Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Hope

I was not expecting the backlash regarding my idea of cash flowing a family vacation in a couple of years…at all. In fact, I thought the forethought was a big step on my part.

While it’s certainly not a done deal. It is definitely something I want to consider and work towards…even if cruise isn’t the right idea or Princess graduation summer isn’t the right time.

Vacation Response Clarifications

But here are some clarifications in response to all the comments on my idea…

1. I was not anticipating paying for either the twins (in full at least) or their girlfriends (at all.) While I would like to be able to help or cover some part of the trip for each of them, this would be a family effort. They have both had steady girlfriends for 2 and 3 years respectively, and all of them work. With a year and a half notice to plan, they could certainly save the money for the trip. (Princess and Gymnast can be expected to contribute to savings although certainly not the whole cost of the trip.)
2. We have not all been together as a family for over 3 years now (there was a month overlap when History Buff moved home and before Gymnast moved to his dad’s in 2019, but that certainly wasn’t an easy or fun time for any of us.) So a fun family vacation will make it in 2021 will make it almost 5 years since we spent a holiday or trip all together.
3. While I am certainly open to other vacation ideas, I have no interest is just going somewhere else that I will have to cook and clean and feel like I should work or plan entertainment. A cruise eliminates all those needs…I cook ALL the time at home and when we visit my parents. It would not be a true vacation for me without a break from that.
4. I understand that cruises have lots of additional optional costs. But I also know that most of them would not apply to us/me. I don’t drink alcohol…ever. I don’t drink soda. And shore excursions are all optional, we could plan for one or two, or none at all. I would be perfectly content sitting by the pool with a book, taking dance lessons, nightly dinners with the family (that I don’t have to cook or clean,) putting together puzzles and sleeping. (I have been on 5 cruises in the last 16 years, beginning with my honeymoon, so feel that I can be quite confident in this assessment.)

Personal Attacks over Personal Finance

Now to address the personal criticisms…

• All over the place? You are right. I have certainly been all over the place, especially the past year. Gymnast leaving the home has rocked me to the core, made me question EVERYTHING about myself as a parent, as a provider and so much more. This is a personal finance blog, but there are a lot of things outside of the numbers on the sheet that come into play. And some very, very personal.
• No personal responsibility? Are you kidding? I have been the sole financial provider for a family of 5 for 12 years now in a world that pretty much requires dual income to live. This is not playing the victim or feeling sorry for myself, both of which I am definitely guilty of, but this is a statement of fact. But we have been through more than our fair share of hardships. And we are still here and we are thriving. I am VERY personally responsible for this…the good and the bad.
• A mess? Yes, sometimes. More often than I would like to admit, but I truly am trying to change that. I have been extremely introspective about a lot of things this past month, especially with the new year, new decade upon us.

I appreciate the commentors who recognize that personal finance is just that…personal and give me constructive feedback versus constantly criticizing every idea I have. I am committed to getting out of debt. But I also recognize very, very clearly that my time with my children is extremely limited…and making some good memories is very important to me.

Hope

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.

 

by Hope

I’ve been spending a lot of time this past month thinking about the future. And I’ve been working on plans for 2020 both financial and otherwise. But I’ve also been thinking beyond that…to Princess 2021 high school graduation and what that will mean overall.

And I’ve decided that I want to plan a family vacation for that summer, the summer of 2021. And by vacation, I do not mean a trip to my parents. I mean a trip that will create a lifetime of memories. I’ve always been someone that has loved the idea of a vacation. Just the feeling of being able to relax on the beach under the sun, or to explore an unknown city has always provided a sense of excitement to me. My only wish is that I could hire a private jet, with the help of a company like Jettly, to make the trip even better. This is something that I want to experience and I know it will come with time.

However, for now, my idea of a real vacation is a cruise. That’s what I’ve been thinking about doing, and it will be a celebration of the kids who live at home all graduating and saying goodbye to that phase of my life.

I figure if I plan it now, I can 1) cash flow it over the next year and half and 2) all the kids can plan accordingly. The twins will have to take off work and will most likely want their girlfriends to come. We will all have to get passports. (Sea Cadet has his, but History Buff has never had one and the littles and I will need to renew ours.)

I realize that chances of me being completely debt free at that point are slim to none with the car debt and student loan. But I think it would be worth it. Before Princess heads to college and who knows when we will all be together again.

Searching for a Cruise

So I figure the first step is to come up with a budget for the trip and then a monthly savings goal, right? We haven’t really had a real vacation in forever and the trips we have taken have been mostly bootstrapped. But this one, I want to be able to relax a bit.

I laid in bed the other night a did a random cruise search…and found one in February for $389, 8 nights. Crazy! I can’t wait until I am in a financial place to be able to just get up and go like that. Definitely a life after kid goal! But I don’t think we will find those kind of prices in the summer…

Any cruising experts here that want to give me tips for getting a good deal on summer cruises? Any other thoughts about good family vacations? (And yes, I am doing this now, so I can incorporate it into my 2020 budget starting immediately.)

Hope

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.