Hey Reader,
I go for months doing little more than work on the weekends, but lately I've had all kinds of things going on. Last weekend was a hot air balloon fair. I've never seen one up close and it was the coolest thing I've done in a while!
I even volunteered to be on a ground crew for one of the balloons. How many people can say they've helped inflate a hot air balloon??
I'm also in the process of moving, which is kind of fun. I love organizing and settling into a new place.
So yeah, I've been busy!
Here's what I have for you this week:
✈️ Travel Spotlight: Travel Planner
💻 Digital Nomad Life: Teaching English
🐾 Travel With a Dog: Is it Worth the Hassle?
✈️ Travel Spotlight
This Week: Travel Planner & Budgeting Spreadsheets
Planning a trip can be fun, but keeping track of all the details? Not so much.
Between flights, hotels, packing lists, and budgets, it’s easy to feel like things are scattered everywhere. That’s why I put together a simple system I actually use myself. And now you can get it too!
Here’s what’s inside the Travel Planner:
- Overview of Trip – A snapshot of your dates, destinations, and budget.
- Reservations – Keep flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities in one place.
- Detailed Budget – Plan costs before you go.
- Spending Tracker – Track what you actually spend, with automatic updates.
- Daily Schedule – Organize your days with ease (if you're into that kinda thing).
- To-Do Lists – Don’t forget those must-do pre-trip tasks.
- Packing List – Customize it for every trip.
- Notes, Links & Research – Save articles, websites, and personal notes for quick access.
Since it’s a Google Sheet, you can make unlimited copies, access it anywhere, and tweak it to fit your travel style.
If you’ve ever wished you could keep everything in one place and actually stick to your budget, this planner makes it easy.
👉 See it Here: Travel Planner & Budgeting Spreadsheets
It's only $9.97. But because you're on my email list and I love you, get 15% off with the code EMAIL15. Hurry because the discount expires on October 1.
💻 Digital Nomad Life
Topic: Teaching English Online
One of the biggest roadblocks to becoming a digital nomad is finding a remote job. So I'm starting a new series on jobs.
This week, let's talk about teaching English online. I'll start with whether it's actually worth it.
I did it and while it was a lot of fun, it's not for everyone.
Here’s what to know:
The Upside
- You can work from almost anywhere with WiFi.
- No teaching degree required, although you usually need a degree in something plus a TEFL certificate.
- Most platforms give you ready-to-use lesson plans.
- It’s a great way to connect with students from around the world.
- Works well as a stepping stone into digital nomad life.
The Downside
- Hours can be tough, especially if your students are in Asia (most of them are).
- Pay usually starts at $10–$15 per hour.
- Income can be unpredictable.
- No benefits since you’re a contractor.
- It can be tiring to stay “on” for multiple classes.
Teaching English online isn’t a get-rich-quick path, but it can be a solid way to start earning location-independent income and get a taste of remote work.
Next week, I’ll cover how to actually get started if this path sounds like a fit.
👉 More on this: Is Teaching English Online Worth It? Here’s What You Need to Know in 2025
Premier TEFL has a great course to get started. It's laid out really well and will get you qualified to teach online. Learn more here.
🐾 Travel With a Dog
This Week: Is It Worth Bringing Them Along?
Bringing your dog on trips can be one of the best parts of travel, but it does take planning. I’ve learned a lot from traveling full-time with Shelby, and here are a few things to think about before you decide.
The Benefits
- Built-in adventure buddy. Walks, hikes, and beach days are instantly more fun with your dog.
- Saves money on boarding or pet sitters.
- Strengthens your bond when you share new experiences together.
The Challenges
- Not every hotel, restaurant, or attraction is dog friendly.
- Long flights or car rides can be stressful for dogs (and you).
- You’ll need to factor in things like vaccines, paperwork, and pet fees.
Tips for Success
- Do your research on dog-friendly places before you book.
- Pack a “dog travel kit” with food, water, collapsible bowls, and comfort items.
- Build in breaks on travel days so your pup can stretch, eat, and relax.
- Know when it’s kinder to leave them at home. Sometimes it’s less stressful for both of you.
Traveling with a dog isn’t always easy, but it can be worth it if you plan ahead.
🦴 Gear Shelby's Loving: Dog Backpack
Sometimes I need to sneak Shelby into a place. Okay, sneak may not be accurate. It's more like carry her discreetly. Like when I need to go into the gas station and it's too hot to leave her in the car.
Having a backpack like this one that doesn't look so much like a dog carrier works great. I've also used it to take Shelby into stores.
💰 Discounts and Deals
This Week’s Deals:
- Giftcards.com is having a sale. Use the code GIFTOBER to get 10% off their already discounted gift cards.
Stuff You Might Like:
Essential Spanish for Travelers gives you easy phrases (with pronunciation). You don’t need a full language course. You just need the right words at the right time.
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Thinking about becoming a digital nomad? My Digital Nomad Planning Bundle gives you the tools to map out your transition, create a budget, and plan with confidence.
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🥸 Joke of the Week
How do you know if a pool is safe for diving?
It deep ends.
I want this newsletter to be as useful as possible. What topics would help you most? Reply and let me know!
Happy travels,
Sherry
Digital Nomad and a Dog
P.S. Be sure to follow me on Facebook!
My general travel page is Digital Nomad and a Dog
I have a Facebook group specifically for travel in the Yucatan Peninsula called, you guessed it, Yucatan Peninsula Travel
I also have a private group, Women Over 50 Digital Nomads (you don't need to be over 50, but you do need to be a woman)
You can also follow me on Instagram