When I was 30, my mom gave me $15,000 to spend on a gap year in Italy instead of a house or wedding. I have no regrets.

With my mom's help, I lived in Florence, Italy, at the end of 2023 and early 2024.xbrchx/Getty Images I used my savings and a $15,000 gift from my mom to travel and temporarily move to Italy… [+4274 chars]