Hey Reader,
Ever notice how the way you travel or handle money often feels pre-programmed? It might be that your family’s traditions laid the groundwork for your habits. For many of us, our earliest travel memories of road trips, family vacations, and even the quiet moments of planning set the stage for a lifelong love of exploration.
At the same time, when it comes to finances, many of us never saw our parents talk about money or budgeting, leaving us to figure it out on our own.
I have vivid memories of family road trips from my childhood. We'd hop in our overpacked car and head to the beach, an amusement park, or to visit loved ones. These trips grew more uncomfortable with every hour spent crammed in the backseat with my sister and brother. As much as I didn't care for the journey, I always enjoyed the destination. Mackinac Island. Myrtle Beach. Walt Disney World. Kings Island. I can still smell the over-chlorinated Holidome pool.
Family Traditions: The Hidden Blueprint
Our early experiences, whether they were filled with the excitement of travel or the silence around money, shape who we become. For some, those early road trips and family vacations instilled a sense of adventure that naturally guides every journey. For others, the lack of family conversations about money has left us figuring out financial matters on our own, often through trial and error.
I can recall a laundry list of travel memories from my childhood. What I don't remember are conversations about money in our home. I don't recall hearing my parents talk about money, whether it was simple conversations about bills and budgeting, funding our family adventures, or saving for college.
My financial education, or lack of it, was mostly self-taught. Even after learning about budgeting, emergency funds, and 401(k)s, it wasn't until later in life that I decided to take my money more seriously.
Inherited Versus Intentional
There’s a fascinating duality here. On one hand, our inherited habits, from the comfort of familiar road trips to the predictable pattern of safe vacations, provide a foundation. On the other hand, as adults, we sometimes feel compelled to break free from these patterns. Some of us travel more adventurously precisely because we didn’t grow up traveling widely; the desire to explore becomes our personal rebellion and a way to fill that missing piece.
While my parents prioritized travel, our trips primarily revolved around domestic tourist destinations. We didn't travel off the beaten path (unless my dad took one of his infamous "short cuts"), and Ontario, Canada, was as international as we got. Over our 20+ years of marriage, my wife and I haven't traveled internationally very often, primarily due to some health concerns. More recently, though, I've participated in more international press trips, and we've discussed becoming more adventurous with our travels.
This isn’t about dismissing our past. It’s about acknowledging it while making intentional choices that serve our evolving needs and aspirations.
Crafting an Intentional Style
Here are a few straightforward steps you can take right now to help you create your own intentional travel and money styles:
- Reflect on Your Habits: Take a moment to write down the travel and money habits you grew up with. Which of these feels natural, and which might be holding you back?
- Choose One Small Change: Pick one area where you’d like to take a small step outside your comfort zone. Maybe plan a trip that challenges your usual routine or set up a simple budgeting routine that feels achievable.
- Take Action: Make a plan and commit to that change. It could be as simple as researching a new destination or setting aside a small amount of time each week to review your spending. Trust that this small step is the beginning of a larger, intentional shift in how you travel and manage money.
Your Next Move
Our family traditions may shape us, but they don’t have to dictate every choice we make.
Whether you grew up with a full itinerary of familiar trips or with very few travel experiences at all, you have the power to blend the best of what you inherited with new, intentional choices that align with your goals.
By taking that first small step out of your comfort zone, you’re not only honoring your past, but you’re also actively creating a legacy for your future.
I’d love to hear what you’re planning to change.
Reply to this email and let me know the one small step you’re committing to in your travel or money habits.
To a life well-traveled,
Kevin