Travel and Leisure Magazine recently crowned Anna Maria Island Florida as one of the state’s most charming towns, describing it as a hidden gem. 

Even the recent pandemic wasn’t enough to keep tourists away from this quaint destination, with Anna Maria Island reporting a much lower decline in visitor numbers than other mainland destinations.

Are you keen to discover what all the fuss is about? Do you have a tight travel budget? Here’s how to plan a cost-effective trip to this popular seaside destination.

Finding Affordable Anna Maria Island Accommodation

Right now, many Anna Maria Island Resorts are still offering discount prices to try and boost tourist numbers. So, book your accommodation soon if you want to benefit from low 2021 prices.

If that ship’s sailed already, there are still plenty of savings available during the quiet fall and winter seasons. You could also benefit from last-minute deals offered by Anna Maria Hotels.

Another way to save is by skipping the fully-inclusive stays altogether and opting for a self-catering stay. You’ll find a huge variety of beachfront properties to choose from and some will even allow you to bring your pet along. 

Often, traveling in a larger group can help you save even more when renting a house since you can split the costs between more people.

Accommodation set back from the beach features lower rates than oceanfront properties. Yet, due to the small size of the island, you’ll still enjoy easy access to all the best things to do on Anna Maria Island.

Free Anna Maria Island Activities

You’ll find plenty to keep you busy on Anna Maria Island and many of the best ones are free. Here’s where you can go for an affordable day out on the island:

Anna Maria Island Beaches

Seven miles of gorgeous white sand beaches are a top drawcard for all who visit here and there’s an Anna Maria Island beach for everyone.

Manatee Beach is a popular spot if you like mingling with the crowds featuring a playground, sports equipment, and lifeguards on duty. Families flock to Coquina Beach, while the more romantic seek out the lovely sunsets over Bean Point Beach. 

Natural Attractions on Anna Maria Island

The island’s a nature lover’s paradise with plenty of unspoiled areas waiting for you to discover them. De Soto National Memorial Park is an excellent showcase of the island’s natural attributes as well as some snippets of its history.

You can walk the well-marked trails, try your hand at fishing, or board a kayak to explore the waters. Camp Uzita holds regular living history events where you can get into the swing of things in full European armor and your dog can even earn their BARK ranger tag for good behavior.

Other nature preserves in the area include Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve, and Robinson Preserve. 

Free Admission to Museums

Some of the most interesting places to explore on Anna Maria Island offer free entry on certain days of the week. These include:

• The John and Mable Ringling Museum – free admission on Mondays
• Anna Maria Island Historical Museum – free on Wednesdays
• Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy – Thursday admissions are free

If you’d like something a little more upbeat, you can join in the free Sarasota drum circle on Sunday evenings. Remember, the Anna Maria Island trolley offers free rides wherever you want to go on the island.

Eating on Anna Maria Island

If you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, you’ll save a lot of money come mealtimes. You can pick up wonderful fresh produce at one of the Islands’ popular farmer’s markets.

The best ones are:

Bridge Street Market

You’ll find Bridge Street Market on the south end of Anna Maria Island. This popular destination stocks gorgeous local art, sculptures, and photography along with a range of fresh ingredients for your next meal.

The market’s on the go every Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm, from November through April. 

Beach Market

Coquina Beach sets the scene for Beach Market, where you’ll find an interesting array of food and goods. This quiet market’s family-friendly choice and socks a huge range of local produce, baked goods, homemade beauty items, crafts, and jewelry.

You can visit the Beach Market on Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm from November through July. 

Bradenton Farmers’ Market

Don’t miss this bustling market along Old Main Street from October through May. It’s on the go every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm. This community event features cooking demos, local art displays, and plenty of delectable homemade food.

Anna Maria Island Restaurants

No vacation’s complete without the occasional culinary treat and you’ll find no shortage of options in this island paradise. You’ll find some of the best seafood in Florida in this part of the world so don’t miss a chance to try some out.

Prices run the gamut from expensive to budget options, so you’ll need to do some research and read some online reviews to find the best beach cafe for affordable, satisfying meals.  

Bonus Savings Tip

You can never have too much spending money when you’re on vacation, but it’s difficult to budget when you’ve got so many other things to pay for. Try this simple savings tip to ensure you’ve got some extra cash to spare during your trip.

Find a big jar and place every five-dollar bill you get into it. Every time you withdraw cash, take an extra fiver for the jar. You won’t notice the small difference at the time, but all these five-dollar bills add up over time.

By the time you leave, you’ll have a nice amount of money to spend on extra treats and souvenirs. 

More Tips for Taking it Easy

Anna Maria Island offers a wealth of enjoyment and relaxation for the whole family. So start planning your vacation now, while prices are low and tourist numbers are still subdued. 

If you’d like some more ideas for saving money on everyday living, read our blog and find out how you can afford life’s little luxuries.

As a new business owner, one of the first things you need to focus on is brand awareness.

What is brand awareness? In the marketing world, it describes how well your brand is recognized by consumers.

Whether you are starting an online or brick-and-mortar business, you want your customers to take notice. When they do, your brand awareness goes up, which brings in more business.

In this guide, we’re going to break down five ways you can build brand awareness as a new business. By the end of this article, you will have an effective plan of action to promote your brand.

1. Take Advantage of Social Media

In 2021, it’s basically required that all businesses are on social media, even if you aren’t an online business. Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook are free marketing tools that you can utilize to reach your target customers.  

If you have extra money to invest into your social media branding strategy, you can look into paid ads or influencer marketing to reach bigger audiences.

2. Collaborate With Well-Established Businesses

Small businesses love to help each other out, and partnering with a well-established business in your early days is a great way to get in front of new customers. 

If you are running a local brick and motor business, like a retail shop, consider partnering with another local business on an event. For instance, you could reach out to a local yoga studio and arrange a Saturday flow and shop event.

Once you are an established business, you can pay it forward and partner with other new businesses to help them.

3. Utilize Product Sampling

If you want loyal customers who keep coming back, you need to let them sample the product first. In fact, most consumers prefer to sample products before they spend their hard-earned money on them for the first time. 

A product sampling agency can create the perfect product samples that match your brand identity. They are a great way for more people to see your logo and remember your business or service.

4. Tell Your Story Through Content Marketing

These days, consumers expect brands to be personable. They want to feel like they can trust your business, and a great way to build trust is to tell your story.

You can tell your story through your social media channels, and you can start a blog and utilize content marketing. Having a high-quality blog on your website will boost your online presence, which is helpful for showing up in search engines. 

5. Implement Search Engine Optimization

This tip goes along with our content marketing tip. If you start a blog on your website to tell your story and offer more resources to your customers, it’s crucial that you implement search engine optimization (SEO).

Optimized blogs and web pages help you stand out on Google searches, which is crucial since most people search for new products through Google. For great SEO, you need to utilize keywords, images, and meta descriptions on all of your blogs and webpages.

Your Brand Awareness Strategy

If you implement the five branding tips above, your brand awareness will significantly increase, and it won’t be long until you are attracting your ideal customers to your business. 

When it comes to brand awareness, remember that slow and steady wins the race, so make sure you craft a long-term brand awareness campaign.

For more business branding tips, check out the rest of the blog. 

With salons closed for so long last year, it definitely feels like it’s time for a trip to the hairdresser. Many of us will be sticking firmly to our tried and tested styles. But if you’re looking for something a little bit out of the ordinary, the good news is there are plenty of styles to choose from.

It’s no secret that haircuts can cost a pretty penny. That’s why we’ve made sure to include some hairstyle ideas that will last for longer, as well as some tips on how to save some money on your salon trips. Read on for eight inspiring hairstyles to try out this year, just in time for the summer social season.

1. Adding Bangs

If you don’t have bangs, but you’ve wanted them, now is the perfect time to try. There are a number of different types you can request, from super short to brushing your brows. Bangs may seem high maintenance, but many salons offer to trim them for free, and you can also always try cutting them yourself—if you dare.

2. A Brazillian Blowout

A Brazillian blowout was all the rage a few years ago, but in truth, it never really fell out of favor among those in the know. Although this treatment costs a pretty penny, it could save you many trips to the salon in the long run.

When maintained well, it can last as many as four or five months! To find a list of the most affordable Brazillian blowouts in your area, check out this handy beauty directory.

3. A No-Fuss Bob

Depending on your face shape and hair type, a bob can be an especially flattering style. You can choose to have it cut angular or graduated, but easiest to maintain it straight across. Unlike some, this style is one that’s easy to grow out gracefully, if you want to save on salon fees for a while.

Bobs are great for summer because they are low maintenance. Just throw on a hat, tie up into a half ponytail, or run it over quickly with a straightener and you’re good to go.

4. Shoulder Length

If you’re not quite ready for a bob, then why not try having your hair cut to your shoulder first? This is a very on-trend style, especially when worn straight. It happens to look amazing when wavy, as well.

There are different ways you can play around with this look. The most on-trend is with severe and straight edges, but layers work well too.

5. Luxurious Layers

If you’d like to add some drama and texture to your hair, layers are a great way to do so. Be warned, though, this can be a look that does require a regular trim. To avoid being in the salon chair every week and save money, ask for longer layers, it will be less noticeable when they grow out.

6. A Change in Texture

Looking for a look that’s completely outside of your comfort zone? Why not try changing the texture of your hair? You’d be surprised how dramatic an effect this can have.

If your hair is poker straight, try having your hairstylist give you bouncy curls. If you’re normally a curly girl, try going straight for a while and see how you feel.

7. An Elegant Up-Do

If you’re heading to the salon in light of a special occasion, you might want to ask your stylist to give you an up-do. This year, there are several different styles that are right on-trend.

A chic chignon with a glamorous hair accessory is always an elegant look. Sleeked-back ponytails are also popular for ensembles that are more modern.

8. Classic Pixie Cut

If you’re feeling really adventurous, then a pixie cut is a great cut for summer. It’s fuss-free and won’t weigh you down on a hot sweaty day. This is a cut that doesn’t suit every face shape, so you might want to consult with your stylist before taking the plunge. 

The main thing about having a pixie cut is having the confidence to wear it. It leaves nothing for your face to hide behind, and this is something you need to be ready for.

Ways to Save Money on Your Hair Cuts

Everyone needs a trip to the salon from time to time. Even when you’re on a budget, it’s still important to feel beautiful. So, what are some ways to spend a little bit less on your hair?

The first thing you can do is to try and space out the time between visits as much as possible. Of course, this is easier with certain styles. Regardless of what kind of hair you have, there are certain things you can do.

Asking at your local salon if they need hair models is another way to save. Often, they will be willing to cut your hair for free or at a very reduced rate. You just might not be able to pick the exact style you want.

Cheap and Cheerful Hairstyle Ideas

Hopefully, this guide has inspired you for your next visit to your hairstylist, and will even help you save some money along the way. Whether you’re only looking for a trim, or you want to completely change up your look, a trip to the salon should be a relaxing time when you’re not worried about counting every penny.

If you’ve found this guide to hairstyle ideas helpful, don’t forget to take a look at the rest of our thrifty money saving tips.

Did you know that the average person moves 11 times in their lifetime? Moving is one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life, and every time it seems to get more difficult. As you accumulate items, the moving process gets more and more intense.

This is especially true if you have a piano. Moving your piano yourself can be difficult, dangerous, and risks damaging your expensive instrument. This job is best left to professional piano movers to avoid these hazards and experience a quicker and less stressful move. 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of hiring piano movers. 

1. Protect Your Home and Property

If you try to move your piano by yourself, it can be very difficult to avoid damaging your property. Not only can you drop, bump, or damage the piano, but you can also hit the walls, other furniture, or the windows.

If you hit your house or apartment on the way out, you can risk lowering its value or losing your security deposit! In addition, you can damage your new home or your piano. Protect your home and furniture by hiring Elite Moving Services Inc.

2. Protect Yourself

You injure yourself, your loved ones, and your pets in the process. This is especially true if you have to move your piano down a flight of stairs.

You might not exert yourself in that way and can throw out your back, strain your muscles, or injure yourself. In addition, you can drop the piano on yourself, your pet, or anyone who’s helping you.

Professionals are trained in transporting heavy furniture. They know exactly how to move a piano and can keep you safe while they do it. 

3. Peace of Mind

One of the reasons moving is so stressful is because even just thinking and planning a move is overwhelming. 

With a group of professional movers, you don’t have to plan, think, or stress at all. You can rest assured that the process will be completed efficiently and without damage. 

4. Save Time

How many times have you moved a piano in your lifetime? It’s probably not very often. Movers have moved pianos many, many times. 

They’re well versed about how to do it quickly, and they’re experienced with all shapes and sizes of pianos and floorplans and save lots of time.

5. Save Money on Equipment

Moving a piano takes specific equipment. Moving companies have these supplies on hand, so you don’t need to buy them yourself. 

Because you won’t need to use this equipment very often, it’s best to save money and use it on the movers!

6. Climate Controlled Trucks

If you hire piano movers, you’re not only getting the moving service but the transportation too. Different climates can cause damage to both the wood and the strings of a piano. The best piano movers will have a climate-controlled truck that will regulate the environment your piano is stored in, keeping it safe on the road. 

Hire Professional Piano Movers Today

Hopefully, this article will have convinced you why you should hire professional piano movers for your next move. You can save time, money, and stress while you protect your valuable instrument during your move. Experience the benefits yourself with Elite Moving Services Inc.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our blog for more tips, tricks, and more! 

Statistics show that you can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs by adjusting your normal settings by 7-10 degrees during the day. In the winter, this would mean keeping your home at a cooler temperature and in the summer, a warmer temperature. 

Do you adjust your thermostat when you are not home? How much money would you save by doing this? What is the best way to begin scaling back your energy use? 

The emergence of smart thermostats is making it more convenient to adjust your thermostat without being home. 

Keep reading to learn about the reasons to buy a smart thermostat.

1. You Don’t Have to Be Home to Control It

An important benefit of having a smart thermostat is that you don’t have to be in the same room or even the same location to control it. The devices are wifi-enabled and can be communicated via an app. This means that if you rush out the door in the morning and forget to adjust it, you can just open the app and control it from there.

Another strategy is to change the temperature of your home while you are away for the weekend or on a vacation. You can then adjust the temperature a few hours before arriving home and it will feel like you never left when you walk back in. This strategy would save you money and add a level of comfort upon your return.

2. Save Money and Use Less Energy

Energy consumption is something that most people look at when their electric bill seems high. It is not a normal topic of conversation within the household about what is using the most energy and how it can be lowered.

When you install a smart home thermostat, everyone can have a greater responsibility for energy consumption. Working to identify any weaknesses within the home that are draining the energy is important. 

Something as simple as installing a new heat pump could be the difference in your home being capable of maintaining a consistent temperature. Calling a heat pump installation service can make this process easier. 

3. A Smart Thermostat Is Simple to Use

The idea of replacing the thermostat that you have used for years with new technology can make some people nervous. One of the benefits of a smart thermostat is its ease of use. 

Once have established your heating and cooling preferences, it can learn your temperature preferences and adjust without being prompted. This is a reason that it is important to begin a routine for the heating and cooling efforts within your home.

Invest Today

Now that you have read about the reasons to purchase a smart thermostat, you can invest in one for your living space today. The cost and energy savings can add up quickly with a few simple taps. Check out our website for more informational articles like this one.