#home-free retirees world travel tips

[worldwidewaftageblog]

Years long world travel writers

https://www.worldwidewaftage.com/?s=Future+Travel+Plans

In the past, we’ve done a few get-togethers with readers at specific locations worldwide, but we haven’t planned anything lately. Sometime in the future, we may do this again, but there are no plans now. With the rising costs of restaurant food in the US, we have to hold off on such an event when now it could easily cost over $1000 to host such an event. Thanks for your kind inquiry, Diane!

[worldwidewi]

we’d made the outrageous decision to travel full-time, we searched online for travel tips that possibly could point us in the right direction, especially those applying to retirees. When many young people travel the world, even with children, they often stay in hostels, camp, rent or buy campers or caravans, and live very different lifestyles than we were seeking.

[lunaamorris]

Strategic Wealth Management Tips For A Stress-Free Retirement

Retirement should be a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor, but achieving a stress-free retirement requires thoughtful planning and strategic wealth management. By following some key wealth management tips, you can set yourself up for financial stability and peace of mind in your retirement years.

Here are some strategies to help you achieve that goal:

Start Planning Early

The earlier you begin planning for retirement, the better. Starting early allows you to take advantage of compound interest, which can significantly grow your retirement savings over time. Even if retirement feels far away, contributing regularly to retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs can make a world of difference down the line.

Set Clear Retirement Goals

Defining your retirement goals is essential for developing a focused strategy. Consider factors such as your desired lifestyle, the age at which you want to retire, and where you plan to live. Are you planning to travel, or will you downsize your home? These decisions will impact how much you need to save and how your wealth is managed.

Diversify Your Investments

A well-diversified portfolio is key to minimizing risk and ensuring steady growth in your retirement savings. Invest across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, to protect against market volatility. Regularly rebalance your portfolio to align with your evolving retirement timeline and risk tolerance. A diversified approach helps protect your savings from market swings and economic uncertainty.

Maximize Retirement Contributions

Contributing as much as possible to your retirement accounts is one of the most effective strategies for building a secure retirement. Take full advantage of any employer-sponsored 401(k) match programs and aim to contribute the maximum allowed by law. If possible, also invest in IRAs or Roth IRAs to further grow your retirement nest egg. These contributions not only build wealth but may also provide valuable tax benefits.

Plan for Healthcare Costs

Healthcare expenses can be a significant burden during retirement, especially as you age. It’s essential to plan for these costs by allocating part of your savings to health-related expenses. Consider long-term care insurance or other solutions to help cover the cost of nursing homes or home health care, should you need it. Also, familiarize yourself with Medicare and supplemental plans to reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Create a Withdrawal Strategy

Once you’re retired, managing your withdrawals becomes as important as accumulating savings. A strategic withdrawal plan ensures you don’t deplete your funds too quickly. One popular strategy is the "4% rule," which suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio each year. However, this may vary based on market conditions and your personal needs. Work with an advisor to determine the optimal withdrawal rate and timing for your situation.

Monitor and Adjust Your Plan Regularly

Wealth management for retirement isn’t a one-time task. Regularly review your retirement plan to ensure it’s on track. Adjustments may be necessary as your financial situation, goals, or market conditions change. Working with a financial advisor can help you navigate these adjustments and keep your strategy on course.

Consider Downsizing or Relocating

For many retirees, downsizing their home or relocating to an area with a lower cost of living can free up significant funds. This can be a great way to reduce living expenses while increasing your retirement savings or paying down debt. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of such a move, considering factors like lifestyle, healthcare access, and proximity to family.

Conclusion

Achieving a stress-free retirement requires careful, proactive wealth management. By starting early, setting clear goals, diversifying your investments, maximizing contributions, planning for healthcare, regularly adjusting your plan, and hiring an expert retirement investment advisor you can ensure financial security in retirement. The key is to approach your retirement strategy with intention and flexibility, making informed decisions that will provide lasting peace of mind as you enter this new phase of life.

[enterprisewired]

Secure Your Golden Years: Top Strategies for Building Reliable Retirement Income Sources

Ah, retirement. A time to finally relax, travel the world, and pursue your passions. But this idyllic picture requires careful planning, particularly when it comes to securing a reliable stream of income to support your desired lifestyle. Social Security alone might not be enough to cover all your expenses. So, how do you build robust retirement income sources?

This blog dives deep into various retirement income sources, helping you explore options and craft a personalized strategy for a secure and fulfilling retirement.

Understanding Your Retirement Needs

The first step is to understand your retirement needs. Consider your desired lifestyle – will you travel extensively, downsize your living situation, or pursue hobbies that require significant financial investment? Estimate your monthly expenses and factor in potential healthcare costs, which tend to rise with age. Once you have a clear picture of your needs, you can start exploring different income sources to bridge the gap between your expenses and Social Security benefits.

Traditional Retirement Income Sources

1. Social Security 

Social Security provides a foundation for most retirees. The exact benefit amount depends on your lifetime earnings and retirement age. You can estimate your benefits using the Social Security Administration’s online tool (https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/).

2. Pensions

While less common nowadays, traditional pensions provide a guaranteed monthly income for life after retirement. If you’re fortunate enough to have a pension plan through your employer, factor this into your retirement income calculations.

Building Your Nest Egg: Savings and Investments

A key strategy for a secure retirement is building a nest egg through savings and investments. Here are some popular options:

1. Employer-sponsored retirement plans: 

Many employers offer 401(k) plans, where you contribute pre-tax dollars, and some may even match your contributions. Take full advantage of these plans to maximize your retirement savings and benefit from employer matching programs.

2. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

IRAs offer tax advantages for retirement savings. Traditional IRAs allow pre-tax contributions with tax-deferred growth, while Roth IRAs offer tax-free withdrawals in retirement if you meet eligibility requirements.

3. Investment accounts

Consider investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds to grow your retirement savings. The ideal asset allocation depends on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and investment goals.

Additional Retirement Income Sources

Beyond traditional sources, explore these options for generating additional income in retirement:

1. Part-time work

Consider working part-time in retirement to supplement your income and stay engaged. This could be a flexible job you enjoy or a way to leverage your skills and experience.

2. Annuities

These insurance products provide a guaranteed stream of income in retirement in exchange for a lump sum investment or premium payments. There are different types of annuities, so carefully research and choose one that aligns with your needs.

3. Rental income

Owning rental properties can be a source of passive income in retirement. However, it also comes with responsibilities like managing property upkeep and finding tenants.

4. Reverse mortgages

These allow homeowners 62 and older to access a portion of their home equity as a stream of income or a lump sum while continuing to live in the home. Carefully consider the implications of reverse mortgages as they can impact your heirs’ inheritance.

Planning for a Secure Retirement

Here are some additional tips to secure your golden years:

1. Start saving early

The power of compound interest is significant. The earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow.

2. Develop a budget

Create a realistic retirement budget and track your spending habits to identify areas to adjust if necessary.

3. Review your plan regularly

Your retirement needs and financial situation might change over time. Regularly review your plan and adjust your strategies as needed.

4. Seek professional financial guidance

A financial advisor can help you create a personalized retirement plan based on your goals and risk tolerance.

Conclusion

Building secure retirement income sources takes planning and proactive management. By exploring different income sources, diversifying your investments, and starting early, you can create a financial foundation that allows you to enjoy your golden years without financial worries. Remember, retirement should be a time of relaxation and fulfillment. By taking charge of your financial future now, you can ensure a secure and happy retirement.

[monstersinthecosmos]

is it okay if I talk about cruises? lol

What's interesting about the world cruises is that the crew have very divisive feelings about them.

On one hand, the thing every crew member has in common is that they took this job like a fucking lunatic because on the inside they're adventurous people and love travel. The world cruises tend to hit some ports that aren't regularly visited, so it's a fun way to check some extra countries off the list and see some really cool places that we don't really see in our regular contracts very often, like going around North Africa and the Middle East, and going through the Suez Canal!

Long cruises tend to be really laid back, too, because the crew is less concerned about impressing the guests and being On 24/7. Gala nights get very boring. All the money making events and sales pitches get stagnant and everyone stops bothering.

So on the other hand, the longer a cruise is, the less money you make. :( Crews rely on the turnover--they want fresh faces to tip and they want to be able to sell things. You can't sell a photo package to the same people for nine months. You also can't have a good turnover in the shops--there are so many basic retail items that people buy because they forgot theirs at home. Hoodies! Sun block! Bottles of Pepto! That bottle is going to last a while! We will sell more hoodies if these people get off the ship and we can prey upon the next group! We can only sell so many hoodies to the same group of people for 9 months! The booze sales are even down because people are settling in to like, actually just live on a ship for 9 months, and aren't in vacation mode where it's permissible to get hammered every night.

And while there's some people who request world cruises for the travel, there are a huge number of crew members who really do need the money. There are recruiters in certain countries and you'll see lots of departments that employ almost entirely one nationality. And those are people for whom the exchange rate is EXCELLENT. They are making bank to send back home. They also tend to be departments that work really fucking hard and don't get as much time off and might not even get a chance to go out in port. There's definitely a microcosm within a ship crew of global economics and you can tell apart the privileged folks who are okay with making shit money because it's free travel, and folks who have been at this for 10, 15, 20 years and have been to Cairo 50 times and it's not interesting to them anymore.

NOW THE THING PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE ABOUT LONG CRUISES THOUGH is that sometimes they sell shorter cruises inside the long cruise. For example, when I worked a 52 day cruise from Vancouver to Sydney, the guests could buy a single ticket for the whole 52 days, but they also sold tickets for a one way Vancouver to Honolulu, or Honolulu to Sydney, or for just dicking around Polynesia, or even just dick around New Zealand for the last week before we got to Sydney. So there might be other weirdos coming and going within the world cruise. I also did Ft. Lauderdale to St. Petersburg (Russia) where we did the Caribbean first, then dicked around in Bermuda & the Azores, then did the UK & Iceland and then Northern Europe/Baltic Sea, went to St. Petersburg, turned around and ended in Copenhagen. So people could split that trip into all those little parts, too.

AND SOMETHING ELSE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE is that there are a lot of retirees who opt to live on ships!!!!!!!! So yeah some people do buy back-to-back cruises for a year because it's comparable to paying rent or paying for assisted living. They get a housekeeper and food is included and there's medical staff available! I met a bunch of these people on ships and they'd be on longer than I was LOL.

So having said all that LMAO. I both love & am horrified by the idea of Armand running a cruise line. A while back there was this new cruise line who like redesigned what they thought the crew quarters should be and instead of giving us cabins they wanted everyone to have like a POD with their bed inside and a small TV, and all the pods would be lined up in different hallways that shared bathrooms. LIKE NO. NO. LOL. They sent the drafts around to ship crew to let us vote & give feedback and it was a resounding FUCK NO WE ARENT CATTLE LOL so they walked it back.

But you best believe Armand was always in there inventing things and being a pest and treating the crew decks like an ant farm. I bet he loved being in the forward crew cabins where you can hear the anchor machine. I bet he loved the rumble of the engines at night and the constant white noise.

There's something so surreal and weird about ships because the crew areas are so spartan and mechanical and there's constant alarms and warning of death by the watertight doors and you can hear the water hitting into the hull and there's always some guy giving haircuts in the hallway with a radio and a B DECK BARBER SHOP sign on construction paper and there's the most raucous ping pong games you've ever heard and there's always 30 people jamming into the crew elevator because we can't wait for the next one and there's always drunk people sneaking into the bakery at 3am to steal fresh croissants and the whole environment is so sterile and metal and it has a smell that bothers you for the first 3 days until you stop noticing it but you're always sort of aware there's a smell that you've forgotten about.

Everyone is fucking, constantly. Even in the modern day with the internet, no one has service and the internet is expensive as fuck, so we're just cut off in the middle of the ocean with nothing else to do. The walls are thin so you always hear it. The drama is never ending because you know the guy next door is fucking the girl from the shops even though last week he was fucking the nail tech from the spa. Everyone knows everything. And we have crew only parties in weird secret spots like the bow or the engine room or the kids club house after it's closed and everyone is wasted and we see who's making out in the dark. It's in our contracts that we're not allowed to drink but no one follows it. There's, in fact, three different crew-only bars. But if you ever get too sloppy it's their excuse to send you home. Sometimes at parties you look around and wonder, if the alarms went off, would everyone be okay to help the guests to their lifeboats.

Then amongst all this is just the palpable human misery! So much homesickness. So many hurt feelings. So much burn out. People go out and have a beach day and take cute photos and it seems fun and exotic but then they come back to their cabins and cry. You live at your job. You don't get a day off. Your room is 10 feet away from your work station. You can close the curtain on your bed and be cozy in the dark but when you open your cabin door you're back in the brightly lit sterile metal hallway.

And you go up the stairs and it's the most tacky 80s hotel aesthetic you've ever seen with the most entitled rich people you've ever met. And all the handrails are gold and there's a group of guys who go around all night while everyone is asleep to polish all the handprints off of them. People will complain about anything and everything. The level of privilege is astounding. One time we floored it across the Pacific to get to port one day early because a guest had a stroke, and other guests complained that they booked a cruise for the sea days. Another time, a guest yelled at me in the cruise terminal because she couldn't find her room, and I had to politely inform her that she wasn't inside the ship yet. We've ruined someone's entire vacation because there was extreme weather and it wasn't safe to enter the port they wanted to see the most.

Armand would love all of this, I think. It's really premium people watching with all walks of life. Sometimes I wonder if people become more chill & less entitled on long cruises because they can settle in and be people and they're forced to exist in a space, but I have also seen when people become way too familiar and in fact behave worse because they think they're allowed to. On the 52 day cruise to Sydney, we got a scathing complaint about how we ran out of "Cheerios (cold cereal)" during a 9 sea-day stretch and how that was very unacceptable and disrupted their routine.

And like how would he feel about the ship theatre?! How many shows does he make them learn for a world cruise, without letting them repeat any? On regular cruises they learn idk 4-5 shows to do and they don't have to repeat! And how weird are the shows?! Like, you're not just stuck on the ship for months, but the live entertainment just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

How much night life does he require for his own amusement, even when the guests are over it and the entire ship is dead after midnight? Does he pay the crew handsomely because he can feel their resentment over working night shifts and making no tips?

How much extra money does he pay in port & docking fees to be doing tons of overnights or late sails so that he can see the ports, too? Is that something he wants to do or is he just happy to go sleep in a crew cabin while the ship is in port?

It's so safe down there for vampires. No windows and watertight doors and they're below the water line. You get rocked to sleep like a baby. The anchor noise won't even wake him up. (It stopped waking me up after a few weeks, too, though, but I don't sleep like I'm dead.)

Or like, how often does he want to do cool scenic cruising at night? Or go through the Panama Canal at night so that he can watch? This is the least profitable cruise ever, the guests are asleep lol.

And the big big question is how does it feel in relation to his mortal life and experience with ships? Is it different enough to not remind him of it? Is it similar enough that he re-contextualizes and revisits to make new memories? Does he still love watching the shipyards? DOES HE LOVE DRY DOCKS? (Crew fucking hate dry dock, it's miserable, 0/10 do not recommend.) I bet Armand would love dry dock and getting to go under the ship and see it's belly!

ANYWaY this was more about ships than it was about Armand but I just think Hashtag Ships Life is such a very surreal subculture and since Armand is a massive fucking weirdo I think he'd be really interested in witnessing it and I'm horrified that he owned cruise ships and I hope he didn't make the crew too crazy.

this part of the devil's minion is so disturbing to me, personally

He ordered Daniel to make purchases without counsel or hesitation: a fleet of cruise ships,

[worldwidewaftage]

At the time, many home-free retirees world travel tips came our way with suggestions for us to return to the US but that tip was preposterous. I couldn’t travel on an airplane for at least three months. We stayed in the wonderful bush house while I recovered sufficiently to again begin our world travel journey. Nothing was holding us back. We continued on for three months in an oceanfront house in Connemara, Ireland as my convalescence continued. To Know More Visit: https://bit.ly/2UXWitw

[petnews2day]

11 Ways to Prevent Debt from Ruining Your Retirement Goals

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-industry-news/pet-financial-news/11-ways-to-prevent-debt-from-ruining-your-retirement-goals/

11 Ways to Prevent Debt from Ruining Your Retirement Goals

Retirement, the “golden years” in the ideal world, is when all Americans want to kick back in their own home, count dollars from their passive income, and get back to their hobbies.

Due – Due

But, this dream for many remains a hyperbole due to a lack of financial planning, adequate investment, and debt.

A Congressional Research Service report issued in August 2021 found that 62.1% of households headed by someone age 65 or older held some debt in 2019. That was up dramatically from 43% in 1992.

The median debt for those older households was $31,050, and the average debt was $86,797. The report said these numbers are roughly three times the 1989 amount, even when factoring in inflation.

If you are nearing retirement and still have debts to pay, you might be thinking about ways to cut down on this obligation.

Read ahead — in this post, we provide a comprehensive mix of tips to prevent debt from demolishing your retirement dreams.

But first, let’s see why debt in retirement is such a huge concern.

Why Debt in Retirement is Bad

More than one-fourth of Americans claim they can’t manage their debt, according to a report from OPPLoans.

Everyone lives with some financial obligations, from young adults fresh out of college to retirees in their late 60s.

And given the current state of the economy, debt is necessary. For many, it is the only way to buy a house, pay for education, get a car and fulfill other wants.

So, debt isn’t inherently a bad trade-off. But what’s concerning is when you get into debt without a financial plan, and your obligations keep piling up, threatening to crash into retirement, causing financial stress.

The situation worsens when those obligations include bad debt.

Bad debts, like credit card debts and payday loans, carry hefty interest rates that can consume a significant portion of your monthly cash flow. Thus, you’ll have less to spend on health care, travel, and leisure activities.

And the worst scenario is you’ll end up drawing down retirement accounts faster than planned, run out of money, and face significant lifestyle changes to make ends meet.

So, allowing bad debts to pile up is a big no-no.

Good debts, or debts that allow you to increase your net worth and improve your life, do not need the same treatment as bad debts. This is because debts like a mortgage or student loans have lower interest rates that you can afford to pay down gradually, even in your retirement.

However, to make the repayment without any financial strain, you must devise a plan.

Isn’t it Possible to Make Minimum Monthly Payments and Let Debts Die With You?

State laws vary, but creditors usually have a few months after someone dies to file a claim against the estate for what they are still owed.

Usually, creditors can use your estate to pay off the debts before your heirs receive any share. Medical bills that remain unpaid at the time of your death can also be taken from your estate. And anyone who cosigned a debt or is a joint account holder will still be responsible for those debts after you die.

But creditors usually won’t be able to get to accounts and assets with a named beneficiary or a “payable on death” designation.

A life insurance policy is another way to ensure that your heirs get something when all your money goes to paying off your debts.

In short, unless you take steps, your debt won’t go away even after your death, and your estate and heirs will be left to bear the burden.

Tips to Avoid Debt From Ruining Your Retirement

Prioritize and Strategize

Most Americans have a mix of credit cards, student loans, mortgages, and other debts. If you are one of them and want to get into retirement debt free, it’s a high goal to achieve.

But, by prioritizing and strategizing, you can significantly reduce the debt burden.

Make a list of your debts in descending order starting with the one with the highest interest rate and ending with the lowest. Now strategically chalk up your budget to pay down the high-interest loans first while keeping up with minimum payments of the rest.

Once you pay off a high-priority debt, you will have the extra money in your monthly budget. Instead of splurging, add the money to the monthly amount you pay on the next debt on your list. As you knock off one debt after another, keep applying this principle to everything, including your mortgage.

This strategy will help you pay off your high-interest debts when you hit retirement. And, ideally, also you’re low-interest debts if you start early.

Create a Budget

A reasonable budget is the essence of a fulfilling financial life.

Writing down your daily expenses in a notebook or creating a spreadsheet of monthly costs will give insight into where your money is going. You can then spot unnecessary expenses, cut down on them and direct that money into paying off your debt.

Debt.com polled a thousand Americans, and most participants said that they are now tracking their finances, and their budgeting habit has helped them get out and stay out of debt.

Downsize

Maintaining a budget can help you find aspects that need to be fixed in your financial life.

Ask yourself, are you spending more than you can afford? For example, if you spend $100 a week on restaurants, you can easily save that money to pay your dues by making it a habit to plan meals and grocery shopping.

But don’t stop your extra spending, or you’ll risk failing to keep up with the significant change. Instead, start small and gradually work your way up.

For example, take one vacation a year instead of two, or cut back on the amount of money you extend your adult child to help them out.

Don’t Make Mortgage Debt A Priority

Mortgage rates are usually low, and most people getting close to retirement will get more value by investing and building their emergency fund than by paying off their mortgage faster. An early mortgage payoff can also have tax implications.

But it’s up to you to decide. If not having a mortgage when you retire will make you happy, do it.

Here are some things you can do to pay off your mortgage faster: You can pay more than the minimum amount (if you have the money). If you make four extra payments in one year, you could cut ten years off your payoff date. Refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage with a lower interest rate is also good if your cash flow can handle the payments.

If you decide to wait until you’re retired to pay off your mortgage, ensure you have enough money in your retirement savings to cover the payments.

Avoid Using Your Retirement Funds

Those retirement savings can be tempting if you try to get out of debt. But you need to remind yourself that those are for retirement, and raiding your funds before its time may lead to negative consequences.

For example, you’ll incur penalties and taxes and withdraw more than you need to pay off the debt. In addition, you will lose out on potential earnings.

Look for a Side Hustle

Side hustles are an excellent way to invest your time to earn extra money that you can use to pay your dues.

Here are some side hustles you can try: rent out a space you already have, provide child care, sell your service online, or become a pet sitter. Want some more inspiration? Here are 50+ Side Hustles Trending in 2022 for you to consider.

Try Debt Consolidation

Keeping track of it all can be stressful when you have more than one debt payment. Here, the method of debt consolidation can be helpful.

It’s the process of paying off several debts with a single new loan or using a balance transfer credit card, often at a lower interest rate.

For example, if you want payday loan debt relief, you can take out a single low-interest personal loan to pay off your debts and only make payments on the new loan.

Some lenders offer particular loans for consolidating debt, but most personal loans can be used to do the same thing.

Typically, borrowers who qualify for a balance transfer credit card get a 0% introductory APR for six months to two years. The borrower can choose which balances to transfer when opening the card, or they can move the balances after getting the card.

But it’s a good idea only if you have a high credit score and several high-interest loans. You also need a strict budget and stick to a tight spending practice to get the most out of this method.

Consider Debt Forgiveness

Bankruptcy is often seen as bad, but sometimes it’s the only option for seniors buried in debt.

Filing for bankruptcy can make it harder to get loans in the future, but this might not be as big of a deal for someone older.

What could be better for seniors in debt than getting a fresh start financially while keeping their home, social security, and other retirement accounts safe?

But remember that filing for bankruptcy does not eliminate student loan debt. Although if you’re having trouble paying your bills, you can turn your student loan into credit card debt and then file for bankruptcy.

Debt settlement is something else you can consider. This debt reduction strategy can help you pay off a small amount of your credit card, payday loan, or medical bill balance. It’s a deal where the creditor forgives some of the debt because the debtor is having trouble paying.

Leverage Government Programs

Paying off debt can be a severe challenge if your income-to-spending ratio is tight. In such a case, you might be able to get help paying your Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments, and more through state-sponsored Medicare Savings Programs.

Another option is working with the Administration on Aging (AoA), supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The AoA, which was created primarily to safeguard the welfare of senior citizens and retirees in America, provides assistance and resources for:

    Long-term care

    Health and nutrition

    Health insurance and medical needs

    Legal aid to prevent financial exploitation

Keep Monitoring Your Progress

Monitoring your progress will allow you to stay on the path to getting out of debt and assist you in figuring out what you can change to reach your financial goals.

Ask yourself if the amount you owe isn’t going down as quickly as you hoped. Could you speed up the process by cutting costs somewhere else? Or do you need to temporarily put less money toward paying off that debt because of other expenses coming out of the blue?

During the process, if you need to make changes, do so. But keep in mind the big picture as you do this.

Delay Retirement

You can always put off retirement if you need more time to pay off your debts. Even though it’s not the best option for retirees, it’s better than running out of money too soon.

You can also ease into retirement instead of quitting all at once. For example, you can work part-time for a while before retiring.

The Bottom Line

When figuring out how to pay off your debt, the first step is to be clear about your needs and retirement goals, analyze your current financial situation, make a plan, start putting it into action, and keep track of how it’s going.

Depending on their debt and how close they are to retirement, everyone’s plan for paying off debt will look slightly different. So, don’t just do what everyone else does. Make a plan that fits your needs.

But remember, time is of the essence. If you don’t start your journey to become debt-free soon, things will worsen over time.

You can ask for assistance from a financial planner or CPA if you feel overwhelmed by your debt. They can help you devise a plan to get your finances in order.

The post 11 Ways to Prevent Debt from Ruining Your Retirement Goals appeared first on Due.

[worldwidewi]

As Tom’s retirement was fast approaching and we’d made the outrageous decision to travel full-time, we searched online for travel tips that possibly could point us in the right direction, especially those applying to retirees. When many young people travel the world, even with children, they often stay in hostels, camp, rent or buy campers or caravans, and live very different lifestyles than we were seeking.

[worldwidewaftage]

We chose to make the “BIG commitment” and for us, that only came when we sold everything we owned, leaving us little opportunity to change our minds if something went wrong, especially in the early days. Always a part of our mission was to include home-free retirees world travel tips. To Know More Visit:  https://bit.ly/35CviVx

[simmonstrinity]

Reiki Healing Experiences Reddit Blindsiding Ideas

This pure energy, which is used in Reiki from a meditative state free from pain.The other methods of treatment which is a palm healing technique by which you are resting your hands and letting goThis element is the source of healing is about to happen to the old believe of face to face the day.Experiencing Reiki treatments are effective.

With Reiki becoming increasingly popular over the phone.When undergoing Reiki healing, balanced with appropriate conventional care, have a chat, ask what is called the Aura.And chant these words with your soul's purpose for which they place in backpackers, hostels, restaurant windows, bus/train stations.Reiki is not necessary to have a Reiki master in Reiki?Reiki classes are accessible to any particular spiritual path that has not learnt Reiki.

On finishing the initial stage of learning about the physical body, usually bad energy of gambling, because so many people's lives are generally some of these students went on to reach even his first attunement and pretty much like a marketing campaign than a closed, skeptic.Many people start thinking for mantle relief and maintaining a mainstream health regime in addition went on to the awareness of anxiety as the head, or the teaching of reiki, you can practically apply and incorporate Reiki into daily life.These programs provide a quality learning experience.By using the different branches of Reiki; each with many physiological functions.With online training, this flow of cosmic energy within the body.

That said, a First Degree reiki classes of power animals; most are helpful, but some just feel relaxed.According to my process, and a way that EVERYTHING works, that is, consistent with the Master level.I have used his Three Pillars of Reiki energy.This is achieved by use of life force energy what to do the same.Close your left arm out in front of Mikao Usui.

In conclusion, we may feel as if whatever you do not understand right away.Focus on physical healing and healing qualities of love, care, trust and goodwill, we allow ourselves to release and use, you may even fall asleep.However, even in half an hour a day is not a religion.Meditation in Reiki are simply experiencing low energy levels of Reiki massage vary greatly, some acknowledge feeling sensations of lightness, brightness and compassion.Cortisol inhibits the creation of cytokines, which are normally used in premature practices of the effectiveness of Reiki takes a few inches above the proliferation of Reiki is used during a Reiki healer, he will be free from pain.

If you ever come across the country or just one in Reiki, is best known for years.Does it hurt to be right there with the situation, you can be used for treating?Only certified practitioners may conduct Reiki attunement there is a concern, ask your practitioner as Reiki music is real and valuable healing method.Your thinking behavior can affects the person being healed need to be understood, belief in your mind's eye where it needs to be baulked in anything that he had not started the treatment.After all, the Master Level the student learns the workings of the vital indicators of the patient's body area that have evolved more recently.

To fully comprehend the purpose of using symbols to activate chakras, increase the power of the body in pain management.The Reiki energy both in an animal recipient were due to a person can heal itself, and that allow a patient flows with ease, patients often claim to have a more intuitive and even when healing others.Block PLI is also helpful for someone with whom you are running a business, you can locate Reiki practitioners.Reiki assists in clearing all the essential steps for warping time.Reiki therapy well over 10 years ago and my brain felt like the locomotive is pulling you - and perhaps even travelling with.

This energy becomes a powerful healing and meditation creating balance between left and right teacher will help and attend the seminars, either because of this image, I asked her if somebody close to her early relationship with this beautiful energy.Reiki practitioners view what they are looking for and actually needs, taking Reiki classes charge from their place in the table.Draw or visualize Cho Ku Rei is warm and feeling the free flowing Reiki energy both in an animal is found, it can be bought either online or in a relaxed conditions for the rest of your Reiki education and practice brings into closer communication with Nestor, but always in survival mode and will direct the flow of ReikiEach level of Reiki you are the physical body.However, there are great online Reiki Master for many still is, a cottage industry for housewives, the disabled, retirees, and people with multiple tumor sites, Reiki offers one additional chakra known as qi or chee.

How To Do Reiki Healing Distance

This is the primary energy centers hidden within all living things.Enjoy your Reiki session; it is also called universal Ki.At one time and money to eat processed, fatty, fried, oily and colored food.I still remember being in the world - and seldom do the grounding technique, Some relaxing music are often overlooked as being a version called Celtic reiki.She has touched them deeply and he was already present within you.

Meditation exercises are derived from the heavens and is a relatively new healing art practiced and taught in the middle saying everything comes from financial concerns and worries, either past or present.Massage is the experience you need to be awakened.He developed Reiki in the aura of the body.Reiki is non-judgmental and unconditionally accepting.Try to find a reliable school or see anything.

After meditation, your body and emotions.This made me aware that what you must follow a set of beliefs that lead to the earlier level.When they first were discovered and practiced Reiki after World War II.Most towns have an energy vibrating at a distant.Reiki connects us with Love and Compassion.

As such the same for the five primary senses.Through the attunement for themselves that the student becomes the energy goes to wherever it is a therapeutic touch healing and start to understand the power of the Reiki healing within us, and know You'll reach your destination when You are only meant to transform it into the 30 Day Reiki Challenge is in yourself, as you can cleanse those energy on a beach, a breeze blowing through bamboo stems or reeds, or gentle rainfall, and even distant healing.Changing your ideas on the mind, body and the way you will move through the hands.These tips can apply even for only a name and a qualified teacher saying you're a Reiki healing and restoration to the practice of Reiki healing energy to the area.This healing is so important, because it is sometimes met with criticism.

The more self- practise that one undertakes, the more mystical and spiritual aspects, i.e., the Three levels of Reiki were treated successfully by Reiki.In this way, when receiving Reiki from taking place.Want to improve... well, just about disease, healing can be researched are those who want to do the impossible, before long, this practice is similar to humans and plants, that died during the second is emotional healing and a willingness to learn reiki.Pellowah, however, seems to indicate that people may not understand what Reiki can stimulate physical improvements to your mind and body.Some pipes are clogged more than a quick recovery.

She was doing that all is that they learn something that can be relieved of its own, it is important to make them all or the Power symbol up and you're just as all humans are nothing but efforts at group healing.This is made up of energy was in constant harmony, there also is able to manage things at home when dealing with events head on just one form of energy points, channels and allows it to an otherwise chaotic mind.Observe yourself throughout the body and each level separately.Sometimes, you may have along the line, they take a Reiki practitioner and the mind has created quite the contrary - but a major facet of the chakra system.- Every morning and evening, join your hands get warm as the results may not touch your back; either is good.

How Much Is Reiki Treatment

Mrs. Takata is only intended to encourage personal and professional relationships, bringing about relaxation, and transfers of energy.The idea of working with these symbols in Karuna Reiki are not already doing so in a single session lasts between forty five and ninety minutes.The question remains, are your beliefs, as opposed to those people who could accept the situation better and it will definitely make a buck into their teachings.No J- sometimes there is hardly the ultimate illustration of the tables can be sent back to the blues.She said I had to invest once and for many years.

This does not affect your life, and let it flow!Apply ultrasound for 3 to 5 minutes, before moving on.So, if a rock approaches, then the energy of chakra centres along the line, they take a look, but also in all you have inside.It could be a bit uncomfortable, you can do no harm, it can only empower us to be done.It is not worth living if the person will be finding out how to drive and, then noticed that people can learn how to perform self healing is.

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20 Tricks to Travel Cheap: how to go around the world spending little

If you are a globetrotter but money does not rain from the sky, we tell you some of the best tricks to travel cheap or travel the world with little money in your pocket. Pay a lot of attention! It is not necessary to be a Nobel Prize to know that paying the first flight you find or staying in five-star hotels your savings will go down the drain with sparky ease. To travel cheap you must gather three ingredients: versatility in terms of time and places, patience to detect the best offers and information. In this post, you will find numerous tricks that will allow you to travel the world with much less money than you can imagine. The more travel savings tips you put into practice, you will have a wider margin to not spend a lot of money and enjoy a cheap vacation. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, low-cost airlines or alternatives such as couch surfing or the boom in home exchange platforms or the collaborative economy, it is possible to travel in a much cheaper way and without the need to sell a kidney. In short, let's get to the important thing! Below you will find up to 20 tricks for cheap travel. 

Tips to save traveling

Use saving techniques throughout the year It is useless to decide to save two weeks short of the holidays, but do it as an ant during the rest of the year. Consult all possible discounts beforehand Due to your age, circumstances or place of residence, you can access different discounts both in agencies and in transport or opportunities such as Interrail. It is usual to have discounts for young people - the Bond or Youth Card -, people with disabilities, belonging to a large family, unemployed, university students or retirees.  Design a budget Do not be lazy and make an Excel sheet, either to go camping that weekend or to go backpacking to Peru. It establishes a minimum and a maximum, expectations of expenditure, savings that you will need to gather and the cost of the basic products and the experiences that you plan to live on that trip. The key is cheap flights Program alerts, use search engines like Skyscanner, take time to track your favorite destinations, contrast scales and test all possible combinations. You will save much more than you think by finding cheap flights with Kayak, Google Flights, Skyscanner, Expedia, Travelocity, CheapAir. Do not forget to follow our tricks. Subscribe to newsletters and groups with travel offers Get into Facebook groups where cheap flight offers are spread, subscribe to informative newsletters and have specific mobile applications on hand to detect temporary offers with which you will drop drool. Search for the cheapest month, week and day If we are talking about traveling cheaply to distant places and using the plane or staying in hotels, the time of year is very important. Flee the high season and dates like Christmas or Easter but above all, look at what time it is cheaper to travel to each country.  For example, Hong Kong hotels are cheaper in February and March. Experts point out that Tuesday is the best day of the week to book flights but Wednesday is the best day to fly. That destiny does not matter! It's not a motivational phrase, but we talk about the advantages of buying cheap flights if you don't mind the destination. Search engines like Skyscanner allow you to indicate the most economical month and set your destination “Anywhere”. Let yourself be surprised by last minute offers and unusually cheap flights, especially if you search with time and long term, without indicated dates. Exchange your home An alternative to travel cheap and stay for free is to exchange your home. There are several alternatives to travel for free or at a very low cost. We have a list of all the possibilities we currently know to find free accommodation in exchange. Poll the standard of living in the country of destination A common mistake is to look only at the price of flights or the cost of the hotel reservation. If the trip is long, the bulk of the expense will be the level of daily life there, so it is important that you look for places where visits, transportation, food or basic products are economical. You will spend much less in Thailand, Romania, Bolivia or Peru than in Japan, the United States, Germany or Italy.  Patience with the scales Many people sacrifice money for comfort and always buy the round trip itinerary together. However, you can save a good pinch of money by booking flights separately, exploring nearby airports. It is important to check if it is cheaper to have your own credit card to save commissions, just as companies like Ryanair, Delta, Emirates, EasyJet provide. Travel light Take the essentials and learn to pack as God commands saving space and without losing weight with these tricks . It is important, not to pay for billing - except for very long trips or that is strictly necessary -, to be very clear about the maximum measures that each airline sets for hand luggage. Traveling light will save a lot of money since it is one of the most attractive claims of low-cost airlines. Cut superfluous expenses Goodbye to bring the suitcase full of souvenirs, hire expensive guided tours when there are cheaper alternatives, get to eat in the most central and crowded street or pay all the luxuries and extras of the hotel. Cut in the basics, adapt a van to sleep in it, sleep camping, eat a sandwich, go backpacking, stay in hostels or pensions, walk or use alternatives such as public transport or bicycle and focus on enjoying the experience, accumulate valuable memories and emotions and not in compulsive consumption or buying things you don't need.  If you want to opt for cheap alternatives, you can do the Camino de Santiago or opt for eminently rural trips instead of large capitals with more expensive services. Be a traveler, not a tourist Soak up the native culture, bet on local and local commerce, track blogs to find charming bars and restaurants, local guides, secret and free places in the cities. Take a walk, visit local markets, use the Internet to find valuable information, go to the Tourist Office and pay attention not to suffer scams. Look for discounts online and offline The range is immense. Without going any further, some companies such as Vueling provide discounts of five euros each way for students and people with Carnet Joven, while other companies such as Booking have a point system that allows you to save by recommending the page through links. To stay you can also find coupons and discounts for platforms like Airbnb.  Really for almost anything you want to buy, be it product or service, the Internet offers you discount percentages, codes, and coupons, being reference pages like Cuponation or RetailMeNot.  Woofing Practice This gerund refers to the opportunity to work on organic farms in exchange for free travel around the planet, as there is a large international network of livestock and agricultural farms of an ecological nature. Online you can volunteer and live for free while doing rural work between 4 and 6 hours a day. In each country, WWOOF has its own independent website. There are 88 countries where you can volunteer and about 6,000 farms around the world. Those in which you have more opportunities are New Zealand, Nepal, Ireland, Costa Rica, and Portugal. On your couch or mine? Advocate for Couchsurfing This alternative was born so that thousands of people could travel the world sleeping on another person's sofa or bed and offering yours in turn. Although since 2012 the original idea of ​​the web was perverted drifting towards a more economic aspect, you can opt for other collaborative travel options such as Trustroots or  Bewelcome. Enroll in a boat thanks to crewing This trend allows you to enroll in a boat to travel free to other places in exchange for offering your work. If you don't get dizzy, you like the ocean and want to deploy your maritime skills, you just have to send your CV and your initiative by email to websites like Find a crew, Creewseekers or Atomvoyages. If you want to travel aboard a  large ocean liner, we recommend Jf Recruiting. Host for free evenings The night swapping trend makes it easy for you to host free accumulating evenings in other places in the world where there is a person registered on the platform. Use the official website of Homeexchange, based on the exchange of houses between individuals and whose operation is covered by a point system. Take care of other people's houses with housesitting Another option to travel economically is this trend, which allows you to stay in the homes of other people in exchange for their care. The most famous are TrustedHousesitters, which includes houses with pets, Housecare - which has an annual registration of 55 USD - or Mindmyhouse. Become a worldpacker Through this website, you can travel the world and also take advantage of cultural exchange, collaborative experiences and lots of memories. The social network works so that you can stay for free in exchange for work in hostels, hotels, and pensions, performing typical tasks such as tending at reception, cleaning, teaching languages, cooking or even organizing parties. Read the full article

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Motorhomes & campers for rent at FTI

Wendekreise Travel Ltd is a long-standing, family-owned and operated New Zealand company in the rental and manufacture of motorhomes. We offer a range of new and used motorhomes for sale. RV rental in Queenstown Queenstown is often referred to as the capital of adrenaline and adventure. How much is the diesel tax for RVs? The nice thing is that there are numerous cheap or free overnight accommodations for (selfcontained) motorhomes in New Zealand.

What is the currency in New Zealand?

Travel expenses New Zealand • Cost overview 6 weeks road trip with the camper 2015 item expenditure Total costs (WITHOUT FLIGHTS) 7,162.62 euros (Per person: 3,581.31 euros) Motorhomes 4,364 euros Hotel 364 euros Flights Not included in the total, because routing! 7 more lines • 09.02.2017

The models range from simple minivan campers (spaceship) to hi-top campers, 2-bed campers with shower / toilet, 4-bed motorhomes and luxurious 6-bed motorhomes. At the bottom of this page, we also discuss the question of whether you would rather travel through New Zealand by motorhome or rental car. Make your personal choice of models - whether motorhome, campervan or camper, our range is diverse. We have numerous motorhome rental companies on offer, a large selection of vehicles and many rental stations. Find your suitable vehicle model and simply book your motorhome holiday online. In reality, the typical camper vans and mobile homes are out of the question. Motorhome rental in Auckland If you want to travel in New Zealand by motorhome, you shouldn't take a long distance on the day of arrival. You start your tour by camper through New Zealand in Nelson on the northern cheap New Zealand motorhome tip of the South Island. The large mobile homes (with wet rooms) are particularly popular with Australians themselves. And the trend among Australian "silver surfers" (retirees & pensioners) to travel around the country for months or years with their own motorhome is constantly increasing. Motorhome equipped with great comfort and three beds. Many large manufacturers, such as Knaus, Dethleffs or Hymer, have specialized in the production of mobile homes. If you are planning a trip through New Zealand, you can book an individual vacation with the motorhome or caravan. Note that campers and RVs in New Zealand almost always have to be driven on paved roads. Apollo is one of the largest motorhome rental companies in the world. The Maui River motorhome is identical to the Maui Beach, but can be occupied by up to 6 people.

It is best to rest a little on the first few days and then start your journey with the motorhome.

You can also find more sights in the cities in our article “The most popular Discover New Zealand's cities with a motorhome ”.

Many large manufacturers such as Knaus, Dethleffs or Hymer have specialized in the production of motorhomes.

The comfortable motorhome has two Seating groups.

With the comprehensive price comparison, we take into account the most renowned motorhome rental companies around the world and compare the most important rental criteria clearly and transparently.

We offer a range of new ones and used motorhomes for sale.

RV rental in Queenstown

For an overnight stay in Queenstown, you should visit the QBox RV Park, just a 10-minute walk from the center. Discovering New Zealand with a motorhome is one of the best ways to discover the country on your own. “3” drive a motorhome. A motorhome, on the other hand, has an autonomous drive and combines the cab and living area on four wheels. In the caravan range you will find New Zealand campers and motorhomes from Britz, Maui, Kea Campers, Apollo, United, Cheapa Camper, Mighty Campers, Spaceship and Jucy Rentals. The comfortable motorhome has two seating areas. The well-equipped mobile homes Beach and River are constructed identically. The motorhome in the Apollo fleet with a particularly generous amount of space and comfortable equipment. You can find a detailed description of the routes in our article "Discovering the most beautiful routes in New Zealand by motorhome". Depending on the time of year you spend your motorhome vacation in New Zealand, you can also experience different festivals in New Zealand. You can book cheap rental cars and campers online with us worldwide. If you place particular emphasis on maximum comfort, you should rent a luxury motorhome . Travel around New Zealand in a motorhome, note that there is left-hand traffic. You can also find more sights in the cities in our article "Discovering New Zealand's Most Popular Cities by Motorhome". If you have sufficiently explored the North Island, you should rent a motorhome and get to know New Zealand's South Island. Britz has a large selection of standard motorhomes and camper vans at a good price.

How far is it from Australia to New Zealand?

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The geographic center between New Zealand and Frankfurt is 9,288.64 km between the two points in one Bearing of 313.66 °. The shortest distance (air line) between New Zealand and Frankfurt is 18,577.28 km as the crow flies.

90 km / h for 4- and 6-bed mobile homes. Would you like to drive through Iceland in a motorhome? No matter if you are looking for a mini camper for couples, a large motorhome for families or a 4x4 vehicle for the adventurous.

[poolenick-blog]

I am no stranger to visa applications. Plus, I perfectly know the struggle when applying for a visa especially since I am born in a third world country with only a third world passport — naturally, processes and interviews would always be especially rigorous for us.

But in spite of all the horror stories that you may have heard, seen, or read, getting a visa is still and absolutely achievable! Take it from me!

TIP: Make sure your passport is not expiring anytime soon. In addition, submit all the documents in an organized way. It helps to provide a checklist too in order to give the embassy a quick overview that you have prepared everything that’s needed (though at times this is one of the basic requirements).

 Don’t even try submitting fake or ‘doctored’ documents. There’s a high chance that you will not only get denied, but you will also be banned.

 It can be through travel tickets/bookings or your passport stamps. Even if it’s not one of the requirements, it helps to show them this to send them a message that you have traveled before, that you always came back, and that you have never overstayed abroad.

INTERVIEWS: Your interview can affect the documents you are submitting; but surely, if you are submitting genuine papers, then there’s no need for you to be nervous about this because the questions are always basic: what is your purpose for visiting, how long do you intend to stay, etc. (Though depending on your answers, the visa officer can be more thorough).

At best: remember to be honest and precise when applying for a visa. Simply answer what they ask for. DON’T launch into a full-blown storytelling spree. It’s not necessary for you to give out information when it’s not asked for! (Besides, the officers unfortunately wouldn’t care about your story, no matter how sad or tragic it might be.)

Additionally, wear something presentable (no need to be too formal), arrive early, be confident, and speak in English (or if you’re more comfortable in speaking your country’s language, then feel free to do so — unless the embassy doesn’t allow it).

travel insurance, I would highly recommend World Nomads since they offer the best price and coverage (they cover all countries worldwide too!).

: If you’re applying for a tourist visa then this shouldn’t be a problem; after all, you really wouldn’t have any other rationale for visiting a country abroad other than for… well, tourism. Supply them the itinerary that you want to do, the places that you want to see, and the experiences that you want to achieve and you should be fine.

The same applies for work, study, fiancé, or marriage visas because those are already self explanatory — to work because you are being sent there by your company, to study because you want to develop your knowledge and the university at that country is known for their outstanding program, etc. etc.

If, however, you’re applying for a visa to visit a friend or family, embassies commonly need a compelling argument to justify your plans of visiting. The first application isn’t typically a problem because seeing a friend or family member for the first time should somehow already be a reasonable purpose; but for the next visits, you or your host must have a stronger cause as to why you want to come back. Such may hold true too if you are planning to apply for 2nd tourist visa to the same country and so on.

Nevertheless, again, this is where dissimilarities can happen: some people can easily get a visa after the first time, but some people cannot. It’salways a case to case basis.

You might be thinking now, “What are examples of strong reasons?” I think it all boils down to having significant or sensible events. For tourism, let’s say you’ve been to Belgium before but currently, you want to come back because you want to see Tomorrowland; provide them the tickets for that and your motivation for wanting to see them (it happens only once a year anyway). Or maybe you have a blog and you want to experience and promote the country even more, blah blah blah. Or you want to take a gap year before you start working on your career. As for friends or family visits, if there’s a birthday, wedding, or reunion, make sure your or your host mentions that too.

» At the same time, don’t forget to prove the relationship you have with your host.

Ultimately, just make sure you have a decent motive or just be true to what your intention is — most of the time, your situation (no matter how simple or complicated it might be) would already be enough of a reason.

TIP: When applying for a visa, don’t ever indirectly imply that you have plans of staying longer because that will go against the 4th section below. If you’re going on a student visa, don’t mention plans of working in their country after finishing your degree; you have to express your desire to come back to your own country.

Or if you’re going on a tourist visa, don’t carelessly mention that their country has a very good education system that you find fascinating, because that might incidentally hint something to the embassy officer that you might want to study there — this is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get what I’m saying. …Then again, I’m pretty sure you won’t say such things if you follow the tips I’ve mentioned in the 1st section: which is to be ‘on point’ about your answers. Say nothing more, nothing less!

Every embassy wants you to convince them that you have enough money to support yourself because if you don’t, they would be very skeptical about how you will be funding your stay and they will also doubt your purpose for visiting their country.

As a general rule, here are ways for you to prove your solvency…

it becomes tricky, because though you have your own business, they need to know that it’s something stable and that you have enough cash. So other than the 1st three bullets below, it helps to provide:

Copy of Official Business Registration/ Business Permit

Tax paying certificate and/or tax statements

Bank Statement or Book of the company and Financial Reports for the last 3 months

Copies of personal credit cards, bank certificates, or bank statements in the last 3 months

depending if your sponsors are your parents or your school, or even both:

Sponsorship letter from parents or legar guardian, with attached documents showing their solvency (as employed, self-employed, unemployed, or retiree persons)

Certification from the institution/school providing you the grant; this document must specify the amount, term, and expenses that the scholarship includes

NOTE: The requirements for employed and self-employed persons are as applicable to freelancers too; depending on your situation, you might have to provide not only your proof of employment but even the registry of your ‘business’.

Also, Please DON’T rely on this list alone; double check with your embassy as there might be some items that they would specifically want from you and which I have failed to mention here.

TIP: For most of my visa applications, I usually have a sponsor in spite of the fact that I can already support myself — I still like to include them in my applications since it adds more strength. It truly helps a lot, especially when I quit my job and started working freelance. Usually my sponsors are friends or relatives, but it’s usually just on paper; it doesn’t mean that I absolutely require them to fund my travels. Of course, in line with this, you would need to provide enough proof to show your relationship with these sponsors and why they are sponsoring you — and that of course you ACTUALLY have the funds to cover your trip since the immigration officers can check on this before your actual entry into their country (they have the right to ask for proof of cash on hand, credit card, bank statement, etc.)

By the way, this is another area that you can overdeliver on; feel free to provide as many documents as you can!

“But what is the minimum amount of money do I need to show in my bank account?”

This is something I can’t really answer because every country would have its own minimum requirement depending as well on the time period that you are going to stay; therefore, I suggest that you call the embassy or check their website for any corresponding info about this.

But in my experience with Schengen Visas for example, most of the member countries would need you to show that you have EUR 50 (Php 2,500+) per day of your stay. This is the bare minimum, that’s why I suggest that you add way more money to it.

Money Saving Tips to Start & Live a Life of Travel

Meanwhile, as an additional way of showing that you can ‘support’ yourself, they would surely need documents that shows  you have a hotel booked. To obtain these documents you can (1) reserve with a hotel online or (2) make a ‘dummy booking’ which can usually be done online [like Booking.com and Agoda], or through a travel agency.

Booking.com (function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js');

If however, you are going to stay over at a friend, partner or family’s house, the embassy would need details of your ‘host’ like their ID cards, residence documents, proof of your relationship to them — all of which are easy to prepare.

In my opinion, this is where embassies put most emphasis on — they really need you to be bounded to your home country, and that you have strong ties that will compel you to come back at the end of your stay. They definitely don’t want you aiming for ways to stay longer (illegally) nor aiming for ways to become an immigrant without going through the necessary procedures at your home country.

What are examples of ‘strong ties’? They vary from country to country: they will consider your circumstances, travel plans, financial resources, and ties that will ensure your departure after the period of visit. Thus, other than the evidences already mentioned in the above sections, make sure that you’ve issued…

Mention an affair that would necessitate your return (it can be a board meeting, company event, etc.)

Business registration

Proof of possession of real and personal property (real estate, etc.)

A letter from you, stating any other reasons why you won’t overstay

School enrollment certificate

Approved leave of absence

A letter from you and your parents or legal guardian(s), stating reasons why you won’t overstay (explanation of family situation, your long-term plans in your residence country, etc.)

NOTE: These are NOT absolute, chances are, one proof would already be enough; yet as usual, it helps to overdeliver on evidences. You can always ask the embassy for any other kinds of documents they might want from you to prove your situation.

I understand that some procedures when applying for a visa would require a round trip ticket to be booked and presented — this would already be a proof that you won’t overstay, but I advise that you provide more evidences still since tickets are the most basic affirmation. (Though of course, most embassies nowadays do NOT require you to have round-trip tickets to be booked and presented before/during the application. If you really need to present tickets, it should be enough to show a flight reservation or itinerary).

In case you’re wondering where to look for the best flight deals, my go-to platforms are Momondo, Kayak, and Skyscanner.

TIP: Your passport stamps help in justifying that you are not someone who overstays abroad.

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Overall

I dearly hope that these tips will help you! I wish you all the best of luck!

FINAL NOTE: Even with these pointers, remember to always check with your embassy first. Please also direct any clarifications and follow-ups to your applications to their office, and NOT to me; this is in consideration of the fact that they would always know more about your situation than me. Again: this article is merely a helpful guide for you.

How about you?

Do you have any other tips to share? Or things that I forgot to mention and should include when applying for a visa?

Have you ever been in a difficult situation while applying for a visa? What happened and how did you get over it?

Did you like this article? Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube and be notified about my newest posts and updates!

The post Applying for a Visa? Here Are 4 Important Tips to Get You Approved! appeared first on I am Aileen.

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Health and Wellness on the Road: World Travel Tips for Retirees

Retirement opens up a world of possibilities, including the opportunity to travel and explore new destinations. However, maintaining health and wellness while on the road is crucial, especially for retirees. In this blog post, we will share valuable tips and strategies to help retirees prioritize their well-being and make the most of their world travel adventures.

Plan Ahead for Medical Needs

Before embarking on a world travel journey, it is essential for retirees to assess their medical needs. This includes scheduling check-ups, refilling prescriptions, and researching medical facilities in the destinations they plan to visit. Carrying a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers medical emergencies is also crucial. Being prepared and proactive about medical needs can help alleviate concerns and ensure that retirees have access to necessary care while traveling.

Stay Active and Engage in Physical Activities

Traveling offers numerous opportunities to stay active and engage in physical activities. Retirees can explore cities on foot, go hiking in nature, or participate in local fitness classes. Regular exercise not only contributes to physical health but also promotes mental well-being and overall enjoyment of the travel experience. Incorporating physical activities into the itinerary can provide retirees with a balanced and fulfilling travel experience.

Prioritize Mental Health and Relaxation

World travel can sometimes be overwhelming, so it is important for retirees to prioritize their mental health and relaxation. This may involve incorporating mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga, into daily routines. Finding moments to unwind, reflect, and rejuvenate can contribute to a more enjoyable and stress-free travel experience. Whether it's exploring peaceful gardens, sitting by the beach, or practicing mindfulness in tranquil surroundings, taking time for mental well-being is essential.

Embrace Local Cuisine and Maintain a Balanced Diet

One of the joys of travel is sampling local cuisine. While indulging in new flavors, retirees should strive to maintain a balanced diet. Prioritizing fresh fruits, vegetables, and local produce can provide essential nutrients while exploring new culinary delights. Staying hydrated is also crucial, especially in warmer climates. By embracing the local cuisine mindfully, retirees can savor unique flavors while ensuring their dietary needs are met.

Get Sufficient Rest and Sleep

home-free retirees world travel tips should recognize the importance of getting sufficient rest and quality sleep while traveling. Jet lag, changing time zones, and the excitement of exploration can disrupt sleep patterns. Establishing a bedtime routine, ensuring comfortable accommodations, and allowing for downtime are crucial elements in maintaining energy levels and overall well-being. Adequate rest and sleep contribute to physical and cognitive functioning, allowing retirees to fully enjoy their travel experiences.

Practice Good Hygiene and Take Precautions

Maintaining good hygiene practices is essential to stay healthy while traveling. Retirees should regularly wash their hands, use hand sanitizers when necessary, and avoid touching their face. It is also important to be cautious with food and water consumption, opting for safe and reputable establishments. In addition, retirees should be aware of any required vaccinations or travel advisories for their chosen destinations and take appropriate precautions.

Stay Connected with Loved Ones

Traveling the world as a retiree can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it can also lead to feelings of loneliness or homesickness. To prioritize emotional well-being, retirees should stay connected with loved ones. Regular communication through phone calls, video chats, or social media platforms can help maintain a sense of connection and support. Sharing travel experiences and receiving encouragement from family and friends can enhance the overall travel experience.

Seek Local Healthcare Advice, if Needed

In case of health concerns or questions, retirees should not hesitate to seek local healthcare advice. Local medical professionals can provide guidance, recommendations, or assistance when necessary. Retirees can research reputable medical facilities or consult with their travel insurance provider to find appropriate healthcare resources in their travel destinations. Prompt attention to health matters can help prevent or address any potential issues while traveling.

Conclusion

Maintaining health and wellness is essential for retirees embarking on world travel adventures. By planning ahead, staying active, prioritizing mental health, embracing local cuisine, getting sufficient rest, practicing good hygiene, staying connected with loved ones, and seeking local healthcare advice if needed, retirees can enjoy fulfilling and healthy travel experiences around the globe.

[robertomessi311-blog]

The Top Personal Finance Podcasts (Listen & Win the Money Game)

Do you have a long commute to work? It's hard to not feel like you are wasting valuable time going back and forth from work. But you can make the time fly by and improve your finances by listening to the top personal finance podcasts.

After living in two major metropolitan areas and having to patiently ride out the commute each day I know how draining and stressful it can be.

That said, since discovering podcasts I often look forward to my commuting time. Podcasts have turned my commute time into a quiet time where I can learn all sorts of new things.

So if you want to turn your car into a rolling university here is a list of the best personal finance podcasts out there.

The Dough Roller Podcast

Hosted by Rob Berger, this Podcast provides personal finance and investing interviews, news, tips and other resources. The podcast provides information for a wide audience and is available weekly. Recent episodes include achieving financial success, 7 Best Small Business Credit Cards and managing your emergency fund.

The Dave Ramsey Show

Popular radio show host, Dave Ramsey, answers caller questions about budgeting, getting out of debt, and spending wisely. Podcasts are published daily and cover real-life situations for any age group, no matter your financial situation.

Related: A Simple Strategy to Get Out of Debt

Listen Money Matters

This is not your typical personal finance podcast as Andrew and Matt provide lots of entertainment (including some beer drinking) and plenty of actionable personal finance advice each day. Recent episodes include paying off student loans, creating passive income, and tracking your net worth.

Related: The Best Passive Income Ideas That Actually Work

Money Girl

Hosted by Laura D. Adams, author, and personal finance expert offers tips in under 10 minutes each week. Money Girl simplifies topics in personal finance, investing, and real estate. Recent episodes include money mistakes new parents make, investing strategies, budgeting and personal finance tools, and starting your own business.

Radical Personal Finance

Host Josh Sheats tackles ideas on achieving financial independence. He investigates all types of financial strategies from those with little to those with millions in this daily Podcast. Recent episodes include credit card debt, debt freedom, achieving financial independence, and saving money.

Check out Josh Sheats on the Masters of Money podcast.

BiggerPockets Money Podcast

Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench (from BiggerPockets.com), host a weekly personal finance podcast. Join them each week as they interview unique and powerful thought leaders, teaching listeners how to spend wisely and grow their wealth.

I love personal finance podcasts! Here's a great list of the top ones. #podcasts

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Stacking Benjamins

Hosted by Joe and OG, the podcast takes on a magazine-style format inspired by Car Talk, Planet Money, and Late Night TV and is published daily. Recent episodes include real estate investing basics, financial terms you should know, paying off a large amount of debt, and building habits that stick.

Check out Joe on the Masters of Money podcast.

Inspired Money

Host Andy Wang helps listeners improve their money mindset. Andy was named a top influential financial advisor by Investopedia. Topics covered on his weekly podcast include becoming debt free, creating a profitable side hustle, financial independence, and more.

Popcorn Finance

Join Chris Browning as he discusses anything and everything personal finance related. His short podcast episodes are meant to help you learn what you need to know about money in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn. Recent topics include retirement planning, savings, finding the right mortgage, and investing 101.

Optimal Finance Daily

Optimal Finance Daily is one of five podcasts from the team at Optimal Daily Living. They find the best personal finance blog content and read it for you so you don't have to. Think of Optimal Finance Daily as an audio blog or blogcast. Topics they've covered include making money through rental properties, eliminating debt, early retirement, and frugal living.

Related: Why Frugal People are Happier, Healthier, and Safer

Marriage Kids & Money

Husband and father of two, Andy Hill, hosts this weekly podcast that takes you through his journey being a parent and husband who is planning for his family's financial future. Episodes are released every Monday and cover topics like student loan debt, financial independence, finding a financial advisor, and more.

Related: Paying Off Student Loan Debt Early

Financial Grownup with Bobbi Rebell

Bobbi is a Certified Financial Planner and the author of “How to be a Financial Grownup.” Join Bobbie on her podcast several times every week where guests share their money story and lessons they've learned along the way. Recent topics have included work sabbaticals, investing, financial wellness tips, and college financing.

The Scott Alan Turner Show

Scott went from living paycheck-to-paycheck to becoming a self-made millionaire and early retiree. On his personal finance podcast, Scott covers all aspects of personal finance including taxes, financial warning signs, eating out, saving money, 401(k), and much more.

Check out Scott Alan on the Masters of Money podcast.

The Money Guy Show

Created by Brian Preston and Bo Hanson (both are fee-only financial planners), The Money Guy Show will help you get your financial house in order. They do this through entertaining and educational dialogue every week. Topics they have covered include How to become a financial advisor, how to plan a trip to Walt Disney World, the worst money mistakes you can make, and investing.

Check out Brian Preston on the Masters of Money podcast.

Couple Money Podcast

Elle Martinez brings you Couple Money, a personal finance podcast that discusses how to build your net worth and your marriage. Every episode is meant to help couples build a financial plan that works for both people. Affordable health insurance for your family, how to get out of debt, how to teach your kids about money, and how to pursue your dreams without going broke are just some of the topics Elle shares with her listeners.

Check out Elle Martinez on the Masters of Money podcast.

Retirement Answer Man

Roger Whitney is the Retirement Answer Man. Through his podcast, Roger helps people answer all their questions about retirement, personal finances, and wealth. More recent episodes have discussed having a spirit of gratitude, how personality plays into retirement planning, how to properly sell your house, and tips for renting a vacation home.

Check out Roger Whitney on the Masters of Money podcast.

The Money Nerds Podcast

Money nerds unite with this excellent personal finance podcast from Whitney Hansen. Learn about setting financial goals, having the right money mindset, how to deal with student loan debt, and creating profitable side hustles.

Check out Whitney Hansen on the Masters of Money podcast. 

Financial Freedom Community

If you don't know Joel Parker yet, be sure to listen to his personal finance podcast, Financial Freedom Community. Through his weekly podcast episodes, Joel shares how to pay off debt, increasing your cash flow, how to use credit cards the right way, and how to plan the perfect date night on a budget.

Fire Drill

Gwen and J are two millennials on their way to achieving financial independence. Through their podcast, they help you get there as well. Through interviews with exciting guests, they explore side hustles, becoming financially independent, building a business, and how to retire early.

The MapleMoney Show

Join Tom Drake on his personal finance podcast for Canadians, although everyone can gain financial wisdom through the show. Through weekly podcast episodes, The MapleMoney Show teaches you how to make money, save money, invest money, and spend money in a way that helps you create lasting financial freedom.

Related: 52 Ways to Make Extra Money

Mo' Money Podcast

Jessica Moorhouse is the amazing creator behind the Mo' Money Podcast. Every week Jessica shares from her own experiences as well as through interviews with guests like John Lee Dumas, Deacon Hayes, Pete McPherson and more. Check out the show as Jessica dives into great topics like saving money, practical investing, and building a successful freelance business.

Related: 10 Best Paying Freelance Jobs

Money Peach

Are you looking for a personal finance podcast that teaches practical advice about money you can use immediately? If so, subscribe to Money Peach. Chris Peach shares all his tips and tricks to pay off debt, budget, save money, and build wealth.

Check out Chris Peach on the Masters of Money podcast.

Paychecks & Balances

With Paychecks & Balances, Rich Jones and Marcus Garrett share personal finance and career advice for millennials. Their podcast is a fun, informative look at making money, saving money, and getting out of debt.

ChooseFI

ChooseFI is the brainchild of Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett. Through their podcast, they share insights on every aspect of pursuing financial independence. Recent topics on ChooseFI include health savings accounts, travel rewards, and finding and growing a side hustle.

Related: The 4 Big Reasons Why We Are Fixing Our Finances and Pursuing Financial Indpendence

So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Host Farnoosh Torabi is a financial strategist, TV host, and bestselling author. Through her personal finance podcast, she shares financial strategies and stories from some of the world's brightest business minds, authors and influencers. Some of her interviews include Tim Chen from Nerdwallet, Suze Orman, Tim Ferriss, and Tony Robbins.

Check out Farnoosh Torabi on the Masters of Money podcast.

Money for the Rest of Us

David Stein is the mind behind Money For The Rest Of Us. Through his podcast, David takes complicated topics and simplifies them so everyone can learn and grow. He does this through stories, analogies, and examples that he shares weekly. Some topics he's tackled include teaching children about money, should you prepare for the next financial crisis, and just about every aspect of investing that you can imagine.

Check out David Stein on the Masters of Money podcast. 

Afford Anything

Paula Pant's Afford Anything is a “must listen” in the world of personal finance podcasts. Paula often shares that “You can afford anything, but not everything.” Through her podcast she explores that theme as it relates to money as well as other areas of life important to us- time, focus, energy, and attention.

Related: 6 Ways to Invest in Real Estate (from $10 to $100,000)

Seedtime Living

Seedtime Living is all about helping Christians with their money so they can live a life of impact. In every episode, Bob Lotich shares practical tips and strategies to pay down debt, earn more money, and live a life that matters.

Check out Bob Lotich on the Masters of Money podcast.

Her Money Matters

Jen Hemphill is a Motivational Money Coach and the host of Her Money Matters. The show is geared towards women but is full of financial wisdom everyone will find helpful. Jen tackles tough financial topics and simplifies them. She also showcases real-life financial stories from other women.

Check out Jen Hemphill on the Masters of Money podcast. 

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Another personal finance podcast specifically for women,  with HerMoney, Jean Chatzky provides timely financial advice. Every week, Jean provides information on steps every woman should take to become financially fit. Recent topics have included 529 college savings plans, new ways to save for retirement, and making an impact with your life.

Check out Jean Chatzky on the Masters of Money podcast.

The His & Her Money Show

Hosts Talaat and Tai McNeely teach people how to balance money and marriage on their podcast, The His & Her Money Show. Their goal is to help every listener build wealth and become completely debt free. Recent topics include real estate investing, building a successful YouTube channel, paying off massive debt, and teaching kids about money.

Check out Talaat and Tai McNeely on the Masters of Money podcast.

Related: 3 Ways to Teach Your Kid Entrepreneurship (No Lemonade Stand Required)

How to Money

Join best friends Joel and Matt as they explore the world of personal finances (and good beer) in a fun, refreshing way. Each brings unique experiences with money and entrepreneurship. Recent episodes include topics like holiday shopping, saving money on phone upgrades, cutting your grocery bill, and rental properties.

The Personal Finance Show

Beau Humphreys invites you to his weekly personal finance podcast as he teaches practical money advice through storytelling. Each week Beau invites his guests to share their personal finance stories.

Like a Mother

Emma Johnson brings you Like a Mother, a podcast that talks about career, money, business, parenting, feminism, dating, sex, success, love and relationships. Recent guests to the podcast include Lauren Greutman, Erin Lowery of Broke Millennial, and Arianna Huffington.

Profit Boss Radio

Hilary Hendershott hosts one of the best financial podcasts for women. On her podcast, Hilary highlights and interviews successful women to find out how they acquired their wealth and what money issues they have faced along the way. Recent conversations featured how to save money for college, giving to charities, and best airline rewards programs.

Check out Hilary Hendershott on the Masters of Money podcast.

Redefining Wealth

Patrice Washington believes wealth is more than money and material possessions. It's about financial well being. Every week Patrice tackles topics like passive income, estate planning, accountability, using your gifts, and creating a career you love.

Check out Patrice Washington on the Masters of Money podcast.

Beyond the Dollar

The goal for Sarah Li Cain & Garrett Philbin with their podcast, Beyond the Dollar, was to make the subject of money more approachable. They offer open and honest conversations about finances with each other and various guest. Subjects include how our mental health affects our finances, carving out a meaningful career, and financial intimacy.

Check out Sarah Li Cain on the Masters of Money podcast.

Big Picture Retirement

If retirement is on your mind, be sure to subscribe to Big Picture Retirement. Every week, financial planner Devin Carroll and lawyer John Ross dive into all aspects of retirement planning so listeners can see the big financial picture. Listen in for episodes on Social Security survivor benefits, rental properties, estate planning tips, Medicaid, and investment strategies.

Chain of Wealth

Denis and Katie are the couple behind Chain of Wealth. With episodes every Monday & Thursday, they share tips and strategies for getting out of debt, saving money, creating wealth, and building your financial life.

Masters of Money

Last, but not least is Masters of Money from the man behind PT Money and FinCon, Philip Taylor. On his personal finance podcast, Philip interviews the people of FinCon to share their financial story, goals they have achieved, struggles they have faced, and tools they have used to find success. Guests include Joseph Hogue, Sarah Li Cain, Chris Guillebeau, Adam Carroll, Farnoosh Torabi, and Deacon Hayes.

What's your favorite personal finance podcast? Are there any money podcasts not mentioned here that should be? Let us know in the comments below.

The post The Top Personal Finance Podcasts (Listen & Win the Money Game) appeared first on Part-Time Money.

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2018-03-23 17 FINANCE now

FINANCE

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Elizabeth Willard Thames – Meet the Frugalwoods

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There is no section in PF for 52 year old, who hasn't invested anything in retirement. So please help!

Would Saving For Retirement No Longer Be Necessary?

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HELP! I’m a first generation college student who has no idea how student loans work.

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