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Michelle Dean | Solo Travel & Live After 50

@itsmichelledean

5.3K

followers

833

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Solo travel ✈️ Life after 50
Creating freedom, adventure & possibility
Showing women 50+ it’s never too late to start over
👇Come along for the journey

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

THE PROOF YOU NEED TO SEE 👀

Please take a moment to read through this, because this truly isn’t hype.

These are real women.
Real professionals.
Real conservations landing in my inbox - and they never get old.

This travel based business has genuinely changed things for me and for so many women (and men) in our community. Not just financially, but mentally too.

Confidence.
Flexibility.
And finally something that fits around real life, not the other way around.

Extra income without adding more hours to an already full week.
A way to earn more while gradually creating space to work less.
No pressure to be “on” all the time. No starting over. No hustle culture.

And the best part?

You don’t need experience
You don’t need a big social media following
You don’t need to be good at sales

You simply need to be open to something that actually works for women (and men) who are ready for their next chapter.

More freedom.
More options.
More breathing space - and more time to enjoy life (and travel).

If this is resonating with you even a little, trust that feeling - it’s usually there for a reason.

Save this post, take a look through the slides, and if you find yourself thinking
“Could this work for me?”
Message me the word START and let’s have a relaxed conversation.

#travelmore #nextchapterinlife #worklesslivemore #extraincomeideas #secondactsuccess by @itsmichelledean

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9 months ago

Hey, I’m Michelle 👋

I work full time as a School Business Manager, and for 20 years I was a solo parent. My children are grown now, and when that chapter shifted, I realised something important! I was spending my time waiting to be needed and I wasn’t needed anymore. I needed purpose, growth, and choices.

In 2019, I took a sabbatical and travelled the world 🌍
Then life changed, as it did for all of us. The pandemic hit, and it took time, more than I expected, to find my feet again and rebuild my sense of direction.

After posting in here about a trip to Norway in January 2025, I was approached about a travel business opportunity. I had questions, mainly around experience and knowledge, but what stood out immediately was the support and community. I didn’t hesitate, and I’ve never looked back.

Fast forward to now, I’ve taken six trips in 2025, I’m earning an additional income, and I’ve done all of this without impacting my 9–5. No pressure, no overwhelm - just flexibility, support, and something that fits around the life I already have.

What I love most is that this isn’t about starting over, it’s about building something amazing alongside your life. On your terms. With people who genuinely want you to succeed.

If you’ve reached a point where you’re asking “what’s next for me?” maybe this will resonate.

If you’re curious, my pinned posts explain more, or feel free to DM me ‘INFO’ and we can have a relaxed chat.

#lifestylefreedom #lifeafterparenting #womenwhotravel #travelwithpurpose #sidehustlejourney by @itsmichelledean

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9 months ago

You’re not lacking motivation.

You’ve just reached a point where your idea of success has changed.

You’ve spent years working hard, paying the bills and doing what’s expected.

But now you’re wondering when it’s going to be your turn.

You still show up every day, but the thought of doing this for another 10 or 15 years doesn’t exactly fill you with excitement.

Because success isn’t about climbing the career ladder anymore.

It’s about freedom. More choices. More holidays. More time to actually enjoy life.

You don’t want to stop working. You just want your life to be about more than work.

And waiting until retirement to enjoy it all? That doesn’t sit right anymore.

That’s why I started building something alongside my job. Not to work more forever, but to create more choices for my future.

If you’re feeling this shift too, comment MORE or message me. Let’s chat.

#womenover50 #over50 #redefiningsuccess #midlifejourney #womenover40 by @itsmichelledean

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an hour ago

You don’t have to hate your job to want another income.

Sometimes you just want a little more breathing space.

Less stress when an unexpected bill arrives. More holidays. Or the chance to work fewer hours before you’re 67.

I’ve worked in education for over 20 years, but I started questioning whether I wanted my future to depend on one salary. So I started a travel business alongside my 9-5. Not to get rich overnight. Not to quit my job tomorrow.

But to create more choices.

I’m still working full-time, but that additional income is already making a difference, and knowing I’m building something for my future feels pretty good. Because in my 50s, I’m not looking to start over. I’m looking to make the years ahead count.

You don’t have to give up what you’ve built to start building something more.

Curious? Message me OPTIONS.

#womenover50 #earnonline #midlifereset #womenover40 #networkmarketing by @itsmichelledean

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a day ago

You don’t always say it out loud.

On paper, you’ve done everything right. You’ve worked hard, built a career and created stability.

But somewhere along the way, your priorities changed.

It’s not that you don’t enjoy your job. You just can’t imagine doing the same thing for another 10–15 years.

You want more time, more freedom and more choices.

But walking away from everything you’ve worked for isn’t realistic either.

I get it. That’s exactly why I started building something alongside my full-time job.

Not because I wanted to throw away my career, but because I wanted my future to look different.

Sometimes you don’t need a complete change of direction. You just need more options.

Does this resonate with you? I’d love to know.

#womenover50 #earnonline #midlifereset #womenover40 #empowerment by @itsmichelledean

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2 days ago

Apparently I talk about my travel business too much.

Awkward… because I’m only just getting started!

When something is giving you more choices, extra income and a future you’re genuinely excited about, why WOULD you keep quiet?

I’m in my 50s, not winding down. I’m just getting warmed up!

And if you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more out there for you too…

Maybe it’s time we had a chat.

Drop me a message with MORE and let’s talk!

#womenover50 #earnonline #earnthroughtravel #midlife #midlifereset

PS. If you’re new here, hi! I’m Michelle. I help women over 40 build an extra income online so they can feel more confident, more independent, and create more freedom for their time, family, and future. by @itsmichelledean

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2 days ago

Funny how we’ll happily spend money on holidays, weekends away and little luxuries that make life enjoyable.

But when it comes to investing in ourselves and potentially changing our future, we question everything.

What if it doesn’t work?
Am I too old?
What will people think?

And I get it. Money matters, and taking a chance on something new can feel scary.

But here’s what I’ve realised in my 50s…

I’d spent years working and making sure everyone else was okay.

Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten I was allowed to want more for myself too.

More travel. More choices. More financial breathing room. And a life I didn’t have to wait until retirement to enjoy.

So nearly two years ago, I took a chance and started my travel business alongside my full-time job.

Has it been easy? Not always.
Am I still learning? Every day.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

Because it’s given me so much more than additional income. It’s given me confidence, friendships and something of my own to get excited about.

Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t investing in yourself. It’s looking back and wishing you’d given yourself a chance.

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and feeling that little nudge that there’s more out there for you, maybe it’s worth listening to.

Follow along if you’re ready to make the next chapter about YOU too.

#womenover50 #womenover40 #midlifejourney #midlifereset #futureself by @itsmichelledean

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3 days ago

Nothing quite like the disappointment of realising you’ve got TWO Thursdays in one week. 🙄😂

Is it Friday yet?! by @itsmichelledean

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3 days ago

I’m not pretending that doing life alone always feels easy. There are still moments when I look around and realise I’ve shown up on my own.

Dinner.
A holiday.
A weekend away.
A table for one.

But I’ve also realised something.

I don’t want the size of my life to depend on whether someone else wants to come along.

My children are grown, they’re living their own lives and I’ve still got so much of mine left to enjoy.

So I’m making plans anyway.
Booking the trips.
Taking myself places.
Saying yes to new experiences.
And learning to love this chapter of my life.

Because I’d rather make memories on my own than miss out waiting for someone to join me.

I’m in my 50s, and I’m certainly not done living yet.

If you’re figuring out this next chapter too, you’re in the right place.

Anyone else in their 50s learning that you don’t have to wait for someone else to start living your life? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. by @itsmichelledean

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4 days ago

Choices. Chances. Changes.

Three little words that mean so much more to me now I’m 55.

I’ve spent over 23 years working in education, raised my children, built a career and done all the things I thought I was supposed to do.

And I’m proud of every bit of it.

But a couple of years ago, I started asking myself a question…

Do I really want to spend the next 12 years waiting for retirement to have more freedom?

The answer was no.

So I took a chance.

I started a travel business alongside my full-time job. I had no experience in network marketing, no grand plan and certainly no idea where it might lead.

I just knew I loved travelling, wanted to make my money go further and liked the idea of building something for myself.

Nearly two years later, I’m still working full-time, but I’ve created another source of income, met some incredible people and discovered a confidence I didn’t know I had.

Has my whole life changed overnight? Absolutely not.

But my outlook has.

Because I’ve realised that you don’t have to hate your job to want something more.

And you don’t have to wait until you’re financially comfortable, retired or have everything figured out to start making changes.

Sometimes you just have to be willing to try something different.

For me, it’s never been about becoming rich or living some extravagant lifestyle.

It’s about having choices. More travel, more experiences, less financial pressure and hopefully more freedom in the years ahead.

If you’re over 40, working hard and wondering whether there’s more to life than waiting for weekends, annual leave and retirement, maybe this is your reminder.

You’re not too old.
It’s not too late.
And you don’t have to change everything to start changing something.

I made a choice, took a chance and things are changing.

If you’re curious about what I started alongside my full-time job, comment CHOICES or drop me a message. I’d love to tell you more.

#womenover40 #MidlifeReinvention #MoreChoicesMoreFreedom #womenover50 #ItsNeverTooLate by @itsmichelledean

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5 days ago

Fare £1.75
Fine £100

and it’s never the people you think!!!

Honestly!!! It’s not ok and to argue??? Love to know your thoughts by @itsmichelledean

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5 days ago

This is serious…

Are you still here?

No, your phone hasn’t frozen.

I’m just giving you a moment to realise that life’s too short to keep putting off the places you’ve always wanted to see.

Book the trip. Make the memories. Worry about the washing when you get home.

Follow me for more highly sensible travel advice from a woman who’s 55 and still has half the world on her list! by @itsmichelledean

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6 days ago