INSURANCE

Protect Yourself from Catastrophe

Avibra COST: $0

Many gig workers go without insurance, and Avibra fills the gap. Earn up to $15,000 in life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage by engaging with Avibra’s content—read an article about personal finance or do a guided meditation, and you earn coverage. There’s also a Dollar Benefits Store, where you can buy extras, like telemedicine and dental coverage, for $1 a week.

WHY IT’S A WINNER: This won’t cut it for a large family with lots of medical needs. But it is a “better-than-nothing solution that could prevent a financial tragedy alongside a health one,” Skye Kelly says.

Get Essential Disability Coverage

Breeze

COST: FROM $3 PER MONTH

Disability insurance is designed to help cover your living expenses if you are sick, injured, or just had a baby and can’t work. Employers often provide it, but if you work for yourself, there’s no such thing as paid sick leave. Breeze ofers plans for this must-have coverage. Input your age, location, and profession and answer a few health questions to get a quote.

WHY IT’S A WINNER: We all know we should have savings to cover several months if something happens and we can’t work, but few of us do. “Disability is a crucial and under-insured risk,” McCullough says. “So many families’ financial futures are upended by illness or injury. This won’t replace 100 percent of your income, but it can mean you keep your home during a health crisis.”

Buy Life Insurance Without Feeling Judged

Haven Life

COST: FROM ABOUT $30 PER MONTH

Term life insurance is one of the most no-brainer financial products out there none of us wants to strand our family in a financial crisis if we die suddenly. The old way to qualify for life insurance involved medical tests and lots of invasive questions. This company is legit (backed by MassMutual) but ofers Haven Simple, a policy that can give you up to $500,000 in term life insurance and requires just a few clicks, with no strangers taking your blood pressure. (Haven Life does ofer up to $3 million, though, if you go the traditional route.)

WHY IT’S A WINNER: We’re fans of anything that makes something daunting, like contemplating your mortality, a little easier. And Haven Life allows you to check of a grown-up task in the amount of time it takes to make cofee. “It’s a very convenient option that’s needed in the marketplace,” Dahlby says.

Free Yourself from the Weight of Medical Debt

PayZen COST: $0

Medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States. PayZen steps in with a solution that left us wondering, “Why hadn’t anyone thought of this before?” PayZen pays your health provider, then sets up a payment plan based on your financial picture for you to repay the amount–without any interest or fees. A scary, overwhelming debt is reduced to bite-size installments.

WHY IT’S A WINNER: With PayZen, patients aren’t charged more than the initial medical bill. Skye Kelly’s endorsement is absolute: “I tear up thinking about all the people currently struggling who will be able to maintain financial dignity thanks to this product.”

Methodology

WE COMPILED A LIST OF PRODUCTS ACROSS EIGHT CATEGORIES THAT DEBUTED OR WERE UPDATED BETWEEN JANUARY 2021 AND JUNE 2022. A DIVERSE PANEL OF FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS RATED THEM AND SELECTED 32 WINNERS BASED ON INNOVATION AND RELEVANCE TO REAL SIMPLE READERS. ALL DETAILS WERE CORRECT AS OF PRESS TIME

JUDGES

MARSHA BARNES, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL SOCIAL WORKER, EDUCATOR, AND FOUNDER OF THE FINANCE BAR, WHICH PROVIDES PERSONAL FINANCE TOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

CATHY CURTIS, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND FOUNDER OF CURTIS FINANCIAL PLANNING IN OAKLAND

CALIFORNIA WHO FOCUSES ON ADVISING WOMEN

DAWN DAHLBY, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND BEHAVIORAL FINANCIAL ADVISER WHO OFFERS ONLINE FINANCIAL COACHING COURSES FOR CLIENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY

STEPHANIE MCCULLOUGH, FINANCIAL PLANNER AND CEO OF SOFIA FINANCIAL IN BERWYN PENNSYLVANIA

GRANT SABATIER, AUTHOR OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND CREATOR OF THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM COURSE, WHICH HELPS PARTICIPANTS BUILD WEALTH AND RETIRE EARLY

JULIEN AND KIERSTEN SAUNDERS, AUTHORS OF CASHING OUT ABOUT PAYING OFF $200,000 IN DEBT, WHO SHARE ADVICE FOR BUILDING WEALTH AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK MEN AND WOMEN

ERIN SKYE KELLY, LICENSED

MORTGAGE BROKER WHO PAID OFF $2 MILLION IN DEBT AND AUTHOR OF GET THE HELL OUT OF DEBT, ABOUT HER THREE-STEP PROCESS FOR ELIMINATING DEBT AND BUILDING WEALTH

TATIANA TSOIR, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND AUTHOR OF DREAM BOLD START SMART A GUIDE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

VEE WEIR, PERSONAL FINANCE EDUCATOR IN BOULDER, COLORADO, WHO PAID OFF MORE THAN $70 000 IN DEBT AND SHARES TIPS ON INSTAGRAM AT @VEEFRUGALFOX

Travel Planning

After sticking close to home for a while, your travelagent skills may be a bit rusty. If you’ve forgotten how to get going on getting going, our pros are here to make sure your long-awaited vacation goes swimmingly.

BY KATIE JAMES WATKINSON

AFTER A FEW YEARS spent, initially, taking in the exotic vistas of your own backyard, and then taking whatever road trip you could muster, you may be gearing up for a longoverdue getaway—and you have company: According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, global travel and tourism are projected to exceed prepandemic levels this year, contributing nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy. Whether you’re finally planning a couple’s trip, rescheduling Disney, or organizing that beach vacation with your friends, here’s how to plan it right so you can focus on the serious business of R&R.

Fly Frugally

The more flexible your dates and destination, the better the deals you can score. To stay updated on the latest bargains, sign up for alerts on the website Scott’s Cheap Flights, which sources domestic and international routes from your nearest airport, claiming an average savings of 60 percent. (For access to even more deals, upgrade to the $49 annual premium membership.)

When that nonstop flight to Paris lands in your inbox for just $300 run, don’t walk. Flexible about where you go, as long as you can travel in December? Plug in specific dates or browse an entire month on Kayak’s Explore page, which cost-compares destinations around the globe.

Consider Traveling by Train

In a time when flying can be unpredictable, train travel could put you on the right track. “Trains are often overlooked, but they can be one of the most beautiful ways to travel,” says travel writer Stacey Leasca.

“You get to see the world unfold and make the journey part of your travel experience.” Amtrak reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance, and booking early almost always guarantees savings. Tickets purchased 7 to 21 days in advance qualify for Saver fares, up to 25 percent of the lowest available price

Book Accommodations Wisely

Availability and pricing can fluctuate wildly for hotels, so book your reservation as far in advance as possible. For longer stays in vacation rentals, inquire about weekly rates; it may cost less to reserve that lakeside cabin on Airbnb for a full week than for the five nights you intend to stay.

Organize Your Intel

If you’re traveling in a group, create a shareable Google Doc that lists restaurants and other hot spots so the rest of your party can add their ideas and see the latest updates in real time.

Make a Thoughtful Itinerary

Overcrowding your trip with backto-back tours will likely leave you more irritated than invigorated—but at the same time, nobody wants to wander through a crowded city looking for a dinner spot while everyone grows increasingly hangry. To strike a happy medium, schedule one key experience each day (say, a museum or biking tour), then leave time to explore. It does pay to line up dinner plans—especially with a big group—but keep after-dinner drinks open so you’ll have a chance to look around. “Try to give in to travel fate,” Leasca says. “You never know where a place can take you.”

Gather Your Gear

Pull out your suitcase a week before you depart, then lay it open on the bedroom floor “The reminder sets an expectation of how much space you actually have,” explains Hitha Palepu, author of How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip.

Put small essentials in a toiletries bag, a tech organizer, and a medicine kit. “I like to have a lot of our travel gear prepacked,” says Vanessa Jeswani, cofounder of the luggage brand Nomad Lane. “Everyone in our family has a toiletries bag with mini versions of everything they need.”

If you plan on working remotely, install a privacy screen on your laptop, and pack a portable charger (ideally with built-in cables for your most-used devices) “so you’re not jockeying for a plug at the airport,” Palepu says

Plan Your Wardrobe

We’ve all been there: It’s 11:30 the night before you leave and you’re wildly stuing a pair of stilettos into your overflowing suitcase, thinking, “What if I want to dress up for dinner?” “When we pack for a vacation, we have this fantasy of being a different person,” Palepu says. “I’m all for that, but the bulk of what I pack is items that make me look and feel my best.”

Palepu recommends an 80/20 split between “power pieces” (the essentials) and “fantasy pieces” (that dress you’ll wear once for a fancy event) Focus on simple separates and monochrome outfits, which are the easiest way to look stylish but also feel comfortable. Choose clothes you can wear a few times before laundering.

Don’t Cut Corners with Kids

Traveling with kids is enough of a challenge, so don’t be a hero. Just surrender—to checking a bag, to bringing the tablet, to stocking snacks galore.

“Now is not the time to try out a new sippy cup or forget the whitenoise machine your kid needs,” Palepu says. “Pack those essentials first. If all else fails, you can pick up diapers or have a grocery order delivered to your destination.”

If you’re headed somewhere family-friendly, ask if the hotel ofers babysitting or has a kids’ club “My wife and I try to schedule a caretaker after bedtime so we can sneak away for dinner as a couple,” says Kish Vasnani, cofounder of Nomad Lane. “Those four or five hours, just the two of us, are gold ”

Back Up Important Docs

Upload flight confirmations, hotel reservations, and copies of your passport, health insurance card, and vaccine information to Google Drive, Dropbox, or an iCloud folder. “I feel more confident traveling when I’ve stored important documents in a secure location that can be accessed via mobile or desktop,” Leasca says.

Do Some Final Prep

Make sure your devices are loaded with e-books or audiobooks, and download episodes of your favorite podcast onto your phone so you can still listen if Wi-Fi or cell service becomes unavailable. The night before, charge all electronics and double-check the location of essentials, like passports. Designate a “last-minute pouch” for personal items you intend to use right up until the morning of departure your toothbrush, phone charger, etc.—and toss the pouch into your carry-on or handbag before you go

Relax and Enjoy

You’ve planned a balanced itinerary and packed like Marie Kondo. Now make an efort to unplug—delete Slack from your phone and enable your out-of-oice email message. Whenever job anxieties creep in, remind yourself that not only will the work still be there when you return, but “you’ll come back a better employee or boss if you’re actually refreshed from the trip you’ve worked so hard to earn,” Leasca says. We couldn’t agree more.

Digital Travel Companions

Streamline the planning process with these essential apps.

TRIPIT (Free; iOS and Android) Simply forward conirmation emails (lights, hotel, car rental, dinner reservations) and a comprehensive itinerary lands in your inbox. Upgrade to the premium version ($49 a year) for real-time updates that alert you to light delays or cancellations.

ROADTRIPPERS (Free; iOS and Android) This maps out the ideal driving route, with suggestions for hotels, activities, landmarks, and roadside attractions along the way.

GASBUDDY (Free; iOS and Android) Pinpoint where to stop for the cheapest gas on an upcoming journey (or whenever you lose a game of chicken with your gas tank), with the option to ilter by brand and gasoline grade.

TRICOUNT (Free; iOS and Android) Split bills and calculate shared costs among your travel companions to eliminate the dreaded post-trip email chain over who owes what.

HEADOUT (Free; iOS and Android) Book the top attractions, shows, and tours in cities from Las Vegas to Dubai.

GOOGLE MAPS (Free; iOS and Android) Along with seamless navigation, you can save points of interest to a custom map, cross-check museum hours, and more.