Traveling is something we all say we want to do but we feel we can't because of financial strain. A lot of times we tell ourselves that travel is too expensive and we overestimate how much it would cost to take a vacation. But that is simply not true! Travel is something that you have to intentionally plan and make priority in your life. There are lots of ways to have a dream vacation without breaking the bank. Creating strategies that help you put away money and maintain your current lifestyle is the best way to help incorporate travel into a regular routine.
Over the last few years of travel, I've learned some helpful ways that anyone can use to save money or be more mindful of finances while traveling. Implementing just one of these can make a big difference in how you can travel and be financially responsible.
1.Create a Budget
Travel can be super addictive! You go on one amazing trip and then start planning the next one before you have even made it home. Case in point, that's how I ended up taking 6 international trips in 2018 and visiting a total of 7 countries. However, I wouldn't have been able to reach all my destinations without some planning. The biggest help I had was making a budget for each trip. One thing I learned quickly was there is no single correct way to create a budget and each trip had its own unique requirements. However, there are a few general guidelines you can apply to fit your budgeting style:
Plan out your vacation as far in advance as possible.
This simply means plan out all your known vacation plans into the next year. This way you can see how things are going to pan out over the course of the year. For instance, what months are heavy with international travel or domestic, where you might need to save more money or if you have too many trips planned at the same time. Even if you are only taking one trip that year, get it in the books as soon as possible and plan ahead.
Set small amounts of money aside in a travel fund throughout the year.
It is always a good idea to have an emergency fund because things can happen that are unexpected when traveling abroad. Saving small amounts over a longer time is easier than paying in one lump sum at the time of travel.
Research current currency rates for your international trips.
There is nothing worse than exchanging too much money and not being able to get that same amount back in your own currency. You also want to know what fees you will be charged when exchanging money at the airport compared to withdrawing money out of the ATM.
Research your estimated cost per day.
One of the biggest ways to stay on budget is to research what it would cost you per day for every day activities like eating, taking a taxi, or go on an excursion. This will help you narrow down on how much money to bring for daily things as well as how much you may need for an emergency or extra activities.
Lastly, create a budget for souvenirs.
Sounds ridiculous, I know, but we all can fall into the trap of buying too many amazing rugs from Morocco or cigars from Cuba. Go with a plan in mind of the things you absolutely want and what you are willing to pay for them.
Travel can get really expensive fast! It is always best to have some sort of budget in mind. Every destination, however, does not require the same amount of budgeting. Some places are cheaper to travel in than others. Remember, every person does not have the same budgeting style, so find what a general fit is for you and then modify as necessary.
2.Chase the Deal, Not the Destination
This was actually the first thing that I learned when I started traveling. I had a lot of places that I wanted to go but I was trying to figure out how to economically get to them all. The way my bank account is set up, I could travel but not too far! I read a lot of articles and followed a few of my favorite travel influencers to see what their secret was and how they seemed to travel nonstop. One tip, trick, or hack that was a common theme was: chase the deal and not the destination. It is a counterintuitive approach to how people normally plan travel, but it works. So, why does this work?
Well, flight deals occur all the time, every day in fact. You will find that deals to certain locations are pretty common, from flight deals to hacker sales, there is usually something every single day. The one caveat to that is the deal may not be for the exact location you are looking to travel to at that particular time. Instead, they will be to other locations, during specific time periods, and only lasts for a short amount of time. So, instead of deciding on a location, decide on a time period or set of dates you would like to travel, and go for the deals to whatever location is cheapest at that time. Taking advantage of an opportunity like this will keep costs down in your overall budget. Don't be afraid to be flexible; you will get to all your bucket list locations in due time will money well spent.
3.Use Budget Air Travel
Budget air travel is your best friend when booking domestic trips or short international flights. The worst feeling is purchasing a flight and realizing you overpaid. So what is a budget airline or what is commonly referred to as a low-cost carrier? A low-cost carrier or budget airline is an airline that does not provide most of the traditional services in the fare, resulting in lower fares and fewer comforts. To make up for revenue lost in decreased ticket prices, the airline may charge for extras such as food, priority boarding, seat allocating, and baggage.
Beware of the trap of flying one of the major carriers. Like any other traveler, I like the comforts of some larger airlines. But if my flight will be less than three hours long, I choose a budget airline. Especially when traveling internationally, budget airliners can help save you money and help you move around a lot easier. There are some noticeable differences when flying budget but in the long run, when trying not to break the bank while traveling, your pockets will thank you.
4.Use Vacation Days to Your Benefit
One asset that people do not maximize commonly is their vacation time. You can do this by utilizing time off around company holidays or conferences. According to a recent article on CNBC.com, "52 percent of Americans didn't even use all of their vacation days in 2017." Your vacation time can be one of your biggest assets in trying to save money traveling. The best way to use your vacation time is to understand what type of vacation benefits your company offers. Before we go further, if you are in negotiations for a new position, you can negotiate for more vacation days as well as higher pay. Traditionally, most companies offer paid time off or PTO. This policy can be found in some employee handbooks detailing the bank of hours in which the employer pools sick days, vacation days, and personal days that allow employees to use as needed.
To use PTO effectively, it requires strategy. You should understand how many days you accrue per year, how fast you accrue those day and how you can take those days. Two ways to strategize your days are:
- Add days around company holidays.
- Add days around an existing business trip.
Your vacation days are a benefit to you provided by your company. They can be used to extend days on vacation that are of no cost to you. It is almost like getting extra free days that do not come out of your pocket. Whether it is getting days paid for on the company dime at a conference, or using holiday days to extend vacation time without it coming out of your PTO bank, use this benefit to fit your travel needs.
5.Get Creative When Looking for Lodging
One of my favorite to-do list items while planning a trip is looking for unique places to stay. I like to have a full on experience when I travel so I try my best to have every detail be as authentic to the culture as possible. An example, when I traveled to Paris, I wanted to stay in a flat that was overlooking the Eiffel Tower, with large French doors, wrought iron railings, balconies, floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors… you get the picture. So, I investigated as many websites as possible to find places that fit this criteria but were in my budget.
Depending on the trip, domestic or international, I may get more adventurous than normal. Most of the time for domestic trips, I stay with family or friends for the obvious reasons of saving money. If I decide to rent a place, I have a few sites that I check:
Airbnb
I like Airbnb because you can get a unique personalized experience by staying in someone's home. I love how creative the hosts are starting to get with their properties. Also, you can haggle on price just by simply emailing with the hosts.
Priceline
Priceline is my go-to when I cannot find a hotel property in my price range. I love the bidding feature which allows you to bid up to 60% off per night. I have saved tons of money on 3 to 5 star hotels.
Hotels.com
This one is probably my favorite when looking for hotels. Simply because I can book as many as I want and most of the time I get free cancellations. This helps me to reserve a room at a great price in the present time. If that price drops, Hotels allows me to cancel my current reservation and rebook with new cheaper pricing.
Kayak
This one is normally my last option but I still use it. This site has all of the benefits of hotels.com with the additional feature to track pricing. I normally use it in conjunction with all the other sites just to cross reference the prices.
Develop your list of websites that you know and trust to find lodging while traveling for cheap. Make sure to sign up for rewards benefits so that you can get the maximum out of each site. Some sites offer 10% off coupons, "stay 4 nights get 1 free", or other incentives like free breakfast or $50 off spa treatment. When looking on Airbnb, the best properties I have found were by searching through the superhosts section. I can say for sure that I got my money's worth with these properties and hosts.
There are lots of creative ways to travel within anyone's budget. The main idea is to make it a priority. Taking a trip on the fly will cost you in the long run. But if you plan appropriately, you can take the vacation you want without worrying about overspending. No destination is too exotic or expensive with the right planning. Everywhere is accessible if you renew your mindset to a new way of thinking about travel and your finances. So, go out there and see the world…within your budget!
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
My Job Kept Declining My Vacation Requests -- So I Quit
10 Best Female Solo Travel Destinations
Questions To Ask Before Traveling With Friends
How To Travel The World With A Full-Time Job
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Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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Although I’m not exactly sure that writing about sex as much as I do was on my life’s work bingo card back in the day, I must admit that it has always been a topic that has fascinated me. I think it’s because, even though society likes to gaslight us by acting like the act is “no biggie,” there is way too much data out here that says otherwise. Hmph. Not like I needed the data in the first place because, in my opinion, any act that is responsible for creating life, that is something that is a pretty BIG deal.
So, today? Today, we’re going to tackle how sex impacts us when it comes to our energy fields. What (mostly) inspired this is once reading a science-based article about how it is a fact and not a myth that just like plants can absorb energy from other plants, humans can do the same thing by being in the space of other human beings. And when you stop to really think about it, doesn’t that make all of the sense in the world?
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be terms out here like “peer pressure” and big grown folks wouldn’t be out here trying to look and act just like some of their favorite celebrities or IG influencers (and yet, on that point, I digress).
So, since energy impacts us in some pretty significant ways, let’s take a few moments to see how it goes down when it comes to copulation — just so that you’re (even more) aware of what you’re getting yourself into when you “do the do,” as far as your personal energy space is concerned.
Energy. Revisited.
GiphyOkay, so before we get all up in how energy is exchanged during sexual activity, what is energy as it relates to human beings, in general? Well, in some ways, it all depends on who you ask. For instance, the famed Greek philosopher Aristotle once said that energy is about having the capacity to do something. Some medical experts say that energy is all about how something impacts you on a mental or physical level.
For instance, negative energy tends to be very heavy and draining while positive energy can increase feel-good chemicals throughout your system which makes it easier for you to do things like be creative and problem-solve. Something else that I think is important to keep in mind as far as human energy goes is it’s impacted by a myriad of things including a person’s stress levels, how healthy a person is, what their life choices are (as far as how their decisions influence them) and even what their sleep patterns are like.
And if all of this is true, then something else that Aristotle once said about energy would be beyond accurate: “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”
Energy is life. Whew, so if this is indeed the case, does this mean that when you choose to have sex with someone, you are sharing your life force — whatever state that may be — with someone as they are doing the same to/for/with you? YES.
What Does It Mean to Exchange Sexual Energy?
GiphySince I grew up in an entertainment industry household, I think that’s probably why I’ve ended up with some close friends who are in the industry as well. That said, I will never forget when I was talking to one of them one day about a particular artist. When I expressed how much sex appeal that she had, my (male) friend simply said, “Yeah, I’ve been in her presence a few times before. She has some really dark energy. I didn’t even hug her.”
Now from a scientific standpoint, dark energy is simply what causes the universe to accelerate in growth over a certain period of time; however, when a person is described to have dark energy, that usually means that they have an evil and/or negative and/or heavy and/or draining aura about them. And y’all, here’s what’s semi-wild about what he said: did you know that science backs that hugs do indeed transfer energy?
Yep, research reveals that a hug from someone can literally alter your brain and body chemistry — so you definitely need to be discerning about who you let up into your affection space. Straight up. And so, since a hug has the capacity to do that, how much more can SEX?
To further emphasize this, let’s begin with an article that I read on Healthline’s website entitled, “Do We Really Exchange Energy During Sex?” After checking it out, one of the main things that I appreciated was when a doctor who was interviewed for the piece said:
“Every sex act is an exchange of energy [because] every sexual act raises or lowers your energy level…Therefore, a sexual relationship isn’t a purely psychological or physiological, mechanical act…Rather, it’s an energetic action. When we have an intimate relationship with someone, the two energies merge.”
Okay, so according to science, when two people have sex, energies merge. Well, according to Scripture, when two people have sex, oneness transpires (Genesis 2:24-25). Let’s keep going.
There was once a Physician-scientist by the name of Wilhelm Reich (who actually died in prison, in part, because of his radical beliefs on sex and orgasms during his time), who once said that having a healthy sex life (which, to him, including orgasms and is what he referred to as “orgastic potency”) is what played a huge role in one’s emotional health and well-being. That’s because, to him, without the release of sexual energy, neurological disorders would be come to be.
My takeaway from this is when you think about the fact that things like serotonin, dopamine, and the “the bonding chemical” oxytocin are all released during sex (and most certainly during orgasms), and also since sex (and orgasms) reduce stress — you need to tend to your sexual energy for the sake of your holistic health. Let’s continue on.
After reading an article on sexual energy on Cosmo’s website in which one of the sex therapists said that “our sexuality is our power" and then reading an article on the same topic on Well + Good’s platform where another expert stated that, “Many belief systems believe sexual energy is an expression of the soul's connection to the cosmos and the rest of the universe”, I thought about the word “power” and then “soul connection.”
At the end of the day, power isn’t just ability but the capability to influence and even take authority over something or someone. And a soul connection? Several years ago, when I penned a piece for the platform entitled, “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul,” one of the things that I made sure to emphasize is your soul IS also your life. This means that soul connections are life connections.
And so, it would appear that sharing sexual energy also means that you are making a life connection with someone. And that type of connection has the power to influence you in ways that you couldn’t even begin to imagine. That is how deep exchanging sexual energy is.
What You Should Always Keep in Mind Before Sharing Sexual Energy with Someone Else
GiphyNow are there degrees to this whole sexual energy thing? Of course. The type of connection that a husband and wife of 20 years can make via sex is very different than a one-night stand. However, it would appear that science believes that it doesn’t really matter what you tell yourself about sex with someone (or even how many condoms you may use during sex) — potent energy is exchanged regardless.
That’s a huge part of the reason why I will forever roll my eyes about how ridiculous “casual sex” sounds to me, because, although I do believe that it is very possible to engage in coitus that has no real purpose (casual is purposeless, by definition), what isn’t possible is for there not to be a significant connection made from a scientific standpoint. Because again, if a mere hug can alter you (shoot, a handshake too), do you really think that allowing a man’s penis into the sacred space known as your vagina will not? After reading all of this…do you really?
When it comes to energy, author T. Harv Eker once said, “Energy is contagious: either you affect people or you infect people.” With all that was just shared about sexual energy, each and every person you choose to “engage” with, they are either going to affect you or infect you — just with their energy alone.
Knowing this, if there was ever a time to choose wisely, this would be it.
Your energy is your power. Who you exchange power with? CHOOSE WISELY.
EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON.
And because energy can shift…be cognizant of what you’re doing…EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
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Featured image by Giphy