Issue #12: June 2025

Congratulations to this month's sponsored giveaway winners:
Kendra S., Tony C., David J., and Jejin A.

It looks like last month's newsletter went to everyone's spam folder, so I'm going to trying to minimize outbound links this month. Check your spam folder to see issue #11. It's probably in there!

Life

This past month was a busy month of kids' activities and finishing up the school year. And LOTS of birthday parties. Two of my kids have May birthdays, and a lot of their friends have May birthdays. My daughter turned 7 and my baby turned 2.

I joined the tennis league in my brother's new neighborhood. It's a men's doubles league, and we play 3 sets, switching partners each set. I played my first matches last week, and it was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to playing some more tennis this summer.

Personal Finance

Should You Get Life Insurance?

Life insurance isn’t just for the old or wealthy—it’s for anyone who has people depending on them financially.

If you have a spouse, kids, aging parents, or even a business partner who’d be impacted if something happened to you, life insurance can provide critical financial protection. It can cover things like mortgage payments, childcare, education costs, and everyday living expenses your family might struggle to afford without your income.

On the other hand, if you’re single with no dependents and minimal debt, you may not need much—or any—coverage right now.

Term life insurance is often the best and most affordable option for most people: low cost, high coverage, and straightforward. Whole life insurance can make sense in some cases, but it’s pricier and more complex.

If someone relies on your income, you probably need life insurance.

I got a 10-yr, $500k term life policy in 2019. It was a little over $12/mo. I'm hoping we'll be self-insured by 2029 once this policy expires. This would mean my wife and kids would be fine financially if something were to happen to me. We'll have to reassess in a few years because these kids are getting expensive.

Are you currently insured? If so, what kind of coverage do you have?

If you have any personal finance questions or a suggestion for a future topic, please submit them to mrfrugalee@gmail.com.

Real Estate

Northern Virginia / DMV Market Shifting Toward Balance

The Northern Virginia market is gradually becoming more balanced.

For buyers, the intense bidding wars of recent years have eased. While well-priced, well-prepared homes still attract multiple offers, overall competition has cooled. Inventory is rising, average days on market are increasing, and price reductions are becoming more common. Some homes are even returning to the market as buyers get cold feet. Mortgage rates remain elevated but are projected to slowly decline over the next year. More contracts are now being written with contingencies, giving buyers additional protection.

For sellers, home values remain strong, but today’s buyers are more selective. To sell quickly and for top dollar, proper pricing and preparation are essential. Even slightly overpricing a home can result in extra weeks on the market and lower offers. With fewer bidding wars, sellers often find themselves negotiating with just one serious offer—reducing their leverage compared to the peak market conditions.

If you have any real estate questions, reach out to me at RealtorDannyLee@gmail.com.
Follow me on Instagram @RealtorDannyLee

Travel

Should You Buy Travel Insurance?

Summer travel season is here! Whether you’re heading to the beach, Europe, or Disney, one question I get often is: "Is travel insurance worth it?"

Here’s when it makes sense:

Big-ticket trips (like cruises, international flights, or packaged tours)
If your plans are non-refundable or hard to rebook
You want coverage for medical emergencies abroad
You’re traveling during hurricane season or winter storms

For domestic trips with refundable hotel rooms or flexible flights, you may be fine skipping it. But for costly or complex vacations—especially those booked far in advance—insurance can offer valuable peace of mind.

We bought the Vacation Protection Plan (VPP) for all of our Disney cruises so far. We used it when my son had to see the onboard doctor because he had a fever. We almost canceled a cruise because my daughter got sick a few days before we were about to go. We ended up going, but it was nice to know we could have canceled and not lost thousands of dollars. I'm usually not a big proponent of travel insurance, but I think it makes sense, especially when you have kids. They are so unpredictable!

Pro tip: Many credit cards offer basic travel protection for free - check your card's benefits before buying extra coverage. Some cards also offer primary coverage on your rental car. Always be sure to read the fine print (terms and conditions).

If you're interested in booking travel with me, reach out to me at DannyL@fairygodmothertravel.com.
Follow me on Instagram @Danny_FairyGodmotherTravel.