Welcome back to Spicy Sunday Finance! I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you — a special one where two of my greatest passions meet: travel and intentional money management.

If you’ve ever come home from a trip wondering, “Where did all my money go?” or felt financial guilt creeping in after the adventure fades, that’s what today’s topic is all about. Because here’s the truth: travel shouldn’t be a source of stress or regret. It’s an experience that enriches us, expands our perspectives, and shapes us in ways daily life just can’t.

So definitely give this week’s podcast episode a listen 👇🏻

(Listen to the episode HERE)

There are so many people who approach travelling with this ‘YOLO’ mindset — spending impulsively in the moment but then having to hustle harder afterward (or even before) to “catch up.” That approach is exhausting and unsustainable so I wanted to find a way to prevent this mindset and allow ourselves to go on trips freely.

Through trial, error, and a lot of learning, I’ve developed three key systems that allow me to go on trips: without guilt, without stress and with full confidence I’m making smart financial choices.

Right now, I’m on vacation myself, following all these steps with points covering part of my accommodation, a vacation fund in place, and my budget spreadsheet ready to track every expense. I’ll be sharing travel tips, credit card strategies, and travel budgets all over on TikTok and Instagram, so be sure to follow along for daily updates!

Travel is expensive and there’s no denying it. But with these steps, you can enjoy your trip fully, without coming home to financial stress or regret. It’s about being intentional with your money, not depriving yourself of joy.

If you want to get started, I’ve made my travel budget spreadsheet template available for download — it’s an easy way to bring clarity to your spending and ensure you’re in control.

Here’s the spreadsheet that I built after multiple trips in Asia and around North America too, ofc! It’s simple but functional and it shows you how much you spent on your trip by having sections to fill in pre-trip costs, along with a transaction tracker to record all your purchases. It works as a travel planner since you record itinerary details as well, and you can customize it (with the instructions on the spreadsheet) to change it to work with any currency.

My favourite features about this spreadsheet that I included are:

This is my favourite Prepaid Visa card that allows you to hold multiple currencies in your wallet. The idea is simple and different to a regular credit card that exchanges at the time of purchase — you get to convert your local currency ahead of time and hold that currency until you need to spend it. This is perfect if you find yourself at a great rate, you’re not travelling at the moment, but you’re planning to visit that country soon.

Wise has a small deposit fee and exchange fee so do keep this in mind when you’re converting! Get up to $800 CAD of NO fees on transfers. (Disclaimer: This is a referral link, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to sign up through it at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work 🙏)

SIGN UP FOR WISE 💸

Here’s what the app looks like!

Now that I’m not in school anymore… I feel like I don’t read as much anymore. To keep my mind sharper, I’m trying to read more pieces of writing on either growth or personal finance info. 😉

However, since I will be relaxing and doing nothing all day (the best type of vacation after a long year of hard work) I will be bringing a book that I have been trying to get myself to read. The book I’m currently diving into is The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington.

If you’re into setting goals, crushing productivity, or just getting more out of your time, this one might be right up your alley. The idea is simple but powerful because instead of thinking in yearly goals, you break your year into 12-week chunks. That means you focus on shorter deadlines, which helps you create urgency and avoid procrastination.

I’ve read a few chapters so far but I’m determined to finish the book while I’m OOO. So by then, 2026 will be with a fresh mindset with this 12-week year strategy and I’m crushing all my goals. So if that sounds like something you’re up for, let’s read it together!

Have you read it or heard of it before? Would love to know your thoughts or if you have other recommendations!

Travel doesn’t have to be a luxury only for the lucky few. It can be part of your financial journey — affordable, intentional, and absolutely guilt-free. When you plan ahead, save strategically, leverage tools like credit card points, and track your spending, you empower yourself to travel joyfully and sustainably.

Remember: guilt-free travel isn’t about spending less, it’s about spending intentionally.

Thanks for reading and for being part of this journey with me. I’ll be away next week but will catch you again soon with more finance and life wisdom. Until then, follow me on Instagram to keep up with my travel IG stories!

If this newsletter got you motivated, I’d love for you to:

Until next time — keep spending intentionally & living richly. ✨

Cheers,
Jane