But the trip was an impulsive one, so I had to find a way to cover the $5,000 in expenses. Scores said she still would have taken the trip, but wanted to have extra cash on hand to make the most of it and avoid debt.
Their solution is to sell items they no longer need.
“There were a few things we had to do to raise the money, and part of that was selling jewelry.” [Julianne] “I found it when she was going through her jewelry box,” Scores told CNBC Make It.
Here’s how they were able to make their dream vacation a reality.
The couple, based in Austin, Texas, live well off with a combined six-figure income. Julianne lost her full-time engineering job in 2023, which has made finances a little tighter, but she says she’s been able to comfortably manage normal expenses like credit card debt and truck payments. Scores says. Julian is taking on freelance work while looking for full-time work.
Julian also sold his New York home last year. Scores said she had previously rented the house to a friend of hers. When her friend wanted her to move out, Julian didn’t want to be her long-distance landlord and she decided her best bet was to sell her house.
The profits increased the couple’s savings, allowing them to complete a bathroom renovation in their Austin home and even consider going on vacation. They saved money by splitting the cost of Airbnb and rental cars with a friend, but since Julian works from home and Scores travels primarily in the continental U.S. for work, the couple has decided to take advantage of this new goal. I wanted to have the best experience in the area.
The contents of an old jewelry box helped ensure that the trip didn’t cost a fortune.
”[Julianne] “She won’t tell me a budget. She tells me to start looking for things and she’ll tell me if it’s go or no-go,” Scores said. She got an email from her girlfriend or her ex-boyfriend, and she was like, “I don’t know what to do.” ”
Scores said the couple decided to sell jewelry that Julianne had owned since she was a teenager, including necklaces and earrings. After perusing reviews on Google, I decided to try my luck at TheAlloyMarket.com. Amazingly, this gem won the couple $729 to spend on a trip to Puerto Rico.
When it came to selling the jewelry, the couple “had no hesitation,” Scores said.
“She was like, ‘We’re not going to do anything with this…whatever we get for it.’ And we were surprised at what we got in return. So the cost in money was It’s not low.’ Now. “
That’s true. As of April, gold prices have risen more than 12% over the previous year. The couple’s benefits didn’t cover the entire trip, but it did help put some of the money toward the total cost of $5,000. Scores said Julianne was in charge of the couple’s budget planning, and she knew she could easily manage the trip given their overall financial situation.
“Growing up is the ultimate money game,” he says. “You think you want something, you figure it out, and you make a plan to get there.”
The couple has a general savings fund, but Scores said they didn’t want to put too much into it to pay for the trip. Selling jewelry allowed her to accomplish that goal while taking excursions in Puerto Rico, including snorkeling and off-roading.
Scores said the trip was well worth selling the jewelry and the buyers made the process easier for them.
“It was very easy. It was just things I had lying around the house,” Scores said. “It helped replenish [and] Make sure you can go on vacation. ”
Want to make extra money outside of your day job? Enroll in CNBC’s new online course How to earn passive income online Learn about common passive income sources, tips to get started, and real success stories.
plus, Sign up for the CNBC Make It newsletter Get tips and tricks to succeed in work, money, and life.
