Goddess Magazine Stories/Articles

My Mother, the Jet-Setter (April, 2012)

What's a jet setter, you ask? A jet-setter is very wealthy person or people who travel frequently.

My mother is definitely a true definition. Being she is remarried to a very wealthy (and younger) man, he lavishes her with all the things money can offer, and she drops thousands of dollars on whims. Most of all, he flies her off to different parts of the world. If mommy wants, mommy gets. It was always that extreme with her; my mother was always on top on the latest trends and fashions and my male friends in high school called her a MILF, because she always kept herself high maintenance and looking young, while I liked to dress low key and not bring attention to myself. I couldn't be bothered being flashy and show off . Even my father himself was a very successful entrepreneur, and as wealthy as my step-father, but he was more frugal in his ways, and even though we didn't travel frequently, she still spent a ton of money on material things. We had a big home, and mid-ranged priced cars, but dad never flaunted his money the way my mother wanted him to. Now, she had it all and then some.

The thrill of being able to leave your worries and get up and go anywhere you want does appeal to most, even me at time. It's a temporary fix for the burdens you are leaving behind. Believe me, there are some days where I find myself wondering if I should be more like my mother, and I ask myself, “How do I keep up?” or, “How can I compete with that?” But, I am barely scraping together enough cash for bills at my dead end job while I'm finishing up my last semester of college. I don't have the time or funds to keep up with the latest fashions and mostly, traveling to the most luxurious resorts that the islands and European countries have to offer. I refuse to accept help from my mother, no matter how tight things get, and she usually begs me to travel with her and forget my job. She insists that its my money, but technically it's not. I wanted to move out and be independent, and accepting help doesn't fit into that equation. The only option I will allow is to work hard and achieve my goals.

Still, It would be nice to not have to worry about making ends meet. Perhaps, it would be the easy way out of the hole I'm in – marry a rich guy, get into his bank accounts and have a field day – but I'm not a gold-digger. I want to marry for the right reasons; love and commitment. Not that my mother doesn't love her husband, but I think she is more in love with his money, and can continue living her expensive lifestyle and keep up with her traveling habits.

I'm sure there are frugal, but wonderful ways to travel and have some name brand tags hanging in my closet while living on a tight budget. I'd have to be thrifty and conscientious about it, but, how could I do it without pushing my standards (and already maxed-out credit cards) to the limit? I researched several sites and found many expensive results beyond dug a my financial status, but, digging deeper, I finally found budget-friendly airfares and hotel stays.

There are several sites out there, such as the JetBlue.com and Expedia.com who offer lower rate bundles for airfare, lodging, food and activities for those who aren't as financial gifted as my mother. Also, look into price-bidding sites where you can name your own price. Try Priceline.com or Hotwire.com, where their main goal is to provide reduced prices that you can afford.

A couple other ways to save on a dime when it's time to travel – limit what you are bringing. If you can get everything into one carry-on bag, you can instantly save between $50-$100 bucks in baggage fees. Also, take advantage of the continental meals that are included with your hotel stays. You can easily save a pretty penny and put that chump change to a really nice souvenir for those you left at home. Lastly, instead of using a car rental and paying ridiculous money for gas or taking a taxi, walk around town. Eat at local eateries, for instance, food trucks. You can learn a lot about culture and the people while doing so.

With anything, make sure you are reading into the fine print to be sure you are avoiding other additional costs and fees. In the end, you wallet will thank you, and you don't have to be a Rockefeller (or my mother) to afford the finer things. Happy travels!