I am so glad to have been selected as one of the first bloggers for DC Military
Living. I hope to reach out to as many folks as I can and engage some followers
over the coming months. This article ran in last weeks Comprint publications on the bases in the DC area. Wanted to blog it so we have a starting point. The main topic that I hope to write about is how can
military families save here and there, cut some costs.  Everybody loves a great
deal - whether it's to get a bargain, tell a great story or make a few dollars.
Whether you are looking for good deals on everyday items or travel.

Let me tell you a little about myself...My name is Lisa Allen. I am married to a
retired Navy Commander (fighter kind of guy),  have worked in the travel
industry (my vocation and advocation) and love dogs, the bigger and more
"mixed," the better. Have you ever wondered why your airplane seat costs
significantly more (or less) than the folks sitting around you (I can help you
with that) and that may save you some money... I lived overseas in a place  
"far,far" away (hints to follow)...love,love,love to thrift no matter where I go
and I am pretty good at it. Just picked up a lighty used commercial grade food
processor for $20, new retail price $499. It needed a small part that cost $20
and its working perfectly :) The DC metro area has some great thrift shops' some
even with a daily military discount...my upcoming blog will introduce some of
those places. Are you shopping for airline tickets - are there best times to buy
or better ways to route yourself? A number of years ago I planned a trip to
Zimbabwe via London and the ticket price was quite high but I was determined to
afford it. So instead of buying one ticket all the way through, I bought two
separate tickets New York to London (tix one) and London to Harare, Zimbabwe
(ticket two) and saved more than a third of the price - the drawback? I had to
claim my bags in London and then recheck them onto Zimbabwe. Simple really! 

To keep you guessing and engaged in my blog,  here are my "far,far" away hints - 
Z land, ports galore, is the table set, wine anyone???, so long separated - can
anyone guess where in the world the military took me? Can't wait to see where you think! 
God Bless our troops all over the world, keep them safe and bring them home
soon. Talk to you real soon - Lisa