Financial resources to assist during this tough time.
If the government shutdown is affecting your household, you are not alone. Here is a list of banks and lenders offering assistance to help you protect your credit and your peace of mind. While this is not an exhaustive list, I do hope it helps. If your lending institution is not on this list, don’t hesitate to call them.
Please share this newsletter with a colleague, neighbor, or friend who could use it – it’s a long one!
Banks
American Express
Please call to tell them you’re affected by the shutdown. Arrangements can be made.
Call the number on the back of your card.
Bank of America
Announced assistance available to furloughed Federal employees. Call the priority assistance line 844.219.0690.
Chase Bank
Chase announced efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the government shutdown.
Here’s the special line they set up: 1-888-356-0023.
Congressional Federal Credit Union
For more information on our Relief Line of Credit or any of our assistance programs, contact our Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations.
Fed Choice
They’re offering quite a few options to assist existing and new members.
Call them.
Interior Federal Credit Union
They’re offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed Federal workers—net paycheck up to $15,000, interest-free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit of up to 2 net paychecks. More offers are available on the site, or call 800-914-8619
Navy Federal Credit Union
These guys are offering a special loan program. Read the FAQs PDF from this link to see if you qualify or call 1-888-842-6328.
USAA
USSA is offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.
PayPal
PayPal has made a very generous offer. They’ve allocated $25 million to fund interest-free cash advances to our furloughed Federal workers who need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit customers. The minimum loan is $250, with a maximum cash advance of $500. Your account must be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts, apply here first, then after approval call 1-877-689-1975.
U.S. Bank
Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the shutdown. Also mentioned that they will defer first payment dates for new mortgages.
U.S. Employees Credit Union
USECU is also offering shutdown loans, but only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help.
SunTrust
SunTrust didn’t make a specific offer, but they did make a public announcement that they have programs in place to help clients affected by the shutdown.
Synchrony Bank
This bank handles many store cards for Amazon, Lowe’s, Walmart, JCPenney, Chevron/Texaco, and many other large nationwide companies that you might do business with on a day-to-day basis. They are allowing affected customers to defer payments until after the shutdown. Contact them for more information.
Union Plus
Members of Union Plus can access relief by calling 800-472-2005. Ask about a $300 furlough grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, a mortgage assistance loan with a $300 grant, and payment grace periods for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance and Union Plus Auto Insurance.
Wells Fargo
Here’s a full list of all shutdown assistance lines at Wells Fargo. They’ve got a few different options to help, depending on the services you have with their bank. Furlough Grants
Other Lenders
FEEA-NARFE
This is an incredible offer that every furloughed Federal worker needs to take advantage of. FEEA-NARFE fund is offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. To apply, visit the FEEA website.
Thrift Savings Plan
TSP Plan News and Announcements: TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments when you go into non-pay status. They do not currently require documentation of your furlough. Missing one or two payments will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.
Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services
Affected lease and finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.
Hyundai Capital
Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030 to take advantage of this offer.
Kia Motors Finance
Kia has announced it’s offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please get in touch with us at 1-866-331-5632.
Ford Credit, GM Financial, & Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
It has been reported that these companies are among those providing qualified customers options such as payment deferrals, late fee waivers and special care lines to address their individual problems, though official announcements from these companies have not been released online.
Mobile Telephone Service Providers
AT&T
Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising payment schedules.
Sprint
Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747
T-Mobile
Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device.
Verizon
Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445.
Rental Home Assistance
National Rental Home Council
Represents many of the nation’s largest operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.
OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies
OPM created these sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown.
National Food Resources & Advice
Feeding America
This is a nationwide network of 200 food banks. Those food banks have 60,000 partner pantries from which they can serve many communities across the United States. This is an excellent resource, and they have already begun serving Federal employees affected by the government shutdown.
Your School District
To save on food and ensure your kid eats breakfast and/or lunch for free (less stress and worry for you), notify the district of your furlough. No income is an emergency and typically qualifies you for the free meal program.
Home, Auto, & Life Insurance
MetLife
For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government due to the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time, 30-day grace period on your premium payment for a MetLife Auto & Home policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET-MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and the premium remains due after the delay expires.
Fidelity & Guarantee Life Insurance Company
To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waiving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with the letter “Y” call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797
Other Notable Mentions for Relief & Assistance
Rent-A-Center (benefits plus membership)
If your account was up to date at the time of furlough and you are a part of benefits plus you may be eligible for a payment waiver based on your state. Call to ask about the Involuntary Unemployment Payment Waiver.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Their fact sheet states that federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. So, eligibility is determined by state law, not on the Federal level, which may work in your favor.
A Special Shout Out to my colleagues in Panama who shared this list with me.
You made it to the end! Don’t forget to share this email with others who can benefit, because sharing is caring.
If you have additional resources to share, please reply to this email with details. If I get more resources, I’ll update this list.
Watching your child’s developing brain process the new smells, sights, sounds, and tastes of a new country can take a parent’s breath away – in awe and sometimes in laughter too. We share these five tips in hopes that it helps ease the turbulence of your next international vacation.
Tips For Family Travel
We’ll take care of the travel plans, but we’ve listed a few helpful tips for you in preparation for your family trip.
1.Don’t Overpack
Yes, you want to have a familiar item or two for your kids but keep in mind that they rarely use all these things while on vacation because there are too many new experiences to keep them busy and too many new things to ask you to buy!
Suppose there’s something you need that you left
behind you can buy it at your destination. Be careful with this rule when visiting less-developed countries, but in most places that you travel with your kids, you’ll probably have access to the essentials or extras you need and want for them.
Keep some space in your luggage for all the gifts and souvenirs you’ll purchase along the way.
2.Take it Slow and Leave Plenty of Time
Don’t underestimate how long things might take! When traveling with your family, everything will take longer than you expect, including:
Checking in at the airport Getting through security Buying snacks and drinks Boarding the plane Be sure to get to the airport early and leave plenty of time for things to go wrong, like the last-minute run to the potty.
You don’t want to miss your flight because it took an extra 10 minutes to get your stroller and bottles through security. Then you are stuck at the airport waiting to be rescheduled with unhappy children.
Flying is just one example of taking it slow, though. Leaving extra time applies to all parts of your trip, and we, as your professional travel planners, will assist you with building adequate rest time into your itinerary.
When you have the kids along for the trip, you may not be able to squeeze 4 museums, 3 restaurants, a walking tour, and a bike ride all in the same day.
Once we know you’re traveling with children or a multi-generational group, we’ll ask additional questions to ensure we have all the necessary information to gauge interest and physical fitness levels before our research begins.
3.Snacks, Snacks, Snacks
To keep your vacation on track, you want to do everything to avoid a hungry family member. Taking along a few favorite snacks when you are out touring can help keep your family happy. Hangry kids can take a fun family trip to miserable in minutes. I can’t emphasize this enough.
Always have snacks available for your kids!
You never know when the time between meals will get extended. It could be a delayed flight, unexpected traffic getting to your hotel, or a tour that takes longer than you thought.
It doesn’t hurt to have snacks for you and other adults traveling with you. Adults can get just as hangry as kids can.
4.Accept Things Will Go Wrong
We touched on this when we discussed leaving plenty of time for the unexpected when traveling with kids. This point can’t be overstated, so let’s address it again.
When you travel with kids, THINGS. WILL. GO. WRONG.
Maybe your little one has to go to the bathroom, and you miss a bus. Maybe
your son will leave his tablet in a taxi in Barcelona with no way to get it back. The part of the amusement park your daughter was most excited about is under renovation.
There’s nothing you can do to avoid these situations. However, the sooner you accept the inevitable, the less stress you will feel. So, get your family in the right mindset now. Deep breaths. Lemons into lemonade.
Remember, travel is an adventure. Even if it has a few speed bumps, the experience you’re giving your kids is irreplaceable.
5.Health, Saftey & Security
No matter where you are in the world, not knowing where your child is can bring panic to the most zen of parents. While on vacation, the stress of a lost child is magnified.
Keep Track of Your Child
You’d be surprised how easy it is to get wrapped up in something like buying train tickets in another language. The next thing you know, your son or daughter has wandered over to the little shop at the train station to check out candy bars. If those candy bars are on the far side of a shelf and you can’t see your child, this could lead to a moment of panic.
If you’re traveling with another parent or adult, share duties and negotiate those duties before each outing. If you’re traveling alone with the kids, be sure that they stay in view. If necessary, hold their hands or have them sit in your line of sight.
Even the most vigilant parent can lose track of children. If your children are prone to wandering off, consider using a small GPS tracker that you can attach to their shoes or belt. The tracker will alert you if our child gets too far away and will let you track them to see exactly where they went.
Give Kids Your Contact Information
If a child gets lost despite your best efforts, you’ll want them to have your contact information.
Your contact information should include the following items for all of the adults on your trip, so you have multiple opportunities for help locating your child.
Name Phone number Email address Local address The best way to share contact information for young children is with a note in one of their pockets. If they don’t have pockets, tie a little card to their belt loop or stick it in their shoe. Don’t be afraid to get creative, but in any case, make sure your child knows where to find it.
Help older kids memorize your phone number and email address. If they need the local address where you are staying, write it down for them or have them put the information on their phones. We all know a teenager isn’t going to go very far without their phone.
Trave
Travel With Basic Medicinesim
One of the easiest ways to ruin a day of travel or possibly an entire trip is to have a sick family member. It can be even worse if the whole family gets sick. Whether your child has an upset stomach from the bumpy bus ride to your destination or you find a new kind of tree pollen you’re allergic to, you want to be prepared to make the sick family member feel better as quickly as possible.
It’s always a good idea to take a few over-the-counter medications your family might need while traveling. Over-the-counter medications may include:
Headache medicines Allergy medicines Medicine for upset stomachs Motion sickness prevention medication Other medicines that might apply to your family or the specific trip If anyone in your family is taking prescription medication, bring it along. Take your medicines in their original packaging, especially prescription medications. If you can’t take the original package, grab a copy of the prescription from your doctor to show what your pill is, why you have it for border crossings, and if your luggage is searched.
Before your trip, check regulations for your destination and confirm you’re allowed to enter the country with your medications without filling out additional paperwork or getting special permission.
Keep saftey top of mind!
We hope you enjoyed these tips and they help you prepare for your next trip.
We know how important it is to have thoughtfully planned itineraries, so the travel is fulfilling for everyone. Expats Traveling Group partners with trustworthy family-friendly tour operators all over the globe! Our travel itineraries include unique and memorable experiences based on your interests, goals, and budget. Kids can get hands-on with the local culture through handicrafts and volunteerism. Imagine your kids making pizza in Italy, playing the marimba in Guatemala, or writing numbers using Inca symbols in Peru. Often, doing is learning.
Thanks for reading until the end; I thought I’d share one more tip!
ONUS TIP:
Pack Comfortable Headphones Most airlines with entertainment options will provide passengers with cheap headphones to enjoy the content.
It’s incredibly likely that your children will not be happy with the headphones the airline provides. They will be uncomfortable, too loud, too quiet, won’t stay in their ears, or don’t work the way your kids prefer.
Finding a pair of headphones that fit your child’s ears and are comfortable for long periods is something you should do well before your trip. Whether they’re watching in-flight movies, playing games on their electronics, or listening to music as they try to fall asleep, a comfortable set of headphones that keeps their sound private will make your kids and everyone around them happier.
You’ve decided to take an international adventure. You tell a few friends or announce it on social media, and they’re excited and want to join. They tell a few more friends, and the next thing you know, a solo trip has turned into one accommodating ten or even 30+ people. What do you do?
Does the thought of organizing logistics, information gathering and dissemination, and payments for so many people make your head spin!?
Now, you can start to relax. You’ve made it to an international travel specialist with experience in group trips! Expats Traveling Group with take good care of you and your guests!
Group travel can be enriching but a hassle to coordinate all the details, especially if your friends travel from multiple airports or need various room types due to family size or budget. That is where I come in!! I work with each of your friends to develop and manage their needs, expectations, transportation, room assignments, and additional activities that may be with the group or unique to a subset of the group.
With my extensive destination knowledge and well-vetted suppliers worldwide, you won’t go wrong hiring Expats Traveling Group!
Whatever the interests of your group, Expats Traveling Group will provide expert guidance on:
Destination Selection, if necessary
Accommodation Selection
Group ticketing,
Group insurance rates
Custom itineraries to fit your group’s specific interests
Experienced staff support throughout the planning process and on-site if required
Budget management
Group rates for hotels, cruises, and land transportation
Assistance with your visas and international travel documents
❔ Before our call, please decide on a few critical details with your group.
Who will be the group liaison/leader?
Total Budget
Travel Dates
Vibe – Must have amenities at or near the hotel/resort
Activities of interest / common interests
ℹ️ Start International Group Planning Early!
It’s best to begin large international group travel planning 6 to 18 months ahead of time.
This allows all interested travelers time to budget, and plan around work, childcare, and prepare travel documents (passports & Visas) and all other individual obligations. Expats Traveling Group provides clients a seamless, organized, and exceptional experience from the start of the planning process to your return home. Let us Guide You (and your friends) Globally! So where are you going and who will you travel with next? Regardless of size, we invite you to take advantage of our experience, global contacts, and buying power if you have a group.
Stress-free International group travel planning is only a few clicks away!
