Bionca Smith is a single mom and a regular woman working in San Francisco. Although she had a beautiful apartment and a fancy car, she felt trapped. What’s more, Bionca says she was up to her neck in bills. She knew that something had to happen but wasn’t sure what.

That was the case until she posted on Facebook how much she wanted to travel the world with her son. The frustrated Bionca didn’t even realize that was precisely what she was going to do until someone replied to that post with a simple “What’s stopping you” comment. This was when she realized that the only thing stopping her was her and everything she had worked for.

Ticket to a New Life — Every Mom’s Goal

Just like every other single mom would, Bianca was proud of her home and car as she achieved all this on her own. It’s not just what she accomplished; it’s her creating a life for her 10-year-old son, Carter. However, living the traditional life wasn’t enough for her to be happy. She promised her son that she would show him that there was more to life than putting all your money towards bills and not having enough time to spend with the people you love.

This was when Bionca decided to get rid of everything and start traveling the world. She gave up her lease, and the only thing left was to figure out how to handle her son’s education. That was easily set when she found an online school that allowed Carter’s mom to be his learning coach.

Hitting the Road

Bionca found an old Ford Econoline for just $4.900. The RV had a kitchen, a toilet, a shower, and two beds. They set off a destination in Southern California, uploading videos and pictures on social media. They got to New Mexico when the engine conked out. However, this wasn’t a problem as her family, and all the inspired people from their social media posts kicked in to help pay for the repairs.

With the van running again, the mom and son traveling duo visited many places and created new experiences. Some of them include:

• Arizona’s Red Rocks
• Yellowstone National Park tour
• Drove through Montana
• Impromptu science class poking around tidal pools

The trip initially planned for one month became a lifestyle. Both are volunteering in the local communities they visit and help feed the homeless, work in animal shelters, clean up campgrounds and beaches, and more.

A wedding for any couple is supposed to be the most joyful and happiest day of their lives. However, planning a wedding often comes with stress. That can expose some cracks that weren’t always noticeable even in some of the most stable relationships. This can help give a clue which marriages will last and which ones won’t.

Will the Marriage Last?

Wedding experts like planners, photographers, and even ceremony officiants have pinpointed some red flags as to what to look out for. Here’s what the professionals who’ve worked with many couples and soon-to-be newlyweds have said.

1. Not Agreeing on the Cost of the Engagement Ring

Dan Moran is a private jeweler of Concierge Diamonds. He says that a big red flag when working with couples is when they purchase an engagement ring and don’t have the same budget in mind. According to him, this should be worked out before agreeing to move forward in the relationship with marriage. While there isn’t a right or wrong amount to spend on a ring, Dan says that the cost should be enough of a financial commitment without being a burden.

2. Hiding the Cost of Wedding Expenses

When planning a wedding, things can get expensive quickly. According to the wedding planner, Lynne Goldberg, couples who hide the true cost of the expenses from the other almost always end up with conflicts in the marriage.

3. Calling the Other Their Best Friend

Katelyn Stanis professionally writes wedding vows and toasts. She says that it’s almost always a good sign when couples refer to their partner as their ‘best friend.’ She also mentioned that word choice matters.

4. Handling Wedding Day Problems

Disasters often happen on wedding days, and some can be incredibly small, while others are bigger. However, to some couples, the slightest problem is a big one. According to some professionals, the key to a happy and long-lasting marriage is how they will handle the wedding day problems. Experts have said that it’s essential for the couple to be able to laugh it off and remain calm instead of overreacting and placing the blame on the other.

5. Disagreeing on the Scale of the Wedding

When couples disagree on the details of the wedding, this can often be a worrisome sign. Couples who don’t have the same vision of what they want the wedding to look like can create doubts about their compatibility.