I once blew a million bucks in a week trying to impress people I didn’t even like.

Meanwhile, Matt Kepnes—aka Nomadic Matt—spent $27,000 to travel around the world for 18 months.

He made lifelong friends, found a purpose, wrote a best-selling book, built a massive blog, and, just to rub it in, did it all for less than most people spend on their car.

So I brought him back on the podcast. Because every time I talk to Matt, I regret not doing what he did.

He’s not selling an escape fantasy.

He’s giving you the blueprint. 

The Good, the Bad, the Fantastic

Right now, as you doomscroll through TikToks about the world falling apart, thousands of people are living well—$75 a day well—in places I’m now Googling.

Thailand. Colombia. Portugal. India. $75 a day or less.

Meanwhile, back in the land of student loans and $18 lattes, we call that Tuesday morning. 

Matt and I talk about:

• Why flights are not the dealbreaker you think they are
  
  
• How to hack the "points and miles" game without being a spreadsheet psycho
  
  
• The power of just being flexible
  
  
• Why being a digital nomad isn’t just for crypto bros and AI coders
  
  
• How to work abroad, even if you have “no skills” (spoiler: you do)
  
  
• The unexpected costs of long-term travel—and why he still recommends it

We even talk about the deep stuff. The loneliness. The toll. The trade-offs. Why the best memories are never the ones on the itinerary.

“Travel Like You Live”

Matt says most people travel like they’re trying to prove something. They rack up costs by doing the exact opposite of how they live.

This hit me. Because I don’t eat out for every meal at home. I don’t take taxis everywhere. I don’t pay $30 to go look at a thing I don’t care about just because it’s famous.

But when you travel like you live—grocery shopping, walking, doing laundry, reading in parks—you don’t just save money. You slow down. You notice things. You blend in.

Tourists chase sights. Travelers sink into the world.

And yes, if you want to get really creative, there are ways to live rent-free abroad. (More on that in my podcast.)

Even if you’re broke, you can trade skills for experiences.

And with AI tools today? Everyone’s a graphic designer, podcast editor, or SEO consultant—if you want to be.

The World is Cheaper Than You Think

I’ve known Matt for 12 years. He’s one of the first people I ever had on this podcast.

And now he’s back, older, wiser, still leaner than me, and armed with an updated version of his bestselling book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day.

If you’re even thinking about quitting your job, taking a sabbatical, or just figuring out if you can live a better life for less—watch this.

Because let me tell you something…

The world is way cheaper than you think.

 And the cost of staying put?

 Usually way higher.

Here’s the full podcast:

Nomadic Matt on Traveling the World for $75 a Day