How Your Kids Can Make Travel Magic Happen!Hey again! Remember how Peter Pan had a little helper sprinkling pixie dust to make dreams come true? Well, I've got some enchanting news for you. Your very own fairy helpers are probably running around your house right now. Yes, I'm talking about your kids! In my previous chat with you, we unlocked one of the best-kept secrets to planning your vacations – opening up a dedicated savings account. If you haven't read it yet, go back and have a look; it's packed with handy tips that'll help you create a budget and kick-start your vacation savings in no time. Now, let's talk about how to fill up that savings account, despite the whirlwind of family life and with no side hustle in sight. Ready for it? Bring the kids on board!  Saving Money in a Piggy Bank!
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Your Roadmap to Adventure PlanningHello again, Ever caught yourself daydreaming about your next adventure but felt your wallet holding you back? Guess what? You're not alone. Better still, I have the perfect roadmap to navigate these financial crossroads while keeping your travel dreams alive. Any financial guru worth their salt will tell you - it all begins with a good budget. Now, before you run a mile, hear me out. Budgeting doesn’t have to be as scary as scaling Everest Let's break it down:  Step one: Kick off with calculating your income. If you have a steady salary, it's a breeze. For those with a variable income, like yours truly, working with estimates or averages will be your go-to strategy. Step two: It's time to get up close and personal with your fixed and variable expenses. My preference is a biweekly budget, but if going month-to-month works for you, that’s wonderful. Start your budget journey by rounding up your fixed expenses, like your mortgage or rent, phone and utility bills, car payments, and minimum debt repayments. Once you've got a handle on this, it's time to subtract these figures from your income. What you’re left with is your pot for variable expenses! This part’s a bit of guesswork, but you've got this! Estimate your variable expenses, such as groceries, fuel, recreational costs, kids' activities, and of course, pet pampering. Review this at the end of each month or pay period to understand your spending patterns. Step three: Achieve a zero balance on your budget. This is where the magic happens. If you’ve got loose change left after all your expenses are covered, it's time to pile it into your savings or further reduce your debt. In the world of finance, we call this the zero-based budgeting method. If you already have a smooth-running budget mechanism, that's fabulous! Just tie in your savings goal to your current budget and designate an amount every month (or biweekly) towards your 'Shine under the Disney fireworks fund.' Remember, savings and debt pay-offs should be at the top of your plan.  But, wait, there's more! Let's supercharge that vacation fund with these savvy tips: Tip #1: If you’ve just cleared a payment obligation, like a car loan or credit card, reign in the urge to breathe easy. Instead, redirect that same payment toward your vacation savings account. It's like you're paying yourself for all the fun awaiting! Tip #2: To keep the vacation savings untapped, set up a dedicated account and schedule automatic transfers. I highly recommend opening a high-yield savings account where your money does some additional heavy lifting. Look at banks like Ally, Capital One 360, or Dollar Savings Direct for easy set-up. Tip #3: Declare all "surprise" money as dedicated vacation fund boosters. Think tax refunds, work bonuses, mystery checks, and even that $10 bill you found inside your winter coat! Make all these unexpected treasures part of your vacation fund. Now here's the ultimate hack to saving big on your trip: Commit to it NOW! It's no secret that as time passes, prices skyrocket. So why stall when we can start planning your dream vacation right away.
Start by scheduling a call with yours truly. Let's embark on the journey to making your travel dreams come true, one budget plan at a time! Dreaming alongside you! Hello again, If I could let you in on a secret that could potentially amplify your happiness and rejuvenate your life, would you be interested? Well, here it is: vacations! Surprised? Let's delve a little deeper.  Hey there, Here we are, waltzing into February, and I've got something really close to my heart that I want to chat with you about. Yes, it's time to blend dreams with plans, and who doesn't get a little thrill from that thought as we step further into the New Year? There's something almost magical about a brand-new year unfolding before us, don't you think? It's like being handed a fresh, unwritten book filled with possibilities and adventures waiting to be discovered. So, what story are we going to write on those pages for 2024?  Navigating Disney World and Universal Orlando with a Special Needs ChildIndulge in the magic of Disney World and the cinematic wonders of Universal Orlando with your specially-abled loved ones. Join us as we uncover the fourth installment in our series—providing you with effective tips for navigating theme parks smoothly. If you wish to see our previous sagas of general travel wisdom, pre-trip planning, and en-route meltdown solutions, be sure to uncover them in our earlier blog posts. I can't believe it's been a whole two months since my last blog post! After over a year of clockwork weekly updates, I've been MIA – and I can't blame it on my age! Life simply picked up pace and took an unexpected detour. My sincerest thanks for your patience during my hiatus. In this errant interval, my son's team clinched a silver medal at the Georgia State Special Olympic Softball games, and our family embarked on a magical expedition to Universal Studios, marking our youngest granddaughters' entrée into the whimsical universe of Harry Potter. The pace of these past few months has gifted me with hindsight - to treasure the small yet significant moments. Witnessing my son's teammates rally each other, exhibit empathy when faced with a harsh call for their opponent, and channel an indomitable spirit despite a hard-earned defeat in the finale showed me the incredible young men they're evolving into. Their special needs didn’t outshine their special spirits - they reminded us grown-ups how things should be done! The wholesome joy in my 8-year-old granddaughter's eyes as she 'cast' her first spell, "out-magicking" her older sister was a sight to behold. The ensuing protectiveness over her wand, as if guarding a treasure, and the endless wonderment she displayed at every sight was invaluable. My 10-year-old granddaughter, a voracious reader, walked through the corridors of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in awe and surpassed even her own imagination. She found the nuances that the movies missed and the books harbored, and it was an enchanting moment I hold dear. These are memories I'll cherish always. As I age, and my vision becomes hazier, such experiences gain more depth and color. They're reminders of the brilliance of life and our world, gifts that should never be taken for granted. These golden moments, the essence of our travels, outweigh any souvenir. Traveling is, after all, about cherishing the unique nuances that bind and distinguish us, not just a hunt for the best souvenir. You're probably wondering, "How do I go about it?" The secret lies in nurturing a habit of gratitude. Some take to journaling, others seek out and savor the moments that make us human and celebrate our unique differences. After all, isn't that the essence of why we travelt? To explore the unfamiliar, to appreciate varying cultures, and to uncover the beautiful paradox of how our diverse natures bring us closer together?
As we gear up for the holiday season, I extend a heartfelt 'Thank You' to my clients, family, and friends who've unwaveringly stood by me! On the horizon, we have a rare journey to Dollywood – a trip 9 years in the making – and I can’t wait to see the changes it holds for our evolving family. Looking into next year, the goal is to try to cruise more and continue our journey of discovery. I invite you all to tag along for the spectacle! And feel free to chime in with your suggested destinations for our next expedition! |
AuthorMost of the content is written by people at JMorris Travel. Every once in a while we will have a guest blogger, usually it is part of our 'family'.Always with a nod to Family Travel! Archives
January 2024
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