, but you’ll also receive store discounts and special promotions. Some stores offer Cash Back In-Store when you shop in-store. All you have to do is link your credit card to a participating store.

Rakuten is Free to Join and is a very simple way to Earn Cash Back just from shopping like you normally would. Sign up with our invite link for a $10 bonus when you shop at over 2,000 stores like PetSmart, Macy’s & Walmart. With the Chrome Rakuten Cash Back Button you will never miss out on a deal- it lights green whenever the cash back option has been activated.

Groupon is one of the most valuable websites for getting local deals and coupons on restaurants, fitness, travel, shopping, beauty, and more. The website features thousands of local deals and quite often, especially around holidays, they have additional promo codes for additional 20%, 15%, or 10% discounts. You can even advance your career with a Groupon deal for online real estate certification courses, at discounted rates as low as $135 instead of the list price of $350 on the company website! Love great deals? Check out the Best of Groupon now!

Today more than ever, going to the grocery store is a major hassle. But when you use Instacart, you get the benefit of a personal grocery shopper with transparent pricing! Instacart serves over 5500 cities in the U.S. and Canada, and allows shoppers to select groceries from over 40,000 stores, including local grocers and large chains such as Costco, Acme, Shoprite, CVS and more. Even better, Instacart has expanded to include non-grocery stores like Sephora, buy buy Baby and more. Simply create your free account, then select your desired store and shopping list, then choose between home delivery or curbside pick and desired time slots. Then sit back and conquer all those items on your to-do list while your professional Instacart shopper gathers what you need!

This site is a great resource when searching for child care, pet care, care for elderly loved ones or even home sitters! The team at Care.com screens every job applicant who uses their platform, so you can feel secure hiring one of the professionals you find on the site.

Families can create a free account at Care.com–this allows you to post a job listing, preview responses to listings, and search the database of active caregivers. To interview an applicant or use Care.com’s screening tools, you’ll need to purchase a membership. You can choose between monthly, quarterly or annual billing plans (this offers the best value, for just $12.95/month, but requires a full year of membership) and all subscriptions automatically renew unless actively canceled.

Wag! is a fantastic dog walking service. Use the app to get connected with vetted, pre-screened walkers for your pet, then you can set up weekly walking schedules, or one time outings. Wag! also offers pet training, as well as pet sitting and pet boarding if you’ll be away from your pet for a longer period of time. You can monitor on the map where your pooch is going and see pics of the walk in real time. For $5 off your first walk, download the Wag! app using the invite here.

When it comes to getting healthy, staying accountable is one of the hardest parts. FitBit can help. It’s a small device that you wear on your wrist, and it connects to a wellness app. FitBit will help you keep track of vital stats like heart rate, diet, activity, and sleep. They have smartwatches, trackers, and a weight scale you can connect to the app to help you achieve and keep track of your healthy living goals.

LivingSocial

LivingSocial features fantastic deals and discounts on local events, activities, things to do, restaurants, spa, hair and nail salons, yoga studios, movie theaters, travel adventures, great products, and many more. You’ll love finding new restaurants or fitness places to go to at a great price – sometimes the discount is up to 80%LivingSocial has hundreds of deals available all across the country! If you haven’t shopped there before, now is a great time to check LivingSocial out!

Gilt City

Gilt City is another great platform offering amazing local lifestyle deals and discounts in a growing list of cities and destinations worldwide. You will be able to find more exclusive and high-end offers on dining, fitness, spa, beauty, restaurants, premium entertainment. Gilt City usually provides discounts on rare, one-of-a-kind experiences and services. Visit their website and find something to elevate your week!

Craving something from that favorite restaurant, but sticking close to home? Try DoorDash for local, on-demand delivery or pickup from your favorite restaurants, convenience stores, nearby grocery, and more. Get the DoorDash app and save on your first order. You will get $5 off when you sign up with the referral link here. You could also become a Dasher and earn extra money by delivering for DoorDash. All you need is a mode of transportation (any car, scooter, or bicycle) and a smartphone. Use the link here to start making money with DoorDash now!

Uber Eats Promo Code

From the company that started the ridesharing craze comes Uber Eats, an awesome way to bring restaurants straight to your home.  The service works with local and many chain restaurants, and, after placing your order, your delivery will arrive (courtesy of an Uber driver) in about 30-40 minutes. Even better? Use this promo code for $20 off your first UberEATS order. [eats-emilyt212]. Download the Uber Eats app to place your order now.

Uber Promo Code

If you are looking for a low-cost taxi ride and an easier way around, grab this coupon for $20 off your first ride through Uber. Our team has tested Uber in luxe locations around the world, from San Francisco, CA to Cannes, France and Uber has saved us a lot of money. You can even help your elderly family members out by ordering them an Uber, even if you’re in different cities! Use Uber coupon code “emilyt212“ and you will get $20 off your first ride.

Founded in 2008 as a fitness tracker, the once-simple Noom app has transformed into a health and wellness revolution. Rather than worrying about diet and exercise alone, Noom uses human psychology—and human Noom coaches—to help you achieve your weight loss goals while making simple, sustainable lifestyle changes for lasting health benefits. Ready to get and stay healthy? After a 14-day free trial, memberships begin at $59 per month, with discounts available when you make a longer commitment.

With Forme Life you can enjoy a mirror-based workout while adding elegance to your home, thanks to the 43-inch 4K display mirror’s elegant Yves Behar design. The Studio uses a simple touch-screen to access the on-demand library of classes, including yoga, strength, cardio, core, barre and more. Shipping, delivery and installation is included with purchase, as is a premium yoga mat, heart rate monitor, microfiber towel and screen camera covers. Payments break down to $69/month for 36 months, with an additional $39/month multi-user membership fee. Order the Studio today and begin your 30-day refundable trial.

Best Travel Resources

Flights can be expensive. For better or worse, however, you’ll need to get on an airplane to visit many of the planet’s most enticing locations. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to settle for less while paying more. Just check out the flights on Kayak, a search engine that allows you to compare hundreds of different sites and get the best airfare. On Kayak homepage you can see some of the current (unbelievable!) deals for hotels and flights for different destinations

Priceline is the site to check out if you want to find the best deals for hotels. The Priceline Express Deals could land you extra savings of up to 60% off. This type of booking is for a mystery hotel where the name of the hotel is revealed only after booking. You can search through the options based on the location of your destination and filter by different amenities, neighborhoods, and hotel star level before making your pick. Trusted brands like Hyatt, Hilton, Westin and even Four Seasons for certain destinations are just some of the many options you’ll find in these Express Deals. Always check out Priceline Express Deals first and keep in mind that those hotel bookings are non-refundable. 

When you arrive at your destination, renting a car can help you get around, explore the local scene, and have more fun—but sometimes renting a car can be a last minute expense. That’s why you should check out Expedia for rental car deals. You can search for the best deals, on cars, or look for a bundle that includes car, hotel, and flight (or some combo thereof). Whether you need a jeep for some rough adventures or a stylish sedan for urban cruising, you can find the right wheels on Expedia

Airbnb is the perfect site to rent unique vacation homes and apartments around the world. AirBnb works on any budget and makes it very simple to find a place and book it online. Maximize and make the most out of your trips and adventures! Before booking, always look into the home’s online photos, check the host reviews prior and carefully read the each home’s cancellation policy.

Becoming an Airbnb host could be a great opportunity, both to bring in profitable financial income or to gain the chance to meet new people from all over the world. Whether you have a cabin in the mountains or an extra room in the city, you can earn more income by welcoming guests. Simply set your price and decide when and how often you want to host. (Check your local laws before listing your home — not all cities allow Airbnb hosting.) 

Host your own home and get a $25 reward after you completing your first reservation. Or Host an Experience on AirBnb.

VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) allows you to rent someone’s home or apartment for vacation, and is best for travel in the US, Mexico and Canada. It’s often a lot cheaper than a hotel, and many times the accommodations are even better, especially for bigger groups. On VRBO you can also find houses, bungalows, condos, and cabins in 190 countries, making VRBO a top online destination for travelers seeking local home vacation rentals. Whether you want something by the beach or in the mountains, you can find the perfect vacation spot at VRBO.

There are a lot of different ways to travel. You could stay at a hotel, a vacation rental, or book an all-inclusive package. Package deals are nice because everything is taken care of for one price…often at a good discount. When you use Booking.com to find the best hotel deals and vacation rentals, you get great pricing. And you can also sign up to get emails about secret deals. The best part is that Booking.com will help you compare hotel rooms and vacation rentals to determine which one will offer you the best accommodations at the lowest price.  

Agoda is a great place for globetrotters who are open to staying at hotels, rentals, and hostels. There are over 2 million locations listed on the site, and a curated list of things to do in the places that you’ll travel to. Agoda is a shopping comparison site, allowing you to look over dozens of other sites and find the best deal. Some homes are listed exclusively on Agoda, and these vacation rental properties are more spacious and better quality. 

Personal Finance Resources

Mint is a money management app for personal finance and budgeting. The interface is easy to navigate, and you can basically do everything in one place—see a breakdown of spending, keep track of multiple bills, credit score, net worth, and compare expenses and income with past months or years! Once you link all your bank accounts, credit cards, investments, real estate assets, and loans, you can track all transactions and categorize them to see where exactly your money is going. It’s the ultimate budgeting tool that fits right in your pocket — making your finances much less stressful. Mint also offers customized tasks and tips to make sure you follow your financial and retirement goals.

Most people do not really know much about their credit score, but you can find out what it is, and what it means for your finances by working with Credit Karma. Check your score anytime, anywhere, free of charge, with updates every 7 days that help you know if and when you are ready to take a loan. The higher your score, the higher the chances for approval (plus a lower interest rate) on a mortgage or a car loan. Credit Karma monitors your score and alerts you about changes. They provide insights about how to improve your credit, and educate you on making better financial decisions. You can also compare the best offers for credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and personal loans.

Investment | Asset Management 

Vanguard is the largest mutual fund company in the world, and also the only one that’s owned by investors. Founded by Jack Bogle, the famous business magnate, Vanguard has some of the lowest fees in the industry—helping you save even more money. If you’re looking to actually build wealth with your investment portfolio, Vanguard is a great choice. You can set up taxable and/or retirement accounts with Vanguard and invest in their low cost index funds and ETFs.

Fidelity is one of the most recognized names in the investment world. It’s the second-largest mutual fund company out there, and recognized for the variety of investment choices they offer—over 10,000 different funds of their own and with affiliated brokerages. Their online interface is clean and easy to use. Besides taxable and retirement accounts, you can even set up a HSA through the platform. Check out their Fidelity ZERO Extended Market Index Fund (FZIPX) or their most popular low cost Fidelity Spartan 500 Index Fund (FUSEX).

Stock & Cryptos Trading 

Robinhood is a stock investor platform. It is free to join, with no minimum deposit required.  Not only does Robinhood offer zero-commission trading, but it also allows for real time exchanges, so you can take advantage of those ever-shifting Gamestock prices. Additionally, you can balance your portfolio by purchasing parts of different funds or companies, helping minimize your risk as an investor and maximize your ultimate payout. Use this referral link to  get 1 FREE stock upon sign up. Certain limitations apply.

Webull is another brokerage firm that allows you to create an account and trade stocks. You pay zero commission on trades, and there’s no minimum deposit required to open your account. In addition to individual brokerage accounts, Webull allows users to save for retirement with traditional, rollover and Roth IRAs. Plus, the platform offers opportunities to diversify your portfolio, choosing investments that range from stocks and options to ETFs and Cryptocurrency. Use this referral link and get 2 FREE stocks valued up to $1850!

It’s no secret that the cryptocurrency market is hot these days—but it’s also confusing, with lots of potential missteps. To help navigate this important investment avenue, Coinbase provides an easy platform for buying and selling currencies such as Bitcoin, Celo, Forth and more. Plus, to help build your portfolio—and your understanding—you can take free courses through Coinbase after opening an account, and earn free cryptocurrency to dive right into trading! Use this referral link to open an account today, and if you buy or sell $100 or more of crypto, you’ll receive $10 worth of free Bitcoin!

Crowdfunded Investments

If you think you don’t have enough money to invest in real estate, think again. You only need around $500 to get started with Fundrise, a platform for investing in real estate. It allows you to invest in diversified portfolio of different types of real estate—sort of like mutual funds, only with private real estate, retail, and other commercial properties. Fundrise has very clear graphs that show you different investing options, recently acquired projects by your portfolio, and the types of returns you’ll get, whether you’re looking for supplemental income or long-term growth. The returns are often 8.7% to 12.4%. Sign up with this referral link and pay zero advisory fees for 90 days.

Small Business Resources

Gusto is an online payroll service for small business owners. It simplifies your payroll and provides great automation. Gusto keeps track of compliance, working hours, sick and vacation days, benefits such as 401k, medical, dental, HSA, 529, life insurance, tax credits, and more. Gusto will file your company’s federal and state forms and issue W2s and 1099s for your employees and contractors. Gusto can generate different types of reports and makes payroll a very easy process. You can even add your accountant to double check your numbers or run your company’s payroll on your behalf. Use this referral link and get a $100 gift card when you sign up with Gusto.

Small business owners know, keeping in touch with clients leads to repeat business. And Flodesk makes email marketing easier than ever to do so, with its flat-fee, all-inclusive group email services that let you build high converting emails from scratch, or choose from a range of professional templates. Flodesk has the same monthly price covering unlimited subscribers, emails, and access to all features. Choose from the monthly plan ($38/month), or opt for annual service at the low rate of $418 (that’s like getting one month free!) Use PROMO CODE BUBBLYMOMENTS or click on this affiliate link to get 50% OFF to take your email marketing to the next level. 

Home Shopping Resources

Zillow is the go-to name in finding real estate. You can search their extensive database for any kind of home, and filter options with stats like number of bedrooms, bathrooms, home type, square footage, amenities, and others. They also list available homes on a map, which helps you get a good sense of what’s on the market and where. Every listing on Zillow has extensive pictures, and an estimated monthly mortgage payment—along with how much you’ll pay in taxes. Whether you’re looking for a new house for yourself, a home to flip, or a rental property, you can find it all on Zillow.

Once you’ve found a home on a site like Zillow, you’ll want to head over to Realtor.com, which might allow you to dig deeper. Realtor.com sometimes has more information about the building such as age, parking, HOA fees, and taxes. They also might have more or different photos of the property, which will help you determine if it’s worth looking into before making an appointment for an in-person viewing. Realtor.com also provide great articles with advice for home-buyers and home-owners.

Lender Resources

Guaranteed Rate can be a valuable resource for obtaining and refinancing mortgages. They will give you some of the best rates out there with the lowest closing costs. The application process is very easy. Through their online portal, you can track the status of your loan, step by step, understanding what documents need to be provided in order to close: bank statements, tax returns, homeowners insurance quote, condo questionnaire, etc. They have over 300 branches across the county. Whether you’re buying a new home or refinancing your current residence, Guaranteed Rate will make the mortgage application process smooth and efficient.

Quicken Loans is one of the most recognized names in mortgages and personal loans. When you check out their website, you’ll see some awesome resources for home buyers, like a step-by-step guide for buying a home and a guide for refinancing. Quicken Loans also have mortgage calculators and can provide rate comparisons that will help you shop for your best rate. But don’t forget to consider closing costs and other points or expenses prior to choosing a lender.

US Alliance is a great vendor for car loans. They have competitive rates for new or used vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs, and RVs. They offer flexible payment plans: you can put anywhere between 0% to 20% down, and take 3 to 7 years to pay the loan off. US Alliance is a federal credit union that also offers other financial products like bank accounts, home loans, personal loans and credit cards.

Mortgage Calculator Resources

One of the biggest parts of the home-buying process is finding the right mortgage. Without knowing how much of a monthly payment you can afford, you won’t be able to look for the right home. Quicken Loans offers some amazing calculators such as Mortgage Calculator, Affordability Calculator, Refinance Calculator, Amortization Calculator and more. For something slightly simpler, try the Mortgage app or their desktop version. You can plug in parameters such as home price, down payment percentage, rate, property taxes, PMI and HOA fees to calculate the total monthly payout on any home investment.

Travel Essentials

2023-05-08T13:33:55-05:00

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19 Comments

  1. lanette April 18, 2018 at 7:24 pm - Reply

    I never tried any of these

  2. Tamatha Burrus April 30, 2018 at 6:00 pm - Reply

    Ebates is a definite Winner! I have been a Member longer than I can remember lol. I was originally a member of My Power Mall created by Ginny Dye in 2007, which I believe was the starting spur for shopping rebates.

  3. Christina Gould May 15, 2018 at 10:30 pm - Reply

    I’ve only used a couple of these, so this is great information. Thanks for posting!

  4. Phyllis A Huebbe May 18, 2018 at 11:00 am - Reply

    I use ebates and groupon all the time

  5. Linda Marie Finn May 18, 2018 at 10:26 pm - Reply

    I can see we love some of the same things ! I use ebates !!!
    Linda Marie Finn

  6. Sandra Watts September 10, 2018 at 10:21 am - Reply

    I use several of these sites too. All great!

  7. Barrie September 25, 2018 at 6:01 pm - Reply

    The aquaphor is great for dry skin. It is a bit greasy but works great!

  8. Brenda Cremer October 28, 2018 at 7:27 pm - Reply

    I didn’t realize you could order an uber for someone in another city duh! Makes sense it is an app. Sometimes things can be staring you in the face and you don’t see it. Thanks for pointing that out for me lol!

  9. Janine October 31, 2018 at 12:47 am - Reply

    love your blog

  10. Janine October 31, 2018 at 12:48 am - Reply

    I used a couple of these sites hahaha

  11. Brian L Gregory November 5, 2018 at 8:50 pm - Reply

    Some great tips. I’ve used a few of these, and can agree that these are great money savers

  12. Wanda Tracey November 5, 2018 at 11:55 pm - Reply

    E_Bats is on my things that I love too. Wow! Well Path vitamins are great and I love Neutrogena products for dry skin.

  13. Dana Rodriguez November 6, 2018 at 5:08 pm - Reply

    I like a lot of these too. Ebates is awesome!

  14. wen budro November 16, 2018 at 12:09 pm - Reply

    Thank you. I will have to check some of these companies and services out. I am particularly interested in the Well Path Vitamins. They sound awesome!

  15. Manda November 24, 2018 at 8:48 am - Reply

    Ebates for the win!!!

  16. Ashley Zabel January 26, 2019 at 1:39 pm - Reply

    Thank you for all of these awesome tips!

  17. Christina Almond January 28, 2019 at 8:58 pm - Reply

    Some great suggestions! I’m an avid user of Airbnb and Uber but also enjoy Ebates! Some of these I had honestly forgotten!

  18. cass April 30, 2019 at 7:25 am - Reply

    awesome

  19. Angela MacRae May 7, 2019 at 7:00 pm - Reply

    Well that is alot of stuff that you love :)

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