by Hope
Gymnast flew to Texas on Saturday. I escorted him to security to see him off. While he is well-versed at flying alone now, I went in because every time he leaves it just tears me apart. And I wanted to cherish every moment with him.
But it was quite a shock to see the Atlanta airport and parking lots so empty. And to see all the people in their masks.
Before we would have needed to be at the airport at least 2 hours before his flight. Going through Atlanta airport could take an hour in and of itself. But this weekend…there was no wait. He walked right through.
Oh, and you know how expensive airports typically are, especially the gift shops with souvenirs and such? Well, the souvenir shop right outside the security gates had tables of merchandise for $4-5, I’ve never seen that.
Gymnast reported that there were only about 50 people on his direct flight.
Our world sure is changing.
Summer Travel Plans
Princess and I (and possibly our new foster child) will be heading to Texas sometime toward the end of June. I am trying to workout whether we will use our remaining American Airline credits or drive. It’s really hard to decide what the right move is right now with the uncertainty of the virus. (If we didn’t have the American Airline credits, I wouldn’t even consider flying as it is far more economical to drive when there are 3+ people traveling.)
We are going in order to 1) see my parents and 2) to bring Gymnast back to Georgia. Thankfully, I will be able to maintain my work throughout the trip. And Princess will be able to keep up with the 3 college classes she is taking because they are all online.
This was not how the summer was supposed to go. I hadn’t planned to travel this summer. Princess was supposed to have gone to see her grandparents over spring break. And Gymnast visitation is all off because of the pandemic.
But this is how it is and for a lot of personal reasons more than financial. So now I have to make the best decision I can for travel with way too many variables that could change everything.
Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.
What does making dumb decisions about travel have to do with debt?
it’s like a double whammy – putting your kid on a plane during a pandemic…to see elderly parents..smh
This whole post was a mess. In one sentence she talks about the uncertainty of this virus and in the next she’s talking about going to visit her elderly parents. Smh. Even with just 50 people in the flight, her son could’ve gotten something and now be exposing her parents to it. I stopped trying to understand Hope’s reasoning long ago. She’s going to do what she wants and either try to defend her mistakes or ignore the point she can’t touch.
Safe travels to Gymnast! Hope have you sent off at least $600 to student debt this month? I’m obviously hoping yes because I really want to see your student loans down below $30,000 by year end. Is there anyway you can provide us with a monthly update that says that you paid the $250 to your car and “x” amount to your student loans? It’s really hard when things get stressful to stay on budget. I think setting a date each month(towards the end naturally) to be accountable for what you have or haven’t sent could help keep you on track. It can’t be fun to have us scold you. For example, a May debt update on May 31 could talk to us about Princess ‘ job but also say May update: $250 budgeted amount to car and $600 sent for student loans. June update In Texas June 30: $250 to car $600 to student loans. I’m not gonna lie I’m a little worried about that car loan, $250 a month sounds like you are only paying interest on the car and that by year end. However, I am hopeful you can make progress on the student loans if you just push yourself.
You put so much thought and effort into your comments Cwaltz. I’m afraid you care more about Hope’s debt than she does
Anonymous….why not post some sort of name? To me anonymous posts have no value.
Does “Rose” make you any less anonymous?
I think flowers have no value on a blog about debt. Don’t you have some fertilizer to wallow in?
lol, thank you Vicky!
In fact, I paid $1,000 towards my student loan this month! More on that in my next post.
And yes, I will try to do better at full debt posts.
Good job! That’s $900 towards your principle. See if you can challenge yourself to find an extra hundred by the end of the month for the full $1000 off of your debt for bonus points. 🙂
Nice work on the $1000! That must have felt awesome. I’m looking forward to you debt update post too.
Nice read indeed. Covid-19 ain’t going away any soon. We are all learning to live with it. It surely has turned all of our lives upside down. Major speedbreaker it was!
I’m going to play devil’s advocate a bit. What happens a year from now if the virus is still here and her mother’s health has deteriorated to the point where she no longer is able to even recognize her grandkids? Does Hope get to live with regret that her kids missed valuable time with her family? I think Hope is doing the best she can with her circumstances and taking a calculated risk(one that she hopefully is not repeating over and over thereby increasing the probability of a negative outcome that she also would have to live with.)
As Jane says below ,at some point we have to acknowledge the virus exists and then live with it.
Thank you for understanding that aspect of this “travel” challenge.
A new foster child?
A family member I think Hope said.
Yes, one that will not be discussed here or anywhere. Just wanted all to know there is yet another member of our household…
I forget- does Hope’s mother have dementia? My 2 grands live across the country in San Fran. I doubt if I see them this year. Son-in-law has just been told to work from home until after the first of the year. None of us will be flying or driving long distances.
Yes, my mom has Parkinson’s and Dementia. And I conferenced with all 4 of my siblings and dad before deciding on the best course of action for visiting or not visiting, flying or driving, etc.
My mom calls me every couple of days begging to see us…which I know is part of her disease and part isolation.