Major decisions and life changes are coming to the Sitcom!
In June of 2010, my husband and I made a major life decision. With the kids grown and gone,we were ready to begin a new chapter in our lives. But we really weren’t sure what that change would be. Both of us have jobs in the city. I’m an Executive Assistant in a huge corporation, and my husband is a Fleet Manager in another large company. Both of us were tired of the major commute (an hour and a half each way). Both of us were tired of our jobs; tired of city life; tired of the crowds. Let’s face it, we were just plain tired. We needed to come up with a new plan.
I had just created Suzy’s Sitcom at that time. A new blogger, I really didn’t realize the potential of a website with creative content. But I tackled a blog like I tackle most things; head on and running. My father always said that I could accomplish anything that I set my mind to. If I truly believed that something would be a success, then it would be.
It was also at that time that my husband and I watched a television show that ultimately pointed us in the direction we wanted to go. It was a documentary about a couple who bought a RV, sold their house and everything they owned and set out on the road to travel, document their journey and live full time on the road.
Our five year plan was set in motion. We would be doing the same. We just needed to follow the plan. After all, anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
So here we are four and a half years later. The Sitcom is a successful website, generating enough income for us to begin to make the big moves. We have already purchased the RV, and we are preparing the house for sale. I will be starting a new series here on the Sitcom showing the progress we are making in getting the house ready and how we are gradually getting rid of our furniture and unnecessary possessions. We are aiming for that June 2015 date.
Our budget is incredibly important, especially considering the fact that we both plan on quitting our jobs and become freelance AI engineers instead. Which brings me to the point of this post. With the current state of medical insurance as it is, it is apparent that this will be one of our biggest expenses once we hit the road. We will no longer have corporations helping out with the large premiums that medical insurance is now requiring. We are also looking for an injury lawyer just in case we get into an accident on the road.
We are now shopping for insurance and getting things set in place. If you’re facing fraud in insurance policies, make sure to reach out to these insurance fraud attorneys. In the realm of cyber threats, where allegations can be as damaging as actual misdemeanors, securing the right legal counsel is paramount. By engaging a lawyer skilled in navigating the complexities of cyber crime litigation, one ensures that their rights are safeguarded throughout the process.
So it is even more important to look very closely at our policies in order to avoid costly mistakes. Up until now, we have had a tendency to elect the same benefit options year after year. Did you know that according to a 2014 Aflac Open Enrollment Survey, 41% of employees spend only 15 minutes or less researching their benefit options? The average employee pays over $4,500 a year in premiums. Not taking the time to research your options can result in wasting money that you could have had for other things.
So what to do? We have enrollment season upon us and we all have to make some major decisions in the next few months.
Take the time to research your policy
Carefully review and compare all available benefits information. Take time to look up terms you don’t understand such as voluntary insurance, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses and others. If your employer offers on-site seminars or webinars; take advantage of that!
Know what your family needs
Consider your options and keep in mind what specifically meets your family’s needs. Underestimating what your family needs can result in financial hard times especially in cases of medical emergencies.
Consider your budget
Understand the financial implications your choices have on your budget. In addition to monthly premiums, make sure you can afford the yearly deductible costs. If a high deductible looks like it may be a burden, choose a plan with a slightly higher monthly premium and a lower deductible that may be easier to manage.
With a higher deductible, consider voluntary insurance policies like those offered by Aflac, which are designed to supplement major medical plans, pay policyholders directly for unexpected costs associated with a covered serious illness, injury, or loss. If you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, consulting a personal injury lawyer such as the ones at Galveston lawyer can provide you with the guidance needed to navigate the claims process. In addition, the cash benefits can be used to help pay rent, gas, groceries, child care, or any other out-of-pocket expenses a worker may have.
Aflac offers accident, dental, life, vision, cancer, hospital intensive care and more voluntary insurance policies. Check out the Aflac WorkForces Report website for more information on open enrollment.
We are doing our research now. We need a major policy that allows us to travel. And then we will be considering supplemental insurance to help us along the way. Seems that everything at this point is new and challenging. But a challenge is just another hurdle to leap in our five year plan.
After all, you can do anything you set your mind to. Right?
Stay tuned to the Sitcom and follow along. The next few months are going to be very exciting!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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Thanks so much Charlene! Actually we have now been on the road for two years. Lots of great adventures and we regret not a thing! It has been the best decision of our lives. You can read about our adventures on my other website, http://rvlifecamping.com (The Traveling Sitcom).
suzy
How exciting to be able to dream and plan for a new phase of life, doing what YOU want to do! We fixed up, then sold a house and moved across country to be closer to siblings — so many difficult changes but good for the big picture and we are glad we did it. We have done quite a bit of traveling and intend to do more but like coming back to home base in between. RVing sounds like a great adventure–especially as you have planned it! Wish you the best and look forward to future blog posts! (My husband is also a fleet manager, but for urban mass transit systems :-))
We just finished up 3 years of fulltime RV’ing. We sold our house and most belongings in NJ and hit the road in July 2011. We loved the lifestyle, but ultimately wanted to settle down on a nice piece of private property, which we just did this past July 2014.
If you can figure out your finances, you will love the freedom to go where you please.
Hi Katie!
That sounds exciting! Let me know how it goes. Maybe we can cross paths one day!
suzy
Hi Maureen!
My husband was worried about being bored and then we looked into work camping. He can work for the RV park, helping folks park their RVs, and doing lawn maintenance and we get a free spot in exchange. He’ll be happy meeting all those folks, and I’ll be happy with my crafts! Hope to meet you on the road!
suzy
I’m teaming up with a friend of mine to travel the country for the next year raising money for charity…we’re hoping to do it in a RV. Part of me feels like instead of trying to get one donated, I should just buy one…but maybe that’s too crazy to do at my age. Regardless, I’m on the insurance hunt as well… 😉
Love that you will become full timers. Looking forward to future posts. I just retired and we have an RV. We have taken a 2.5 week trip and I would like to take a 3-4 month trip. How do I get my also retired husband to go along with the plan? I bring along my crafts, etc when we camp and he doesn’t bring much so he gets bored.
Hi Irene!
Thank you so much for your kind words!! How exciting to meet a full timer! It would be great to meet up sometime. It truly is a small world. As for workcamping, we are definitely going that route. We have already looked into quite a few of the work camping sites and are putting everything together to get started in the summer season next year. We both like to stay busy and this option seems to benefit us in more ways than one. And the fun part is that you never get tired of your job. You get to change it every season!
suzy
Thank you so much Patti! We actually do plan to work on the road. And you are right, there are tons of options. Can’t wait to share our adventures!
suzy
Thank you so much, Jaan! How exciting to be considering moving overseas! We haven’t gotten to that point. We will be pretty busy checking out the US for the next few years. And yes, it is pretty cool that all we have to do is drive our house to the next destination. Kind of loving that.
suzy
Hi Anita!
Oh yes, I will definitely still be crafting! The Sitcom will be helping to support us for one thing, but I love to craft and create. I could never give those things up. I just will be doing it on the road! In fact, we’ve been camping quite a bit over the past year and many of the crafts you see on the site were created in our RV.
Thanks so much for the well wishes! Stay tuned, because you will get to travel along with us! I’m sure there will be lots of stories about our adventures in the near future.
suzy
Thank you so much, Heather!
Thanks Sheila! We are looking into some of the RV groups and rallies. It is good to know others that have gone this route.
suzy
Hi Diana!
Oh yes, we did discover that. In fact we were warned by some full timer RVers that some insurance companies will cancel your policy if they find out you are a full time traveler. It narrows down the field dramatically. I will definitely write about what we discover on the insurance front. We already know it will be our biggest expense.
suzy
Hi Tammy!
It is very exciting. We have so much to do. Right now we are working on fixing up the house. And then I will start to interview realtors. A little overwhelming, but worth the effort! Thanks for following along!!
suzy
Thank you so much, Paula! We are very excited. Lots of preparation ahead, but it will be worth it.
suzy
Thanks so much, Mona! We are so excited that it is finally happening!
suzy
Hello Suzy,
My name is Irene. I’m sure you don’t know me; but, I have been following your blog for a long time.
We did EXACTLY what you’re planning on doing back in 2009. It took us many years to plan this so that we could live as we wanted and live profitably. We did it. We left everything behind and took off. We had a 2004 Dodge Dually diesel and a 38′ 5th wheel with 3 slides. It took us at least 4-5 yrs. of discussing this move and then really preparing for it. You are doing the right thing. Life on the road is absolutely stupendous!!!! Love it and hopefully will be doing this for some time. We are work campers. We normally “work” in summer – we work in a campground somewhere we want to be. We work in the offices with the campers. Hubby does outdoor jobs. We normally get paid for summer work – but, if you don’t need it there are plenty of volunteer jobs. Corps of Engineer jobs are great. Gorgeous parks. We’ve managed parks and just worked at them. In late Fall/Winter we normally headed south and volunteered somewhere for a few hours a week and you normally get your site with all utilities included free. No pay; but, nice “benes”. Of course, I don’t know your specifics – but, there are tons of others out there doing what we have done and what you are going to do. I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world. It’s a great life. There is a place on Internet called “Workampers.com” – which lists parks you can go to and just stay or find a “job”. Just wanted to say – Go for it!!!!!! It’s great.
All the best to you and yours.
Irene T.
Suzy you are going to have the time of your life. I’ve done this twice. Once because I wanted to and once because I had no choice. Join some fulltimer groups and if you get in a bind there are a lot of options for making extra money on the road. We live in the most beautiful country in the world don’t forget to stop and take a look.
Wow! What an adventure you are planning. We are getting the bug to move again ourselves. We already moved seven times in the last 13 years. But weare thinking of an overseas moves. We all enjoy different areas, etc. but having an Rv would be a lot easier than packing and moving. Please enjoy every step of your journey and I can’t wait to read how you handle each step.
Suzy, I wish you and your husband the best on your new endeavor to sell your house and possessions and set off into a new adventure. Wish I were going with you. Will you still be doing your crafting along the way with a nature twist to it? I would hate to see you give that part of it up. Surely you would be able to find a small part in your RV for you crafts or down below. I truly wish you both the best and can’t wait to start reading about the adventures but most too, seeing the pictures you take along the way!!!
Oh wow ! I wish you the best of everything following your dream.
It is a great lifestyle travel and mobile living . There are bunches of great r groups that give so much great advice and many great rally with vendors and info. The last 10 plus years have been a great adventure. Expect to have 10 more
Sheila
I think thats great your gonna have a blast, but please be careful about the insurance you choose for some don’t give you the same coverage if your out of state you really have to read the fine print, blue cross is known not to cover if your out of your billing area it’s stupid I know but it’s just another way for insurance companies not to pay
I can’t wait to see how you prepare your house to be sold and how to pick an agent. Just all that is involved… Then once you are on the road and begin that chapter….New everything, for you and us the readers. Exciting for all us to be included. Good luck!
Suzy, i am so happy for you to start on the road to realize your dream. can hardly wait to see the blogs forthcoming. will follow along with my heart for you. great adventures ahead!!!
Yay Suzy! That’s incredibly exciting! My husband and I are thinking of a big change in the next year or two too. A lot of things to think about! I’m excited for you both! Good luck!
Mona