A question I have been asked more than a few times in the last few months...Here's what it means to us: The monetorium is our agreement to change our lifestyle in small ways to save money and benefit our travels. So what are some of these small changes?

* Make Meals at Home: We have changed from about 4-6 dinners/lunches per week dine-out or take out, to 0-2 per week. This change in mindset takes a week or two to get used to, but then it's easy. After all, it's about what's familiar, right?

* Avoid Daily Lattes: Well yes, but on Fridays Lee has his weekly latte, which he really enjoys. I like to take coffee from the office and walk with colleagues to a Starbucks table.

* Grocery Shop Smarter: My guidelines are no meat or seafood over 4.99/lb (it's usually closer to 2-3.99/lb, but ribeyes and salmon are so good and those sales are 4.99/lb) and no chicken over 1.69/lb. I clip coupons that make sense (such as $1 off a box of Kelloggs), but still purchase the items that make it nice to eat at home. If we had a bigger freezer, I could do this even better - maybe in 2007.

* Think About Drinks Dining Out: This is not to say we won't order wine or beer, but it does help us think if we really want it or if we order it out of habit. With our beverage cabinet at home, could we instead have after-dinner drinks there?

* Watch Netflix: These days movies can be out on DVD just two months after the theatre, so we have the 2-at-a-time Netflix subscription unless there really is a must-see in the theatre. This is also great for access to backpacker travel videos like Globetrekker.

* Buy for the Backpack: With no need to purchase material items for 2006 other than what goes into our backpacks, we have to ask the question - Is this for the backpacks? Only those clothes, that Benedryl, that pack towel, that pair of sandals etc. will be purchased now. The rest can wait until 2007. This has, for the most part, been in effect since last winter when we first decided on the trip.

* Entertain More at Home: We still want to see our friends! And home makes it easy for everyone to relax and bring the kids over. We can usually spend more time with them and we have multiple entertainment options...remember Netflix?

* Limit Concerts & Shows: We just don't go to these shows nearly as much as we used to and it has been just fine. Once in a while we'll consider going if it's a really good band in a small venue.

 
We often ask ourselves - What would this buy us in Thailand? The monetorium has been a playful challenge for us that has helped us review our lifestyle and appreciate our upcoming travels even more.