Frugal Travel: Staycations, Local Travel + Road Trips w/ Danielle Desir

well virtual hugs, virtual hug. That's a welcome. Thanks. Save. Yeah, so we are super excited to dive into a pretty like most of our episodes are evergreen, meaning you can listen to them at any time. Um, and this one is. But it's spec scifically for travel in this time that we're in right now, which is what July. Yeah, this kind of season that we're in. But it doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon, at least not in Florida. So it should be relevant for the next five years,

we'll see. So we have brought in an actually a frugal travel expert. Danielle to Zier is from dot card dot com and she is an author, a podcaster, she really has a wealth of knowledge and this was such a good interview, and stick it out till the end the very very ends movie. You may not even know that. A lot of times after our episodes we continue on with banter and more tips and um yeah it's it's usually never tips, but this one does. Like, Yeah, Danielle

has got some awesome things about sharing. Um podcasters that are women of alert and we can really just support and engage our entire community right now. So technically, first, a word from our sponsors, the Frugal Friends Workbook. We are so excited to share this with you next week. We have designed this workbook to be six week long challenges that will help you identify changes you can make

to become more frugal long term. You can definitely do them on your own, but the workbook is really designed to be done in pairs or small groups, which is what we love about it because we do this in community.

So don't worry if you don't have a friend to go through it with, because if you buy during launch week, we will have a way for you to connect with other people who have also bought the workbook, so you can set up some groups online digitally and so it launches August seven, and if you want to, if you want that buy now button in your inbox on launch day, go to Frugal Friends podcast dot com, slash workbook Yes so Stoked and today's episodes also brought to you. By

browsing the internet. You may not be able to take that international trip you're planning this summer, or go to that conference that is your one week a year you get to escape from your normal life and hang out with other people who understand you. But you can browse the internet and you can look at pictures of places you want to go, and you can maybe I don't know, write them down and maybe draft a budget and start

saving for them. I don't know. But no shopping, yeah, just dream yeah, pretend like you're going to check out and then don't so whether it's a cruise or an all inclusive resort or like Turks and Caicos, I don't know. Browsing the internet. It will suffice for now. Good one, Thank you. Well, let's see her. Some tips from Danielle on how we can do this. Yes, she just browsing the internet, I know. Just to tell you a little

bit more about her. Danielle is a powerhouse. And I say this a few times, but she is an author of multiple books. Um one is about Iceland, the second one is called Affording Travel. She has a new book coming out called Traveling with a Full time Job. She has a great blog, thought card dot com, and then her podcast also is all about getting financially stable to a point where you can afford travel and how to

fit it in your budget and your schedule. So she she's a straight expert, straight expert, and so you might think that there's nothing else you can hear about, like do a spa day in your home as a staycation, but that's not what this episode is. You're really going to learn some unique things um for frugal travel during the season. So without further ado, let's get into it. Welcome to the show, Danielle. How are you. I'm doing well.

Thank you so much for having me today, So excited to have you on, Stoked about your blog and how beautiful and stunning it is, and excited to talk with you about how we can rethink travel today. Yes, especially in this area, because it would have been really easiest for us to just do like a you know, travel tips episode, but like this is such a weird time for travel, and we you have to like really get creative. Um, so we're excited to have you on to tell us

how we can do that. Yes, this creativity is like my middle name. I love just finding you and creative ways to do things. So and it's something that I'm also still trying to figure out. It's still super fresh, and I think all my strategies that I used to use before I have to kind of like tweak it a bit and just really be conscious that there are lots of things that we have to be aware of. I gotta tell you travel. So travel is something I do a lot, both personally and professionally. I get to

travel with my work, which is awesome. Um, but it's something I also just really enjoy. And COVID has really taken a toll on me in this department. I feel like throughout COVID, I had every week was like a new realization. And I think I would have previously thought of myself as pretty laid back, pretty low key, pretty good with the flow, like throw anything at me, Like I got this and COVID happened, and at first I was like, I'll be all right, this is fine, Like

we'll be good. We can handle this. And I realized very quickly how high maintenance I am. I need a good deal of stimulation, like constantly, I need to be happen to go somewhere. I need to be working on a project. I need to be productive, I need to be purposeful, and specifically with travel, just the wind being knocked out of my sales, I really struggled, like I just don't want to go. I get it, like I get I get it all. I'm just saying personally, like why, yeah,

it has I've just struggled. So anyhow, I am so excited to pick your brain because I feel like I'm still like raring to go. Yeah, me too. It's it's been really hard. I've had to cancel quite a few trips. Uh so, but I do have some solutions for you. There's been things that I've been doing that I'm having a lot of fun locally, so I'm looking forward to

sharing that as well. Awesome, awesome, Yeah, and hopefully we can also pick your brain on like how to if people do have to cancel their trips, like things that they should do. But we will talk about that in a bit. So, Danielle, let's start close to home. For those who want to be able to take a break but can't or don't want to leave the house, what would be some recommendations that you have for some frugal staycations. Yes, so I would say look at your local neighborhood, look

at your local town. There are a lot of opportunities for you to explore um And I actually was one of those people that was really paranoid before, like very early on April March April, I was super paranoied. I didn't leave the house, I didn't do anything. Even going to the grocery store was like the biggest thing that I did. However, I made a pack with myself, and I knew that I wanted to start exploring, like put

my pinky toe out there. So what I've decided to do is every single weekend, I try to do one single activity that's close to home, within twenty or thirty minutes from my house. And I started off with going hiking. So there are lots of hiking trails. I live in Connecticut, so I've gone hiking one one time. I've also gone to a local beach, but the beach isn't like a beach where you like sit down and lay out. It was more of like a boardwalk, so I did a

walk activity. Um, I do a lot of walking and running at the park, so I do that on a weekly basis as well. These again are all free activities. And it's only recently that I've said, okay, let me go to a brewery because I like, I really love brewery. So I've gone to a brewery. And I also wanted to see what are the precautions that these uh you know organizations and like all these like outlets are also having. So I was able to see and see how I feel in the comfort level with that. And then last

week I went to a sidery as well. So I've been slowly gradually like doing one thing a weekend. But I think one thing I didn't also want to have my summer escaped me at all. I didn't want to be always stuck inside the house. So with the full time job, doing one thing every weekend at least made me feel like, Okay, I'm still living a bit even

though I'm not necessarily traveling very far. I like that guideline even of picking something it doesn't have to be every single day, it doesn't have to be all weekend, but just a little something to look forward to. Absolutely, yeah, especially when you are more stuck at home maybe than other people too. To have that hard and fast like I'm going to do one thing a week because we can get like to an extent, like I feel like

this has been going on forever. But then also there are some weeks that just seemed to fly by because they all look the same. So having that activity on the schedule, whether it's like outside or even like inside, like I saw a lot of articles were saying, like have a spa day, and that's I probably would prefer to, like walk a run, but uh, having it on the schedule, even if it is at home, like not just assuming yeah, like I bought this stuff, I'll get to it, but

like scheduling it in. It's funny. I've seen all these like billboards in the past of get outdoors and like really advertising come on kids, go with your parents and be outside and if you like is now society has shift.

I think it's a really amazing thing that has come out of this crisis experience as a nation, as a as as a globe that people are really taking advantage of their parks and being outdoors and being a bit more active now, I would say that it's really important if you do want to spend time outdoors or doing

an activity, you need to go prepared. So whenever we're stepping outside the house, we have extra pairs of latex gloves, we have hand sanitizers, we have handwipes, We bring our own water bottles with us, our own snacks with us, our own mask with us. Like we are self sufficient, so if anything happens, like we can take care of

ourselves as much as possible. And Connecticut has been really great because now there's like I don't know if it's a law, but I think most people are following it that when you walk into an establishment you wear a mask.

And when we actually haven't sat down at a restaurant yet, but when I went to the breweries, you have to wear a mask any enter the brewery and when you sit down you have an option to take it off, but the waiter or the bartender will always have their mask on, so at least one person is always protected. And that's like a hard and fast rule, so that I think is very important. And also I would say that it's gonna take you longer when I go out.

I just expect that it might just take me a little bit longer because of social distancing, because of a little bit of lines or anything like that. So just not like if I have to be somewhere on time, just plan ahead of that because things might just happen and I just have to be a little bit more flexible. Yeah, that's a great tip. And to be nice, because it's good to be nice to people because they were out of work for so long. And yeah, it's just gonna

take longer. Everyone's hyper still so hyper vigilant right now, and just like recalculating to this new society, so like our stress levels are up and so our capacities are down. Um, but if we can be aware of that and and be so mindful of being kind to one another, yeah, it really helps. And you can't see a smile under the mask, Make sure you know that there's a smile under the smile with your eyes. That's a thing. I think it's a real thing. You could definitely see, Yeah,

for sure. So I'm like sure, like squid, Yeah, they know it's just right there. Yes, And then people think I'm weird and walk away from me, which they probably should do. Yeah, it's so when when I think I never really didn't care for hugging, so like that's me living my best life. Now I miss a good hug. And now I will watch TV and see people hugging each other and I'm like, that will never happen again.

I don't know what a good thing they have. It's so funny because like my mom and I live like three minutes away by driving from each other, so we end up like stumbling on each other, like whenever we go to the parks, and I'm just like, oh, hey, you stranger, And then she always tries to hug me because it's just a natural instinct of whenever she sees me, it's like a natural, you know, natural hugs. I have to always like tell her like just since please, I

love you, But no, I don't know where you've been. Yeah, I get that for sure. Um So how about local travel? Um, so maybe we want like taking a day trip or something. How do you navigate that? Yes, so I would say, first look at destinations that I would usually say between two and four hours away, and everyone's going to be different, Like I want, I'd rather spend less time getting there

to spend more time while I'm at the destination. So I would rather spend two hours driving or three hours driving, then spending like literally four or five hours. So I think figuring out your how far you want to travel too, and then thinking about what are the things that you actually enjoy. And this is where travel style is so important. Most people kind of just go with the flow. It's like, oh, this destination is popular for this, I'm just going to

go and do that. But I think during the pandemic, it's really thinking about what do I enjoy when I like to travel, and then based off of that, let me find destinations that cater to that and start mapping out mapping out what you want to do at those destinations. I think before COVID, we would just kind of show up at a place and be like, yeah, everything's open to us. However, I found that there's so many places now that require reservation twenty four hours ahead of time.

So if you do want to travel, any travel that you do, just make sure that you map out where you want to go. Go on their website and see if there are any regulations, what are the what are the hours of operation, what are the mask requirements, and also are the reservations and I've seen actually places require to put money down, so if you have to actually a deposit now to make sure that you are going

to go. So these are I just think just really doing more research and we have in the past to make sure that when you step out the door, you're as prepared as possible and you know, as much as possible, so you could you know, have a good time and not get turned away. Yeah, and this is such a great opportunity to do that local travel because sometimes when we like we don't want to do the local travel when we get the time to travel, and now we can't do the traveling we want. So this is like

a great excuse to find those local destinations. You are to find even stuff that might be a couple hours away but are great options for social distancing. Like I know there's um a drive in movie theater about an hour away from us, and so that's something that we wouldn't normally do on a weekend. This is an hour away,

but now it's something that we're checking out. So there's even if you kind of just widen your radius a bit to see what what is in the area that might be a little bit unique it's still kind of available to us right now. No, I love that. That's that's And I would also say, like make a dream list, like I would dream about Italy and Morocco's connect right

what about fore or Die? But people from other nations are so excited about those spots, So if we could get excited about our area, yes, yes, So I would say, like make a list, a dream list of the places that you want to go. So I would love to go to Cape Cod so it's on my on my list and it's only three hours away from my house, so I'm like, Okay, I can do that. I can

do that. There's also again Rhode Island. So I just made a list of like fortified places that would like to visit from now until the fall to see if it's possible. And again I try not to put too much pressure on myself because I again to have to also see how things are moving. And I would also

recommend to look at the tourism boards. That is a really great place, tourism boards of destinations to see what they're what, what are they facing with or what they're dealing with, or what the the alerts that they have on their website that will help you make a more informed decision to know if right now is a really

good time. So, for example, I wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard and I was just looking at the website and I just emailed them like, hey, do you think it was like in July or June or something like that? And I was like, hey, is now a good time? Do you think? They're like, well, it's phase one we just started, and I was like phase one. I had to go research what phase one meant, right, So there are phases and I think everyone needs to just be aware.

So using the tourism boards as a resource to see what's open would be really helpful before you actually go. Sometimes your state opens and then it goes back, it goes in phase everything, and then we're go, oh that was a mistake. It's we have not flattened the curve yet. Yes, yes, yes, yes, m Danielle. What's your take maybe on road trips? Do you have any advice for safe and affordable road trips? Even I do think that road trips are a good option, but I would say the caveat is do you feel

comfortable with staying at a hotel right now? Or do you feel comfortable with staying at a airbnb. So if it's a road trip where it's like a day trip, you're gonna come come back home, that's one thing. But if you're going to have to plan for accommodations, that is another thing. Um, I am all forward. I am thinking of taking a road trip this summer to go to Cape Cod. But again, it's like three hours away, so I kind of have I could come home if

I want to, where I could stay there. But I do think that road trips are a really great opportunity for you to go out and explore further than you can if you just stayed in your in your local area. And certainly if you're crossing state borders, that's a whole

other thing to look into. Weather or not, Like on either end, will they cause you to fourteen day quarantine either I'm on arrival or a palm return, And maybe that's something that would be worth it to somebody, you know, if they're just going and they're going to see the outdoors and then they're going to come back and they're able to kind of do that for fourteen days. But definitely know the full scope of what you're getting yourself into. Yes,

that brings me to a great point. So my fiancee's job has a list of states like more than intense states that if he goes there, he'll have to do a fourteen day unpaid quarantine, so unpaid, and he knows that rule. And for me, I don't think I have. I don't think I have that rob but maybe we should check, Like, just before you go and plan something in an out of state, make sure that if your job has any stipulations, that you're aware of them and

the consequences. Um in New York City, I've been hearing that, like people are tattletaling on folks, So just to be aware, just be aware. I'm not surprised though, but it's yeah, that's a good phone number. Oh my god. Yeah, that's

a great that's a great point. There are some states that your job may say, listen, you'll have to self quarantine for X amount of days, and you don't want to be that person that doesn't report and then now you're in trouble for any reason, especially with social media, they can just look you up or something like that. So these are all important things to look into before again you start spending money and and really planning out this elaborate trip, you know, and all of these things.

Though this this is just an overwhelming season of an opportunity to save money. Like, yeah, there's things, there's low key things that we can do. We're not doing international travel, so okay, then how do we pivot and how do we be content with where we're at right now and say for when life might look a little bit different, or what do we want to be spending that money on instead? There are other goals that we can get after. I'm I'm just like thinking, you know, for myself, like

what this time has meant that? Yeah, it has definitely meant a scale back. There's creativity that we can be implementing, but there's also just the reality that there's a lot of limitations and so all right, what else can we be doing? And how can we have fun at home and enjoy like the simpler things in life. Yes, one of the things that I've continued on is my travel fund. Is I still say from my travel fund every single

pay period. So I'm looking at it recently, I'm like, whoa, I can actually afford a trip to Australia or somewhere I like to heat it or something crazy because again I haven't been booking cheap flights. I haven't been going crazy like I usually do. Uh So, now this money has time to just sit and I think, after all all this is done, I may have even more options because I've been saving for it this whole time, or people are exploring even some low cost but more long

term travel into solutions. I mean, it's almost like what we saw during the recession in two thousand eight, where people were staying closer to home for different reasons at

that point. But you're seeing an increase in purchases of campers and uh used boats and bicycles and some of these more just recreational items that you can find at a discount and at a deal, especially if you're buying them used, and then that can be something that you do every weekend and then next year every weekend in the summer, or and even week I don't know, I don't know your life, but yeah, like you could even

get creative in the way that you vacation. And it might not be it might not be plane rides, but it could be some boat rides. If you find a boat for two or three thousand dollars and chip in with friends or family. Yeah, yeah, I mean I I've heard that RV lots have been like selling out like crazy people. Just I mean, I would love to have an RV because again, you can drive, you can you can also take your home with you, so you have all the things that you need. You'll need to rent

a hotel or anything like that. So RVs have become extremely popular. I know a lot of people are doing camping now, something that I have actually never done before. But again that is also a low cost, low cost option as well, so there are lots of opportunities for you to uh. I think the RV is a great is a good investment, so it's not only for today, but also investing for the long term. And in camping, I think is also just like if you can do

that in a lot of different places around the States. Yeah, glamping is so much better. I've never I've never done so. I actually everything I tried to do glamping. There was a particular term for it. I can't remember it, but in the UK you can actually glamp in an old church, like a very old and I tried to do it but it was too freaky and then we just decided not to anymore. It was like it was like it was a a very small like stone church and the cemetery of like five and then in no way and

I closed my eyes. Here that's like creepy camping. Yeah, yeah it was. Yeah, it was. I was all four, but I don't think that my my friends were. So we just it's called champing. Yes, that the concept of camping in ancient churches. It's yes, and it's champing dot co. It's a whole thing champing c h A m P. I I learned something new, that's my takeaway. We tried. It was a little scary, a little too scary. I'm processing it. Yeah, So are there any so I had

a question while you were talking. Is there any like sites or resources you go to to like kind of find deals when you're looking for things to do, whether like on a day trip or road trip or something. Yes. So I like to use viator dot com. Vider dot com allows you to book tours and book all these like excursions on their site. But I use it as a way to figure out what are all the things to do in that area? And then I tried to I am a d I Y traveler, so I just

d I Y as much as possible. Um so vider is a really great resource for you to just see what are all the offers there. I also, in terms of deals, I really like travelso dot com so travels You on every Wednesday, they actually have their top twenty deal and they just curate deals for you. And I've actually found last year I found a three dollar deal to go to China um for ten days. Like it was. It was it was a huge, it was a huge, it was a great deal. It was a great deal.

But I think travels You could be a really great great place. I also like gate one. Travel gate one travel is more of I would say they package things together so they have a common dations and airlines together. They're often on group yes, yes, exactly group on another one as well. Um. I also I like trip Advisor. Revisors like very fundamental, like basic, but trip Advisor is also really good to see like the top things to

do with a destination. Uh. The thing that I actually use and I don't think most people use it this way, but I use Pinterest as a search engine, so when I'm looking for things to do in the city, I'll just type in free things to do in Chicago and then all the pins will come up based on and I think Pinterest is more of like a search engine, not a social media platform, so that is where I usually look for for things to do when activities, Uh,

using those blogs on Pinterest great tips. Never thought of, yeah, yeah, we'll have all of those links in our show notes too so that you can click and see them. But yeah, that's great. And Jolie, actually you took one of those group on travel. I brought a gate one travel you group on and it was fantastic. I will say you were mostly paying. I mean, it was a great deal. However, I think there's a part of me that would have

preferred to have booked my own flights. I don't know that I could have gotten it as cheap, but if I could have booked my own flights, I could have done like the layovers that I wanted to or not gotten as like in the middle of the night kind of flights. But it was kind of this whole package deal whereas Paris and Barcelona and the hotel. So at the end of the day, it took a lot of

the headache out and it was very inexpensive. But some downsides, but it doesn't even matter, right, now anywhere still good information if we live in our vehicles. Yeah yeah. And so also that brings me back to the we're not traveling for the rest of the year. So what if you did book something and now it's canceled or you have to cancel it, like you do not cancel. This kind of up to you on what. Yeah, what's happening?

What do I do? Yes? Okay, So you have to think about how comfortable are you feeling with traveling because there are people right now I would call them early adopters who are like traveling right now. So there are people traveling, but for the majority, I would say, are

not traveling. I actually was given the option. So we were supposed to go to Madrid in May and American Airlines called me well before I Before I say that, I would say that the first thing I would say, when you're booking anything, book it on a credit card. Number one. You want the credit card company to be able to have your back if anything goes down and they're like not wanting to comply, you can just say, hey, I think this is like kind of fishy and they'll

look into it. So I like charging all of my big travel expenses on a credit card just in case, and sometimes the credit cards have perks like uh I would say, like baggage laws or some types of insurance as well. Every card is individual, so I just double check when you're booking to make sure that what is what is the opportunities for you there? Now, in terms of my Madrid trip, American Airlines called me in May and they're like, hey, you have two options. You can

get a full refund. I was like, wow, that's that's thank you, that's great, or you can book another flight. However, the problem for me was that I had booked these tickets to Madrid for two d and fifty dollars a pop, so they could not guarantee me that I was gonna find another flight for two fifty who knows when. So for me, I made a decision just to get their full refund because I knew that it's it's really hard to find such a great deal to go to Madrid,

even from New York City. So I decided to get the full full refund. Now, the problem again is that because it's back on my credit card, I couldn't just say, oh, let me get the cash and go shopping now or do something fun I had to now act them to send me a check, and there was more of like back and forth with them. So those are the things that I would think about. Number One, making sure that whatever card you charge, see if you know, you want to make sure that they have your back if there's

any fraud, night charges or anything like that. Credit cards are really good for that. To think about, will you find this deal again. If you will find this deal again and they can guarantee that, then maybe rebook in the future if they can't, just get your money back, if that's even a possibility. I know that a lot of airlines now are saying that you can cancel no problem, like there's no charge of like that two dollar charge

that they have. So before you book anything, really be vigilant in looking at the terms and conditions because a lot of times these airline companies they just want to take your money now and they're like, we'll worry about it later after they have your money in the bank. So that's important to think about. Yeah, yeah, better to get your money back than try and store points with them if possible, because who knows what those points are

going to be worth. Who knows if you're going to book between the time that they expire just and then you've got to remember or what airline did I even have those points with? So yeah, just get your money back. I have a hotel that I'm going to need that I booked with points, that I'm going to have to get those points back. So I'm antissing, but I know

that I will book with that hotel line again. Um, it's highat They have the best like trend like for points, best redemption values, and I know I will book with them again, So I will just get the points in that case. Um. And and for those who don't do the whole credit card thing, it could be really worth considering insurance now in the future, now that we see how volatile it could be and how quickly things could shift, it could be worth springing for, you know a little

bit more, just to protect and cushion that larger investment. Yeah. Some of the sites that I've been keeping an eye on are like the Points Guy. He does a really good roundup of just like letting you know travel news and things for to be a where of thirty Traveler, Premium and thifty Traveler. They also have like great blog posts as well to keep you updated with what's going on.

What airline has this policy? Uh So, just as always, like everything we're talking about, it's just really being intention and all and knowing, like what you're getting into before you commit and buy right now? Mm hmm. Absolutely, you know what else? You should know what you're getting yourself into before you commit. I but I do know, and I always commit the that's right, it's time for the best minute of your entire week. Maybe a baby was

born and his name is William. Maybe you've paid off your mortgage, maybe your car died and you're happy to not have to pay that bill anymore. That build Buffalo Bill, Bill Clinton, It's the bill of the week, Danielle. Every week we invite our guests and listeners to share with us there our favorite bill, and I know you've been thinking about yours, and I can't wait to hear it. Okay, so I would have to. So my favorite bill that I like let go of recently was Adobe Premiere Pro.

So as a blogger and podcaster myself, I wanted to get all these tools and I'm like, I'm gonna use this. It is gonna be great. I bought it three years ago and just started producing videos. Like yesterday. So I've been wasting so much money on tools that I don't even use. So that is a bill that I'm happy that's gone. However, I just got engaged during quarantine in March. March gradulation. Thank you, thank you, thank you. So my new bill that I love is saving for our back

yard wedding. So that is with bill. Uh and it's going slow but steady so far amazing. What are you getting married? Well, we wanted to do it this summer, and we're like, okay, forget that, so we're hoping for next We're hoping for next summer. But it's just so just what happens that I've been doing also home renovations, so I'm like, might as well have it in my house since I've been doing all these fancy renovations. So I'm looking forward to just having a very small, intimate

new out hosting your own wedding. Oh that way, yes, so that you can have a fantastic honeymoon. Have you started thinking about that? Yeah? I think we're either doing Turks and Cagos or Costa Rica, so one of the two. I so hope that's possibility to to Oh gosh, okay, we're all just gonna, you know, throw salt over our shoulders. Prayers. I'm praying. In the meantime, I have like you know, Costa Rica pictures and posters all over here, just giving me life. So that's how I'm living, Yes, living my

travel life right now, scroll on the internet looking for picks. Yes, yes, yeah, well what what good motivation to just kind of like stay focused? You do have something to look forward to. Either way you're gonna be married. It sounds like that's going to be a good thing. Excited. I'm excited. You guys should have seen it. It was literally how I was questioning it. No, I just like, I don't want to make for everybody, but like it's probably like don't

you're done. So I'm sure it's gonna be amazing. It's going to be great for you. I've had friends just like, really, like, he's gonna propost you during quarantine in your pajamas in your living room? Is that the kind of engagement you want? I was like, it was fine, it was actually really it was sweet, it was perfect, it was intimate. Yeah. I literally had to have Neil Polisher mover before I sent all my friends pictures. So yes, and you were already home, so you could Yeah, you could do it.

My gosh, you could have just painted your one hand that quick. Yes. Yes, there's so many sweet things that have come out of this time. Like it's not all been good and sunshine and roses by any stretch, but there has been some kindnesses in silver lining and just

like sweet things. That was one of them. If you so, if you have any sweet bills that you want to share with us, please visit Frugal Friends podcast dot com slash bill and leave us your bill, especially if that bill includes your engagement and your wedding so that Jill can maybe be encouraged. Yeah, it's good for more people. Yeah, more people in love getting married. Great, now it's time for the lightning. We just yell at people. Yeah, and then the people and we yell at them. Yes. I

love the energy. It's yes, it's it's infectious. Great, Greace, we definitely have that. You should have been here the last time that we did an interview together on somebody Else's podcast, and I was just I was out of control. We'll stop there. So we wanted to go round table style and talk about our travel plans coming up. How we've had to alter them due to COVID and like what we're doing instead, or to save on them, stuff like that. So we'll let our guests of honor go first.

Y's you, Daniel go now? Okay, So I'm in charge and I'm the guest of honor because you didn't pick up them that a little bit. So my next travel plans is to figure out how we're going to get to Cape Cod in August. Cape Cod's about three hours from home. I'm in charge of the planning process. So figure out the hotel and if we're gonna take our dog or not. So add Jada into the mix. M hm, Jade Jada, what a sweet name. She's the one dog, just the one, just one, just one right now, just one?

Just that you considered getting another dog and naming it will I do not want to go into an entanglement. That's uh, no entanglement here get a third dog? Yes, and yeah, I didn't know what that joke was until last night. There is a meet and I didn't get it until So if you don't get it, just search, just just google it to Google. Yah, Jill, you go, um, gosh, what do I talk about? Well? Eric and I are

moving people have heard about this for like so many episodes. Now, Um, that's our next travel plans is to load up all of our stuff in our travel trailer. And thankfully we're minimalists, so we don't even need to get people to come help us and deal with all of that. Uh, and like restrictions on how many people we can have helping us move, so it'll all go into a travel trailer that we have just like a small thing that hooks

to the back of our one car. Y'all, if you have been following this podcast, um, you know that I was trying to get Eric and I to go down to being like a one one vehicle couple. And we did it, didn't We did it. We only got one car. It's not gonna last long, but for a time we have one car. Yes, that's been Yeah, they're just been

good for me lately. Yeah. So we're gonna pack everything up and we're gonna we're gonna drive down and then we're going to be in Florida and that's going to be our money is like gutting a kitchen and and creating our own airbnb and like that we will rent out for some income and we're going to be in a vacation spot. So like we're going to our home. Our new home is right next to a park that's on the water, So I'm hoping to get some kayaks and just like really enjoy my new area that I'm

in and be out on the water. So yeah, I think it's going to work out all right for me. Right now, you're traveling to a vacase spot that's going to be that's a yeah, that would be. The beaches might not be open, but yeah, I'm going to make the most of exploring my new area because that's going to be enjoyable. And Daniel, I will say I read your article on things to do in like spring breaking in Tampa, which r I p that was written for this year. Um, but I was like sorely disappointed that St.

Petersburg did not make it anywhere in that article. I was like, she doesn't even know I'm missing out, missing out, You are missing out. Oh God, a beautiful place, and I encourage you to visit us. But I will tell you that we were there around Uh, this was just before the shutdowns happened. Like, um, spring break was in Florida just before Florida shut down and Jen and you and I tried to go to the beaches, have like a nice quiet. We went to this one beach. It

was pumping. I have not seen the types of bathing suits these these people were wearing like I didn't even know that it existed. I was like, I'm seeing body parts I didn't even know about, Like, what what is happening? It was crazy insane. That's why we had many COVID I know. And then they shut down because of because of how hoppened. Spring break wasn't saying so maybe it's good that it wasn't on your list and yet maybe Um, so this was the year I wanted to take a cruise. Um,

well that's not going to happen. Um. So, actually I think I don't think we're gonna do anything. I was considering, um transferring my conference. Hotel points to an all inclusive with Hyatt um, but I think we will probably skip it. It's also my husband and I fifth anniversary this year, so I kind of want to do something overnight. I was going to miss it. I was going to be at a conference in California. Um, but it doesn't seem that I will be there anymore. So I might do

like a frugal road trip somewhere. I have to kind of make a dream list and see how, like what Travis and ized dreams overlap, which when it comes to travel, isn't often that they overlap, but my dreams usually win. So I could see you both doing some sort of like camping thing. I could see Travis being super into that and you tagging along. That's not that's not on my dream list, Jill, trying new things. You'll build a muscle. I've tried it before. I tried it well pregnant um

being on the issue, Yeah, that wasn't even the issue. Um, but that's for another time. So that yeah, so that's kind of how I I still have to make that call to see if I can transfer those points, so um TVD on how that will go. I'll let everyone know. But and if I don't ask me about it in the Frugal Friends community, uh so, so yeah, that's I think we'll put off and then I'm gonna try. So I will say I am an early adopter of travel. We did fly in June to Nashville. Um. It was

everyone had masks on. It seemed very safe. It has been a month since returning and I have not had um any illness, so knock on wood. I you know, I don't get it from walking outside. But um, and then we were also going to Disney at the end of the month. Um. I followed a lot of Disney bloggers and have been just keeping tabs on how social distancing is going in the parks. But we had a ticket that was supposed to expire in June, but now it was good through the end of the year. So actually, no,

it's good I think through September October. Um, So we already have the ticket that we have to use, so we're going to use it and see how that goes. When did they open back up? Just yeah, so they were the last theme park. Yeah, no, they just opened. Uh, they were the last theme park to open. And they can conveniently opened on the day Florida had over fifteen thousand new cases of coronavirus. So that's fun. Um, so

we'll see. Yeah. But yeah, enough, that's the thing. Everything should things so quickly that it's just a matter of like keeping close tabs on everything, making informed decisions. And yeah. And I also think that it's like for me and my partner, we're thinking like Okay, if things don't change next year this time, how are we're gonna feel like? Are we going to still feel the same way or we're gonna want to do a little bit more venturing.

So I think it's going to be like an ongoing conversation to just how things develop and and how far we want to go. Um, but Disney was on our list. We go to Disney at least once a year. So we're very very sad right now, very sad. It's yeah, we're going to Hollywood Studios to see the Star Wars because we haven't seen that yet. So that one opened. The Magic Kingdom opened the ninth for pass holders, so we'll see how it goes. Actually, by the time this airs,

we will have gone, so we'll see. Don't give me any one star reviews, yeah, or maybe you haven't gone, don't say anything, okay, which anyways, Danielle, thank you so much for coming. Tell tell everyone where they can find you and all the amazing things you have going on. Sure, so you can find me over at thought card dot com, which is my affordable travel and personal finance blog. I also have a podcast called the thought Card Podcast. I Am at the thought Card on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

And I actually just finished writing my third book during the pandemic. It is called Traveling with a full time job, because that's always fun. And yeah, I just share lots of tips and I interviewed tons of other avid travelers to share how they manage your time and also still find the way you sixcel in their careers. Oh my gosh. Yes, and you have your book that's all your your second book or yeah, there's the books you already have. Is

called Affordable Travel Affording Travel. Yes, Supporting Twording Travel is my second book, and that share step by step how to say for travel making a financial priority in your life. And my last book is an some travel guide. So I've traveled to Ice some three times. Love it um and I share all the tips of how to really have an adventurous an affordable chest. So if you're into Iceland too, I want to get into it. Yes. So thank you so much Danielle for coming on the show.

And I really hope that everybody checks out your podcast uh and your books because you are a fantastic writer and you have so much knowledge and wisdom on affordable travel. And that's there's not one person listening to that podcast, this podcast that doesn't want that wisdom and affordable travels and what I mean? Thank you again, this is awesome. Thank you. Um wow, guys, what a great episode. UM really hope you check out everything Danielle has to offer

because it's a ton of things. So like you're you're basically under a rock or like not on the internet if you can't find her and something that she has put out there in content that she's created. Thanks so much for listening. We want to thank you all for your kind reviews on iTunes and Stitcher like this one. We'll just give you an example of a writing sample. It comes from Louis Dieve. I don't even know. Actually Louis do the complicated names that says can't get enough

happens to be five stars. I adore Frugal Friends. The format, delivery, and approachability of this podcast means I have enjoyed and learned from each episode. It's the perfect time for us all to reevaluate how we consume and live, and Frugal Friends is inspiring without being extremely preachy. They have gone from being a spender to enjoying mending and saving. I'm more content for it. Thank you. Oh my gosh, I love that you're mending things now. I haven't even gone

to mending. No, not yet. You've had to mend your things though, Yeah. Travis has Yeah, and he will have you mend more things. Sure, when you get down here, we'll I'll have him build me some things too. Yes. We also want to thank our friends who share these episodes on social media. So when you share the latest episode and tag us on Facebook or Instagram at Frugal Friends Podcast, We're going to add you to our monthly drawing.

So normally for every five tags and reviews we get each month, we give away a ten dollar Amazon gift card. And this is actually the last day you have to enter a gift card drawing, so this is it. Next week we're starting a new giveaway, so you will have a new month. You'll have to tune in to see what it is. Um, but this is it, guys, So if you wanted to enter, do it now. So keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or switch and send us the screenshot to Frugal Friends Podcast at gmail dot com.

Don't forget to tag us on social with our latest episode, and either way enters you into our draw thing. Maybe you'll get that gift card. Maybe nice. Herugal Friends is produced, edited and mixed by Eric Seria. All right, Danielle, you're patiently sitting through. I was like looking at the reviews, be like, oh is she reading this? I'm trying to help you pronounce it today, but I don't. Don't. Don't look at the latest one even Well, you're a podcaster anything, right,

and forget about it. It's amazing. It's like it's like a scientifically proven thing that you will get hated on for your voice, for sure. Yes, definitely, Valley Grad. If you haven't, then I'm really impressed. Yeah, you're better than us. Well yeah, fun fact Women House twenty podcast so like two out of ten are women. So yeah, I feel we need more. We need totally need more female podcasters out there because I'm sure a higher number of that

listen to podcasts. I'm sure the listenership is way higher for sure, So we need more of us. But Danielle, you've also got something really cool going on that we want to make sure we talk about and get on the air. Is uh WOC Women of Color podcasting almost like association. Can you tell us more about that? Sure? So I created Women of Color Podcasters two years ago now, and it really started based off of a hashteg on Twitter.

So the backstories that Spotify had realized that podcasters or are women, and they said that women of color hosts less than that. So there was not even a number. They just said host less than that, which is very even bothered to count did so so yeah, So they created an opportunity. They were looking for a tennis fire and women of Color podcasters. It would fly out to New York City and one person to win ten thousand dollars. So when I saw this, I was like, oh my gosh,

this like this is me. I have an idea. I was inspired by Whitney Hanson's Money Nerds podcast. I was like, I want to have just like Whitney. I just want to be just like Whitney. So I applied and that day they were supposed to announce it, we heard crickets. But I had seen so many women on Twitter talking about this opportunity and I wanted to keep in touch with them, so I decided to create the Facebook group, which now has over three thousand two women from fifty countries,

which is so exciting and fun. Facts Spotify had eighteen thousand applications for that one US opportunity that was found through underground blogs. It wasn't even on their main website. It was like a friend of a friend told me about this and they had eighteen thousand, which still blows me away. And that's a number that I aim to shoot for. Like eighteen thousand two years ago is what

like I'm trying to slowly thrive towards. But we've grown to include a blog, a job board, we have a paid membership as well now and yeah, I think we're definitely seen as a staple in the podcasting community. Oh my gosh. So where first off, where can listeners go to find more, to find a listing of of like all these podcasters. Sure, so we actually don't have a directory right now, but what we do have we do have a blog that has over sixty articles where you

can hear from community members. We all of our articles are written by our community members. So WC Podcasters dot Co will have lots of our voices, lots of our advice, lots of our tips. And the directory is definitely in the works. It's it's a big lift. It's very I'm sure. Oh my gosh. Do you have any in particular or that you would recommend folks checking out? Yes, okay, so I have three, and I think for me, I like podcasts that like teach you things, and because I'm very

like entrepreneurial, like I'm trying to be entrepreneurial. I love a Freelance Friday podcast by Latasha James, so she talks about freelance life, um, and she has her own agency, which is really great. I also love School of Ambition by D. L. Sharon and she really teaches you how to take your coaching side hustle businessess to like six figures, which I of course love to hear that. And gotta

love this. Yes, bare backyard wedding, more backyard wedding. Yes, I have as many backyard weddings as a Yes, exactly exactly. And I would say the last one is called The Purpose of Money by a Quantiam Scarney, and she's also in the Fincan community, and she talks about wealth and really leaving a legacy behind for for you and yours. That's awesome, that'd be great for we have a lot of people interested in side hustling, so even if your

side hustle seems more like a side gig. These these like freelancing and these entrepreneurs podcasts are so inspiring and they bring on a lot of people that can just help you take it to the next level. So woc podcasters dot co. Is that the website, the blog the blog frosh Okay, we got yes, we did get Yes, sorry, we'll we'll have the link in the show notes. Um, and yeah, thanks for hanging out. I we have never had a guest on the after Show. I don't think

we've ever called it the after Show. It's like so unofficial and sometimes we don't even have it. But most of the yeah, so we're like welcome, well, thank you. This is something. Yes,