A let’s get real look at budgeting for travel

Travel

It’s no surprise that I read a lot of travel blogs and skim more than my fair share of travel IG accounts. Waking up to a few snaps from Japan or Egypt is a great reminder of what is to come, travel is always something to look forward to. Often, usually in the form of a meme, I get overwhelmed by bad travel advice – particularly of the financial variety. A lot of travelers like to say anyone can afford it – they just need to budget properly. This always reminds me of when my mother tried to return a candle that wouldn’t burn and they told her it was because she didn’t “hug it” (they meant fold in the wax but still). Basically it is always your fault. You did something wrong. If you spend enough hours on YouTube you’ll see people make the same declarations about $8,000 pocketbooks. The fact is you can’t take a $2000 vacation if you don’t have $2000. You also don’t have $2000 if you have zero savings, are late on rent, and haven’t saved a cent for retirement. It’s the Suze Orman buzzkill moment that goes against everything your newsfeed is telling you. So how do you afford it?
First things first is full financial honesty. Set goals that include retirement and emergency funds, cover your expenses. Plan your travel budget last – this coffer can be filled and empties at your whimsy. The Eiffel Tour will be there later unless the French order its immediate removal (I think they’ve grown fond). In the end your need for travel will never outweigh your need for good credit.
Make a travel bucket list.

The Maldives are sinking, so is Venice. The glaciers are melting. Things do disappear. A few years ago I read a travel diary about Egypt and realized my ultimate destination was gone, I didn’t want to go to Egypt now I wanted to go in 1960 when the hanging gardens still bloomed and lesser temples were open and empty during the day. This is still on my list (what’s not?) but it was lowered a notch or two. The Maldives is pretty high on my list because it may not be around long. 
Next up are places that take a lot of energy. Machu Pichu is hike hike hike so I’d better be able to. My friend booked a scuba diving trip because her inner ear troubles were getting worse.
Next are places that are expensive. I’m not takin a trek through Africa with someone I found on Craigslist I want a legitimate agency and I don’t want a hostel when I’m so far from home. The expense and effort can sometimes blend at this point but best case scenario we get super rich in the future!
Retirement can be an endless boat cruise. One couple I know retired and spent a year cruise-hopping around the globe. Easy living.
Now that you have a hard- core plan and maybe a few scrapbooks filled with dream hotels and meals it’s time to save. Saving money is so boring and I’ve read a few blogs on “making it fun!” But no it’s boring. The are the obvious concessions – don’t go to movies, cook your own dinner, forget you’ve ever heard the word Starbucks. Obviously the IG approved LV luggage is out of the question. Some blogs say stop giving gifts – and this is legitimate advice for people in debt – but I disagree. Personal gifts can be very important to others and they will notice if you always put your goals above theirs. My friends and I travel together so we don’t do gifts – we go out to dinner and put the rest towards a trip. More and more people are skipping Christmas gifts in order to take a family trip instead. My friends and I also make group decisions about going to restaurants or movies. Either the entire group has to want to spend the money or it has to be extremely important to one person. There is a balance between saving money off frivolous expense and joining people you care about doing something they love.
Get a second job. There was a really depressing article a few months ago about how having two jobs is the new standard. I had four jobs at the time and wasn’t thrilled at the news. If your career or hobbies lend to a second job (graphic design, baby sitting, tutoring, bartending, coaching a sport) you can get a five month gig and then take a trip off your earnings!
Another tip is to stop dating and die alone. Ok this is drastic (and dark) but dating is expensive! So is a wedding, having kids, buying a house. These goals often seem like emotional choices but they are also financial so don’t forget to save up and don’t get bullied into blowing all you money on travel “because it’s what really makes you rich”. People matter too.

#mystyleinfive

Loved this tag from ShopSRJ and done by Trina Leavers and HaveLouisWillTravel so I thought I’d give it a whirl on this balmy NY morning (just kidding I keep my Popsicles on the porch now). 1. Who are your style icons: Bette Davis for makeup and the Downton cast although I suppose for everyday it’s Shay Mitchell. 2. Best style tips and advice? Choose a fitness idol with the same body type as you and wear what you like as long as you’re covered in all the legally mandated areas. 3. What was your style like as a teenager? Oh dear – California girl turned to normcore turned to Veronica Mars layered grunge 4. What type of outfit do you wear most? Dress and leggings 5. Who is your favorite designer? Alexander McQueen and Chloe… Oh and Rag&Bone… Oh and Balmain!

How to Prep Older Walls

If your dream house has character and charm it is most likely moe than five years old. And it is most likely full of not so charming problems. While every episode of Property Brothers goes over the internal problems that need professional attention there are plenty of cosmetic ones that add days to your prep work.

Yes, days.

I recently painted my room after a long lead up and I was excited to get into it but once I moved all the furniture out and took down the wallpaper I realized the walls were in terrible shape. So began nearly 72 hours of wall prep.

1. Wash the walls. You’ll be amazed at the grime and glue that will come up. Don’t use too much water, this is more like an exfoliation. The sponge will snag on uneven surfaces, clumps of dust won’t get in your paint, and you’ll get an idea where you need to spackle.

2. Sand down bumpy areas and scrape places the wallboard is peeling. You want to be very careful not to punch a hole in the board, the goal is just to stop the peeling. 

3. Spackle every hole and even out dips around bolts (these often settle and jutt out through the paint). You may need to even the areas you sanded as well depending on how bad your peeling was. 

4. Wash your walls again so your paint adheres well.

5. Keep these materials handy while you paint – you’ll probably find more holes and rough patches (particularly if you’ve ever had the room wallpapered).

These steps are a pain but once the paint goes up it will look much better. If the walls have serious problems (like holes) a painter or handyman can usually fix these for you. You can also cover some damage by choosing a light color in a matte that will hide damage. High gloss and eggshell will show off any wall damage.

Embrace a little “damage”. You have an older house with charm and this means some bolts will show like the house of Frankenstein. You can hide bolts behind art or furniture or you can leave it front and center as signifiers of age like the rings of a tree.

Covet: The Sun Moon and Stars… and Diamonds

Anita Ko captured the exact ethereal glam I want in my celestial wear...

Covet: Eco-art

These wood panel photographs are seriously brilliant. By printing your snaps onto wood instead of canvas you’re eco-friendly AND you have a unique way to carry out your woodsy boho decor!

Lust Vs. Must: Chloe Curved Choker

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the dupe-tastic world of Forever21? I fell in love with this collar ($8.90)

and felt extra stylish when I saw this little darling at Chloe… for $890

BTW – This is now on SALE! – – $6.23! – –

5 Things Tag

I can’t live without

1. my iPhone

2. lipstick – Kat Von D in Backstage Bambi Nars in dragon, YSL in 105, or Revlon matte stain

3. A good story on my TV or Kindle (or Audible)

4. comfortable boots

5. OPI polish in Onyx or 4am

Covet: A Panda in my Latte

PANDAS!

LATTES!

PANDAS IN LATTES?! THEY CAN BE YOURS!

This gadget makes foam pandas for your at-home dining pleasure. Need. Want. Love.

Study Abroad: Roommates

SA is all about travel… until it isn’t. After you’ve booked your destination it suddenly dawns on you that you won’t be taking this journey alone after all  – a few dozens strangers are going along with you and anyone who has ever seen the Real World knows what a disaster this can be. SA roommates are similar to freshman year floor mates, there’s a ton of them and you may not like any of them. Plan early.

While still at school have a mixer, be it dinner at the school cafe or a party at your place. Getting to know your new travel companions on a basic level will ease the nerves of SA and help you plan for once you get there. With a few people to talk to the airport departure won’t seem so scary. You’ll know the people, but not too well. Not enough to dread living with someone.

Once you get there beware early talks of weekend trips. The entire apartment may want to go to Spain together but one massive lost-in-Madrid fight and it makes for an awkward semester. People on SA love to plan impromptu trips with people they barely know. No matter what you will make new friends on this trip, if you make them slowly they may even last.

 

 

How to Dress like a Pro at the Airport

We’ve all seen the movies where the love sick guy breezes through security by telling the TSA agent his tale of heartfelt woe. This is probably the most far fetched rom-com creation, security lines at airports are a frenzy of stressed out fliers and no nonsense agents. We all want to be that cool kid flier, the one who looks like they do this for a living, and the key to that is stress control AND packing like a pro.

Before you leave for the airport

Decide early if a carry-on only situation will work for you. If you’re beauty products are over-sized, your stilettos look like weapons, and the bag weighs the same as you do – you’re going to have to check. Getting through security to be pulled out and sent back into the fray is the worst, it adds tons of stress to you and other guests and if its busy you can miss your flight entirely. If you refuse to check, then you need to go minimalist in a big way.

Compartmentalize. You will have your carry-on and your purse but within these 2 permitted items you need an easy way to access your things in security and mid-flight. Laptops and tablets will need to be scanned separately in security as will liquids so these should be in an outer pocket of your carry on. Ideally, you can fit your purse into your carry-on, for ease, but if not it doesn’t matter. Your purse will hold your wallet, ID, a pen (for customs cards), cash, iPod, book, medications you may need during flight. If it can hold a water bottle after you get to your gate, bonus. I don’t wear jewellery at airports but if you do bring a small zippered bag so you can stow these items before whatever kind of body scanner your airport has. Also be sure to have a designated and extremely easily accessible zippered pocket for your ID and ticket and baggage slip (more and more you need to show this after you get your checked bag) the last thing you want is to hastily put it down somewhere and loose it right before a flight.

The TSA follows a 3-1-1 rule:

3-1-1 for carry-ons. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less per container; must be in 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. The bag limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring.

Now that you’ve packed like a pro, what are you going to wear?!

1. Socks – you will need socks and socks and more socks. Don’t be that person holding their Loubs and squealing because the floor is ice cold and now you’ve probably contracted a fungus. Lots of people bring plastic foot covers, I always intend to but I usually can’t be bothered to put them on. Have a thin pair of socks to wear through security and then cover them with thick cozy socks for the plane. Planes are so cold!

2. Smart shoes – It’s so hard to decide if you should save suitcase space by wearing bulky shoes or if your should wear Uggs and make security easier. Most people choose the suitcase space. Try and avoid shoes that need to be laced, or simply don’t lace them. Really anything is fine as long as you remove the shoe early so as to not hold up the front of the line and then wait to get a seat on a bench before putting them on again.

3. Keep your outfit simple – layers will all need to be removed so try and fit that blanket scarf into your carry on. Minimalist chic is best for airports because your hands will somehow always be full even without trying to hold onto your fedora.

4. Pockets must be empty going through security so I never bother with them. My purse holds all of my essentials and when I get onto the airplane I remove my purse and blanket scarf from my carry-on, plop the carry-on above me and shove my purse under the seat. I have moisturizer, lip balm, tissues, an eye mask, ear plugs, Sudafed (painkillers et al medical), music, reading materials, and water all at my fingertips. Then I go to sleep and forget about all of my carry-on essentials because once that recycled air kicks in its like Nite-quill!