Holstee Manifesto

I posted a blog earlier in the month with a quote from an unknown author. Now easily, I could have gone to Google to find the answer, but I wanted "divine" intervention to provide it. Or at least one of the readers of my blog. And that's what happened, but in a round-about-way. Funny story how it came about. 


I was seeking more votes for WCP, LLC in the Chase and LivingSocial Mission: Small Business $250K Grant contest. One of the companies I voted for and requested a return favor was Holstee in NYC.  Not knowing it was the Holstee that brought about the Holstee Manifesto, I liked the company. A few days later I was strolling through my Facebook page, and came across their page with the quote “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”with the name of the author....St. Augustine.  I immediately went to their Facebook account and connected to their primary website.  It was there that the connection rang a bell.  I read the Holstee Manifesto a little more than year ago when I started reading travel blogs.  Many of the bloggers would post it as inspiration.  I've attached a photo of the Holstee Manifesto below as a reference. 

To make this story ever so extraordinary, I mean how could my day get any better, right? I surfed through their website and came across MyLife.  It's a section of their website where people can blog/post stories about how their lives have been effected by the Holstee Manifesto.  So I submitted a story in the travel section, and low and behold, within 24 hours, it got published. Here's the link: MyLife Holstee Manifesto

Saving For Travel

"You can’t accomplish anything worthwhile if you inhibit yourself.  If life teaches you nothing else, know this for sure: When you get the chance, go for it.” -Oprah Winfrey

When I think of travel, this quote resonates with me.  I have the chance to travel while I have health and strength, so I might as well go for it. Then the questions that comes up are, where do I want to go, and how will I pay for it.  And what I found out is that travelling doesn't mean breaking the bank.  Obviously there are costs to any type of travel. Transportation, food, and lodging are just a few of the major expenses to consider.  Rhonda shared with me some information from a blog reading that had a few tips for saving for travel.  Many that I currently use, and others I plan to implement. 

Open a dedicated savings account-name the destination and the time frame/year.

Think about what you're spending that you can slash- coffee and fast-food add up.

Put all extra money into the savings account- pocket change, work bonus, etc.

Get a side job- Whatever your talent, use it. In addition to maintaining full time careers, both Rhonda and I are pursing professional "side hustles" that we'll operate part-time.  I'm currently pursuing a real estate license and Rhonda a retirement financial specialist license.  We take our separate exams next month and the extra money from our "side hustle" will go towards the business, travel, and retirement accounts (ROTH, 403(b), etc).  We also want to "give back" in our community and help out family in need.

Connect to the savings- pictures, read articles and blogs. Keep end goal in mind.

Know how much it's going to costs- budget your travel in advance by writing it down, and sticking to it. Research destination and all identifiable expenses. Also consider an all inclusive package of 10 days or more. It often includes transportation/airfare, food, lodging, and attractions entrance fees.

Sell your stuff- Rhonda and I did this yesterday by selling our stuff at the flea market. We made enough to cover the table and a few "extra" bucks. A little adds up to a lot, and we have less clutter in the house! Yay!!

Keep track of what you make and what you spend before you go- use spreadsheets or sites such as mint.com.  I've personally used http://readyforzero.com to mark my credit card and loan payoff progress.  It keeps me accountable, and allows me to set goals.

The best advice I can give- Keep eye on prize, make sacrifices, and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.

Why Int'l Travel?

“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

I'm not sure where this quote came from, but Rhonda and I have lived by this motto all our lives.  Our parents have always put an emphasis on travel. During the summer we'll make our way along the East Coast to visit family and friends, and a few attractions along the way (Six Flags Amusement Park, Howard University, Virginia Beach, etc). Neither of us took advantage of major travel during college because of lack of finances, and it's one of our biggest regrets. It wasn't until my first professional job did I realize that there was such a thing as business travel. Hence, in the past twelve years, we have both taken advantage of professional development opportunities that haven taken us from the East Coast to the West Coast.  So when our local community college advertised a tour to Italy via the Humanities Department four years ago, we couldn't let the opportunity pass us  by.  Our 8 days of international travel in May 2009 was very enjoyable, and to this day, I would look at my Passport and say, where to next??

In the past year Rhonda and I have followed several blog sites of African-Americans who have traveled abroad extensively. The idea for our show came about because we were fascinated by their outlook on life and the different journeys that led them to Take A Leap. Everyone we've talked to said that faith played a huge part in their journey. Yes, they missed their families like crazy and it can get expensive to live abroad (depending on destination), but many would not trade their experiences for the world.  

Another interesting take about international travel is that you can be yourself even in the midst of "cultural shock".  Or as is often the case, a better version of yourself.  Rhonda and I can be quite reclusive outside of work, but when we were overseas we found ourselves enjoying  "la mia dolce vita" which means "the sweet life". We woke up every morning eager to meet new people and explore new sites.  We kept that feeling going as we returned to the US, and it propelled us to do any and everything God set on our paths, no matter the obstacles.  Gone were the worries about finances. God has and will continue to make the provisions. Gone were the doubts that our family wouldn't understand. They are our biggest "cheerleaders" and "prayer warriors".  Gone were the demands of time, because tomorrow isn't promised. Take A Leap and show your support by donating to our funding campaign at http://indiegogo.com/takealeap.  $20 will get you a souvenir from a destination of choice that we'll be visiting, and copy of our DVD compilation of four short films.

$Exchange Rates$

Rhonda and I have been observing the exchange rates in both of the countries we will be visiting later in the year.  China uses the Yuan (CNY) and Italy uses the Euro (EUR).  Currently the Euro is going through a downturn (YAY for the US dollar) and makes it possible to get more bang for the buck.  The rate is as low as it was three years ago when we first visited Europe.  A gelato that costs 3 EUR is worth approximately $3.74 USD today relative to $3.92 USD a month ago.  That may not seem much, but it makes a big difference. Especially if I want to purchase 2 gelatos. HA!! The CNY is going the opposite direction, so the dollar is weaker.  But the costs in China are pretty inexpensive so it's not so outrageous. And I read somewhere that many restaurants in China don't accept tips.  Now that's a custom I wish the US would adopt. But on the flip side, I would pay the American restaurant staff higher wages. That's only fair.

So in our effort to be budget conscious, we will be using my sister's Capital One card when we make purchases abroad (food, souvenirs, etc).  It's a good card for traveling internationally because they charge NO fees.  Also, we will use an ATM that will allow us to draw money with minimal charges.  I've located several banks in both China and Italy that will utilize my bank card without the outrageous fees.

Another consideration point is international phone calls.  I'm a little nervous about that one.  Three years ago I had a plan where I talked all of 10 minutes and it cost me over $30.  I can not have that happen again.  So I'm researching other options that could be utilized in both Europe and China. I've heard that global phones are a viable option. I'm with AT&T.  If anyone has any suggestions on this and other matters that will help the budget conscious traveller, please leave a comment.