Money Matters
jessica490
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Vacations
What are your travel plans for this year?
Re: Vacations
Well, we were supposed to go to my parents new condo in Florida in May (only have to pay for flights, car, groceries and entertainment) but we opted out of it so that we can get projects done around the house. We'd rather spend the money doing this (not me lol), but I know it's the right decision. I'm still taking a week off for this though.
We have a Cape Cod wedding in Sept so we will make a long weekend out of that and hit up Newport on the way.
We are also planning our big 5 year wedding anniversary by going back to Sandals in May 2017. I think it will be the Antigua St John one this time so that will be something to save up for as they are $$$$$. But something to look forward too! has anyone been to this one?
Otherwise, we don't have anything on the books right now. We've been TTC for nine months, and are hesitant to book anything international right now - which is KILLING me because we have just enough miles for two round trip tickets to Europe just sitting there!!
In Oct I'll go to Australia with my aunt for 2 weeks. She'll be 71 then and while she is still very active and fit, she doesn't know how much longer she will want to do the crazy long flights. I'm glad I have my blow money saved up to go with her. This will be my 6th continent!
Maybe we'll do a weekend visiting someone in DC or Ohio during the summer. We have to see if H is working and then see what his schedule is.
Later this year we will plan a cruise with my H's family for 2017. We are thinking maybe Eastern or Southern Carribbean. We did a Western Caribbean cruise with them in 2015. We drove to Galveston, TX from central IL this last time, and decided we are DEFINITELY flying to the port city next time.
Then we're going to try to visit my parents on St. Lucia over Christmas. They live overseas and move around a lot, so I actually haven't gone to see them since 2012. I see them when they come to the States about once a year but it's past time for us to make the effort. Not that I'm complaining! It will be a great trip, but I do wish it was cheaper/easier to visit them.
Also, I'm super jealous of everyone's vacation plans so far. I really want to go back to Europe for a week, but our budget is only $3k (although I could work in a little more) and H isn't on board with another long flight. I know there are cool destinations in the US and Canada, but this may be our last opportunity for a long vacation before a baby and I really want to take advantage of it. Also, H is starting a new consulting contract next week so he can't really ask for time off until he's been there for a couple months. So, our plans are TBD.
My H and I had such a great time in NYC in May, that we want to hit a long weekend probably in March. Now that I know how cheap and easy it is to get there from NOLA ($200 r/t, direct flight), I want to visit more often.
I haven't done much planning yet, but I've never been to Europe and we decided this is the year. We're planning for an early Fall trip. I'm leaning toward Italy/Germany, but have started paying attention to package deals. So if I see a good one, that could make a difference on our destinations.
H and I are going to take a long trip in June! We're going to be trailering our boat from MD to Miami... From Miami we will take the boat over to Bimini Bahamas for a week. I absolutely cannot wait! H's mom was nice enough to give us time share points for our stay in Miami so we get 2 nights free. We're going with another couple and splitting the cost of gas, hotels, etc. Plus renting a condo with a full kitchen in the Bahamas so we can eat in some nights.
There is a possibility we'll take a big group trip in November. Last time we had a group of about 30 and we went to Punta Cana, I believe they're planning to do Mexico this year at an all inclusive resort.
And finally BIL might be getting married this fall, no set plans, but they want a destination wedding so we'll plan to go for probably 4 days if they do that.
@simplyelise H and I have separate finances and we usually just split trip costs down the middle if we go on an all inclusive trip. If we go on a non-AI trip we alternate paying for things. It usually ends up being about equal anyway. We pay for our own souvenirs and such.
My aunt and I went to NZ 10+ years ago. It was awesome. I think AUS will be nice but I'm guessing it might not top NZ. We did 2 weeks and saw the major cities and sights. Back then we saw a pre-earthquake Christchurch and it was a neat, beautiful city. So sad about the damage that was done and the tragedy.