Travel almost clobbered my savings this summer.
Taking a cue from Shonda Rhimes’s bestselling book Year of Yes, I dubbed 2019 my own year of yes, but with one specific theme: travel. I vowed to say yes to any travel opportunity that came my way.
In January, I went to Philadelphia — very exotic, I know — and in February, I spent a hot and sunny 10 days scootering around Thailand. Weekends were earmarked for visiting friends and family in Boston, St. Louis, Phoenix, Atlantic City, Lake Placid, and other assorted U.S. cities.
A jaunt to France in June to see the Women’s World Cup was supposed to be the end of international travel for the year. I realized I had blasted through all my credit card points, and my financial goal of saving 30% of my income (aggressive, and probably unrealistic living in New York City on my salary) wasn’t happening, with so much of my money funneled toward plane tickets, Airbnbs, and lots of pastries.