How I Got Here

I’ve worn many hats in my life! I have a degree in k-12 Music Education, spent 3 years as a teacher (where I met my husband), realized I didn’t want to teach for the next 30+ years, became a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and was fired because I stood up to my bully boss, fell into network marketing, became a mom 2x, switched network marketing companies after being loyal to one for 9 years, earned my first incentive trip for my husband, Jourdan, and I on a 7-night cruise to the Mediterranean that ultimately led me to where I’m now:

Using credit card welcome offers to travel more for less and teaching people to do the same. 

Wow. I’m out of breath lol

While yes, I earned the cruise part of the incentive trip for free, we still had to pay for flights, accommodations in both Athens and Venice, transportation and food/souvenirs off the ship. 

All in all, we probably spent close to $6,000 out of pocket.

I didn’t grow up traveling much. We camped as a family a lot which I really loved, but I’d watch my friends going on fancy trips to Vail to ski, all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and sailing the caribbean and I was really envious. 

So when I was getting really close to earning this trip, I had to take a leap of faith and get a passport because I’d never had one. And at 37 years old, I got my first passport in the mail.

When we were on the Voyager of the Seas in September 2024, I remember standing on the ship watching the sunset, knowing in my heart of hearts that I wanted to show my kids the world.

But here’s the thing…I’m not a full-time travel influencer (nor do I want to be). Jourdan still teaches middle school, we plan trips around the public school calendar, and we’re just a normal family trying to make travel affordable.. whether that means driving across the country for a friend’s wedding or heading to a tropical beach together.

So when I got home, I went through a period of depression because the reality of what it would cost to travel hit me hard. How in the world were we going to be able to afford it on a teacher salary?

I don’t exactly know how I found it (I like to think God led me to it), but I stumbled upon a podcast interview with a financial therapist I follow. The title of it was, “Travel Hacking 101: How to Use Credit Card Points for Travel,” and I knew immediately that I was going to learn how to do this “travel hacking” thing.

Except my husband wasn’t totally on board lol

It seemed too-good-to-be-true and a little sketchy for him. We had gotten ourselves into some trouble with credit card debt in the past and he wondered if it would spiral again. 

But I assured him that if we did it the right way (putting our every day, already budgeted expenses on the cards to meet these minimum spends and paying off the cards in full), we’d totally be able to do it. 

And since he trusts me and loves me, he said to go for it.

I quickly realized that as I was learning about it myself, that I really geeked out about it and it was really fun for my brain. 

That’s when I created my 32-page Unlock Free Travel guide. 

That one guide snowballed into what’s now my 10-day community-driven Award Travel Bootcamp, where I teach families like mine how to save thousands on trips without overspending or stressing about the cost. And because not every trip can be booked with points, I also became an independent travel agent — so I can help from both sides of the travel coin.

This blog is where I’ll share the highs, the hiccups, and the lessons so you can see what’s possible for your own adventures.

I’m really happy you’re here.