This guest post is written by the amazing Molly Barnes who runs the website DigitalNomadLife.org. Molly recently quit her day job and started traveling across the country with her boyfriend. On her blog, she shares previous tips about budgeting, working remotely and traveling. Welcome Molly!
For some people, a house in the suburbs and a family is the ultimate goal. For others, particularly those in their 20s, seeing the world is a higher priority. There’s certainly no right or wrong way to set goals or approach life, but living a nomadic lifestyle comes with a lot of advantages. From cultural traditions to cuisine, the world is an amazing place. Without taking a leap and hitting the road, you may never see the countless wonders across countries and continents.
Leaving behind a traditional job and life to live on the road may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many steps you can take to prepare for and help yourself afford a nomadic lifestyle — no matter how much you make or where you’re planning to go.
Create a Plan
Before booking a one-way plane ticket, you need to have an idea of where you want to travel, what you want to see, and how long you plan to leave the comforts of home. You don’t need to have specifics pinned down at the start, like all the countries you plan to see or the order in which you’d like to see them, but a basic structure for what lies ahead can be valuable in planning for the future.
For example, a six-month adventure will likely require different cost considerations than a nomadic trip of a year or more. It’s okay to leave things a little open-ended when you’re just starting to brainstorm, but there’s no good way to be sure all your financial bases are covered unless you have a framework in mind.
Planning is a critical part of the process and will serve as the structure of your budget. If along the way you find your rudimentary plans aren’t in line with reality, you may need to take more time to save or reconsider your must-see checklist before setting out on your adventure.
Set a Budget
When you choose a nomadic lifestyle, you can surrender many of the costlier aspects of modern life, like paying for long-term rent or a mortgage and covering the cost of commuting. However, this doesn’t mean traveling the world is free. Instead, you’re essentially replacing one significant set of expenses with another: plane or train tickets, temporary lodging, and food while on the go. With the framework you have in mind for your adventures, determine about how much you can afford to spend per month to cover housing, food, and other basics, like internet access, a data plan, or energy costs.
Be aware that your expenses may change from month to month. Staying in rural Brazil will likely be much cheaper than anywhere in Paris, so adjust your expectations accordingly. Be sure to consider all options to keep your costs down, like couch-surfing with acquaintances or staying in hostels. And recognize that not all your domestic expenses can be eliminated by traveling; you’ll still need to calculate and pay taxes if you have any income, so make sure you’re prepared.
Tie Up Loose Ends
While you’re gone, will you let the lease on your apartment end? Will you sell your car? Can you use your home as a vacation rental? Will your job let you take an extended leave or work from the road? All these questions need answers before you depart. Everything from your car to your pets to your mail will require arrangements while you’re away, and in many cases; this usually means leaning on friends and family to ensure nothing slips between the cracks. Ideally, you’ll do what you can to keep costs low, like waiting to leave until your lease runs out, but selling a house to travel for a year isn’t prudent, for example.
Think carefully about options for addressing all your obligations, both major and minor, and create a definitive plan for how everything will be organized. Even seemingly little things can cause big issues, like inquiry letters from the IRS that easily get ignored, so be sure you’re completely covered before you embark. The peace of mind you get from having everything taken care of can vastly improve your experience on the road.
Create an Income Game Plan
Unless you’re lucky enough to have plenty of disposable savings and can see the world without sacrificing retirement or future plans, you’ll likely need to generate some income while traveling. If you have a job that’s already remote, you may be able to continue on as normal with the approval of your supervisor, but for most people, it won’t necessarily be easy. You may be able to switch over to a freelance format; for example, an accountant could offer per-hour freelance consulting to small businesses, or a marketing pro could offer content writing or social media management from afar.
For those dedicated to switching careers, it may be possible to find something more flexible and even travel-oriented, like an international sales position or a job that requires a frequent presence at trade shows or conferences. You may not be able to rival your old salary, but consulting, contracting, sales, and even crafting can be handled remotely with lucrative results, so think about your options and get creative.
For those with stable jobs, asking for an extended leave of absence may yield the ability to travel without losing employment, but for many people, a nomadic lifestyle may mean leaving a good job behind, so carefully consider future ramifications before taking off.
Draft a Dedicated Itinerary
When everything from your budget to your income plan is arranged, and you’re sure traveling is a realistic option for your life, it’s time to determine exactly what lies in store. You need a plan for where you’re going and how you’re getting there, options for residence, shopping and cooking options, sightseeing opportunities, and anything else relevant during your stay.
Do thorough homework on everything from cost of living in each area to price points for hostels, hotels, and AirBnBs. Even life as a nomad requires planning, so invest plenty of time in this step to be sure your budget and arrangements at home will cover you as long as you need.
If you’re concerned about hitting too many high-cost places, like European capital cities, blend in some lower-cost avenues. Within the U.S., for example, Atlanta is a cultural mecca with plenty to do, lots to see, and ample places to rent at a fraction of the cost of New York City.
Leaving normal life behind to travel the world can be frightening, but it’s a risk well worth taking. By leaving a desk job and the standard obligations that society insists are necessary, if only for a little while, you can take advantage of what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see what other nations and cultures have in store.
Please note this is a sponsored post for which I may be compensated.
If you’ve ever thought about losing a few (or a lot of) pounds and getting healthy, then you may have dealt with what I call the Motivation factor (or lack thereof). I know I have…As a working mom, I’ve struggled with finding the time, energy and effort to shed those unwanted pounds, especially after having my babies. In between growing family obligations, a busy career, and unending to-do lists, it seemed I’d never be able to make the scale move an inch. I’d hit the gym one day, then slack off and eat carbs for the rest of the month…Did I mention paying gym membership fees that went to very little, if any, use?
You may be experiencing something similar. Without a reward system that truly motivates you, it can be challenging to stick to a consistent routine. Yet, what if you could actually get paid to get (and stay) healthy? What if dropping the excess weight could translate into picking up extra coins? What if your efforts at getting and staying healthy were actually rewarded with some sweet cash?
Enter Healthy Wage. As an innovative company whose challenges have been featured on the likes of CNN, ABC, and NBC, it helps you do just that. Healthy Wageoffers online weight loss challenges with …cash rewards at the end of these. Basically, you’re being paid to drop the pounds. According to this Journal of American Medical Association study, individuals with a financial incentive to lose weight are almost five times to reach their goals than those who don’t. Additionally, another 2013 Mayo Clinic study reveals that weight-loss program participants are more likely to pursue their weight-loss goals on a long-term basis if there is a financial incentive than if there isn’t. The point is, although health is a reward in and of itself, a gift card may work better.
Besides, in addition to the cash prizes, there are many other rewards to using Healthy Wage:
Weight loss is hard, making it fun helps!
Just open a women’s magazine and watch your pressure rise as you contemplate different dieting and weight loss options. Truth is, weight loss is hard! Yet, when you turn in into a friendly competition, add in some teamwork and encouragement with HealthyWage, it becomes an exciting challenge instead!
Enter Healthy Wage. As an innovative company whose challenges have been featured on the likes of CNN, ABC, and NBC, it helps you do just that. Healthy Wageoffers online weight loss challenges with …cash rewards at the end of these. Basically, you’re being paid to drop the pounds. According to this Journal of American Medical Association study, individuals with a financial incentive to lose weight are almost five times to reach their goals than those who don’t. Additionally, another 2013 Mayo Clinic study reveals that weight-loss program participants are more likely to pursue their weight-loss goals on a long-term basis if there is a financial incentive than if there isn’t. The point is, although health is a reward in and of itself, a gift card may work better.
Besides, in addition to the cash prizes, there are many other rewards to using Healthy Wage:
Weight loss is hard, making it fun helps!
Just open a women’s magazine and watch your pressure rise as you contemplate different dieting and weight loss options. Truth is, weight loss is hard! Yet, when you turn in into a friendly competition, add in some teamwork and encouragement with HealthyWage, it becomes an exciting challenge instead!
The more fun you have, the easier it gets to shed the pounds!
Do you notice how sometimes all it takes is the support of a few friends and loved ones to turn a daunting task into something much manageable? The same premise applies for Healthy Wage. The more fun you have participating in team challenges, the more support you get, and the easier it all gets!
www.healthywage.com
Good health is contagious!
The best part about this? The healthier you get with HealthyWage, the more you can actually impact those around you. From your loved ones and friends, to your co-workers and entire company, your success story can actually motivate others to create their own.
As busy working moms, we are often our worst critics. In addition to the weight we already carry as caretakers and caregivers, we have to add to it the responsibilities that come with careers and businesses. All of this often translates into negative self-talk, or even blatant criticism from the outside world. As a working mom myself, I’m certainly not immune to it. I’ve also found over time that one of the best ways to counteract this is through positive daily affirmations.
I discovered the power of positive affirmations when I first started struggling with juggling career and family. As many other working moms, dealing with the ups and downs of being a parent, in addition to work, home and relationships, triggered many of my already present insecurities. Was I a good mom? What if I didn’t cook every day? Was I missing out on my kids’ growth by being at work? All these questions, and then some, rattled my mind day in and day out. That’s when I started using affirmations to stop myself from beating myself down, and instead empower, encourage and motivate myself more.
Whether on my way to work (especially when I am late dropping off the kids, yet again!), in traffic, or in the middle of a tantrum episode under my breath, I like to repeat these as a way of pumping myself up. There’s something about telling yourself a different, more positive and uplifting story about yourself that elevates your mindset and improves your outcomes. Here are 10 of my favorite daily positive affirmations for busy working moms:
I am enough!
All is well and everything is working out for my ultimate good.
I am doing the best I can at all times.
I accept myself as I am.
I am the best mother for my children that I can be.
I trust myself and my intuition to be the best mother and woman I can be.
I choose to practice self-care so I can be the best mom I can be.
I am strong, powerful and unstoppable.
I am becoming the best version of myself every day.
I deserve love, respect and affection.
What are your favorite positive affirmations for working moms? Please share with us.
Does having kids hurt your career? As a working mom, it may be tempting to think so. Just the mere fact of going on maternity leave can sometimes seem like a step back for many working moms, as their absence in the office often puts them at a disadvantage. By the time many working moms come back to work, their most important responsibilities may have been reassigned. Or they may no longer be privy to the same conversations and access they used to have. Even worse, their competencies may be questioned, now that they have to “balance” work and life.
As a result, there is a wide pre-conception that having kids hurts working moms’ careers. According to recent studies, the gender pay gap is largely a consequence of motherhood. A study by the Census Bureaureveals that the earnings gap between spouses of opposite sexes doubles between the two before the couple’s first child is born, and a year thereafter. When surveyed, as in this Pew Research Center’s publication, Americans and Europeans have the tendency to agree with women working part-time or not at all after having children. All in all, the statistics out there are far from being encouraging when it comes to working moms’ careers after children.
In my own experience, having kids actually did wonders for my career. Although I did initially feel, especially after coming back from maternity leave, as if I had made a few steps back, the difference for me was more mental and spiritual. Having children allowed me to start asking myself the tough questions: “What am I here for? What is my purpose? How is my career advancing my purpose?” These questions in turn allowed me to re-direct my work towards a more fulfilling path aligned with who I am and what my purpose is.
Despite the staggering statistics out there, it is up to us, as working moms, to re-frame the context of our own lives and careers. Not in terms of impossible choices to make (having kids or a successful career?), but in terms of how we can integrate, not balance, the various areas of our lives and work to show up and perform in the fullness of who we are:
Allow the experience of motherhood to help you-re-define yourself
Motherhood is an experience like no other. I strongly believe we’re not born mothers, we become mothers. It’s a wonderful path of constant growth and self-discovery. I’m happy (and relieved) to say that I’m probably learning more from my children than they are learning from me. However, it took me some time to allow this growth and change in myself, as I was stubbornly attached to the way things were and “should be”.
By allowing the experience of motherhood, with all its ups and downs, late appointments, booked schedules, messy mornings and sweet kisses, to change us, we allow ourselves to grow and be re-defined as well. And yes, it also affects our careers and the way we work. It may mean reconsidering our current field, company or occupation entirely. It may mean becoming a stay-at-home mom, or an entrepreneur. It may also mean taking a pay cut, or watch our earnings decline. Whatever it is, it will rock your career, not for the worse, but for the better.
Give yourself permission to re-direct yourself
Becoming a mom will change your life, and it will change your career. Not that you necessarily need to change jobs, or switch companies, or go hiking in the Himalayas. But it will change the way you perceive the work you do. For some, it may be a confirmation of what you are already doing. For others, it may be a total re-direction.
This is where it’s crucial to give yourself permission to re-direct yourself and your work. Does it mean you should get up and leave the job that is paying rent and putting food in the kids’ mouths? No. Yet, it means being opened to a gradual evolution in your work. It may be developing a side hustle into a business while you keep your day job. It may be asking for more flexibility or considering a lateral move in your company. Whatever it is, give yourself permission to consider and explore it, one bit at a time.
Trust the process
Last but not least, trust the process. Being a working mom is not something you can plan on a day to day basis. Things will happen, laundry will pile up, traffic will keep you from making it to work on time, and poopy diapers will have you re-consider the very meaning of life.
Yet, this is not a sign that kids are derailing, slowing down or hurting your career. It’s just the signal that change is here to help you become your best self.
Do you think having kids has hurt or benefited your career?
As I’m drafting this email, I’m reeling from the last Women of Color in the Academy Conference I attended last week. The theme of this year’s Women of Color in the Academy conference in Boston, held at Northeastern University, was all around self-care as women of color in academia. From dealing with micro-aggressions to developing negotiation skills, aligning with our vision, and growing as a scholar and academic, the topics covered were deep, vast and overall extremely empowering.
While the content of the conference itself was top-notch, it was more so the fact that so many professional women of color within a profession were gathered together in the same rooms. To be able to see familiar faces in a career and business setting was nothing short of amazing. As women of color, we’re most often in working environments with very few of our counterparts, if any. This reinforces the sense of isolation many, if not most of us, may feel in the context of our work, which in turn exacerbates negative patterns such as Impostor syndrome, lack of self-confidence, poor negotiation skills, and so much more.
There is something about representation that strengthens one’s ability to perform at optimal levels. Studies suggest that women of color are unfortunately less supported at work.According to this 2016 Catalyst report, the latter even tend to pay an “emotional tax” translating in a constant sense of being under-valued and having to be cautious at work. These hurdles due to lack of adequate representation, among other factors, have proven to be extremely detrimental to women of color.
As such, going from environments sorely lacking in diversity to having the opportunity to enjoy and leverage this diversity during women of color conferences goes a long way. This is the main reason why women of color conferences are critical to the latter’s growth, balance and flourishing, both professionally and personally. Aside from this, these conferences are also needed to:
Women of color conferences do provide the advantage of creating a platform to share common experiences and find tools to grow through these. They are also a powerful source of networking, in addition to nurturing a wider pool of diverse talent. Imagine if each woman of color could recommend another woman of color for opening positions across organizations and institutions?
Share and develop best practices
Women of color face unique challenges and situations that require unique solutions. These are the types of solutions and best practices that are discussed and developed during these conferences. In turn, these best practices can help improve organizations as a whole.
This is the reason why women of color conferences virtually act as masterminds to craft best diversity and work practices in general.
Start a conversation that can be continued in our workplaces
Last but not least, women of color conferences have the advantage of starting important conversations on diversity and equity. After these conferences, attendees tend to go back to work more open and willing to continue the conversation.
What has been your experience attending women of color conferences?
Ask a CPA is a column I write as a Certified Public Accountant to share accounting, business and tax knowledge to readers of The Corporate Sister.
As a working parent, you know how precious your kids are. You also know how expensive raising them can be. From the astronomical cost of childcare to medical bills, and the prospect of college education, the costs of being a parent keep increasing each and every year. Which is why most of us welcome any breaks we can get to help lighten the modern financial weight of parenting. Especially when it comes to tax breaks…
These tax breaks come in handy for working families at tax time. Some of these breaks come in the form of deductions, which reduce your taxable income, or the amount you’re being taxed on. Some examples of deductions include college tuition and fees for instance. Other tax breaks come in the form of credits, which are subtracted from your tax bill dollar for dollar or are added to your refund. An example of tax credit is the child-tax credit. However, both of these are subject to income limits.
If you’re wondering about these, here are 6 tax breaks you can get as a working parent:
The student loan interest deduction
For working parents needing to borrow money for their child’s college education, the student loan interest deduction provides some relief. As a parent, you can write off up to $2,500 in student loan interest. However, if you’re a married filer with a Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) between $135,000 and $165,000, the deduction starts phasing out. If you’re single, the same restriction applies if your AGI falls between $65,000 and $80,000.
The child-tax credit
As a result of the Tax Cuts and Job Act, for 2018 through 2025, this credit amounts to $2,000 per child as a federal income tax credit. There are no limits to how many children can qualify within a household. However, there is an income limit here, as with most tax credits. It starts to phase out for married-filing-joint couples with modified Adjusted Gross Incomes (AGI) over $400,000. For unmarried people, the phase-put starts at $200,000 of AGI.
The child and dependent care credit
If you’re a working parent in a household with two incomes or are looking for a job with children under the age of 13, you may qualify for this credit. If you’re a student or a disabled parent, you may also qualify.
Basically, this credit allows you to claim a credit of 20 to 35% on childcare expenses up to $3,000 for one child. For two (2) or more children, this credit is up to $6,000. Here as well, there is an income limit for parents earning more than $43,000, for whom the credit will begin to shrink.
American Opportunity Higher Education Credit
This credit helps with the cost of undergraduate college education. If your child is in their first four years of college, he or she may qualify for up to $2,500 a year worth of credit. The number of children to qualify in a household is not limited here.
However, there are income restrictions for married joint filers whose modified AGI is between $160,000 and $180,000. If you’re a single parent, then the credit phases out if your modified AGI is between $80,000 and $90,000.
Lifetime Learning Higher Education Credit
This second higher education credit applies to students who have more than four (4) years of college credit under their belt. It also applies to any other family members also taking classes. One major restriction of this credit is that it cannot be claimed more than once on any given tax return.
With this credit, you can claim 20% of tuition and other qualified expenses, up to $10,000 worth of expenses. The maximum credit you can then claim is $2,000. If you’re marrying filing jointly with your partner, this credit is phased out if your modified AGI is between $114,000 and $134,000. As a single parent, the same restriction applies if your modified AGI is between $57,000 and $67,000.
The adoption credit
If you’ve adopted a child, you may be able to claim an adoption credit to help with the related expenses. For 2018, this credit is up to $13,810. If you’ve adopted a special-needs child, you may take the entirety of the credit, even if your actual expenses are less than the credit. The income restriction is for parents with modified AGIs in excess of $207,140. Beyond $247,140 as a modified AGI, this credit is completely phased out.
Being a working mom is not easy. Let me repeat this: Being a working mom is not easy! Despite all the tools, the modern technology, and the support we seem to be getting, there is still a lot we have to do, in between taking care of ourselves, our families, and our careers or businesses. The busier we get, the harder it is to keep up with all the balls we have juggling up in the air. However, there are ways to simplify life as a working mom.
As a working mom trying to do it all and get it all to fit in to my tight schedule, I’ve come to understand that the solution lies in one word: simplify. Instead of constantly wondering how to be more flexible so I can add more to my schedule, I’ve started asking myself: “What can I remove off of my schedule?”
The truth is, we’ve overpacked our lives and careers with too many obligations to keep up with. Running from ineffective meetings to “pick-my-brain” coffee sessions, to umpteen playdates and school events, not to mention the mandatory networking around the clock, we’re definitely booked and busy. That’s where I found myself until I realized that overwhelm is not a lifestyle. That’s also where Amazon helps me simplify my life as a working mom:
Skipping the supermarket with Amazon Fresh and Amazon Pantry
Wouldn’t you be happy to gain the hour or so you spend at the grocery store every week? You can now do so by having groceries and household essentials right at your door with Amazon Freshand Amazon Pantry.
With Amazon Fresh, all you have to do is shop for groceries online, schedule your delivery, and get all of it fresh and fast right at your doorstep, all for $14 a month. Voila! Amazon Pantryallows you as an Amazon Prime member in select areas to shop for low priced products and exclusive savings. If you’re an Amazon Freshcustomer, you don’t need to sign up for Amazon Pantry.
No time to clean? You can hire a professional house cleaner from Amazon Home Services. This includes carpet cleaning, hardwood floor cleaning, window washing, as well as general house cleaning.
Other services such as desk, bed, furniture and exercise bike assembly are also available. You can also get home improvement, as well as computers and electronics, yard and outdoors services.
Are you ready to welcome a new baby in the family? Or do you know someone who is? You can now add any item from any registry to Amazon Registry, and save 15% as a Prime member too.
You also get a FREE welcome box for parents and baby with a value of $35 as well.
I used to read at least a book a month…before kids! As a working mom, it seems the minute I grab a book, someone needs me to do something. That’s when one of my babies doesn’t use my books as art canvas, or drop them in the toilet. Can you relate?
A few years into mommyhood, I was introduced to Kindle Unlimited, which allows me to read just about anywhere. My favorite feature is the Unlimited Audiobooks, which lets me listen to countless books I don’t otherwise have time to read on the go. I can now turn my commute into a relaxing, reading time…until the kiddos get in!
I fell in love with Amazon Primea while ago, just because it makes my life as a working mom so much easier. One of my favorite features is Prime Delivery, which delivers over 100 million items in two days straight right at my doorstep for FREE!
Additionally, now that Whole Foods supermarket is part of Amazon, I can order thousands of items from Whole Foods and have them delivered right to my home. Other benefits of Amazon Prime also include Prime Video, so you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows; in addition to Prime Music, which gives you access to millions of playlists and songs.
While you can read on the go with Kindle Unlimited, if you want to focus on audiobooks with Audible. One of the great benefits is that you get one audiobook and two Audible originals each month for $14.95 a month.
You can also exchange and swap audiobooks with others, and roll over your credits so you can read at your own pace.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly books, movies, educational apps, games and TV shows, FreeTime Unlimitedis here for you! The best part is that you can customize your child’s experience to limit their screen time and use age filters, and offer the most relevant books, videos and apps for them.
Do you have your own business, or need to purchase business items for your company? Amazon Businesscan help you receive exclusive discounts in price and quantity on more than 5 million products to be delivered through convenient and fast shipping.
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