Samantha S, Author at Women’s Money

19Sep 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

How to Set Up Price Alerts to Find Cheap Plane Tickets: 7 Tips and Tricks

Travel

Given that my passions include travel and personal finance, it should be no surprise that I love searching for cheap plane tickets. A key to finding cheaper plane tickets for an international trip is to start your search early and set up a price alert. This gives you a baseline price and then allows you to strike and make a purchase when you see a good deal. Setting Up Price Alerts for Plane Tickets Here are my seven best tips for setting up a price alert and finding cheap plane tickets. 1. Get a Baseline Price Today The first step to finding a cheap plane ticket and setting up a price alert is to know the baseline price for the itinerary you are traveling. What tool you use doesn’t matter, but…

12Sep 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

Where Should I Travel Next Internationally? 9 Unconventional Ways to Figure It Out

Sabbatical Sundays

When you have an extended period of time to travel, like I will with my sabbatical, or even when you are just planning your next week-long vacation, you have to figure out where you should travel next. Have you been considering traveling abroad and found yourself asking, “Where should I travel internationally?” If so, these tips can help you figure it out. Ways to Figure Out Where to Travel Internationally Figuring out where to travel abroad doesn’t need to come down to spinning a globe and going wherever your finger lands. There are some unconventional ways to find an international travel destination that you’ll enjoy visiting. Here are some out-of-the-box ways to answer the question, “Where should I travel next internationally?” 1. Consider Your Personal Bucket List Do you have…

05Sep 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

How to Plan a Sabbatical Abroad

Sabbatical Sundays

Now that I have a plan for what I’m going to do during my sabbatical, I’ve really started getting into the weeds with more planning. Of course, taking at least part of my sabbatical abroad means a very different set-up than if I was taking it at home. But that’s part of the fun of it all. Over the course of the next few weeks, I’m going to take you down my rabbit hole of planning a sabbatical abroad. How to Plan a Sabbatical Abroad Here are the four main steps to planning an international sabbatical and what you have to look forward to over the next few weeks. 1. Decide Where to Go As I previously announced, we are going to take our sabbatical in Europe. But, we have to…

29Aug 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

I’ve Got Job Offers. Now What?

Sabbatical Sundays

In the last few months, my job prospects have improved dramatically. I continue to get growth opportunities at my current job, and I have had numerous outreaches and offers for other great jobs. So what’s the problem? I want to take a break from my career in the form of a sabbatical, not climb the ladder. Or do I? All of these reminders that I’m good at what I do for my career throw me into a spiral of doubt. I start thinking about making more money, having more friends at work, and contributing more to the world through the work I do. I think, “Maybe I don’t need a break after all. Why was I even planning to take a break in the first place?” These feelings make me both…

22Aug 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

What I’m Going to Do During My Sabbatical

Sabbatical Sundays

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I’m going to do during my sabbatical. This includes more writing, exercising, cooking, and spending more time with my spouse, kids, and dogs. But, recently, I’ve realized that COVID has allowed me the time at home to do all of these things. While I love it, I know that my sabbatical will need to be about more than just that. But what exactly is that? Now I know what that is. For my sabbatical plan, we are going to spend 4-6 weeks in Europe as a family. The details are still being worked out. Obviously, some of the COVID variants are throwing this into a bit of flux. However, in Europe, cases tend to be better than in the U.S. But…

08Aug 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

$100,000 Savings Goal Update

Sabbatical Sundays

This week, I’m providing you with an update on my journey towards saving $100,000 to take a sabbatical. As you know, I’ve chosen this amount based on a specific savings plan with my “why’s” in mind. At the end of this month, when some equity I have in my company vests, I will have reached my goal. There won’t be a big party or celebration. The calendar will just roll over, and it will be another day. In fact, I’m not even planning to take my sabbatical for some time yet. Why not? That’s a story for another post. So, what does this mean for my day-to-day life? Not much. Just like when people hit whatever goal they are aiming for, whether it’s a million dollars, a FIRE number, a weight loss…

28Jul 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

What Simon Biles and Naomi Osaka Can Teach Us About Taking a Sabbatical

Sabbatical Sundays

When Simone Biles announced this week that she was dropping out of the team's Olympic gymnastic event and then the all-around individual event, I felt inspired. I was glad that she put her mental and physical health first and it made me more inspired and ready to take my own break. I felt the same way when Osaka declined a press conference for her mental health (and was subsequently booted from the French Open, which was outrageous). If you haven't read her article in Time, it's worth the read. These women are putting their health and well-being first, and it has been great to see the outpouring of support for them as well as the increased spotlight on mental health. I haven't seen much about the connection between mental health and…

06Jun 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

Should I Take a Sabbatical or Retire Early With FIRE?

Sabbatical Sundays

Since I had a quiet May writing for Women’s Money, you might be wondering where I’ve been. The truth is that I’ve been doing less writing, more thinking, and more doing. First, the doing. I’ve been spending more time doing the things I want to do on a sabbatical. I’ve been spending more time with my kids, exercising more, cooking more, and working on a side business. Next, the thinking. Sometimes it’s hard to write about something when you begin to question it. (Though, when you are questioning something, this is often the time you should be doing the most writing and journaling about it.) For me, it’s been challenging to write about my sabbatical planning because I’ve been wondering more and more if I want to take a sabbatical.…

25Apr 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

How to Get Health Insurance During a Sabbatical

Sabbatical Sundays

Recently, I had some significant unexpected medical expenses (no need to worry, everything is ok). These expenses caused me to start thinking more about medical costs during my planned sabbatical and how I will cover them. Right now, my entire family is covered by medical insurance through my employer. While I used to have a vague understanding that the Affordable Car Act would be available to us when I take my sabbatical, the recent health care expenses caused me to look into that more seriously. Health Insurance Options When Taking a Sabbatical Here are the options available to you for health insurance during a sabbatical: 1. Stay On Your Current Employer’s Plan If you are lucky enough to be able to take a sabbatical where you still keep your job,…

18Apr 2021 by Samantha S No Comments

Where to Put Your Money for Short-Term Savings

Sabbatical Sundays

Saving $100,000 is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work, side hustle, persistence, and sacrifice. It is making me think about what is most important to spend money on and what’s less important. But once I’ve set aside money for my sabbatical, where am I keeping it? The market is roaring right now. If I had bought $20,000 of Peloton stock last March, I would have more than $100,000 today! (Truly, Peloton was a stock I considered investing in when the market was down in March 2020. It was trading around $25/share. In the last few months, it’s been higher than $150/share. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.) But, as a fairly risk-averse person, I keep almost all of my money in index funds. However, this isn’t where I keep my sabbatical savings. Stock…

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