The Thought Card is a podcast about travel and money for people who want to spend their hard-earned money on the things and experiences they value. Join Danielle Desir every other week as she explores affording travel, building wealth and paying off debt. Hear inspiring stories from financially savvy people from around the world who are traveling the world, crushing their financial goals and living life on their own terms.
Black Friday is here! I'm sharing the best travel deals for financially savvy travelersāfrom 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.
ā”ļø Black Friday Deals: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/p/2025-black-friday-deals-handpicked
š§ Enjoy These Other Episodes
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 Buying Me a Coffee ā it's a simple way to help keep these episodes coming.
Financial trauma is real, and it may be influencing your money decisions.
Rahkim Sabree, an award-winning Financial Therapist, Accredited Financial CounselorĀ®, 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 ā most importantly ā how to break free from it.
Connect with Rahkim Sabree
Read the book 'Overcoming Financial Trauma': https://amzn.to/44m0Xtp
Website: https://www.rahkimsabree.com/
Newsletter: https://rahkimsabree.substack.com/
Instagram: @rahkimsabree
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
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
š§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 Kevin Payne
Website: https://familymoneyadventure.com
Instagram: @heykevinpayne
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
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:
Paris Resources
Connect with Renee Hannes
Website: https://dreamplanexperience.com/
Instagram: @the.holidaymaker
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
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Did you know that you can earn money from banks?
What if I told you banks are paying people just for opening an account ā 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 ā no extra work, no new spending habits.
Read blog post: https://thoughtcard.com/bank-sign-up-bonuses/
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 when you open an account" emails or mailers, this is your sign to cash in. Your next weekend getaway could be funded with free bank money ā let's make it happen!
ā”ļø Snag $100 Free With Ally Bank: When you sign up for Ally Bank (using my referral link), you'll get $100 as a cash bonus, and so will I. That's an easy win-win for both of us. Don't leave free money on the table.
ā”ļø Want to set up a system that makes saving for travel easier? Book your 1:1 travel savings strategy call and let's map out exactly how you'll save for your next trip.
Book your strategy session today!
Other Resources
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
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 less financial worry.
ā”ļø Ready to work with me 1-on-1? Book your travel savings strategy call with me and let's map out your personalized vacation savings plan for your next trip.
Book your strategy session today!
Other Resources
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
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: https://thoughtcard.com/vermont-covered-bridges-guide/
Whether you're visiting during fall foliage, spring blooms, or the quiet calm of winter, you'll learn why Vermont's covered bridges are worth a spot on your travel wish list.
Resources Mentioned
Vermont Covered Bridge Society
Website: www.vermontbridges.org
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Join my newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Follow on Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
My Favorite Resources For Financially Savvy Travelers
Thrifty Traveler Premium for finding cheap flights.
CardPointers for figuring out which credit card to use to maximize points and miles.
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: https://thoughtcard.com/planning-europe-trip/
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 travel budget without sacrificing comfort.
Connect with Oliver Winter
Website: www.aohostels.com
Instagram: @aohostels
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
Want more cheap flights, points and miles, and money-saving strategies? Below are all my best episodes neatly organized in Spotify playlists.
š§ Binge my Cheap Flights Series
š§ Binge my Travel Hacking episodes
š§ Binge my Vacation Fund Series
š§ Binge my Debt-Free Travel Stories episodes
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
Website: www.thoughtcard.com
Follow on Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
Follow on Threads: @thedaniellecorbett
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
My Favorite Resources For Financially Savvy Travelers
Thrifty Traveler Premium for finding cheap flights.
CardPointers for figuring out which credit card to use to maximize points and miles.
So 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 ā 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?
š§ 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
Connect With Chelsea Riffe
Website: chelseariffe.com
Podcast: In My Non-Expert Opinion
Instagram: @chelseariffe
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"Frommer's Travel Show" is a trusted resource for what's happening in the world of travel today. Learn about under-the-radar destinations, different travel styles, and smart strategies for traveling more affordably.
š§ Listen to Frommer's Travel Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.
Oh, and tell Pauline that Danielle from The Thought Card Podcast sent you!
Read or listen to our podcast episode together:
Stop Overpaying For Travel: Hidden Fees, Pricing Tricks, and Smarter Booking Tips - Episode 198
Discover more incredible travel podcasts by checking out this list.
Connect With Pauline Fromer
Website: www.frommers.com
Connect With Danielle Desir Corbett
š©š¾āš» Website: www.thoughtcard.com
šø Follow on Instagram: @thedaniellecorbett
š§µ Follow on Threads: @thedaniellecorbett
š© Join Newsletter: https://thethoughtcard.substack.com/
Work With Me:
Email [email protected] for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
The travel industry makes billions from travelers overpaying.
Today we're exposing the traps that drain your walletāand how to avoid them.
Many of us overspend on travel without even realizing it, falling prey to shiny marketing tactics or getting caught off guard by hidden fees we didn't see coming.
Pauline Frommer knows exactly how the travel industry works and ways the industry gets you to spend more than you should. She's pulling back the curtain on the travel industry's pricing tactics, shares how to spot real value, and gives us a smarter game plan for booking great trips on any budget.
Read blog post: https://thoughtcard.com/hidden-travel-costs-pauline-frommer/
Connect with Pauline Frommer
Pauline is the host of The Frommer's Travel Show, president of Frommer Media LLC, which is the publisher of the iconic Frommer's guidebooks, a series that has sold over 75 million copies worldwide.
Website: www.frommers.com
Instagram: @frommers
Podcast: The Frommer's Travel Show
Read Pauline's Guidebook:
Frommer's New York City day by day: https://amzn.to/3IHyqXd
Other Episodes You'll Enjoy:
My Favorite Resources For Financially Savvy Travelers
Thrifty Traveler Premium for finding cheap flights.
CardPointers for figuring out which credit card to use to maximize points and miles.