Frugal Travel Hacks for Your Summer Vacation

Many people are taking road trips in July and August for their summer vacation. Unfortunately, their travel plans are coming at a time when food and gas prices have been steadily rising. 

Everyone wants to get as much value as possible for their travel budget and not overpay for goods and services. The following ideas are like items on a menu in a New Jersey diner. There are a lot of money-saving options to select from so pick those that best fit your lifestyle.

Food and Beverages

Eat Out Sparingly- Try to eat only one meal a day at a restaurant, if possible. Pack foods such as granola bars, dried fruits, peanut butter, muffins, and canned juices for breakfast, or select hotels that include a free continental breakfast. Many hotels offer perks (e.g., free breakfast and swimming pools) to attract visitors.

Keep Food Cool- Pack food in a cooler (or buy it when you arrive at a destination) and stay at hotels with a refrigerator and/or microwave oven in the room. This lets you save leftover food from a restaurant or order take-out food rather than a sit-down meal. Pack some re-sealable food storage bags or plastic containers.

Rethink Restaurant Drinks- Consider sticking with complimentary water at restaurants because beverages add to the cost of eating out. If someone skips 208 glasses of soda (four a week) at $3 each- or 104 beers or glasses of wine (2 a week) at $6 each- that’s $624 in annual savings.

Bring Your Own Beverages- Space permitting, bring your own beverages on a road trip. Examples: bottled water, soda, and low-cost wines available at Trader Joe’s and Aldi supermarkets. Another way to spend less on wine and soft drinks is to “stretch” them with a large cup of ice so they last longer and you can buy less. 

Split an Order- Consider sharing an entrée- but check first to see if there is an additional “plate charge” for shared meals. Appetizers and desserts are also great for sharing. Instead of individual desserts at a restaurant, buy a dessert item (e.g., cake or pie) at a supermarket to enjoy afterward.

Eat Out for Lunch- When you eat out, consider going to restaurants at lunchtime, rather than dinner, because the cost is generally less. You might also consider combining lunch and dinner into one meal by having a late afternoon “linner.” Lunch menu meals- and lower prices- are generally in effect until around 3 pm.

Gas

Find Cheap Gas- Gas prices vary from state to state and even within the same town! Gas stations close to major highways often charge more than others…because they can. Use a gas app like GasBuddy and Waze to find the cheapest source of gas where you need it.

Join a Fuel Rewards Program- Sign up for a fuel rewards program at a supermarket or warehouse club and accumulate points to earn free or reduced price gas. When you have earned enough points for a reward, cash in your points to save money.

Check Tire Pressure- All the travel experts agree that underinflated tires decrease gas mileage. Many gas stations have inexpensive “do it yourself” machines where users can check their tire air pressure and inflate tires that need air.

Travel Close to Home- If money is tight, become a “local tourist.” Visit local historical sites or state/federal parks and learn more about where you live. Plan “daycations” (inexpensive one-day trips) and “staycations” (experiences at or near home) in lieu of travel to distant areas. 

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Strategies to Inspire a More Beautiful World

 

I recently had the pleasure of delivering the keynote presentation for the Spring 2026 meeting of the Florida Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (FAFCS). The title was Inspiring a More Beautiful World: 10 Impact Strategies. Below are some highlights from my presentation:

Show Kindness and Gratitude- Small interactions make a big difference! Make a point to recognize people and thank them for what they do. Also, smiles are infectious. When you smile, positivity is reflected on others. Smile and make eye contact with people 10 feet away and add a verbal greeting when you are 5 feet away.

Inspire Others Through Storytelling- Stories build an emotional connection to people vs. just telling them facts and statistics. They make messages memorable and stories of perseverance inspire hope. Be sure to include details about the “messy middle;” i.e., struggles and obstacles overcome before a successful outcome.

Focus on Solutions- In a time when there is so much chaos and confusion, train your brain to look beyond problems and ask, “what can I do to help?” Then focus on workarounds. Clearly define “pain points” and break problems into small process steps. Next, brainstorm solutions and evaluate and implement viable options.

Be an Early Adopter- Gain new knowledge and learn new skills early on for personal and professional growth and to teach and inspire others. Then share your knowledge freely. A personal example of mine is AI. I started using AI platforms in early 2023 and have made a almost a dozen presentations about AI to teach others.

Be a Mentor and Role Model- Mentoring helps mentees develop their abilities by transferring a mentor’s knowledge/experience. Both parties learn from each other and mentoring often creates long-term relationships beyond its initial purpose (e.g., getting tenure). Role modeling occurs naturally as people watch others.

Work Out Loud- As outlined in the book Working Out Loud by John Stepper, this technique involves openly describing your ideas, work projects, and progress on projects via social media. Working out loud increases visibility, positions you as a thought leader, encourages collaboration, and creates new opportunities.

Work Collaboratively- Working with others increases impact in several ways: diverse perspectives, improved problem-solving and innovation (more minds focusing on an issue), a “divide and conquer” approach for big projects, resource sharing (e.g., skills, technology, funding), and accountability (people counting on each other).

Volunteer Your Time and Talents- Studies show that volunteerism provides learning opportunities, creates a sense of purpose, reduces stress, and increases overall happiness. It also helps non-profit organizations and the clients they serve. For example, I volunteer at a thrift shop that is run by a local hospice organization.

Practice Charitable Gifting- Donating money or goods supports causes that help others or improve society. It connects a person’s generosity with meaningful outcomes which increases personal happiness. Ways to donate include cash contributions, donor advised funds, and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs).

Build Financial Stability- When basic needs are covered, along with savings for future financial goals (e.g., retirement), people have more time, mental bandwidth, and resources to help others through donations, mentoring, or volunteering. Financial resources amplify impact!

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

 

Second Quarter Summary of Webinar Take-Aways

 

We are almost halfway through 2026 and it’s time for another quarterly summary of takeaways from webinars, podcasts, and classes that I have recently attended. Below are nine nuggets that stood out to me as I reviewed notes taken in my personal learning journal:

The Importance of Tax Planning- Reasons include 1. Paying taxes at lower rates because the U.S. has a progressive tax system, 2. The tax code is full of traps (e.g., marriage penalty, NIIT, IRMAA, AMT, kiddie tax, widow’s penalty), and 3. Different parts of the tax code need to be coordinated.

 

RMD Withdrawals- Reducing future RMDs can help avoid being forced into a higher tax bracket. For example, make Roth conversions in your 60s if already retired and your income is lower. Some people, however, may not be able to avoid the high tax rates associated with a large RMD.

 

IRMAA- The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, an extra surcharge added to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income beneficiaries, is not a lifetime sentence. Every year there is a reset. Use form SSA-44 to request a smaller premium due to a life event (e.g., widowhood).

 

Investment Risk- There is no such thing as a “free lunch” in life or investing. In addition, there is no perfect investment (high return, risk-free, and tax-free). Volatility (how much the price of an investment rises and falls over time) is the “cost of admission” for investing.

 

OBBBA Tax Law- There is confusion regarding “no tax on Social Security” and the new senior tax deduction. Social Security IS still taxed and the senior tax deduction is age-based (65+) and income-based (phase-outs apply) and has nothing to do with receiving Social Security. New child savings accounts roll out in July with $1,000 of government seed money for children born from 2025-2028.

 

Financial Education Impact- The best time for financial literacy classes is 11^th grade. Students are interested in financial topics by then but don’t have distracting “senioritis.” Financial education allows students to mess up in a “fake world” (e.g., case studies) to avoid mistakes in the real world.

 

Limiting Beliefs- Far too many people quit far too soon, instead of persisting, due to self-limiting beliefs. They tell themselves they are not capable and don’t even try. The #1 determinant of whether people reach their goals is whether they quit. Break big goals into small achievable steps.

 

Retirement Risks- Key risks facing older adults are running out of money in retirement, the effects of inflation, market volatility and sequence of returns risk (retiring into a down market), longevity risk (living longer than you think), increasing health care expenses, and the cost of long-term care.

 

Late Retirement Savers- The biggest “catch-up” lever for late starters is their savings rate. It takes about 10 to 15 years of aggressive saving to catch up (to typical 40-year savers) after a late starter “wakes up.” The average age of starting to save for retirement is 32. Late start savers and FIRE (financial independence, retire early) proponents have a similar savings timeline.

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

 

Long-Term Care Need to Knows

 

I recently attended both a seminar and a webinar about long-term care (LTC) planning. Below are nine key take-aways from these presentations:

LTC Definition- A range of medical and personal care services required due to illness, disability, and dementia when people cannot perform activities of daily living like eating and bathing. About 70% of people age 65+ are expected to need some form of LTC at least once during their lifetime.

 

Not Just for Old People- Over a third (37%) of all people receiving LTC in the U.S. are adults under the age of 65. Reasons include traumatic injuries, severe disabilities and autism, and chronic illnesses. LTC typically does not include treatment of the underlying illness or injury.

 

Benefits of LTC Planning- More time to research options (e.g., assisted living or skilled nursing), more flexibility to choose a preferred type of care (vs. decisions during a health care crisis), an opportunity to prepare financially for the cost of LTC, and time to inform and involve loved ones.

 

LTC Settings- The three primary settings where LTC takes place are in a patient’s home (e.g., visiting health aides), in the community (e.g., adult day care), and in a facility (e.g., assisted living, memory care, nursing home, and continuing care retirement community).

 

Nursing Home Length of Stay- The average nursing home stay is three years and, for patients with dementia, seven years. Medicaid is the primary payer for over 60% of all nursing home residents. Many start by paying out-of-pocket and transition to Medicaid once personal assets are depleted.

 

LTC Funding Options- Three primary funding sources are LTC insurance, personal and family resources, and Medicaid, for which patients must spend down to $2,000 to qualify. Medicare only pays for short-term care that is medically necessary.

 

LTC Insurance- LTC policies are a reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses paid. Popular policies sold today are hybrids that combine life insurance or an annuity product with LTC insurance. If only a portion of policy benefits are used for LTC, beneficiaries receive a guaranteed death benefit.

 

LTC Insurance Features- Three determinants of the cost of coverage are monthly benefit amount (maximum monthly reimbursement), the benefit period (maximum number of years of coverage), and the elimination period (length of time to pay out of pocket before benefits begin).

 

Impact on Caregivers- The average age of caregivers is 49 and most caregivers provide six or more hours of care per day. In addition to out-of-pocket caregiving costs, the impact of lost wages, Social Security benefits, and retirement savings when a caregiver leaves the workforce is substantial.

This post provides general personal finance information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Financial Planning Tips for College Graduates

 I was recently a panelist for an Experian #creditchat titled Graduation Season: Credit and Money Moves Every New Grad Should Make. Below are six questions that were asked and my responses:

What are financial moves that every new grad should prioritize as they get ready to graduate?

Build a starter emergency fund. Aim for $1,000 quickly and then 3–6 months of expenses over time. Also, track income and fixed and variable expenses and create a simple spending plan (budget). Third, make sure that you have health insurance through your parents policy, the healthcare Marketplace (Obamacare), or a new employer’s benefit package.

How can new grads start building credit responsibly if they have a limited credit history?

A secured credit card (where you put down a deposit to secure your own debt) is a good entry point.

After 6–12 months of on-time payments, ask to move from a secured to an unsecured credit card. Another strategy is making timely payments on a small “credit-builder” loan from a bank or credit union to help build a positive credit history.

What role does credit play in major life milestones for recent graduates?

Most landlords run a credit check to gauge a potential tenant’s repayment reliability. A strong credit score can mean easier approval. Electric, water, internet, and phone providers may also check credit and good credit can waive or reduce deposits. In many states, insurers use credit-based insurance scores to set rates for auto and renters insurance. Also, certain employers, especially in finance or roles involving money, may review an applicant’s credit report.

 

How should new grads create a realistic budget when transitioning from school to work?

Start with net income, not salary. Paychecks are reduced by taxes, health insurance, and other payroll deductions. Use a simple framework like 50/30/20 (needs/wants/savings & debt repayment) as a starting point. Plan for irregular expenses (e.g., insurance premiums) by setting aside 1/12 of the annual cost each month. Finally, treat savings (e.g., emergency fund, retirement contributions) like a bill and build it into you budget.

 

When evaluating job offers, what benefits really matter for a new grad’s financial future?

The salary for a job is important but benefits like 401(k) plan match and health insurance often have a larger long-term impact. Key benefits include retirement savings plan match, insurance (health, life, disability) benefits, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement. It is very beneficial financially to get free money (match), protect against risks (insurance), and invest in human capital (education).

 

What are some common financial mistakes new grads should watch out for?

Lifestyle inflation with a first “real” job, leading to bigger apartments, fancier cars, and frequent overspending. Also, carrying balances on credit cards and ignoring rapidly increasing high-interest outstanding debt balances. Finally, not contributing enough money to receive the maximum 401(k)/403(b)/TSP retirement saving plan match. This is like walking away from free money.

This post provides general personal finance or consumer decision-making information and does not address all the variables that apply to an individual’s unique situation. It does not endorse specific products or services and should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.