361. Travel Smart: Mastering Budget Friendly Vacations

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Join Katie, your host for the Debt-Free Dad podcast, as she shares her expertise and personal journey to debt freedom. Learn how she managed to pay off over $226,725 in debt while still enjoying memorable vacations. In this episode, Katie reveals creative tips to travel on a budget, including setting up a travel fund, leveraging brand loyalty rewards, creating daily spending caps, pre-booking deals, and more. Whether you're planning a family vacation or a quick getaway, these practical hacks will help you save money and make the most of your trips. Tune in to gain valuable insights and start planning your next budget-friendly adventure! 

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Episode Transcript

Kati Hatfield (00:02):
Do you love to travel and explore?
I know I do.
I've actually spent over 16years in the travel industry and
it was so much fun helpingothers plan great trips all
across the globe and getting togo on multiple trips through my
work or business whether it'smeeting sales goals or going for

(00:26):
training sessions and it waspaid for.
Typically, travel isn't usuallycheap or free.
Stay tuned to hear somecreative ways to travel without
breaking your budget.
Thank you for listening to theDebt-Free Dad podcast, where we

(00:47):
help everyday, normal peoplelike you take control of your
finances and live a happier,less stressful life.
I'm Katie, your host for today'sepisode, and I've been on my
journey to debt freedom forseven years now, and in that
time I've paid off over $226,725in student loans, car loans,

(01:07):
medical bills and credit carddebt all on a single income.
Now you're probably thinkingseven years, katie.
You probably haven't gotten togo on any fun trips that whole
time, since you're paying off somuch debt.
Oh, but I have, and while a fewtrips were ones that I earned
through work, I have definitelyhad to plan budget and pay for

(01:31):
most of my vacations.
I've gone on a week-longBahamas cruise with my family,
several girls, getaways for longweekends and my annual birthday
trip every winter, which is agift to myself, to help me get
out of cold Wisconsin and thawout.
I will admit, a chunk of my olddebt came from several big,

(01:52):
expensive vacations that I tookin the last 25 years, and since
I couldn't actually afford them,I simply charged everything to
my credit cards, but I think Ihave actually paid them all off
now.
Everything to my credit cards,but I think I have actually paid
them all off now.
Finally, and I have learned somuch on my journey that I now

(02:14):
budget for my trips ahead oftime, so pretty much everything
is paid off before I ever stepfoot on a plane or a cruise ship
, and I've planned for food,rental cars, uber rides, hotel
stays and all the other expenses.
This is huge, because now I cansimply just enjoy the vacation
and relax, not worrying aboutthe credit card bill that's
going to come shortly after thesuntan fades.
So I wanted to share some greattips to help you travel for

(02:38):
less.
So before you go, you definitelywant to plan smart.
Number one set a fun fund earlyTreat vacation like it's a
monthly bill.
Automate saving a small amounteach week or every paycheck, and
get the family involved.
The kids could do a lemonadestand or a garage sale with

(02:58):
their old toys to put away somemoney for souvenirs and tours
that they're excited about.
Number two take advantage ofbrand loyalty to earn and use
rewards.
If you tend to fly the sameairline every time you travel or
stay at a particular brand ofhotels, you can rack up points
and rewards which you can use toget discounted rates or even

(03:21):
free flights and hotel.
Number three create a daily funbudget.
Set a per day cap on spendingfor outings, food, treats.
It just helps avoid blowing itall early or going overboard.
Number four pre-book your deals.

(03:42):
Booking discounted tickets inadvance for attractions, tours
or museums on Groupon, buy aTour or other local tourism
sites will help you save.
Five use free itinerary apps.
There's plenty of tools online,like Road Trippers, visit a
City or Roam to Rio, which canhelp you build activity plans

(04:05):
and estimate your travel costs.
If you're taking a road trip,you can even estimate your gas
expenses along your route byusing GasBuddy Jumping.
To number six mix it up Free andpaid activities.
You can balance your days, likedoing a beach day or hike one
day and then splurge on a tourfor the next.

(04:26):
Number seven pack your own fun.
Bring a picnic, kit games,snorkeling gear, a Bluetooth
speaker to enhance downtimewithout spending extra.
And don't forget the essentialslike sunscreen.
I once had to pay $33 for someat the airport in Mexico.
I have never forgot it again.

(04:48):
Number eight skip the touristtraps.
If you can find some localblogs or Reddit threads for
cheap hidden gems, you can skipthe overpriced hot spots.
Number nine set a souvenirlimit.
Stick to one meaningful item ordo a DIY souvenir like photos,
pressed flowers, handwrittentravel journal entries.

(05:11):
Instead of getting a t-shirt ora stuffed animal in every
destination, I love to get asticker of the destination to go
on my suitcase, plus somethingsmall and easy to pack on the
trip home, like a refrigeratormagnet or a Christmas ornament
to remember my travels.
Number 10, cook one meal a day.
Choose some lodging with akitchen or a fridge and make

(05:34):
breakfast or lunch at home tosave money for activities
throughout your trip.
These are some creative hacks.
Number 11, gift yourselfactivities Before you go on
vacation.
Ask for birthday or holidaygifts in the form of experiences
or excursions instead of stuff.

(05:56):
Hop on and hop off city toursor museum free days.
Plan around those, but notethere might be crowds, so make
reservations ahead of time, ifpossible.
Number 13, track as you go.

(06:17):
Use a simple spending trackeror app to stay on top of your
budget while still enjoyingyourself.
So let me ask you which tipsare you looking forward to
implementing on your next trip?
Where are you looking to travelnext?
Comment on today's episode andgive us some of your best ways
to save on vacation.

Brad Nelson (06:37):
Now listen if you're ready to break free from
living paycheck to paycheckwhich, if you're listening, I
hope you are.
You want to reduce financialstress.
You want to build savings.
You want to finally pay offdebt for good, but you're not
sure where to get started.
Don't worry, we've got youcovered here at Debt Free Dad.
Simplify my Money is sent eachSunday to your email.
We make it easy and Simplify myMoney.
It's your step-by-step roadmapto better financial control, and

(07:00):
you're also going to learn easyto follow strategies to manage
your money effectively.
You're going to get stress-freemoney decisions that will help
you simplify your financial lifewith proven tips that actually
work.
You're also going to gain thetools and the confidence to
tackle your financial goals headon.
You can sign up for Simplify myMoney by clicking the link at
the top of the show notes.
Thanks for joining us ontoday's show and we will see you

(07:22):
guys on the next episode.