Hi, We are Kevin and Barb Payne. We’ve spent almost 20 years learning how to manage our money better. We’ve had plenty of failures along the way, but we’ve also found ways to succeed. Our money successes have allowed us to stress less and enjoy life more.
Family Money Adventure was created to share our story (the good and the bad) and spark meaningful conversations about family, money, and travel.
We aren’t experts. We don’t have all of the answers and we’re not experts by any means. Our adventures with money, travel and family have been a constant source of growth and we hope our story inspires you to become more engaged in your own story.
Our family is us, four incredible teenagers (yes, you read that right), the best pup in the world, and a slightly evil cat.
Join us in the conversation and take control of your own adventure today.
We believe diversity and inclusion allows everyone to be themselves and thus cultivates curiosity, understanding, and empathy for others.
We look to the future while not ignoring the past. Our optimism helps us to keep an open mind, positive environment to foster connections and be better at solving people’s problems.
We strive to be friendly, generous, and considerate of others and ourselves. This takes courage and some optimism as it involves our willingness to celebrate others consistently.
Cedar Point has a special place in my heart. Growing up, our family often made the trek to Sandusky, Ohio, no matter where we were living at the time. I also worked there in the summer while in college. Cedar Point will always be “America’s Rollercoast” to me. Use this complete guide to visiting Cedar Point to plan your family’s next visit to the amusement park.
If you’re planning a trip to Universal Studios Orlando soon, there are several decisions you need to make. Where to stay. Where to eat. How to get there. What kind of Universal Studios tickets to buy. How many days at the parks. There’s a lot to think about, and the costs can be considerable depending on your answers to those questions.
One thing that is certain is that if you are headed to Universal Orlando, you will run into crowds. Several years ago, there were pockets of time throughout the year you could consider as the park’s offseason. Not anymore. It’s almost always busy, especially as people have returned to regular travel.
One way to deal with the crowds is to purchase Universal Express Passes. These passes allow you to bypass the regular queues at many of the park’s most popular attractions. Skipping lines sounds amazing, especially in the hot Florida weather or if you’re traveling with kids. However, there’s an added cost for Universal Express Passes on top of the already- pricey park tickets.
Planning a trip to Universal Studios Orlando this year? Our family loves Universal Studios. We’ve visited the parks several times over the years, and it’s always a great family experience. The rides. The entertainment. The food. Universal Studios Orlando offers a completely unique experience that separates itself from most theme parks. The only thing we don’t love when visiting Universal Studios is waiting in lines. One way to avoid the long lines is to purchase Univeral Express Passes.
Planning a trip to Universal Orlando is relatively easy. That’s because there are so many flights available to Orlando and endless hotel options and other accommodations. That doesn’t mean it won’t cost you significant money to take your family to the popular theme park.
We’ve been able to plan nearly-free trips to Universal Orlando using rewards points and miles. I consider myself an intermediate-level travel hacker. I know enough to save considerable money when traveling, especially to the places we love, like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
There are several ways you to save money on an Orlando trip, including airfare, accommodations, rental cars, and even Universal Studios tickets. The amount you can save may depend on the credit cards you use, how many credit cards you’re willing to open up, and your spending habits.
If you have a savings account from the local bank down the street, you’re missing out on a huge earning opportunity.
That opportunity is a HIGH YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
Everyone should have at least one savings account as part of their overall money management strategy. But knowing what type of savings account you should have can help you take advantage of interest rates 10X more than the national average or higher.
Consumerism has replaced the holiday spirit as the expected output during this time. We’ll soon see the gifts that everyone else receives, the get-togethers planned, and the magic of the holidays packaged up for young kiddos to enjoy. While no two situations are similar, it’s a natural feeling to compare your experience to others. In an attempt to empower your wallet and keep your heart in the right space, I’d like to offer a few suggestions for how you can manage your spending through the holidays.
