Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Hope

We will arrive home today. We’ve been on the road for exactly two weeks. On my last travel update we had just arrived at the Lakehouse where we would stay til the end.

I don’t have all the exact numbers put together yet, but here’s how it went in general to give you an overview:

• Gas – 6 tanks of gas at approx $80 a piece = $480 (includes 3 trips to TN and 2 to GA due to the camps)
• Hotel – 3 nights = $300 (had only budgeted for 2 so this put me over a bit)
• Groceries – $65 (additional $55 gift card spent that I had been saving for this occasion)

Total cost of two week vacation = $845

I can write off some of this as it would have fallen into my regular budget $300 for two weeks of groceries and $160 for weekly gas money.  So with that in mind, the cost of this trip was around $385 over our normal budget.

I look at that number with my debt payoff in mind and think would be a nice payment towards debt, but then I think about all the intrinsic payoffs:

1. Two of the boys got to attend specialty camps that they are committed to pursuing at this time. (I didn’t count this in the expense for the vacation because 1) it comes out of a monthly budget line item and 2) was paid for in previous months.)
2. We got a nice long relaxing visit with my parents who visited the Lakehouse at the same time from TX.
3. It’s just relaxing to be away from home and not have your day to day to do lists hanging over your head.
4. The kids had some quality time together away from distractions from the world.

For the next two weeks no one has any extraneous activities and then we will start additional summer activities which will carry us through August, more on those later, but for now I am satisfied that this money was well spent and the memories made will last a lifetime!

Hope

Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.

Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.

Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.