I’m wide awake in my kitchen
It’s dark and I’m lonely
Oh, if I could only get some sleep
Creeky noises make my skin creep
I need to get some sleep
I can’t get no sleep….
~Faithless~

Tired of staring at the ceiling for endless hours night after night? Frustrated because others can sleep without any problem? You’re definitely not alone as more and more people suffer from sleep disorders. Insomnia is caused most of the times by unhealthy habits which affect people’s ability to sleep. So this is why a few changes in your schedule should be enough to sleep again and to be more healthy and productive.
- Create a sleep schedule in order to wake up at about the same hour everyday. Waking up one day at 6 AM and the second day at 12 AM will do nothing but to affect you in a negative way. If your work schedule is flexible choose an hour to wake up and this will also allow you to do other things around the house or just to spend more time doing something pleasant.
- Don’t stay in bed more than you used to before having insomnia! This way your body will not be tired and it will be more and more difficult to fall asleep. Choose an activity which is not too challenging instead such as walking, or going out with your friends.
- Avoid nicotine, alcohol and caffeine. Insomnia can prove to be the starting point towards reaching a healthy life style as it could determine you to give up these unhealthy habits. All these do nothing but to affect your body’s balance, thus leading to unpleasant results. Avoid green tea too, not to mention coffee, sodas and even chocolate in severe cases. If you can’t give up on them, then reduce the quantity you consume as much as possible.
- Try to start exercising as much as possible in the morning. Of course, you don’t have to exaggerate, but vigorous exercise can change your mood and help you sleep. It’s also very healthy and you could keep this habit even after insomnia has become just a bad dream. In the evenings try to relax your muscles progressively in order to sleep.
- Sleeping during the day will affect your ability to sleep during the night so give up this habit. 8 hours of healthy sleep every night should be enough for an adult who performs regular activities. Then, don’t prepare to sleep until you feel that you are tired. If not, you will find yourself again in the situation spending another sleepless night!
- Avoid strong stimulation in the evenings in order to be able to sleep! Choose listening to radio or reading something simple and enjoyable instead of watching TV. This “avalanche” of sounds and images might be too strong so the other activities should be preferred.

- Have a hot, 20 minute-bath every day before going to bed. This will raise your body temperature and will help you relax. Avoid eating too much before sleeping. It’s not healthy and it will make you feel stuffed even sick. Choose light foods instead. A warm glass of milk should help you sleep!
- Assure you have a comfortable room to sleep in. Even bad sleeping conditions can be a cause of insomnia. Open the windows as fresh air is vital for a good sleep and try not to think about your problems. There is enough time for everything!

People, when things go wrong
As they sometimes will
And the road you travel
It stays all uphill
Let’s work together
~Canned heat~

Spending six or seven hours five days a week in a group of 20 or even more people can prove to be a little tricky sometimes as conflicts become something regular. Especially as we grow up, they tend to become more complex and relations can be easily influenced in a negative way. Of course, sometimes you feel that you can’t take it any more. It’s normal, but remember that by having the right attitude from the beginning, you will find the hours you spend with the others pleasant and even relaxing.
1. When you are new in a group the best thing you can do is to meet the others, begin a conversation and introduce yourself. Still, try not to exaggerate and try to spend the first days noticing what the others like end dislike before getting too personal. Try to learn something about them before offending anyone by mistake. Try to keep the conversation neutral!
2. Everyone has their own role in a group. One can be the clown, another one the hard-worker and so on. Try to be as balanced as possible and to create an image of yourself. You mustn’t expose very much, but try not to create a fake image of yourself; it won’t work. If you are not the party starter don’t try to act like one, it’s ok. This is who you are and you should not try to change it or lie about it.

3. It’s a very good idea to help the others as this will gain you respect and friendship. However, don’t exaggerate! Some homework from time to time, a little help on a project is enough. Don’t get yourself in the situation of working for more people. This will attract the opposite effect as the others will treat you well only to receive some help.
4. A beautiful friendship can easily start in a collectivity. However, don’t start sharing your secrets or opinions about the boss the first time you go out with someone. Also, don’t talk about the things you hear from the others. Find a balance between the authority (teachers, bosses) and your workmates. Don’t tell on your classmates or colleagues because this will not attract respect from anyone! Still, don’t make any comments or negative reactions towards the authority just in order to impress the others.
5. Small gestures can make real wonders! A small gift on someone’s birthday, a smile on the hall, a compliment (which should not be fake!) all these can strengthen the relations you have with the people you work or study with. Try to ignore the others’ defects as much as possible. You should always avoid conflicts especially when there is no serious reason, in order to avoid stress and fights. And if they start try to end them as soon as possible. There is no need to complicate your life like this.
So, in the end, it’s all about finding a balance and respecting the people around you. By doing this, be sure that you will receive the same treatment. Maybe it’s not so hard to live in a collective after all!

You’re so afraid of what people might say
But that’s okay cuz you’re only human
You’re so afraid of what people might say
But that’s okay you’ll soon get strong enough
~Nelly Furtado~

Many people complain about having a phobia, but in reality, what they experience is a simple fear caused by the preservation instinct. A phobia is much more than this, as it’s irrational and can affect one’s life completely. But no matter how severe a phobia is, it’s not impossible to cure. However, this is not a matter of medication, as their effect lasts only for a short period of time, it’s a matter of will and of knowing yourself.
Although there are strange fears such as the fear of snow, clocks, numbers or sitting which are less frequent, other fears such as the fear of being ridiculed, social phobias or the fear of failure can be found in many individuals.

The Fear of Crowds And Open Spaces (Agoraphobia)

It is experienced by quite a lot of people and even more claim to feel bad physically in such situations. It manifests itself through nausea, sickness and trembling but also psychologically through an unexplainable and very strong fear of traveling alone in a plane or bus or even of crossing a street or a bridge. Does this situation sound familiar? Don’t be ashamed! Therapy is not for mad people so don’t be afraid to talk to a specialist as soon as you’ve acknowledged you have a problem. Moreover, don’t let the others pamper you, so try to travel alone, at first on small distances and then more and more. It’s not impossible to fight your own fears! This fear can also be caused by childhood experiences so finding the exact cause can also help!

The Fear of Being Ridiculed (Catagelophobia)

Is one that is met very often in society. It’s difficult to identify, as it’s associated with shyness. It’s complex and includes the fear of speaking in public or of eating in a restaurant, the fear of working as part of a team and the fear of looking at someone or of being looked at. If you feel this too I some cases therapy is also the main solution. Moreover, work on your self esteem and remember that you are neither stupid, nor ugly and that failure is something that happens to anyone of us! Try to socialize as much as possible and improve your personal relationships especially with your family and friends. Try to meet new people no matter how hard it may seem. Stop being afraid of people as no one expects you to fail, but to succeed!

Social Phobias

These phobias are extremely dangerous as they can make someone interrupt any social interaction and can be associated with anxiety and drug and alcohol abuse. Most experience unpleasant sensations such as trembling, sweating and blushing associated with coldness, in their youth. It is vital that anyone who feels incapable of having normal relations because of a social phobia to find the cause which usually lies in a difficult family life or in an experience that affected his or her self esteem. Therapy is not enough in these cases so it’s important that the family and friends offer affection to you if you have this problem. Also try to get involved in social activities even competitions of any kind. Running in a marathon to help someone raise money can do wonders!

The Fear of Heights (Acrophobia)

This fear is quite common and there are varied treatments for it. If you suffer from it, then you should try medication or hypnosis. Moreover, it’s a matter of will. Try to climb a little upper on a ladder, use see-through elevators, gondolas but only by starting at a comfortable height. Don’t push yourself, or you will only make everything worse. Ask a friend to join in order to make it easier for you.
So, as soon as you think there is a problem about the way you perceive the world, don’t be afraid to seek help! It’s in your power to change your life!

Every other day, every other day,
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin’ all of the time
~The Mamas and the Papas~

We all hate Mondays, that’s a fact. Just thinking about this day can cause head aches to any student or to anyone having a job. Maybe this is why this day is the least productive of the whole week. So how about a little change of attitude in order to be more successful?

1. Remember that it’s all in your mind and the way you see this situation affects all your behavior. So don’t spend your Sunday thinking about the fact that you will start work again, that you’ll have classes and that it will be hard to do everything! Be positive and optimistic about it as there is nothing particularly scary about a Monday.

2. Get yourself a head start - knowing that the second part of any Friday isn’t too productive you could use it to make a plan for the following week so that your Monday morning will be less agitated. Then, by cleaning your desk and arranging your papers you will find your Monday start a lot easier and you will improve your work.

3. Plan what you have to do so that you won’t find yourself on Sundays in the difficult situation of still having a lot of things to do. Try to solve all your assignments and do your chores so that this won’t happen! Use your spare time to solve all your problems that are not connected to your work and try not to delay them.

4. Try to treat this day just the way you treat any other day. That’s just how it is after all! The simple fact that Monday is the first day should not make it harder as a little change of habit is the solution to most problems. Giving up this idea should be enough to make Monday a great day!

5. Do something pleasant and relaxing on your Sunday evenings but try not to stay up too late or else you will not be able to wake up in the morning! Meet your friends to play cards, to chat, read a good book, it’s your choice after all!

6. Start your Monday morning by having your favorite food for breakfast. This will make you feel better and will improve your state of mind. Still, avoid eating too much or fatty foods. It won’t help you at all.

7. Wear something you like very much when you go to school or work! Choose pleasant fabrics and colorful clothes to make your day happier. Some colors such as orange or yellow should give you energy while a light green or blue should relax you.

8. Plan something interesting and amusing after work every Monday so that this day will be one you will wait. Go to walks, meet your friends, go shopping or just do something you like very much. You’ll just wait for Monday to come!
So what if tomorrow’s Monday? It’s just another day…

Nightmares made of hash dreams, the devil in my shoes
What have I done wrong?
Yeah nothing can go right with me it must be that i’ve been smoking too
Long
~Placebo~

What makes you start smoking again? Anger? Stress? Boredom? Tiredness? The first two are universally known to make people return to this bad habit. Each of these make you want to kill for a smoke, but cigarettes do nothing but to increase stress and to affect your health and even social relations. Learn to handle these situations and not to turn to cigarettes!
1. Take care of yourself! By depriving your body of smoking, assure that it won’t suffer because of this. Try to have a balanced diet and choose healthy, nutritious food. Ask a specialist about what you should eat and about what you should avoid. Fresh fruits and vegetables should help you the most! Give good quality “fuel” to your body and drink more water to be hidrated. Avoid drinks which have too many chemicals as you need to purify your organism. Take vitamins as nicotine has emptied your body of nutrients, in order to recover faster. Still, ask your doctor for a recommendation!
2. Give up caffeine! Drinking coffee in a time like this might make you nervous even angry so try reducing the quantity of coffee you drink every day. Even a simple coke can have unsuspected effects so you may even give up on it totally for a while. These two habits are usually associated so you may gain a lot more by forgetting about both of them!
3. Take a warm bath! It’s an excellent way to relax and to get rid of stress. Add just a little salt and it will be perfect! Relax and think about something pleasant. A little time spent like this everyday may bring even more benefits to both your body and mind.
4. Have a massage! If you can’t go to a specialist or you don’t have the time for that ask a friend or your partner to help you with that. You will also have time for a little chat and you will forget about how much you need a cigarette. Keep this habit in the future too as it’s pleasant and useful. Remember: even 15 minutes can do miracles!

5. Walk! Try to take a short walk everyday in order to relax, to forget about smoking and to keep your health! Walking helps you grow old slower and improves blood circulation. Take a friend as he or she will help you fight the temptation an go to the park. Sit on a bench, jog, have a conversation, it’s just as simple as that. Try to walk to work instead of taking a taxi and do the same thing when shopping.
6. Get enough sleep! The first days after giving up smoking can be very difficult, they will drain your energy and you will feel tired both physically and mentally. Rest, choose pleasant activities and don’t push yourself. There is time for everything. Don’t worry, you will regain your energy soon!
7. Use your imagination! Think of a place you’ve been or to one you’ve only heard about. This should be your own special place. Close your eyes, picture yourself there and take deep breaths from three to five minutes whenever you feel the need. Stimulating your imagination in a positive way should make you forget about stress and by this you will feel the need to smoke less and less as there will be no cause for it.
8. Take a deep breath! It’s a good method to relax and to calm down. Inhale on your nose, count to three and exhale on your mouth. Do this for a few minutes and the pressure in your body will disappear! Do it whenever you feel the need to. Talk to the others when you need help or when it gets too difficult. It’s not a shame!
9. Concentrate on the current day. Thinking about endless years without cigarettes won’t do you any good. Don’t think about a long time effort but about the day in front of you. We spend too much concerning about the future, so don’t think about the fact that you will never smoke again. You can do it for a day, isn’t it?
10. Don’t take everything too seriously! You will have both good and bad days after giving up smoking. What is important is to continue. Your family’s support, your friends are the ones you should go to. Avoid smokers for a while and concentrate on what you have to do. It’s all a matter of will after all!

If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a month — get married. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.
- Chinese Proverb

While driving on the highway, I stumbled upon a billboard that read, “Be happy now”. I, for a moment, felt jolt of happiness in my body. It was inexplicable but the feeling was real.
I pondered along the way about happiness and its sources. Where it comes from? I started feeling nostalgic. My mind started wandering into the past in an intense search for the traces of happiness. It was exhilarating thought to find the roots of happiness that lie nowhere but in my own thoughts and the ability to react to different circumstances.
I have a habit of writing a journal. The journal tracks my life. It tracks my setbacks, it tracks my success and it certainly tracks my happy days. I went through the journal to capture the lessons of happiness that I can share with you.

Lesson # 1: Make someone happy:
A successful surgeon practices surgery daily; a successful lawyer practices law daily. To become happy, you need to make someone happy. Engage in random acts of kindness. Try to serve others with your time and money. Making someone happy makes you selfless. I have always felt happy when I do not expect any return for the service I rendered. It always makes my day fulfilling.

Lesson # 2: Become debt free:
Debt is an imprisonment to our happiness. It shackles our ability to think and pursue true happiness. Imagine if you are living by paycheck to paycheck, it is hard to have anytime for things that bring happiness when you have to work to make money to pay debt without any relief. You can cut out fat from your spending to work towards paying off your debt. If you start living life of simplicity, you will accentuate your freedom from the debt-ridden life.

Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think.
- Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) American writer.

Lesson # 3: Choose to be positive:
Our ability to choose our thoughts allows us to think positively. If we learn how to replace self-limiting thoughts with affirmations, we develop habit of positive thinking. For instance, replace self-limiting thought of - “I do not have enough time to enjoy time with my family.” with “I have plenty of time to spend time with my family”.

Lesson # 4: Be transparent:
I constantly remind myself that to earn trust from friends and family, I have to remain transparent about my actions. I have to show honesty and sincerity in the pursuit of happiness to get support from my alter ego. I have to show her that I’m committed to her pursuit of happiness as much as I’m to mine. Develop transparency with the attitude of showing all your cards to others involved in your life. They will in turn show you their cards; together everyone wins.

Lesson # 5: Live a simple life:
The modern day life is an entangled web of complexity. We live with cell phones, laptops, and pagers. These devices are convenient and they definitely add flexibility to work anywhere in the world. However, we pay steep price for these conveniences. We clutter our minds with information overload. We tend to ignore our inner voice of simplicity to feel true happiness. We tend to ignore the pristine value of our time with family; we definitely ignore the pearls of joy in sharing our laughter with our children. I’m not advocating that we give up on our pursuit of the burning desire, I’m suggesting that we shall always be mindful about de-cluttering our physical as well as mental space to live for a happy, fulfilling life.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Preeminent leader of Indian nationalism.

Photo Courtesy of Smugmug

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control

~Pink Floyd - Another brick in the Wall~

These days I am kinda busy - you know, exams are close. I think everybody felt at least once that there are too many things to do and the time just isn’t enough, so one post about time management and good practices when studying should be useful.

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Create a good environment! If you can go to library and stay there it is very good - there you have the motivation and the atmosphere that helps you concentrate better. Of course, there are cases when you can’t use that space - for example if you have something to talk you can’t do it there. Your room can be a good solution too, but here you have more temptations - the TV, the internet, the flowers you haven’t watered recently … If you can you can escape these temptations and you have all the materials you need you’ll gain some time by staying at home.

Take your own notes! When you finish reading a paragraph try to sum it up in 2-3 phrases. That should help you to keep in mind what you have learned and it’s useful when you revise your notes. When you’re doing that you also verify if you really understood what you read or you only have the impression of understanding it. Of course you can return and make additional notes. That and the practical applications are the active part of studying. It isn’t enough to recognize the truth, it’s necessary to practice it.

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Study groups are a very good idea - 3 or 4 people is ideal. This idea has pluses and minuses - you can ask other people to explain what you don’t understand and you can fix your knowledge by answering other’s questions, but there is a dark side too. When you’re working with somebody else you tend to talk about anything except subject at hand. Chose carefully your study mates and impose some rules - discuss only when you have too, give answers as short as possible and don’t take brakes until you finish the chapter. That should work - and if it doesn’t, it’s better to give up the study groups.

Combine theoretical knowledge with practice! One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they forget to implement their knowledge. Exercises are more important than theory so I suggest to spend at least 60% of your time doing exercises. Another thing very very important is the “doing” part. If you understand the method to solve a problem it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can actually solve the exercise. If you have more time try to find the solution yourself, then you can compare it with what you have.

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Of course, there are situations when you don’t have too many exercises to do; geography doesn’t have as many practical applications as physics. You can still train yourself by thinking of questions and trying to answer. Creating questions that cover all the information you have to know is important too. When you can do that and you can give the answer too you’re ready to pass the exam; you can concentrate on other subjects from now on.

Oh lord it’s a dogs life
Oh lord it’s a dogs life dogs life
I’m feeling Kinda Irie
It’s bubbling inside me
Straight up it’s a dogs life
~Kottonmouth kings~

Dogs seem to be the perfect animals for every family so maybe it’s time to bring one to your home too! By simply following a few pieces of advice you will get a perfect companion for you and the ones you love.

A specialist can give you the best information you need about certain breeds and can help you make the best choice without being subjective as dog breeders can prove to be. You can also find out about what diseases the breed is most likely to have, and how to prevent and protect against them.

Are you or is someone else home frequently enough to feed, walk and take care of the pet? That’s not even half of it - a dog needs to feel loved and wanted, and they’re really dependent on their feelings. Also, think if the animal has enough place to run, and do all those things that if absent, make the dog unhappy.

If there are small children in your home, choose a breed that is known to be fond of children preferably not a very large one. Check for allergies, aggressivity, among others. Also, a surprise puppy can be just fantastic, the best present in the world! But if somebody is allergic, or doesn’t like puppies… wouldn’t be that much of a surprise

It’s rural or urban, a large house with a huge yard or just a small flat? Think about the animal’s needs. A Chihuahua or a Yorkshire terrier might feel just fine in your flat while a larger dog could have serious problems related to space. Also, if you’re thinking about some larger breeds, a yard or a place to run is a must.

Dog owners can also offer very good information so ask a friend who can also recommend you a type of dog to fit your personality and lifestyle. Despite what you may think, it’s quite reliable. There is a huge amount of great websites which can be very useful. Here’s just one - finding them is really easy.

Don’t forget the fact that all dogs can prove to be great friends no matter what their origins are! If you’re doing this for your kid, it is probably better not to go for a pure breed. Ponder your needs. If you want a purebred puppy ask for details about the parents and about any genetic diseases that occurred throughout generations! Also think about whether you want an adult dog or a puppy. Many dogs were abandoned so adopting a puppy may mean saving a life!

If you take a dog, and later decide that you can’t take care of the animal, or just don’t want a pet, you’ll do great and unnnecessary damage. Remember, it’s not fair to take an animal and then just send it back because it didn’t work - you would be destroying a life! So think before making a decision and try to stick to it! This will be better for both you, and the dog.

And the reason for my confession is that I learn my lesson
And I really think you ought to know the truth
Because I lied and I cheated and I lied a little more
But after I did it I don’t know what I did it for
I admit that I have been a little immature

~Black Eyed Peas - Don’t lie~

I try to be as sincere as I can and I strongly believe that sincerity is the key for solving most of humanity’s problems. If only Adam hadn’t lied to God … or for the ones less religious, if only politicians wouldn’t lie so much!

VIA

But there are too many complicated situations to tell only the truth. You have to be diplomat, not to hurt the people you love or to get that raise that will allow you to buy a new shiny car. So we arrive to dr. House’s “Everybody lies” (you really should watch that show). Yes, but what’s the measure? When to tell the truth and when it’s safe to tell a lie? Another of my strong beliefs is that equilibrium brings us one step closer to happiness. In this case, it’s all about balance between truth and lie.

But you can’t say there’s only truth; there are big lies, lies, little lies, joking, truth, the big truth.

So let’s start with big lies - when do they appear and when they can be used? In very serious situations, let’s call them crisis scenarios, people tend to lie a lot. If you have a big financial problem you’re tempted to hide your situation. Same if you’re about to get a divorce or an abortion. Well, before taking a decision spend some time thinking - the lie will improve the present situation or will make it worse? Sure that if you have had bad luck you can find yourself with some important financial problems and if you’re going to admit this your situation will get worse, but the lie will have positive effects on long term too? Was it bad luck or you have a gambling problem? The most important thing, even when you’re lying to everyone else is to always be honest with yourself. If you’re in trouble, get some help!

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Next step is lies. In my opinion this is the most dangerous stage of lying. If you think a bit you’ll remember that when you were a teenager you used to lie to your parents. Sometimes it was necessary but generally … you did it because you were used to do it. Lying is addictive! If before saying a big lie you think a lot, in this stage the lies come naturally, almost as naturally as truth. There aren’t situation when lying is beneficial, so avoid this stage!

Then there are little lies .. so sweet little lies! If you want to go to a concert is safer to say to your parents that you’re going to sleepover at a friend. If you want to get some extra money to your salary it’s enough to compliment your boss. If you want to be alone just don’t answer the phone. In this category you find the omissions too. Generally, little lies are profitable but just don’t overdo it, addiction is bad!

Why did I said that joking is a degree of honesty? Because it’s easier to say the truth when you’re joking. Let’s face it, you tell a lie when you want to gain something or when you’re to embarrassed to say the truth. Well, here’s the space for joking. When you’re sure that your friend will make a fool out of himself/herself wearing that clothes it’s easier to say joyfully “my my, but today isn’t a party at the office. why did you get dressed like this?” . You can always find something funnier, I think my humor’s muse isn’t here now. Well, saying it funnier will save you from a fight and it’s nicer than saying “you really don’t look good in that”.

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And than there’s truth. I consider the truth the best stage of all. If you have the guts to say it always you’re going to be appreciated for your qualities. Of course that not everybody can accept the truth but the most people will accept it and will love you for being sincere. In relationships is better to use the truth even if you or your significant other will be hurt. It will hurt less than the lies and that’s the only way to remain together.

The last stage is the big truth. That’s a little more special; it’s not for everybody, but only for the people you care about. When you’re about to make some important decisions in your life, that is the moment to talk about big truths. You want to move away from the country? You want to start a business? It’s the moment to talk it over with a good friend in order to make sure that you make the right decisions. The big truths are only about you and your important changes in your life. Pick someone special to talk and say it. You’ll feel a strange relief.

P.S. I’ve got the impression that I talked more about lies than about truth. I was honest though…

I need another point of view
Someplace I’ve never seen
Keepin’ my eyes wide open
Goin’ where I’ve never been
So take me to the highway
Take me far from here.
~Doobie brothers~

Most travelers discover that the money they give on food may be a lot more than they would have expected. However, these expenses can be easily reduced with a little experience and by following some simple steps.
1. Get to know your destination very well before actually taking a decision. Only in very expensive regions it worth taking food from home.
2. Bring nutritive drinks and multivitamins with you as a supplement for a poor diet. They will help you a lot, don’t take very much space and will give you more energy.
3. Bring your favorite condiments to add them on the food you buy from a store in order to make it tastier and to feel more like home.
4. Ask the locals about the places where they eat in order to get the best information.
5. See what the locals eat. It may be cheap, nutritious and tasty. You can’t know what you may discover!
6. Buy from the same places locals do. Moreover, a visit in market or a bazaar can prove to be a really interesting experience. Bargains are also a positive aspect as they can help you spend less and also improve your persuasion qualities.
7. Be very well informed about the currency exchange! If you’re not very good at Maths, just grab a piece of paper and calculate!
8. Check the prices on the menu before picking a restaurant. Do not let an owner or a host force you to stay there if you think it is too expensive!
9. Choose hotels that offer a breakfast too! This way you will be able to save some money and even to keep some food for later if possible.
10. Bring food for at least a meal in a long trip. This way you will have an alternative to an expensive meal!

MORE ADVICE:

-Bring food, not packages. Bottles and cans can prove to be heavy so choose instead peanut butter and buy fruits and bread on your way. A knife, A fork and a big cup should be enough!
-Take the condiments you want in small bags you can find on fast-foods: salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard etc. Also take tea, instant coffee and hand wipes.
-Ask a bus driver or a salesman about places to eat instead of a receptionist who may recommend you expensive places which may not be really authentic.

And now all you need to do is to take your bag and to go! You will certainly have more money to have fun!