The motivations and mechanics of personal travel are undergoing real change. Vacations are becoming less to do with getting away and increasingly about living new experiences. Here's a quick overview of how travel looks in the twenty-first century.

The New Face of Travel

Your Hotel is Likely Now a Home

With the advent of Airbnb, HomeAway and other similar services, the traveler can now book a home, condo, or cabin and live like a local in a home setting.

Community Impact

Your travel dollars can have community impact. The possibilities can range from AboutAsia, which gives 100 percent of its net proceeds to schools and education initiatives, to Women High on Adventure, which couples adventure with assisting women in the local populations.

Living a Local Experience

Eschewing conventional tourist attractions, many individuals are seeking an immersion in local culture. This can mean connecting locals who love to cook with travelers who want to experience local cuisine (EatWith.com), or...

Benjamin Franklin once said, “a penny saved is a penny earned.”¹ The modern upgrade to that observation might be that $100 not spent is more like $143.²

One way to find the money to meet your spending or saving needs is to examine your current spending habits and consider eliminating money wasters.

Top Money Wasters

1. Bargain Shopping ... and its Expensive Cousin, Impulse Buying
   Fire sales and impulse buying (such as buying products sold on infomercials) can be money wasters, made worse by how often items purchased this way sit idly in a closet or drawer.
2. Unused Gym Memberships
   At a monthly rate of $40-50, unused memberships can add up over time. Begin your fitness commitment inexpensively by walking or jogging; you can graduate to the gym once you know you’re going to stick with it.
3. Cable and Cell
   Call your provider and see if it’s possible to negotiate a new rate. Cell providers, who face stiff competition, may be responsive. Cable companies may be...

In a recent study, 88% of millennials admitted that financial decisions are a source of tension in their relationship with a spouse or partner. This could help explain why some experts say financial problems are the #1 reason marriages fail.^1,2 

Fortunately, couples may be able to head off many of the problems money can cause in a marriage.

10 Tips for Newly Married Couples

1. Communication—Couples should consider talking about their financial goals, memories, and habits because each may come into the marriage with fundamental differences in experiences and outlook that will drive their behaviors.

2. Set Goals—Setting goals establishes a common objective that both become committed to pursuing.

3. Create a Budget—A budget is an exercise for developing a spending and savings plan that is designed to reflect mutually agreed upon priorities.

4. Set the Foundation for Your Financial House—Identify assets and debts. Look to begin reducing debts while building your...

Every year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases its list of tax scams, spotlighting the myriad ways that people try to separate you from your money.¹

The “Dirty Dozen”

Identity Theft

Using your personal information, an identity thief can file a fraudulent tax return and claim a refund. If you’ve been a victim of stolen personal information, you can contact the IRS so the agency can protect your tax account.

Phishing

Be wary of fake emails or websites looking to steal your personal information. If you receive a request for information that appears to be from the IRS, contact the IRS directly to verify the request.

Telephone Scams

Scammers will contact you pretending to be from the IRS. They may say that you are due a large refund or owe money (even threatening arrest or revocation of your driver’s license). If you receive such a call, call the IRS and contact the Federal Trade Commission using their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov....