Greetings, Reader!

Moment of transparency: my bedroom makeover has officially surpassed my budget. 😅

Between Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ollie’s, and Amazon, creating my little sanctuary has added up, and I’m still not finished!

Along the way, I’ve been exploring payment options on my existing cards. With American Express Plan It, I can spread eligible purchases over monthly payments with a fixed monthly fee. A six-month plan gives me some breathing room, and 12-month options may be available depending on the offer.

Of course, spreading out a purchase doesn’t lower its price. I still have to make room for those payments in my budget.

And that brings me to travel. ✈️

I love hearing clients say, “I’m just going to pay for my trip in full.” But that’s not everyone’s reality, and it doesn’t have to be for you to travel today.

Did you grow up thinking international travel was something only well-to-do people could afford?

Growing up on the Westside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, seeing the world felt out of reach, and I know some of you may feel that way today. But I believe where there’s a will, there’s a way. Sometimes, it starts with learning what’s possible and creating a plan that fits your budget. 🌍✈️

You don’t have to pay for the whole journey today to start planning it.

Here are a few ways to get started:

✅ Save little by little: Set aside something each payday. Small, consistent contributions can bring that trip closer.

✅ Credit card points and rewards: Put the points you’ve already earned toward flights, hotels, or upgrades.

✅ Book now, pay later hotel sites: Sites like Booking.com let you reserve now and pay later, often with free cancellation until a few days before your stay.

✅ Eligible payment plans through companies like Affirm or Airfordable, which let you split the cost of a trip into scheduled payments.

✅ Reserving with a deposit: secure your spot now and pay the balance at your own pace, as long as it’s paid in full by the due date.

It almost feels like the layaway days, except today the possibilities go beyond clothes and furniture.

The goal is to find a trip and a payment schedule that fits your life. Before committing, look at the total cost, any fees or interest, and what you can comfortably afford each month.

That’s where understanding your credit comes in. Knowing the difference between your statement balance, total balance, and payment due date can help you manage your payments with confidence.

Take my account pictured here:

To prevent interest charges, the last statement balance of $189.01 needs to be covered on or before the due date of November 05.

The $193.05 will be billed on the November statement and must be paid by the next due date, December 05, to avoid interest charges. Essentially, that provides me with 7 weeks to pay the balance in full, which is less than $30 a week.

If I wait to charge my card until the day after the closing date, November 10, I will not have to pay those charges until January 05, giving me 9 weeks to pay the balance in full and avoid interest.

It's learning how to use the cards strategically.

That’s why I created my 9 Effortless Credit Hacks for Aspiring Rich Haute Housewives e-guide: to help you understand details like these and make more informed credit decisions. No, you do not have to be an aspiring rich haute housewife. More on how to get your copy in a moment!

So what does all of this look like in real life?

The Essence of Ghana Tour

For some of you, it looks like Ghana. 🇬🇭

A few of you told me: “I would love to go to Ghana, but I only have a week off work.”

I heard you, so I built a couple of 5-day options.

The 5-Day Essence of Ghana Experience is short enough to fit your schedule and full enough to change you.

Choose your dates:

🏡 Explore Ghana, then be home for Thanksgiving (11/19 - 11/23)

🇬🇭 Spend Thanksgiving in the Motherland (11/23 - 11/27)

I’m looking for two couples, or four friends who finally stop saying “one day.”

Your investment: $1,750 per person, excluding flights.

Reserve with a $500 nonrefundable deposit, or split it into two $250 payments (the second is due within 30 days to confirm your spot), or speak to me about a personal payment plan.

For the deposit, Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna are available at checkout, subject to eligibility and approval. Deposits can also be sent via Zelle, Cash App, or Apple Pay.

The remaining $1,250 is due October 4, 2027.

Here’s what $1,250 looks like if you start now:

💵 Weekly: $25 a week
💵 Monthly: $115 a month
💵 Every 2 months: about $209 every 2 months
💵 Every 3 months: $312.50 every 3 months
💵 Every 6 months: $625 every 6 months

Pick the rhythm that matches your paycheck, and your balance is covered before October 4, 2027. The sooner you start, the smaller the payments.

Waiting for the perfect time is how “someday” becomes never. Fall 2027 will come either way. The only question is whether you’ll be at that table in Accra or still wishing you were.

👉 View the itinerary​
👉 Make your $500 deposit​
👉 Not sure yet? Book a free 30-minute Discovery Call and ask me anything.
👉 Already know? Hit reply and tell me which Thanksgiving option you prefer.

One more thing: a free gift for you. 🎁

Remember that 9 Effortless Credit Hacks e-guide? Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account through my referral link, and I’ll gift you the guide for FREE!

👉 Open your SoFi account here (I may receive a referral bonus if you open an account and meet SoFi’s qualifying requirements.)

Once you’ve opened your account, reply with the word GUIDE so I can arrange delivery. Please don’t send account numbers or sensitive banking information.

Your next chapter might include a refreshed bedroom, a stronger financial foundation, or your first international adventure. Give it a plan and take the first step.

Travel doesn’t have to be a luxury. Sometimes, it’s logistics. ✈️🌍

Disclosure: I may receive a referral bonus if you use my link and meet SoFi’s qualifying requirements. The free guide is my offer, not SoFi’s. SoFi eligibility and referral terms apply. Card payment options depend on eligibility and purchase terms; review all fees, interest, and repayment requirements before enrolling.

✈️ Travel Tip of the Week

Can you believe it? It's cheaper to fly abroad than to fly within the United States.

​An IG influencer said the price to fly to New York is literally the same as flying halfway across the world, and that our passport is basically our travel coupon book. We get way more amenities for our dollar in Bali or Thailand than we do vacationing in Miami or Los Angeles.

Here’s how to search for long-haul fares that fit your budget:

✅ Start with Google Flights: You can see a full calendar of prices.

✅ Double-check with Hopper. It predicts whether prices will go up or down

✅ Explore with Skyscanner. Finds budget airline combinations that other sites miss

✅ Use Credit Card Points, Miles, or Rewards. Redeem points for flights (sometimes FREE or heavily discounted)

For a deeper explanation, read my blog post: 👉 How to Book Flights Like a Pro​

P.S. Four seats. Reply with the word GHANA, and I’ll personally hold the conversation with you today.

🔗 Helpful Travel Links

A few other ways I can help this week:

Prepare to Travel

🌍 Applying for your first passport? Follow my step-by-step guide; see exactly what you need to get started.

🇬🇭 Ready to experience the magic of Ghana? Join me for The Essence of Ghana Tour 2027; explore the experience and secure your spot.

🧳 Planning your own trip? I offer 1:1 itinerary planning; see how it works and book a session.

Strengthen Your Travel Finances

💰 Saving for your next adventure? Create a dedicated travel fund with SoFi; open an account and start preparing today.

💳 Want to elevate your travel experience? Explore the benefits of the American Express Platinum Card; learn more through my referral link.

📘 Building your credit for travel? My credit guide ($8) walks through exactly what I used to qualify for cards that fund trips like this — grab it here.

Join the Community

💬 Come hang out in the Xotic Xcursions Facebook Community​

☕ Enjoyed this newsletter? If it gave you something useful, you can buy me a coffee; every bit helps me keep writing these.

Stress less. Travel more. Create memories of a lifetime. ✈️

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate or referral links. If you apply, open an account, or make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive compensation or rewards at no additional cost to you. Please review the terms, fees, and eligibility requirements before applying.