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! Although fall hasn't quite arrived here in Georgia, school is back in session and we're already feeling the heat of over a hundred degrees. It's the perfect time to start thinking about winter break trips! In fact, many people have already taken advantage of early discounts and secured their trips to popular destinations like Disney and Universal for Fall break. Winter break trips are going fast, with resorts still trying to make up for lost revenue due to the pandemic. While there are still some affordable options, hidden costs can quickly add up and take away from your vacation experience.
Traveling to Walt Disney World can be a dream come true for many families. From character meet-and-greets to thrilling rides and fireworks shows, it’s no surprise that millions of people worldwide visit this magical destination each year. With so much to see and do, planning a Walt Disney World vacation can be overwhelming. There is a lot to consider, from choosing the right accommodations and restaurants to navigating the theme parks. This is why paying for the services of a travel professional to plan a Disney vacation is the best option for families who want to make the most of their trip.  Trains, Plains, and ... Boats?Getting from your resort to the parks is a breeze at Universal. Their motto has always been you are never more than five minutes away from the fun when you stay on property, However, with the new Endless Summer Resorts --that changed to you are only minutes away from the fun. Because, the ride from Endless summer can be a whopping 7 minutes at times! Seriously , you are staying IN the fun!  Water taxi at City Walk A Disney vacation is an investment and no matter what your budget, it is important to me that you get the BEST VALUE for your vacation dollars. Here are some of my favorite tips for saving money in the theme parks.  One of my favorite ways to save a little money (and time) is to have a few essential items delivered to my resort hotel. Grocery delivery has become extremely popular at the Disney resorts and the number of options has exploded. In this blog, I walk you through your options and some of my favorite items to order.  Oftentimes families ask me to find the very best discount or promotion for their Walt Disney World trip. Completely understandable, we all want to be sure we are spending our Disney vacation dollars wisely. After we’ve found the best price for your vacation package, there are several other ways to save a little money - perfect for putting towards some fun souvenirs, Mickey ice cream bars, and special treats - like dessert parties or VIP Tours. That is why I love to share some of the perks you receive if you open a Disney Visa Credit Card. It can be a great way to save some money on your trip if you can pay the balance right away and not accumulate interest charges.  You are investing a lot into your Walt Disney World vacation. As your travel advisor, I’m always excited to help you find ways to save money, time, and energy. Disney World is full of surprises and magic, but when you factor in the cost of your hotel room, theme park tickets, food, souvenirs, and more, your dream vacation can become expensive. The good news is there are several ways to save money. Instead of scouring the internet for these savings tricks, I'll spare you the time and energy and share a few of my favorite ideas with you. Plus, I will show you the secrets of how to find Disney Gift Card discounts by scoring valuable cash-back and reward points at retailers, grocery stores, office supply stores, and more.  |
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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