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Orchid, we don't have children and that's a HUGE savings - haha.

Travel is important to us, not eating out or clothes or shoes, etc. When we travel, we do it on a tight budget and, usually, Eastern Europe, Russia or other countries that are very inexpensive. We ate really well in Romania for about $4 a meal. When we get home, I try and write various articles about travel, fiber/textiles, etc. and that helps bring in money for the next trip. We also have a lot of connections through the Center for International Understanding -CIU- and can always find somewhere to stay with someone who knows someone we know. The CIU hired me to go to Russia and work in 2004 and we're traveling with them to Armenia and Georgia this year. That trip is very inexpensive but, due to the connections, we'll be treated like royalty.

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Interesting. We know a couple who have paid home-stay international students from Japan, Korea or Mexico who taking English languages courses for a few months, so they pay a family for room and board, some meals. He is semi-retired and she is retired. They usually have 1-2 students and provide food. There are rules. Most students are adults.

And the benefit to them, is that they have travelled to Japan twice where they were feted like royalty and provided with accommodation by grateful ex-students. You know that Japan is an expensive country to travel in but this is a fantastic gift to them.

It's not for everyone since it takes a certain cultural sensitivity to take in international students where is there is equal partnership in learning from each other in a home. Couple are Causcasian but have loved Japanese food and things for many years.

They only get international students by referral (prevents bad experiences) and have been doing this over 10 years. Of course they live near famed local ski mountains...another draw for short term students who love to snowboard, etc.