by Hope
We just passed through July. And the amount of Christmas movies that were available on TV and streaming services was insane. (No, I still don’t watch TV or have any streaming services, but my parents do and we put on movies for my mom almost daily.) So, of course, I started thinking holidays.
And with travel so expensive and me trying not to spend any money if at all possible…well, I got to planning and talking with the kiddos. And travel is booked!
We’ve got a busy fall…
- August – girls and I have Beauty’s bridal shower (I will travel to GA for a long weekend.)
- September (end of the month) – I will drive back to GA to stay and help with final wedding prep.
- October – everyone converges on GA for Beauty and Redwood’s (that’s what I’m going to call her fiance here) wedding
- November – Thanksgiving when we all have traditionally gone to Texas.
- December – Christmas when we have all traditionally been in Georgia at our home.
So much has changed. And is changing. It’s good.
Us at Thanksgiving in Texas last year.
The Holiday Travel
When I made the initial move to Texas, I told the kids that I would plan to be here for Thanksgiving, but didn’t know about Christmas. As I’ve hunkered down and gotten focused, I’ve decided that outside of the probably 2-ish week trip for Beauty’s wedding, I don’t plan to do any additional travel this fall.
The kids have all decided what their holiday plans are now, and we’ve booked most of the travel. (All with points, so far – yeah!)
- Beauty and Redwood are going to come to Texas for Thanksgiving. It will be his first time around the extended family for a holiday. (They travelled here last year and he met everyone, or most everyone.) They want to spend Christmas in their own home which I fully respect.
- The twins and Princess are going to come to Texas for Christmas. One twin was planning to come for Thanksgiving, but when he learned that his brother couldn’t come then, he switched so they could be together.
- Gymnast lives here in Texas so he will be here for both holidays.
All this travel is booked except for Princess as she won’t know her dates until she begins working in her permanent office later this month.
My dad got Beauty and Redwood’s flights using points and I got the twins’ Christmas flights with points. To keep the holiday flights as economical as possible, we avoided heavily travelled dates and booked return flights on holidays.
We will figure Princess’ out when we get dates. But my flight points are completely depleted now.
Total we spent $11.20 on each child’s ticket for a total of $44.80 for all 4 to travel to and from Texas.
Now I call that a win-win! Excited to see all my kids…a couple of times this fall.
Are you already thinking of your holiday plans?
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
So, what do you think ?