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As a frequent traveler, there’s one thing I hear time and time again:
I’m so jealous – I wish I could travel as often as you!
This is a phrase I hear at least once a week. Friends, family, followers, total strangers…everyone wants to know how I’ve been able to afford traveling as much as I have at age 30.
Sure, I have real, helpful, actionable tips I’m happy to give them. I love helping people find ways to travel on a budget, like how to book cheap flights, explore museums and attractions for free, and save money on food and accommodations at their destination. And no, the answer isn’t always just “cut out your weekly Starbucks habit” like everyone claims. It’s a bit more complicated, y’all.
I’m good at the practical travel advice part. I feel confident about my ability to share tips and resources and inspire people to travel the world. But when it comes to finances, I’m not as sure of myself. This aspect of my life has only gotten more challenging and stressful as I’ve gotten older and taken on more expenses (like an apartment of my own, buying a car, and other very adult-y things).
Let’s get real.
While I often write about travel, I rarely open up about the choices I’ve made (for better and for worse) or my own behind the scenes challenges that make it hard for me to travel as much as I’d like to. I don’t regret any of my actual travel experiences, because they’ve truly been my greatest teachers. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized just how much certain choices continue to impact me on a daily basis.
After I turned 30 last year, it all hit me. Student loan bills kicked into high gear, I moved, started a business and a new career path, had chronic health issues and multiple emergency surgeries, had to buy a car, the list goes on. I felt way in over my head when it came to finances, and I’m still learning and adopting new budgeting strategies and other techniques to keep myself on track.
Here’s the (not-so-pretty) truth:
It wouldn’t be fair (or accurate) to blame my less-than-perfect credit score on my decisions around travel. As is the case with most people, many factors have impacted my own financial situation, including:
- Putting myself through college (cheers, student loans and credit cards)
- Lots of unexpected medical bills (hello, back-to-back emergency surgeries)
- Living in an expensive city (here’s lookin’ at you, NYC)
- Being a self-employed freelancer with a fluctuating monthly income
- Multiple big moves
- My choice to buy a newer car (meaning higher insurance and monthly car payments)
Making big changes can be scary, y’all.
When I finally allowed myself to stop and really assess my financial situation, let’s get real – I panicked a little. I realized just how insecure I felt about my ability to maintain financial stability and make progress on my goals, which freaked me out.
The past couple of years, I feel like I’ve often been in survival mode, just working my tail off to make it every month. And y’all, I’m so tired of living that life. As tough as it has been to admit, I’ve sometimes buried my head in the sand instead of making the hard (or unattractive) choices that would improve my life and lessen the burden of debt.
It’s easy to dole out advice – but taking it yourself is an entirely different thing. When you’re ready to take full ownership of your finances, having trusted resources like the professionals at Lexington Law Services makes such a difference in learning how to improve and rebuild your credit score, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process.
PSA: Having bad credit doesn’t make you a bad person
Re-read that sentence and really let it sink in.
You are not your money. Money is a part of everyone’s life, but it doesn’t make you who you are. People deal with financial stress in many different ways, but many of us feel shame and guilt for not being able to be the picture of perfect financial health all the time. There’s a lot of stigma around money, which only complicates things.
Having good credit may seem like a no-brainer to you – it is obviously preferable, and everyone gets that concept drilled into their heads by parents, mentors, teachers, and society as a whole. However, building financial security and maintaining a good credit score don’t just happen on their own.
What causes low credit scores?
There are so many reasons (for example, losing your job, identity theft, an unforeseen natural disaster, a mistake on your credit report, a pricey house or car repair, chronic illness, or another messy life surprise), your credit may take a major hit. When this happens, having a team of people on your side who knows what they’re doing can truly change your life.
Improving your credit score can take time, but it is possible (and doable). Don’t feel ashamed to reach out and take advantage of the resources and help that are available to you. Every person has the right to good credit, and when you’re feeling helpless, it’s important to remember that the law is on your side to help you fix any errors or mistakes.
Here are some of my personal financial goals
- Completely pay off my credit card debt
- Create an emergency fund with 6-12 months+ of money set aside
- Fully pay off my student loans
- Save money to buy a house
- Pay off my car loan
- Be able to help family or friends in need
- Feel able to travel freely without worry or guilt
- Be able to be more generous again – donate to charities I believe in, etc.
- Save money for the future – kids, retirement, etc.
These are just some of my bigger financial goals – there are of course dozens of little goals sprinkled in between each of the ones I listed out. I know that paying off big debts, rebuilding credit, and building a financial “cushion” takes time.
It’s not glamorous. It requires a lot of self-discipline and habit-changing. But I also know it’s worth it, because having financial freedom removes so much of your day-to-day stress and improves your quality of life.
What if I have bad credit through no fault of my own?
This is a valid question! What you may not know is this: Acts such as The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), The Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and even the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), give consumers the legal right to dispute inaccurate items on their credit reports and correct them with both individual creditors and credit bureaus.
Okay, so how do I fix this mess?
Having professional legal advice from a service like Lexington Law Firm is so beneficial because they truly understand the ins and outs of consumer protection laws and work to help everyday consumers (like you and me!) understand their rights and put the law to work for them to correct any credit errors.
Lexington Law Firm is the oldest and most respected name in credit repair, and the only company with both extensive legal experience and competitive technology that advocates and drives results for its clients.
The best part:
Lexington Law Firm offers packages that meet every client’s needs, starting at just $24.95 per month. I know what you’re thinking – “Wait, I have to spend more money to get out of debt and repair my credit score?!” but hear me out. You can go it alone. You can struggle through years and years of trying to figure things out solo and then slide right back debt. But reaching out to ask for trustworthy advice can make the process go so much smoother.
The major benefit of having a team of professionals on your side is that they guide you and fight for you every step of the way. Plus, they aren’t just hopping on Google to try and find answers for you. They really know how the laws work – and how to make them work for you (instead of against you). When you choose to work with Lexington Law Firm, you are building a relationship with real professionals that have a deep knowledge of consumer protection laws and know how to leverage them to your benefit.
Even better – Lexington Law Firm is a CROA (Consumer Credit Protection Act) compliant organization. This means it is extensively regulated and monitored. Just like you might hire a CPA or MD to manage your taxes or health, you should expect nothing less from your credit repair partner.
All of this offers a foundation of trust and peace of mind knowing that you have a legal team who are going to fight for your rights and actually help you, which is what we’re all looking for at the end of the day, right?
If you’re looking for some assistance navigating the maze of repairing your credit or paying off debt, I highly encourage you to reach out and ask for help. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be on the path to reaching your financial goals – whether they include traveling more or not!
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