Merging Into Life

The Cruise Insider's Handbook: Your guide to smooth sailing

Ever wondered why cruises are such a big deal? Spoiler: they're basically floating resorts with skating rinks, private islands, and zero cooking or cleaning required. What’s not to like?But before you set sail, there’s a lot to figure out like a packing strategy, what’s worth splurging on, are the on-shore excursions worth it and what happens if you miss the boat? We’ve got the covered.Join Dana Hammond, travel journalist, editor, and certified cruise lover who’s been on over 100 cruises, and Ilana Schattauer from Life Well Cruised, a once-skeptic turned cruise superfan. They’re here to share insider tips and hacks to make your first (or next) cruise totally stress-free.ResourcesDana HammondIlana Schattauer’s Life Well Cruised

Moving back home: When your parents are your roommates

Independence usually means flying the nest. Getting out from under parental rule, making your own decisions and having some space for yourself.But life happens and sometimes that means returning home. Just because moving back in with your parents wasn’t on your adulthood bingo card, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good move.On this episode we’ll talk to Paige Mariah, a successful, vibrant, thirtysomething who returned to the U.S. from England and moved back in with her parents. She’s got first-hand tips on how to make the most of your time at home. And we also have Francesca Canzoneri from The Therapy Institute who helps get you in the right mindset when it comes to boundaries, boundaries and more boundaries.Resources:Paige Mariah: YouTube & InstagramThe Therapy Institute

Build credit, not debt: Healthy credit card habits

On the one hand we have points programs, maybe insurance and credit building, but on the other there’s high interest rates, annual fees and the potential to rack up a lot of debt. How do we use credit cards for good and skip the tough lessons? Listen in to Katherine Fan, a personal finance journalist who breaks down the basics, like how to avoid common pitfalls, make the most of your cards perks and manage credit to your benefit, not your debt.

Retirement 101: Start saving, stop worrying

For many of us, retirement is a bit of an abstract idea. It’s far away in the future, it can be hard to picture. The unknowns are infinite. So how do we plan for that?Step one: Just start. The earlier the better, too, because we’ll just keep getting older and it’ll be nice to have a little something to make those later years more fun. Join our guest Pamela Capland, certified financial planner and accredited financial counselor who takes the shame out of money conversations and is a pro at simplifying and empowering. Then we also have Julien and Kiersten Saunders who explain the basics of the FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early).Resources:Pamela Capalad: Get ShamelessJulien & Kiersten Saunders: Rich & Regular

Life-Hack Highlights: The road so far

What’s more fun than looking back over the year and remembering all the great things that happened? Not much! So join us in the episode that finds all the fun and fascinating nuggets from the first 16 episodes of Merging Into Life. Each episode has its charm, and we’ve gathered as much as we could fit into this one episode as a thanks for coming along for the ride with us. Life-hacks, hot tips and all the takeaways you can handle. From buying a car, bringing home your first pet, heading to a theme park or moving back home with Mom and Dad, we’ve got you covered.