Travel

How to Travel as a High Profile Lawyer

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If you are a high-profile lawyer, you will undoubtedly find yourself traveling in order to assist your clients. Since September 11, travel has become very difficult and often frustrating for all types of consumers, especially those who are traveling by air. Also, the airlines no longer have a sterling reputation when it comes to treating passengers fairly as the customers they truly are.

In order to find out how attorneys can expect to have a smooth experience when traveling, we spoke with Douglas Healy. Healy is the former Senior Trial Attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s office in Missouri. Healy is currently the general counsel for the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission and founded his firm, Healy Law Offices, in 2007. His private law practice serves industrial and commercial firms.

Pre-Screening Services

The Department of Homeland Security in December announced that two more air carriers have decided to take part in the TSA pre-screening process for air travelers. Now, 73 domestic and international carriers participate in the TSA expedited screening program. Expedited screening can get customers through screening in less than five minutes. The time savings occurs because travelers who participate in the expedited screening don’t have to take off their shoes, belts or light jackets. They also don’t have their laptops scrutinized.

If you are not already using the pre-screening process, there is an $85 charge for five years’ worth of service. You have to fill out an application as well.

How to Avoid Cancellations and Delays

According to National Public Radio, common complaints about the major air carriers include delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights. You can look up the current data on delays, cancellations and overbookings on the DOT website in their Air Travel Consumer Reports. NPR also found that a complaint to the DOT was the only way to have your cancellation, delay or overbooking register on the Air Travel Consumer Report. Of course, this leads to the logical conclusion that the data found on the DOT website for airline reliability does not reflect all of the poor service that actually occurs.

Forbes Magazine examined the highly-respected, Airline Quality Report published by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and found the best four carriers for passengers who choose to avoid delays, cancellations and overbookings are Delta, Jet Blue, Southwest and Alaska Airlines. The worst two carriers are currently American and Frontier Airlines.

Passport Scan

In a time-saving move that other carriers will likely adopt as well, American Airlines became the first major airline carrier to provide a mobile app for its customers that allows clients to scan their passport for international flights and head to the departure gate. This allows customers to avoid a visual passport check at the airline check-in counter.

Uber and Lyft May Not Be Cheapest Everywhere

If you plan on avoiding a rental and getting around in another city via Uber and Lyft, besides growing concerns about safety issues, The Verge is reporting that cities and states are beginning to get tough on the ride-hailing providers because of a litany of problems these companies are causing in their locales, such as increased traffic congestion. Cities and states are beginning to impose congestion taxes, such as a fee for use of Uber or Lyft at the most congested areas in New York City and extra fees to operate at the Phoenix airport. Also, New York City now requires the ride-hailing firms to pay its drivers a minimum of $17.22 per hour, and California is now requiring the companies to treat the drivers as employees.

Even though both ride-sharing companies are ignoring the California law at press time, all of this is bound to increase the cost of rides in certain sectors over time. In the case of the Phoenix airport, Uber and Lyft have temporarily pulled their services from these areas. All of this leads to the conclusion that you should compare Lyft, Uber and taxi fees in any given area and see if they even provide service there before you end up stranded or paying more than you bargained for.

According to Douglas Healy, there are some simple tips that high-profile lawyers can employ in order to make travel more streamlined, such as using TSA pre-screening services, passport scan services as they become available, ratings of airlines for dependability and possibly taxis or car rentals as opposed to Uber and Lyft. Otherwise, you are likely bound to encounter unnecessary waits, cancellations and delays

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Tuck Associates Discusses How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt While Planning Your Next Vacation

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When you have credit card debt, many life events are often put on hold. Simple pleasures like eating out, shopping and going on vacation are riddled with guilt as you think about how all the money could be put toward bills. But when you constantly pay off debt, you also need a break now and again to continue enjoying life and staying financially motivated.

Even if you have credit card debt, you can still plan a wonderful vacation without skipping payments. Tuck Associates wants to help you gain financial independence and build confidence as you pay off debt and find a healthy balance.

The Importance of Flexibility

If someone only commits every cent they make to paying off bills, they’re likely to become depressed and burnt out. Although it’s important to pay as much as you reasonably can toward debt each month, you shouldn’t sacrifice important aspects of your well-being including a social life and family vacations.

The key factor of enjoying financial freedom while you pay off debt is flexibility. You may not be able to justify or afford the brand name jacket you want, for example, but you can still purchase a new coat that looks great and boosts your self-esteem.

The same goes for a vacation. While cheaper accommodations and transportation should be chosen first, you don’t have to automatically assume that traveling is completely out of the question just because you have debt.

Choose the Right Destination

Tuck Associates suggests choosing a travel destination that is relatively local and, as a result, more affordable to reach. A close location will cut down on flight or train costs so you can allocate more money to your savings, debt repayment or other travel expenditures.

A road trip to the coast or a few states over can be just as fun and exciting as jet setting to another country. It may not be exactly what you want right now, but keep that flexible mindset in place so you can embrace the opportunities and adventures that are close to you.

Visit Family or Friends

If you have family or friends in a different state, consider staying with them instead of paying for a hotel. Although private accommodations are typically more convenient, allowing loved ones to host you could save you hundreds of dollars that can be put toward credit card payments.

Understand Debt’s Role in Your Life

Some forms of debt are difficult to ever live without; mortgages, auto and student loans endure for years, and they are an essential part of life. People who still have these forms of debt can still learn to budget within their leans and lead fulfilling lives.

If you have credit card debt, the first thing you should do is understand which debts are the most pressing. Typically, these are the cards with the highest balances or interests. Turn your attention to them first so you can free up your budget after they’ve been paid off.

Plan Ahead

You will only amass more debt and guilt if you go on vacation before you’re able; credit card debt requires careful planning, so you should adjust your monthly budget and begin putting money away toward your next vacation for several months or even a year before the trip.

The goal is to pay with cash entirely, not pay down a card only to acquire more travel debt. With a flexible mindset and solid budget, you can begin planning your next vacation guilt-free

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Should You Travel While Going Through a Divorce

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Going through a divorce is an incredibly difficult endeavor. You will find yourself struggling to come to terms with what is happening. Many people become overly depressed whenever they end up going through a divorce and turn to different outlets for relief. However, many people do not consider the benefits of traveling. There are dozens of benefits to be gained from traveling and it can help you overcome the struggles that you are experiencing during a divorce. Your Tampa divorce attorneys are here to provide you with some valuable insight that will inspire you to travel if you are going through a divorce.

It Helps You See Things from a Different Perspective

Traveling helps us step outside of our inner circles and get a new perspective on life. Being able to travel will remove you from the physical area that is causing you grief in your life and take a break. This is a valuable thing that almost anyone can benefit from whenever you are going through immense suffering after and during a divorce. These new perspectives that you may experience will help you overcome the struggles that you are experiencing. They can help you become a better person during your tribulations.

You End Up Meeting New People

There is always a possibility that you can end up meeting new people whenever you travel. Meeting a new person may spark up a romantic relationship or may present you with a new friend that can provide valuable insight. The most important thing that you can do whenever you travel is to meet new people and learn from their experiences. We grow as individuals whenever we get to hear people’s stories about their struggles. Sometimes these stories can help us overcome the challenges that we are facing.

Experiencing New Cultures

Every culture has a different way of doing something. Traveling can enlighten you on some different ways that you can overcome the problem that you are facing. Booking your flight to a country that you have always wanted to visit can help you learn more about different ways of handling problems that come up in your life.

You Get to Have Fun

Some people are oftentimes lucky if they get to experience a collaborative divorce. Unfortunately, many people will end up experiencing a rocky divorce that can increase the amount of stress that you regularly feel. This stress can affect your personal life, your job, and your other relationships. Traveling by yourself or with friends can help you have fun whenever you need it the most. Fun is something that all individuals need to have whenever they are going through a divorce. It will prevent you from bottling everything up and isolating yourself.

Starting Your New Life Now

Going through a divorce can make it seem like the world is ending. However, your new life is just about to begin. Unfortunately, the growing pains that you will experience post-divorce will make things incredibly difficult for a while. Fortunately, traveling will help you overcome these hardships by allowing you to see the world through a different lens. A change of perspective is oftentimes what we need whenever we are going through a rough situation.

Traveling will provide this and much more. It will heal the soul and allow you to find yourself among strangers in a faraway place. Your divorce lawyers here at Tampa Divorce Law recommend that you take some time for yourself and travel as often as you can when you’ve gone through the divorce. You will thank yourself for it in the long run and grow as an individual

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Second City Advisors Discusses 3 Big Mistakes You’re Making With Your Credit Card When Traveling

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It would be hard to imagine traveling without a credit card in the modern world. Traveling with a major credit card saves you from having to change out currencies, it allows you to book hotels and cars in advance and gives you access to plenty of travel rewards points. However, if you aren’t mindful of how you use your travel cards, any advantage they give you quickly disappears.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your card when you travel, then pay attention to these three credit card travel tips care of the staff at Second City Advisors.

1. Don’t Carry a Balance

If you’re carrying a balance on your travel card, then you’re seriously negating the benefits that you get from the card, according to Penny Hoarder.

Travel rewards cards can have higher interest rates to balance out the travel benefit you get. The key to making this work so that you get to travel, hotel, and car rewards is to pay off your balance each month. In other words, treat your credit card like it’s a debit card.

Additionally, if you have a large outstanding balance on the cards you use when you travel, you have less money to spend on your trip. There are plenty of reasons to keep that balance paid down, that’s for sure.

2. Not Getting Travel Protection

Did you know that travel cards offer travel protection? According to The Points Guy, they do. These travel protections include benefits, like reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage. Some benefits kick in if you have to stay overnight at a location unexpectedly or even if you must go back home due to a medical emergency. Some cards even hook you up with travel insurance.

While most trips go relatively smoothly, it’s the ones that don’t that wind up costing you. Opting for a travel card that has these and other benefits ensures that when Murphy strikes, you’ll be ready. This counts as one of the primary reasons why Second City Advisors recommend shopping around for a good travel credit card.

3. Not Using It

Travel rewards cards offer some amazing benefits IF you use them. However, many people use cash when they travel instead of using their rewards card. This is a huge mistake. The more you use your card, the more credit card bonuses you get.

The same goes for using your card at home. If you already budget for what you’re spending your money on and if you already pay off your balance at the end of the month, then there is no reason to not use your card. It’ll rack up frequent flyer miles, hotel points, and other niceties that you can redeem once you’re on vacation.

You can even be savvy when you’re out with others. For example, if you and a group of friends go out, then have them pay you in cash. You can then pay the dinner bill with your card. Just be sure to use the cash they gave you to pay for dinner to pay off your card.

Conclusion

Most people plan on using their credit cards when they travel. Indeed, most travel rewards cards come with huge benefits, like insurance, frequent flyer miles, and other bonuses. The mistake that travelers make the most often is not taking advantage of all the rewards offered by their credit card companies, both when they’re on the road and at home

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Interstate Associates Discusses How to Tackle Credit Card Debt So You Can Travel More

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Some people have dreams of traveling to exotic locations but are hampered by credit card debt at high-interest rates. For those who love to travel, there are some who just would like to afford two weeks of travel each year. Others would like to go on the road for a while, maybe leaving everything behind. How can you get there if you are swimming in a sea of debt? Here at Interstate Associates, we are in the business of advising our customers on how to overcome crippling debt and pursue their dreams.

Evaluate Your Situation

The first step in getting out of credit card debt issues is to carefully evaluate your monthly budget as well as each credit card’s principal remaining and interest rate. In your monthly budget, don’t forget to estimate yearly expenses, such as car maintenance, registration, and insurance.

Where Can You Lower Expenses?

Would you rather drink a Starbucks every day, or would you rather take a great trip or two each year? Maybe some would prefer the former, but you are reading this article because you want the latter. The same is true of dinners out. Can you cut the cable TV? This author did in 2003 and has never looked back. If you are cramped and crippled from pursuing your dreams by debt, it is best to first see how you can reduce expenses that are unnecessary.

What Can You Throw at the Debt?

How about that tax return? If you used it to pay down your highest interest credit card, you would be saving yourself a bunch of money. Are there things you can sell on Craigslist or eBay that you aren’t using?

If you are planning on traveling long term, will you be going somewhere with a great transit system? Maybe you could consider selling your car and using it to pay off debt. Those of us who are full-time RVing can substantially reduce or eliminate the cost of staying somewhere if we know where to stay. Full-time RVers may decide to sell their homes or stop renting apartments while they are on the road. All of the money saved by digital nomads who are road warriors can go to paying down debt.

There is one big caveat here: Don’t head out on a long-term travel excursion if your finances are shaky. Get debt cleared up first. The scariest thing in the world is to be trapped somewhere in a financial emergency with no funds and maxed-out credit.

How Can You Reduce High-Interest Payments?

There are two great ways to reduce high-interest credit card debt:

Debt Consolidation: Nerdwallet suggests you can take out a personal loan that will wipe out your credit card debt and reduce your interest. This will allow you to make one payment at a lower interest rate, so you can pay off the crippling debt more quickly.

Zero-Interest, Balance Transfer Credit Card: If your credit is not good enough to qualify for a debt consolidation loan, Nerdwallet suggests you will likely be able to get a balance transfer credit card that has a zero-interest period of 12 to 18 months. During that window of time, you will need to make as large of payment as you can each month, taking advantage of your “interest vacation” to pay the credit card off. Beware the interest rate after the honeymoon period is over.

How to Pay the Cards Off

Investopedia suggests that if you want to get out of the debt most quickly, make the minimum payment on every card but the highest-interest card. Throw as much money as that card as you can. When that card is paid off, begin to pay down the card with the second-highest rate. This will get you out of debt and on that vacation the quickest and with the least money outlay.

Make an Emergency Fund

The Balance suggests creating an emergency fund. You really need an emergency fund for daily life in your area and funds that will cover you in the event of an emergency in your desired travel location. Take the time to figure out what can go wrong and begin to amass that amount of money. Unless you have parents or friends that will definitely be in the place and desire to bail you out, that is the only safe course of action.

Control Impulse Spending

Do whatever it takes to eliminate impulse spending that keeps you from your travel goals.

Impulse spending restraints include:

  • Leaving credit cards at home when shopping – just carry cash.
  • Wait 24 hours before making a purchase that does not support your budget and travel goals
  • Don’t spend in order to keep up with the others. Who cares?
  • It may be a good idea to avoid Amazon and other spending triggers unless you have a clearly delineated need.

Interstate Associates has advisors who can help you with your unique credit situation, so you can achieve your goals of credit card debt reduction and travel

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How to Afford to Travel When You Have a Mortgage To Pay

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Becoming a homeowner can be one of the greatest experiences of your life. However, it also means that you have a mortgage to pay on top of other costs related to maintaining a home. Therefore, it could mean that your travel budget is less than it used to be. The good news is that you don’t actually have to stop traveling. Let’s take a look at how you can balance your need to pay for a house with your desire to see the world.

Book Your Trips Well in Advance

As a general rule, you can save money by booking a flight, a plane ticket or other accommodations several months ahead of time. It can also be easier to save money when you book flights on a weekday or book hotel rooms when there are fewer people traveling. For instance, it may be possible to spend less on a trip to Europe during the winter months when people are avoiding the long nights and cold weather. 

Look for Ways to Keep More Money in the Bank at Closing

When you buy your home, it may be in your best interest to put as little money down as possible. Using programs such as the Chenoa Fund could limit your down payment to 3.5 percent of the purchase price. The Chenoa Fund or similar programs could also help fund your down payment as well. Ultimately, you get to keep more money in your savings account that can be used to fund your next vacation.

Take Advantage of Free Events

Many towns and cities will have community events that you can enjoy while out of town. These events may include public concerts, movie nights or tours through local parks. You can also use discount websites to find coupons to local restaurants or other attractions in the town or city you plan to visit next. 

Stay With Friends or Family Members

If you have friends or family members in a given area, they may allow you stay with them for the duration of your trip. This can save you $50 or more per night depending on the type of hotel that you usually stay at. Furthermore, your hosts may be willing to cook for you or let you use their pool at no extra charge. 

Rent Out Your Home While You’re Away

It may be possible to rent your home for the few days or weeks that you will be out of town. There are many websites that allow you to list your property at any price point that you want. However, you should check to see what state or local law says about taking such action. You may only be able to rent your home for a certain number of days or for a certain amount of money without a permit. Furthermore, you will need to be sure that your homeowners insurance policy will remain in effect while a renter is on the premises.

Owning a home doesn’t have to mean that you are no longer able to travel to different states or countries. If you are willing to create and stick to a budget, you should be able to afford a vacation or two every year without breaking the bank. It may be possible to refinance your home loan if you think that you could get a lower interest rate or other more favorable terms.

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