Master Your Money to Travel More and Live Fully

Master your money to travel more and enjoy life

Why I Wrote This Book

Why I Wrote This Book

Take Charge of Your Finances and Travel More

Do you dream of exploring the world but struggle to find the funds? Do you keep telling yourself you’ll start saving next month?

I’ve been there—sitting in my small apartment a decade ago, trying to figure out why my paycheck was always gone. That moment pushed me to seize control of my finances, and for the last ten years, I’ve been traveling almost full-time without any debt.

This book shares my journey and the tactics I used to maximize my income, increase savings, and align my spending with my priorities. I’ll share how I graduated college and grad school debt-free, reduced medical expenses, and my best tips for travel hacking.

ABOUT ME

I’m a freelance photographer and writer based in Austin, Texas, with a master’s in photojournalism from the University of Missouri. I’ve contributed to various travel magazines and worked with corporate clients. I also teach photojournalism and business courses at local universities and have led student trips across India and Southeast Asia. I’ve visited 60 countries and lived in five. I always travel with Alfred, my globetrotting gnome. To see my work, check out my portfolio.

Book cover & illustration by Clare Vacha Web graphics by Miles Walls

What You’ll Learn

What You’ll Learn

A series of strategies to align your spending with your goals and boost your savings

Over the last ten years, I’ve traveled the globe debt-free, all while living on an average income of $30,000. Whether your dreams involve long-term travel, homeownership, or launching that llama petting zoo you’ve envisioned, these strategies can help you reach those goals!

This book tackles key questions, such as:

How can I afford to travel?
How can I enhance my savings and prioritize spending?
In essence, how can I be good with money?

Divided into three parts, the book guides you in reshaping your priorities, maximizing savings, and reducing travel costs.

1. MONEY MASTERY offers comprehensive steps for financial management and clarifies the distinction between being “frugal” and being “cheap.”

2. SAVINGS STRATEGIES focuses on everyday expenses, covering how to lower medical costs, pay for education without debt, make the most of coupons, and sell unnecessary items.

3. TRAVEL SAVINGS is dedicated to cutting costs on major travel expenditures and selecting the best bank accounts for traveling.

Get Motivated to be GOOD with money!

Read a sample from the book...

Introduction

My alarm rang at 10:30 p.m.

Outside, it was pitch black and freezing.

I dreaded leaving my sleeping bag. All I wanted was to fast forward to the next day, back in flip-flops and warm weather. Instead, I bundled up in layers of clothing and donned my hiking boots.

It was time to summit Kilimanjaro.

Eight hours later, I posed for a photo with the famous sign, proving I had climbed Africa's tallest peak.

Once back in my flip-flops, the photo was instantly shared on Instagram.

My life may seem perfect on social media—standing at Kilimanjaro’s peak, taking selfies with llamas in Argentina, and enjoying sunrise hikes in Japan.

The catch with social media is you don’t see the backstory or the effort that led to those moments. There’s no post detailing the sacrifices made to reach that point.

This book serves as that backstory: my financial philosophy.

I’m 37 and have been to 51 countries, living in five. My passion for travel started at 19, and every choice I've made has revolved around that dream. Life is too short not to pursue what makes you feel alive, and for me, that’s traveling.

Here’s the reality: I don’t have a trust fund. I’m not wealthy, nor do I engage in illegal activities or rely on lottery winnings.

My average gross income over the past six years has been $30,492, and from 2012 to 2015, I earned just $20,000 annually. Yet I managed to buy a $9,000 car with savings and a payment plan while spending two to six months each year traveling.

I hold a Master’s degree and have zero debt—not even student loans.

How did I manage to travel so much?

The answer is straightforward: I’m good with money.