How To Save Money on Travel | Frugal Traveling

I love traveling, I love doing it often, and the only way to do that is to do it frugally. For me, at least, I'm not independently wealthy. In case you haven't learned, she she does wear a gold chain though, so you you may not be able to tell if you met her, but I can affirm she's not independently Sometimes I wear a golden chain. It's real gold. I

didn't buy it. It was gifts, doesn't me. Yeah. So, if you are interested in travel, which we know a ton of you are, because this is a very requested episode that we haven't covered in a really long time and since the pandemic when we were talking about ways to get out there frugally when you couldn't travel internationally. Now travel has opened back up, still a little different, So we're going to cover it again and cover again

all the nuances in this new era of travel. But first we want to talk to you about our sponsor today. It's a real one, not a fake one. And speaking of travel, many people love to travel to Florida, were especially coming upon the time frame that people love to travel to Florida. But you also know that we were recently well parts of Florida were devastated by Hurricane Ian.

It was headed for the Tampa Bay area, which is where Jen and I live, but then took a turn and really hit hard Fort Myers Naples area, which there

are people who live there. It's not just a destination spot, and some people are really experiencing deep, deep loss and just still kind of picking up the pieces, And so we want to be a part of aiding and supporting are we We have friends and family who live in that area, and so we've set up a link Frugal Friends podcast dot com slash Ian where you can donate to a local crisis relief organization right in Fort Myers, so you know that it's going to the people who

are actually in need right now. So if you want to give and help our neighbors in the south, visit Frugal Friends Podcast dot com slash ian And today is the last day that we the Frugal Friends podcast are going to match your donations up to dollars. You can still give after today, but if you give today and send us a screenshot of the amount that you gave, we will match that amount up to dollars. So thank you, thank you for your care and support for our people

just forty five minutes south of us. Frugal Friends Podcast dot com slash ian. And if you have any trouble on the website Frugal Friends Podcast dot com, slash ian or if you've just given to another organization that's in um the southwest Florida area that you feel passionate about, send us that screenshot anyway, we'll match it. We'll we'll do one, you know, big donation to this one, but um they're partnering with United Way and and helping the

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the day, anytime until today. Alright, So traveling, while you may not want to travel to Southwest Florida right now, give them a little time, but definitely head there, uh next year because they're definitely gonna need all your love and support via travel. But let's talk about traveling in other places. So we have a few other travel episodes that are still relevant for today. We've got episode one fifty which is travel hacking for beginners. I I love

this one. It is travel hacking with credit cards for beginners. So we cover kind of the first five credit car words to get you started with travel hacking. And this is like minimalist travel hacking. It's the way like that

Jill and I practice travel hacking. It's great. So episode one fifty four, sure que that one up to play after this, and then episode one nineteen we we did during the Pandemics, those stay cations we talked about frugal Um, stay cations, local travel and road trips with our friend Danielle Dezier from the Thought Card. So those are two really good ones to queue up. But we're gonna talk about travel. It's a little more expansive today, Jill. How And I know you're super excited about it. Of course

I am. It's just making me want to go somewhere, book a trip, do the thing. I I am already, I've as soon. I'm the person, and I'm sure that you can relate. When I'm on my vacation or coming home from that, I'm planning the next one. So yeah, it's this never ending cycle. It's it's not as if you get satisfied by going on vacation. You just get back and you want more. That's my experience, assuming it's a good trip, Those really good trips just make you

want more. Yeah, alright. So our first article is from map trotting dot com. It's six reasons to budget travel at least once in a lifetime. And Jill, you've done a lot of budget traveling, so what do you think about this one? I would agree I think everyone should try budget traveling, although I think most of our listeners are like, yeah, I'm not doing it for this human experience piece, I'm doing it because I have to so, or because that's the that's the level at which I

value travel. Yeah, yeah, either way. But I do think that they give some good arguments for still going places even if you don't have a massive budget, and some of the added ben of fits not just oh grin and bear it. You hardly have any money, but you're trying to see the sites, but there's actual benefits to it.

So it almost helps to shift our mindset in rather than be grudgingly and wishing we could do all the luxurious things, but really truly embracing it, knowing that we are getting a unique experience because of the things that we're engaging in when we aren't spending an arm and a leg on things. So I do appreciate the arguments for this, and it's almost like they're advertising to the

rich and the wealthy. Hey try this other thing called busha travel, And I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know this, but I think so we also get emails from people like how do you make like frugality like fun and sustainable because spending money is just more fun than being frugal, and sometimes it's so like miserable being frugal, and the mind that's a it's a mindset shift, because frugality is not miss re miss like. This is not a misery

loves company lifestyle. This is looking at the impact of all of our choices on our money, on the environment, on local and international economies. It's looking at the total impact of what we spend money on and choosing what we value. And like, we very much value the stuff that's in this article. So choosing a budget travel lifestyle versus luxury travel, it's not a question. We're not doing it because we don't have enough money to afford the

luxury lifestyle. Though we've chosen work that you know, actually cannot afford certain luxury lifestyles. But that's by choice. It's making these intentional choices. Uh, And it's not for the sake of just being frugal just saving money. Were never about that. It's about these intentional choices. So I do like what these six tips are going to do and helping maybe people change their mindset. And if you don't drive with it, then you don't have to take it.

You pick up what works for you and you lay down with doesn't. So we'll get into the first one. The first reason to try budget travel at least once in your lifetime for the map trotting map trotting, and maybe this is for also the person that like doesn't want to travel because they don't value it as much um and even if it isn't high on your values, maybe you should try it. But Number one is budget

travel makes you money savvy. And they say when you travel without tracking your expenses, like we did many times before, you can't really appreciate your own money. We all know that from our normal lives, but traveling on a budget suddenly makes you realize that there are so many things

that you don't actually need to spend money on. So it's like all the things that we talk about in regular life, but really amplif fide in this one to two weeks where you are spending significantly more money and it's not to make you feel guilty about spending more money than you do in your normal life. That's something that Travis and I we it very much trips him up because when we travel, we spend more money on a day to day basis, and that doesn't compute with him.

He wants to spend money like we do in our normal lives. So that's something like we have to talk about like daily on our trip, but it can be really like a good source of awareness for and just like if you're training yourself during your normal life to like spend within your values, then doing this on vacation can be a really great test of that. Two. Yeah, keeping track of your spending in one small, small span of time can build habits for for your regular life.

The second one on here, I appreciate it talks about how budget traveling and change your mindset. And they're talking about when we aren't spending lavishly or going into debt for the travel that we're doing, we engage in the culture.

And so we're talking primarily international travel here, but we can see things about the culture and the way that the people who live there live life that can help us to form a bigger, broader worldview and perspective that we wouldn't get if we were going to the gated hotel that's on every influencers Instagram with the infinity pool, and you've just got this very curated experience that doesn't introduce you to any other type of way of life.

So there's just this more internal, deeper level of learning and understanding and grow oath that can happen when when we budget travel and maybe we go places that are lesser known or lesser traveled than than these spots that we see people advertise over and over and over again. Like I I kid you not, I don't even try.

I don't even follow him any travel instagrammers or bloggers, but I swear to you in these reels, I am getting the same hotel showing up over and over and over again by all these different Instagram influencers, and I'm just like, all right, well now it just kind of feels cheap, Like y'all just go to this one hotel, you take your sexy shot in the infinity pool, and then like laying in the one hammock and that's it.

Like where's the variety and the creativity and the culture and and the learning and the engaging in something different like it? I don't, I'm I'm over it, And I'm here for the understanding new ways of life and meeting people that you wouldn't typically meet. And I do think budget travel demand ends that. Yeah, and it can be nerve racking you you typically like want to be comfortable and know where you're going, which is really hard in

a foreign country. And so people will use Instagram and use travel agents and stuff like that to get some kind of trust or familiarity. But you can go outside of that too. So that kind of leads to number three, that budget travel makes you more adventurous and you don't have to be like a soup, like an adventure free. I am not like an adventure seeker, Like that's not me.

I'm a chill seeker and so but I have found that, um, I mean doing doing stuff that's slightly outside of my comfort zone, but not that that doesn't it doesn't feel dangerous. It's just slightly outside of my comfort zone. UM is where some of my best memories are. So you can use your intuition, she said the author. She's like, well, we're not intending on taking another third class train in Thailand. It wasn't experience will never forget exactly right, So look

at your options and don't. So when we went to Bali after we paid off our debt, that was like our debt pay half celebration. I wish that I had had more of this mindset with me because we really took the cheapest options, and Bolly is inexpensive in itself, and so we were just taking advantage of all these like low prices and not really thinking about, Okay, maybe we can actually use our dollar. We've chosen a place where our dollar goes farther, so maybe we can choose

some more upgrades in that. We were just so used to always choosing the cheapest thing at that point. And so I really wish that I had had this like perspective of yes, let's seek adventure, but let's not like, let's not make the whole thing an adventure. Let's let's have let's like have some some adventure here and then some things that seem predictable and chill, because that can quickly translate and crossover into just risky and not well thought out. You can you can be adventurous and have

it be quite planned and researched. That's that's my way of doing things. Like I do want to try new things, but I'm gonna look into it and have a really good understanding of what I'm endeavoring upon. Yeah, I would just look I would scour the internet for travel bloggers writing about where you're going, because travel bloggers are going to know where all the stuff is. Just make sure the post isn't a sponsored post because then they got

paid to do it. But if it's not, then you can really find some very cool things, some very like hidden gems. And sometimes you can even be like, oh my gosh, I'm going to this place. I'm definitely going to check out you know this, maybe like by one of their digital products or something, and then they'll, you know, you'll be like, Hey, any other tips I should know about that you've picked up since you wrote the article. Maybe they will tell you. Yeah, not that you all

need any more convincing. But another reason to budget travel number four is that it can spark creativity, which I would absolutely agree with. I think we've already kind of touched on this, the reality of when your budget traveling, Usually that means you're going to be engaging with the people who live there, the culture, the traditions of that area, and engaging in something that's new and different expands our brains and our understanding and can spark thinking in a

different way. Without you even totally trying to do that, You're just you're engaged in something new, and so you're using different parts of your brain, which a lot of times then just lends itself to creativity, whether that's something that you can enjoy while you're there, the experience of creativity,

or something you can take back with you. The writer was talking about how they it sounds like they kind of stayed for an extended time in some of these places and we're trying to work while they were traveling and engaging in new experiences and it really helped them with their business. So there you go, Jen, it'll be a business expense. We need to spark our creativity for what's next. For the frugal friends, we have to budget travel together. But there's just there's inspiration to be found,

I think, is what this is saying. Yeah, and I love the story that they told of trying to work while traveling. Specifically, they said, um, they started guest posting for a travel blog that they respected, but it was they required five articles a month from them, which is a little that's I would I would not take that deal. I'll just say that I wouldn't take that deal, but

it forced them to. The more pressure you're under to produce content, the more creative you get with it, and that is really what I've found over five six years of creating written and audio and video content, the more you're forced to produce, the more creative you get with it. And it's the same in life like the more you are forced to get creative, the more creative you get. And so don't look at it like a job or a a burden. Uh, look at it like a challenge

to get creative. And often the best content comes out of that forced creativity. Again, not something that's sustainable, but really great for seasons where you're really learning or really trying to dig into something for the first time. Five is it teaches you appreciation. So once you've traveled on a budget, even if for a short while, you'll start appreciating the things you have. Depending on your destination, you can still feel like a millionaire with your fifty dollars

a day, and that is true for places. While you will spend some money to take a flight to these places, which you can offset if you're travel hacking, you can get free flights and then just use your money in these very inexpensive international locales and sooner, the article says, sooner or later, you'll start seeing things around you and feeling incredibly lucky to have the freedom to explore the world.

And it's so so true that international travel has really impacted Jillani's view of what we have here and it's it's made us so much more grateful and like content um without complacency. But but yeah, it really has impacted my view of what I have, and not in a pity sort of way, but in a like these people live just like me. They don't think they should be looked down on, and they're living with a ton less so it would be rude for me to like pity them. It's really a challenge for me, like what do I

think I need so much more than this? Like do I think I'm a better person that I need? Like I require so much more? So that's a challenge, like in my mindset to be like, no, I don't need all of this. Is is a gift and I don't need it, but I'm really thankful for it. Yeah, which is similar to number six set a different way, it can encourage gratefulness. I would maybe reframe this to say, I think traveling helps us with our perspective and our

world view. It helps us I think, understand ourselves better where we sit in the world what geography and and upbringing and traditions and culture have formed inside of us. And I think we can only truly see that or grasp that too deeper levels when we see something that is different from what our experience has been to understand, well, then what was my experience and how did that shape me? So that, to me is the gratitude that comes out, not necessarily the the very superficial Oh look at what

they live in versus what I live in. It like, that's that's not that's not a fair comparisoner, like you're saying, Jen, Like the point isn't pity or just like leot let me and I have. That's that's not the point of it shouldn't be at least like how much I have. It's more how has it formed me? And what more can I glean in my un standing and then my approach to other people by seeing other seeing different but then also seeing the same and some of the similarities.

Like there's this deep connection and tie that we have with humanity, but then there's also this this distinct understanding of self that can come from it too. So I would just more so advocate for the expanded worldview that comes from travel absolutely. So we're moving on to our next article, which is um from Business Insider, and it's it's titled we asked fourteen travel experts to share their number one tip for saving money when they're on vacation.

So we're not gonna go through all fourteen. We're gonna go through about half. But these are I mean, these are probably some you've heard before the others but maybe like haven't taken seriously, and to know that there's nothing new under the sun, like these are actually the biggest ways to save money on travel. There are very few ways you're going to get like a cruise vacation for a hundred dollars unless you're coming off of pandemic, you know.

But those days are over, So let's dive into this one. The first one, and it's the one that I have found to be best for us, is to be flexible with your travel dates. Some dates like to leave and fly in on are just consistently less expensive. So weekdays, like honestly, traveling from Tuesday to Saturday has been a sweet spot for us that those are really inexpensive flights. And then putting on top of that, if we can going in an off season or if a deal pops up.

I don't love doing the whole like looking for a deal and subscribing to the deal thing. Some people do have the flexibility in their lives to be able to take a last minute deal when it comes up. That's not me. I got a plan, but my plan typically I try to be in the off season. I'll look at um the points calendar for wherever I want to stay, and so I'm using my credit card points, um my travel reward points, and so I'll look at the points

calendar because they fluctuate in peak times. It's more points per night, so I'm looking for those when is the lowest points per night. But also, I'm not going to travel to the Bahamas in September because that's peak hurricane season. I'm not. I'm also not, you know, a glutton for Missouri. So I'm going to go in the off season. But I'm going to go in the smart as smart off season as possible, so like as close to shoulder as

I think it's called. But but yeah, really flying on the weekday because week days, you know, whether you get there on a a Monday or tues there Wednesday won't have a big impact unless something is going on on a Friday or Saturday that you want to be there for. But yeah, those for me save the biggest amounts. Though. I also like this one. Travel places where your home currency takes you further. This one is pretty obvious, but I think when we're considering, I really want to go somewhere,

but I can't afford to go to Italy right now? Okay, but is there a place that might be a little less expensive for you based on the exchange rate? And there are plenty of places like this. Obviously depends on where you're from and uh, your home currency and the exchange rate at the various locations that you want to visit, But there are plenty of places that that we can go where our dollar is going to take us further the value of it can purchase us more, and so

that's definitely something to consider. Has helped me a lot with a lot of the places that I have traveled to, and I would say especially for people who safety is a high, high priority, it can even help. As this article points out that when your dollar can take you further in some of these locations that you visit, you might be able to afford some of the more quote

unquote luxuries because it's affordable for you. So like hiring a private driver to do to go a long distance, you could visit a specific location or being able to be and maybe a little bit nicer of a hotel, you name it. That's a very key thing that's going to help you be able to maybe have the vacation that you want, but in a way that's more affordable for your budget. My next one, I love this one

is to shop at local grocery stores. So not every meal you have you have has to be at a restaurant, and you don't have to bring all of your own food from home, all your own snacks from home. To save money, shop at these local grocery stores. They've got all of the local produce ingredients usually pre made you know, foods. It's like like Publix. And if they don't, you just like stock up on cheese. There's this beautiful picture of cheese in a grocery store on this article, and it's like,

why wouldn't you want to eat all of that? And it's so much cheaper than them buying it at a ready made at a restaurant. Uh so, And yeah, and then you get this experience in the grocery store. I just remember being like, we went to the grocery store every day when we were in Barcelona, just because it was fun and it had all these fun things that we wanted to try. And it was the first first place I had san Gria was I got a bottle of san gria from the grocery store in Barcelona, drink

at my hotel room. That's so fun. Yeah, I have an age I won't disclose I was legal there though. I love this tip, and I would say it's one of Ma and Eric's favorite things to do in a new place that we're visiting, because, like you're saying, Jen, you find all these new ingredients or candies that we don't have in the States, and so you can try a lot of new stuff and yeah, see what, see what the locals are buying. And like I love that tip. Two of the already prepared foods, Yeah, gosh, it's yeah.

And you can do a little preparing by just googling when you're at home, like things to eat in so and so, and I'll tell you foods. You can identify them so when you see them in the grocery store, everything is not as four and you can kind of recognize some things. I like this one too. I've not tried this, so uh take I don't know, take it with a grain of salt, Try it out, report back.

But consider how sitting while traveling this of course with one of the biggest expenses, just like normal life is the housing and transportation and food when you're on vacation. So similarly, you want to look at the things that are going to pack a punch when traveling, like how can I save money on lodging, and certainly how sitting would be a way to really hack that. Oftentimes it's

free or they pay you. They share a site in the article Trusted house sitters dot com is one place that you might be able to find how sitting opportunities and something like that could even determine where you travel too. If you get a house sitting opportunity in a specific location, then all right, that's where we're going. So that I think that's a unique and maybe more adventurous way of going, but certainly a way that could slice and dice some of the expenses. Yes, um my last one on here.

It's not actually a money saving tip, though I'm sure you can they can justify it on here, but is to bring more than one credit and debit card with you and keep them separate. So we did have an instance where we lost a card in Bali and we were able to cancel it very quickly, super easy. But we needed a way to and this is where debit

cards are really important. I think we used the Charles Schwab like, we opened a Charles Schwab brokerage that we could use money like internationally get it out fee free. And that's actually the second The next tip after or maybe before is to use a card that doesn't have um international transaction fees. But so so we were able. It was really important for us to have debit cards versus credit cards. So in the States everyone takes a credit card RD but some places internationally only take cash.

So you want to a budget so that you're not like and sticking to that budget so that you're not getting out cash multiple times a day, or like looking for an a t M multiple times a day, so you you get it once or twice um a week, or you know, once a day, and then you have it for the whole time you need it until you are at another a t M um, and should you lose a debit card, you have another debit card so that when you have to cancel that one, you're not stuck kind of like we were. We only had one

debit card. We had, you know, several no international transaction fee credit cards, but those didn't really help us. So that is definitely just a life saving tip. It's just a great tip. And I would also say take cash as well. Have some cash so that you are not stuck and testitute in a foreign layout and try to don't don't exchange it at the airport, because the exchange rates at the airport are crazy. UM, get there, try if you can to exchange some of it in the States,

if it's possible. It may not be possible because I went to Mexico recently, where I was supposed to get there during the day so that I could head somewhere and exchange my money, but my flight got delayed. I ended up getting there at like one o'clock in the morning and everything was closed anyway. I couldn't even exchange at the airport at that point, so it was a big hassle to not have any exchanged money ready to go.

So if it's possible, try to do some before you go there, or or you can just like put on Facebook or you're buy nothing group, like, hey, anybody have any like pacos they're never going to use again? Like, because that's the thing. People come home with pacos and they never used them again. Yeah, I've got a lot of currency just like sitting in my safe and I'm thinking I may never use this again. That's a great idea.

And somebody people forget the value of it. And he was like, yeah, I'll give this away or you could like to offer them money for it. That's fun, all right. Last thing on here is eat where the locals eat, travel, how the locals travel, and again these travel bloggers are going to have all the tips and tricks for you on this one. I think this has been some of our most fun times in traveling is looking at what's the what's the amazing restaurant that maybe your tourists aren't

going to go to but the locals love. And how do the locals get around? What train lines are they taking, what buses are best? I think this is a great way. It is going to save you money, and again it's going to introduce you to some new experiences that you may never want to replicate it end, but will definitely make you some good memories. Yeah, and again this is when you can do some pre research on is how did the locals travel in blank? Or where did the

locals eat in blank? Even yelp might have some reviews. If you go to the ones that doesn't have like ten reviews, you can you know, find some hidden gems that way too. Speaking of hidden gems and things that I do want to replicate, Oh, you'll always find this highlighted in my blog the week. That's right, it's time for the best minute of your entire week. Maybe a baby was born and his name is Williams. Maybe you've paid off your mortgage. Maybe your car died and you're

happy to not have to pay that bill anymore. Bills, BUF bills, bill clin. This is the bill of the week. Hi, this is a UM calling in from Minnesota. So my bill of the week is actually probably more like a non bill. After coming I'm a teacher and after coming back from spring break this year, I found out that the school was um not charging staff for lunches. So that means that I get to eat free lunch every day, which includes uh usually an entree, a big salad bar,

some roasted veggies. It's amazing. And I don't have to buy food for lunch to keep at home. I don't have to spend time preparing my lunch. I just get to go to school every day not worry about it, and I know that there's something waiting for me every day. I love it. Thanks so much, guys, and congratulations for continuing me to eat school lunch to like being about that life, because that's going to save you a lot

of money. Oh, this is my dream that like we can all just hope to aspire for our many works day. They provide us lunch every day. What a dream? And you know what you deserve it? And and why do and why don't all teachers get free lunch at the school. That should be just a baked in perk of the job. You don't get many perks. So here you go, throw throw them a bone with some meat on it for once. Literally what a boat? Yeah, that would be the least they could do. So I'm glad that they are finally

doing it for you. And it's just doing the Lord's work. It's so great. Lords work, so great. I'm just I'm so happy for you and somehow getting hungry only I don't have I don't have like a free prepared hot meal waiting for me um. But happy for you, Anne. And this non bill. If you all listening, happened to have a non bill? Someone's feeding you do when the lord's work, somebody's feeding you. Please let us up visit

Frugal Friends podcast dot com, slash bill. Leave us your bill, your non bill, your bill's bill, whatever billy you got, We're here for you. And now it's time for pew Alright, So Goldie's lightning run question for us this week is what is your dream vacation destination? And I I see that you're okay. You just changed yours. No no, no no, I just I narrowed it down. I really became You're

focus perfect. This is perfect because you just took so mine is Greece or Italy and that's what you just deleted. So I would love to take a cruise around the Mediterranean. Oh my gosh, stop off at all the st That is what this is. Keep going, keep going, We're gonna

have to go. We're gonna have to go in sparks creativity, ah to because you you can stay you can put your bags in one place, you don't have to lug them around to multiple hotels, and you get to go to the places and they sit you there long enough that you can drive off, like out of the crowded places and just like take a wine tasting or olive tasting or hummus or spaghetti. You should see what's really doing right now. It's really amazing. She's really getting into

it and so excited. I have podcast with my arms, not just my hands, my arms. I this is my dream? Yes, can we make this a reality? Jillian? So so yes it. I also had Greece. Well you said Greece or Italy. I said Greece and Italy because because yes, yeah, I want the cruise that does. And as I was writing it, I realized, no, no, no, no no, no, no, this isn't just okay, where do you hope to go next? This is what is your dream vacation. And I'm realizing my

dreamiest of dreamy dream dreams is a yacht vacation. So we need to level up, Jen your cruise to a private chartered yacht around all of the islands of Greece and visiting Italy. And we've got our own staff that we treat very well and and we at them well, and they give us all the things and the experiences on this beautiful yacht in the Mediterranean. That is that is the dreaming dream, dream dream. And also I've probably

been watching too much below deck. Okay, but not the yacht can't be too small because one of the best things about being on a cruise is meeting new people and hanging out with new people and meeting new people. So I just like that. You don't want to just start with me on a yacht in the mediterraneean, actually don't. I love you and I want you to be there, but I want other people to be there to This is how. This is how Travis and I do date

nights too. This is a fun fact about us. Our favorite date nights are where we are actually going out with other couples. Like that is when that is our favorite. Yeah, we just really like to hang out with the other. Way mean, we love each other, that's great. We love spending time with each other, but we spend a time with each other all the time, and so it is our escape to uh spend time with like strangers almost Okay, well, it can be a yacht that has like eight cabins

and other frugal friends come with us. I would say about a couple hundred people if we got a couple because if it's too small, then the people you have to choose from are not the type of people that you want to spend time with. Right Why I'm like a yacht because listen here, when when it gets that small, you get a private chef making food to your liking. That's that's what I'm here. But I like a buffets Jill. Okay, okay, okay, there's more negotiation that's going to need to come into

place here. Maybe we could just fly over together. Mostly we can catch each other. We can catch each other at the ports of come. You get off and you're like cattle horde of people all and I get carried off to the island. Yep, yep, and we're all carrying like lemon cello shooters, like a big group of thirty of us, and you're you're like dripping in gold, wearing every goal chain you own. That sounds right, that sounds right? All right here we are. I love this idea for us.

That's great. Um, well, we'd love to hear what your dreamy stream vacation destination is and thank you so much for listening. Many of you know we have a private community that we offer for our listeners who specifically are paying off debt, where we do money challenges um to keep you on track. We offer accountability groups to hold you accountable, so but in a positive way, not a in a mean way. And we want to congratulate one

of our members in that community for a big, big win. Uh. This was from our actually I think still current whenever this comes out. Yeah, this is from our Debt Payoff Challenge, which is really an income money making challenge that we're doing right now. And it's from Katie and she says making progress. I've earned sixties seventy five from door dash so far this week, and I'm putting it towards a credit card. WHOA get it, Katie? Yes, Katie doing that

little side hustle action making that money and crushing debt. Congrats. Yeah, So, thank you for listening. If you are working on paying off debt and you feel like you need a little more motivation, a little more accountability, head to Frugal Friends podcast dot com slash club to see everything we offer in the Frugal Friends Club and join us there, see you next time. Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Syrian.

We're so aligned on the type of it, like where we want to go, so we want to do, but then these minor details are what throws the whole thing out of whack. We both want to go to the Mediterranean, we want to do it by boat, we want to see all the islands. Yeah, but one of us wants and one of us wants to meet strangers. I mean, I'm here for the strangers to just you know, with

the experience. I love how this episode about budget travel, but I'm like, my dream vacation is the most luxurious type of hear me out, Like, cruises are like a really good form of budget travel. You've got your food included, you can just head out and do your excursions. You can like. Yeah, And the great thing is is I love the budget cruise lines, Like I love Carnival, and that is the cheapest one, and I love it. I love Carnival. The good thing is is that your your

dreamiest of dreams is attainable. If you want to do Italy on Carnival, I don't even know if they do that, Okay, that's that I would do that. I wouldn't do Carnival there. I would do like a smaller ship that can maneuver around the Mediitrane. I will probably never find myself on a private yacht in the Mediterranean. So you know, I'm just literally in the clouds with this concept, and you're actually on the ground thinking critically and realistically about what

what could happen someday. Yeah, I mean it's not so much critical in that I just don't I'm an introvert and so if I am alone on a ship, well, okay, so this doesn't make sense. But like I am shy around strangers, and Travis is really good about like meeting new people, and so like I need that, like I need to bring him with me everywhere so that I

can like fill that desire to meet new people. But if I'm if there's like no one there but the two of us, then I'm just gonna get like board, You're gonna go be going off and like to the dance club and shutting the club down, and I'm going to be sitting on a booth getting hit on by a stranger. Because that's what happened in Douth that happened, because that's a true story. I didn't you tell me

this yet because you were dancing. After that, we talk back to the hotel, like eventually we saw each other again. How have I not heard this story? I it's it's it's when I've been keeping for you. I was out dancing because I love dancing, and you were sitting at a booth because you love sitting as tires. I love because I was because it was like what in the morning, Jillion,

just watching everybody, okay, and then what happened? And then the club opened up for people outside of the party, and people started talking to me and wanting to be on my podcast, and I'm like, I can't. I have to go. I mean to go home and sleep to go. The club did take a shift when they opened it up to the public. I was ready to go to business. Not we are never ready to go. You were not ready to go until they turned the lights up, Jill,

that was you. And typically I can hang until around midnight. Midnight is when I shut down, even on a normal day. And I wasn't feeling very well that week, so it was an interesting. Um yeah, so I can't I can't be alone with you Jill on a on a cruise, but we will be getting turned up when we are on a private chartered yacht. Will be on the boat. You can go to your cabin whenever you're ready. I can. I can trust you up eating my shrimp cocktail. And

I'm going to find other people like me. When there's like, you know, two people on the boat, there's gonna be other people like me who just want to sit in the piano bar and ask the pianist to play funny songs and then laughing. All right, we'll find our radical middle vacation together. We will