Are you thinking about tackling a trip to Patagonia? Do you want to see firsthand the vastness of the Australian Outback? Ambitious endeavors like this can be exhilarating and expensive, but if you feel strongly enough about an over-the-top adventure – go for it.
Two of the biggest issues are having the time and the money to spend on such a challenge. When I was 21 I went to Europe for three months with a girlfriend and we had a fantastic time.
I quit my job and she worked for her father so that part was solved very quickly. However, money was a different deal. We both decided we were going to do this trip, so we saved up for it. Yes, all of this takes planning and discipline, but it’s worth it in the long run. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
PRICEY LUNCHES
In my office I am always astounded at how much money some staffers spend on their lunches. They order over the phone and in no time it’s delivered: $15 to $20 including tax and tip. It may not be chic to brown bag one’s lunch, but there’s no comparison when it comes to forking over money.
AFTERNOON LATTES
Starbucks here in New York is overpriced as far as I am concerned: a frappuccino is close to $5.00. Multiply this by five working days and it mounts up. Eliminate this afternoon extravagance and put the savings in your pocket.
HAPPY HOUR DRINKS
Going out with the gang after work is lots of fun and often politically smart. But drinking, at least here in New York, can be expensive. An $8.00 glass of white wine is a rara avis. More recently, we’ve spent $20 to $25 for a Bloody Mary. Do away with this expenditure until after you have the greenbacks for your trip.
WALK, DON’T RIDE
In Manhattan everyone takes cabs or uses Uber. But again, this can chip away at your stash of dough. Often, it’s not the big items that erode savings for a big event. Rather, it’s the constant drip, drip and drip of little daily purchases that does it.
ZAP TV CHANNELS
When you load up your monthly cable bill with HBO, Showtime and more you are adding to your overall total with channels you may not even watch. We had HBO for years until I decided it just wasn’t worth the extra dollars and I canceled it.
USE THE LIBRARY
This is a way to read books, see films and listen to CDs without spending a dime. Yes, you have to go to the library itself and you have to return each item on time. But remember, you’re aiming for an once-in-a-lifetime adventure and that’s the most important thing right now.
SHOP WITH CARE
It takes a little more effort to be aware of prices, but if you go to CVS to buy cosmetics you’re certainly going to spend less than if you go to Saks. And you may not be sacrificing quality either. Everything we’ve listed here is useful for attaining your ultimate goal. You may not want to do these things forever. But, for now, these tips work.
MAY WE SUGGEST…
For your adventure-of-a-lifetime you’ll want to travel smart. ADEA’s fashions are all incredibly wearable and packable. Check them out.
Shaun Nelson-HenrickComments will be approved before showing up.
I just read an article that sounded – to me at least – like “a canary in a coal mine” or an early warning of danger. This piece, written by Joe Pompeo, appeared in the May 2020 issue of Vanity Fair magazine with the title “The British Tabloid Invasion” and a subtitle that read, “How the Daily Mail is conquering American gossip.”
The paparazzi horde, La Dolce Vita, 1960 – photo courtesy of Vanity Fair
Apparently the good old U.S. is a nation of “not great” sleepers. Really? And I thought I was the only one! According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was revealed that one out of three Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. Yikes!
I think we’re all taken by the incredible mystique of the famous French fashion house, Hermès that has been with us for two centuries and is still owned and operated by the same family. From its beginnings in fine equestrian leather goods, they are – in the tumultuous year 2020 – best known for their handbags and many other items.
My image of Hermès has always been rarified products at equally rarified prices so imagine my surprise when I recently received a very stylish publication of theirs in the mail.
