200. How Chelsea Riffe Paid Off $10K in Credit Card Debt While Traveling Full-Time
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Release Date: 07/31/2025
210. NYC Christmas Markets: Tips for Navigating Like a Pro
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
🎄Planning a holiday trip to New York City? NYC Christmas markets are one of the most magical ways to experience the holiday season, but they can also be crowded and overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. I’m sharing our best NYC Christmas market tips to help you shop smarter and make the most of your time. Read ‘NYC Christmas Markets’ blog post: 🎒Shop Rachel Bloom Anti-Theft Bags (I have this one!!!) Other Episodes You’ll Love - Episode 194 - Episode 116 - Episode 182 Connect With Danielle Desir...
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209. How to Connect with Nature on Every Trip | Grounding Tips With Matthew Kessi
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Are you craving deeper, more meaningful travel experiences, ones that help you slow down, feel grounded, and reconnect with the natural world? I’m joined by travel writer, nature photographer, and practical mystic Matthew Kessi to explore how to add more nature to every trip you take. We chat about grounding practices, such as forest bathing, travel photography, and mindful walking, which can help you feel more present no matter where you are. Matthew also shares his favorite nature-forward destinations in the Pacific Northwest, across the United States, and internationally....
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208. 2025 Cyber Monday Deals Handpicked for Financially Savvy Travelers
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Black Friday is here! I’m sharing the best travel deals for financially savvy travelers—from flight subscriptions to tools that help you maximize rewards all year long. If you want to travel more for less in 2026, don’t miss this roundup. ➡️ Black Friday Deals: 🎧 Enjoy These Other Episodes - Episode 70 - Episode 196 - Episode 194 - Episode 180 Feeling generous? If you’ve enjoyed this episode or learned something new from this show, you can support the work I do at The Thought Card by — it’s a simple way to help keep...
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207. How to Spot Financial Trauma and Start Healing with Rahkim Sabree
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Financial trauma is real, and it may be influencing your money decisions. Rahkim Sabree, an award-winning Financial Therapist, Accredited Financial Counselor®, author, and speaker, shows us how to spot the patterns holding us back and how to start the healing process. We’re unpacking the emotional baggage we carry around money, how it gets passed down through generations, and — most importantly — how to break free from it. Connect with Rahkim Sabree Read the book ‘Overcoming Financial Trauma’: Website: Newsletter: Instagram: Connect With...
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206. Best Disney World Resorts: Our Top Picks and Wish List Stays (featuring Kevin Payne)
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Trying to decide where to stay at Walt Disney World? With more than 25 Disney World resorts to choose from, how do you know which one’s worth booking? Ditch the overwhelm and let’s set the tone for a magical vacation. Kevin Payne from ‘Family Money Adventure’ and I share our top picks. Discover which resorts stand out and which ones are still on our wish lists. Our Disney Resort Reviews 🎧Want to maximize your Disney World vacations with even more planning tips? Listen to our Disney World playlist on Spotify: https://spotify.link/hFGYZ6MuFXb Connect with...
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205. Paris Travel Guide: Why Slow Travel Makes Paris Even More Magical with Renee Hannes
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Planning a trip to Paris? Feeling overwhelmed by where to stay, what to see, and how to make the most of your budget? I’m joined by European travel and Paris expert Renee Hannes, who shares tips to help you experience Paris without rushing from sight to sight. From choosing the best neighborhoods to the best times to visit, Renee breaks down how to enjoy Paris at your own pace, connect with local culture, and make memories that last a lifetime. In this episode, we cover: When to visit Paris and what to expect each season Where to stay for easy access to the city’s...
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204. Secret Way Banks Are Paying You in 2025: Everything You Need To Know About Bank Sign-Up Bonuses
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Did you know that you can earn money from banks? What if I told you banks are paying people just for opening an account — and you might be leaving hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on the table? I’m sharing the secret strategy I’ve been using to earn cash bonuses from major banks — no extra work, no new spending habits. Read blog post: You’ll learn how these offers work, which banks are paying $100+ right now (head to the blog post for that), and the exact steps you can take to stack multiple bank bonuses in 2025. If you’ve been ignoring those “Get $300...
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203. Why You Need a Vacation Savings System to Travel Without Money Stress
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Are your vacations leaving you feeling stressed or refreshed? A lot of aspiring travelers struggle with saving for travel because their approach to savings is broken or incomplete. I reveal why a simple, repeatable vacation savings system is the key to guilt-free travel and why automating your savings can turn dream trips into full-funded vacations. If you’ve ever wondered why your dream trips feel out of reach or why your credit card bills always follow your adventures, this episode will shift the way you think about travel finances and show you the path to more freedom, more trips, and...
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202. Your Ultimate Guide to Vermont’s Covered Bridges: What to See, Where to Go & How to Plan with Beth Brown Limmer
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Did you know that Vermont is home to nearly 100 covered bridges? Each one a piece of history, craftsmanship, and scenic beauty. Beth Brown Limmer, president of the Vermont Covered Bridge Society, shares everything you need to know to plan your own covered bridge adventure. From the most photogenic bridges to hidden gems that often go overlooked, we’ll cover where to go, what to see, and how to make the most of your Vermont road trip. Read blog post: Whether you’re visiting during fall foliage, spring blooms, or the quiet calm of winter, you’ll learn why...
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201. How To Plan an Affordable Europe Trip For First-Timers: Insider Tips with Oliver Winter
The Thought Card: Smart Travel Tips & Vacation Planning For Financially Savvy Travelers
Planning your first trip to Europe? Oliver Winter, founder of a&o Hostels, one of Europe’s fastest-growing hostel brands, shares insider tips on how first-time travelers can explore Europe more affordably. Read blog post: Oliver reveals how hostels have evolved far beyond backpacker basics to welcome families, digital nomads, and business travelers. Tune in for timeless European travel advice that applies whether this is your first trip or your tenth. You’ll learn what to pack, how to spot real value when booking accommodations, and smart ways to stretch your...
info_outlineSo much is possible when you get intentional about your money. Chelsea Riffe’s journey is proof that you don’t have to wait to take action. You can make aligned, empowering financial choices right where you are, even if you’re halfway across the world.
After a whirlwind group trip left her deep in debt, Chelsea made a bold decision: get serious about her finances without putting her nomadic lifestyle on pause.
She chose destinations with lower costs of living, kept her rent under $1,000 per month, embraced co-living, cooked her meals, and created a simple, sustainable budgeting system that worked on the road.
Chelsea didn’t wait to become debt-free to live her dream life. Instead, she paid off over $10,000 in credit card debt while traveling full-time — proving that it’s possible to pursue financial freedom and explore the world at the same time.
This conversation is packed with practical takeaways and mindset shifts for anyone balancing debt, travel, and personal growth.
Read blog post: https://thoughtcard.com/chelsea-riffe-debt-pay-off/
Want to travel more and live free from debt?
🎧 Binge my Debt-Free Travel Stories Playlist and get inspired by real journeys, practical tips, and money-saving hacks for your own adventures!
Resources Mentioned
- I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi (book)
- Money for Couples Podcast by Ramit Sethi
- Ally Bank - get $100 when you open a new bank account
- Coliving.com - find affordable coliving spaces in 70+ countries
- Outsite.co - find coliving spaces, community, and perks for remote workers
Connect With Chelsea Riffe
Website: chelseariffe.com
Podcast: In My Non-Expert Opinion
Instagram: @chelseariffe
Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy:
- Ways To Travel Without Getting into Debt - Episode 143
- How To Travel Debt-Free with Cinneah El-Amin - Episode 82
- Digital Nomad Lifestyle Pros and Cons with Tom Blake - Episode 84