Susan

Good for you Veronica!!

xxx

Become expats and live tax free in europe,therefore eliminating most of the costs of traveling. Since I am already here, many places are a few hours away...and very doable for day trips or weekends away....Life is good for now What is average income? ours is 86,000 tax free and I think that is very low, as my sister makes half a mil a year, now that is a damn good salary...

LJ

Consider a "shared" vacation i.e. with another couple or two: you can share a villa (often very luxurious) for much less than just your and your partner in a hotel. Equally car rental is immediately halved. Its more fun eating in when there are others to share your daily adventures with and you won't miss the restaurant meals. Yes, there is a small sacrifice in terms of privacy but you will find travle costs compensate a great deal as does the fellowship of a shared trip.

gettingby

Jetset,<BR> I travel two vications a year. I always go to europe in the off season which is in winter (I don't remember Europe being hot since 1986). I stay away from big cities because they are more expensive than villages. I am always on the look out for good rates got airfare and hotels. When I am on my holiday I have a HUGE breakfast (usally free in the hotel) and then skip lunch and have dinner by getting fast food (cheaper). <BR> I do not want to sound cruel but you can trvel without your kids. I take my kids on a mini vication to somewhere in the US cuz it is cheaper.

xx

$86,000 after taxes is pretty good to me-even if it's a combined income. There's no comaparison between $86k and $500k. Of course your salaries will look tiny compared to your sister's. Everyone wishes they could earn as much as your sister's salary, but in reality, cannot. But if my husband and I could have your $86k net after taxes we'd be happy.

Karen

I too make saving for travel a priority. I try to take a big trip every 2 years and a few smaller trips each year. Two years ago I went to Italy, last New Year's we went on a cruise that we got cheap because of all the cancellations, and in January of 2003: London/England.<BR><BR>I try to go cheap. I am going for 4 days to the Bahamas next month because it is on my boyfriend's company (I just had to pay airfare). Next, I am going to London in January, used FF miles for tickets and am staying with my sister who will be there temporarily for work - so: free airline, free place to stay for 2 weeks. Also, she'll be in a flat so we can save money by eating b-fast in, maybe some dinners as well, etc.

rquirk

I can see why my home town is so quiet now and why holiday destinations are so lively. Ive just come back from Eastern Europe and I go to Iceland in two weeks. Have I saved anything in between ? No. Have I been out in between ? You bet ! A fifty week penitence for a two week holiday. No way ! Live for the whole year.

Veronica fan

A second bravo. We should all be so reasonable. You're my new hero.

xxx

<BR>Doesn't anyone pay for their own<BR>college tuition anymore??

Sonia

It's easy with all the really cheap flights from London Stansted at the moment! Book dirt cheap flights over the internet, then find a dirt cheap hotel on the internet, and hey presto!<BR><BR>I've managed Prague, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Florence, Pisa, Chambery, Carcassonne so far this year and have Bilbao, Venice and Verona before the year is out! You'd die if I told you how much the Venice flights were!<BR><BR>This way, I can live relatively well and still afford to travel!<BR><BR>Have a good day<BR><BR>Sonia<BR><BR>Sonia

SA

Again, it depends on your priorities. We typically make 2 short trips (5 days)to Europe & one long one (2-3 weeks) in the summer. In addition, we travel w/in the states probably another 6-8 times (many are long weekends). We live fairly close to the beach & go there a lot. We don't live in a huge mansion in the 'burbs, we live in a townhouse close to town. We didn't have any car payments until a daughter came along in June. We have little debt to speak of outside the car & house. In regards to the college folks. We just finished paying off my wifes student loans (she is 32). Why should you pay for your childs education ? they will appreciate it much more if they are footing some of the bill. I work to provide for my family & travel. my daughter is 4 months old, been to the beach 3 times, flown on a plane & will make her first trip to Paris (outside the womb) in March. Be flexible & do your homework before you go. Why spend top dollar on a room you are only going to sleep in. This time we are renting an apartment (due to our infant) & it will be cheaper than a hotel & lend us more flexibility. Life is too short to wait for retirement that may never come.

Judy

I have travelled with my husband and two boys frequently through the years. The only trip so far to Europe together was a home exchange in London. We`re planning another home exchange to France next summer. In between we travel to New York, Cape Cod, Mrytle Beach, Florida, Outer Banks, etc., and locally for weekend trips. We search for the best deals on accomodation - this site helps alot - and don`t tend to eat out in expensive restaurants (mostly take out or cook in if possible) and we almost never buy souvenirs. Through the year we save by taking lunches, doing free or cheap stuff like hiking or visiting local museums and just generally being careful. So we live fairly well during the year but we really live for our trips!

Kevin

If xxx is living in Europe tax free, then xxx is breaking the law. An American citizen living abroad files a US tax return each year, and they are exempted from paying tax on a certain amount of income each year (86,000 for xxx). However, those ex-pats still must pay income tax on that money in the country in which they live.<BR><BR>Now, certain companies with workers in different countries often set up interesting compensation schemes, which make it look like you may not be paying tax, but you are, whether directly or through the company.<BR><BR>And the only way you can get out of filing a US tax return is to renounce your American citizenship.

xxx

<BR><BR>Average income for a household in the U.S. in 1996 was approximately $43,000. A recurring phenonenom in the U.S. is for households who are actually upper class or upper-middle class, in terms of household income, to think of themselves as only middle class.

keviniswrong

Kevin, boy are you painfully ignorant in tax exempt expats. I do not pay taxes to anyone. If you have a problem with that take it up with the IRS and the German Govt. I have a Visa that allows me to live and work in europe. I file tax forms like the rest of America does, it just that I don't have to pay....It is a simple 1025 E form...so there. Anyway, you are only exempt up to apr. 75,000 a year. But if you and your spouse are both tax exempt you can make a very nice living and working abroad.

yourwrong

Keviniswrong,<BR>Actually, you are too. Tax exempt income can be closer to $100,000 as housing costs are deductible, as well. Depending on the country you are living in and your job, you are liable for their taxes. Many corp. have tax equalization schemes and some (US and others) just lie about their employee's compensation, esp. in tax heavy areas like Eastern Europe. However, if you live in one country and work in several countries (ie a consultant), then, it is entirely possible not to have a tax liability in Europe...but if you are an American, you may still have one in the States.

ttt

topping

Linda

When we were first married, we had a really hard time saving for travel. We had our paychecks directly deposited into the bank and then the bank automatically take a portion out and tuck it away into an account not associated with our normal checking/savings accounts. We started with $200 month and when we were used to it being gone we gradually increased it. Eventually we were saving $400/month and not even missing it. Now, we live here in Europe and hope to be here for another 2-3 years, so that cuts down hugely on travel expenses. Prague last month, Paris in December, Trier this weekend.....