100 Stores Offering Discounts for College Students

100 Stores Offering Discounts for College Students

Back-to-school shopping is underway and with the average cost per college student soaring to $1,600 this year, we’ve been looking for some ways to help you save. Keep reading to find 100 discounts for college students on apparel, shoes, laptops, travel, and more.

Any student or parent with a student in college will tell you that college can be a stressful time on a family’s budget. For both students and parents, balancing tuition expenses, grocery bills, rent, and transportation costs can be a juggling act. Here are a few ways to ease the financial stress of a college education.

Updated July 2022

Student Travel Discounts

College offers students a plethora of travel opportunities. Whether your student is studying abroad in Europe or celebrating spring break in Mexico, there are a number of student discounts on flight, hotels, hostels, activities, and even traveler’s insurance available to students. We found a variety of fantastic travel discount websites, some of which are exclusive to students:

• Zipcar: Depending on your university, you may enjoy discounts.
• Amtrak: Students save 15% on Amtrak trains.
• Greyhound: Students save 10% on Greyhound transportation.
• CheapAir: $10 Off Any Flight
• Eurail: People 27 or younger can get a Eurail Youth Pass which gives you up to 25% off standard adult prices.
• Student Universe: Prime Student members can receive an additional 10% off travel with Student Universe.

Apparel and Shoe Discounts for Students

• Ardene: 10% Student Discount
• ASOS: 10% Student Discount
• Atom Retro: 15% Student Discount
• Banana Moon: 10% Student Discount
• boohoo: 10% Student Discount with Student Beans or UNiDAYS
• boohooMAN: Up to 50% sale + 10% off Student Discount
• Brastop: Up to 80% sale + 11% extra Student Discount
• Charles & Keith: 15% Student Discount with UNiDAYS
• Club Monaco: 15% off when you register with a .edu email address
• Dearfoams: 10% Student Discount
• Dickies: 15% off Student Discount
• Express: Get 5% off with UNiDAYS
• Goodwill: Up to 25% off in-store purchases with a student ID at participating locations. Check your local location website for more info.
• Hawes & Curtis: 15% Student Discount
• Helly Hansen: 10% Student Discount
• Hunter: 20% Student Discount
• J. Crew: 15% off regular-priced items.
• Joe’s Jeans: 15% off with Student Beans
• Journey’s: $10 off $75 with UNiDays
• Kate Spade: Get 15% off at katespade.com with UNiDAYS
• Katy Perry Collections: 15% Student Discount
• Levi’s: College students can benefit from a 15% discount
• L.L. Bean: 10% off for students
• Madewell: College students get a 15% discount online and in-stores
• Modcloth: College students get 25% off their first order with UNiDAYS.
• New Balance: 15% off for students with UNiDAYS
• Nike: 10% off for college students with valid ID
• PF Flyers: 15% Student Discount with Student Beans
• Schutz Shoes: 20% Student Discount with Student Beans
• Sweaty Betty: 20% Student Discount
• Ted Baker: 15% Student Discount
• Urban Outfitters: Get 10% off online when you register.
• Zappos: 10% off for students, discount will be automatically applied for one full year after verifying and registration

Computers, Electronics and Accessories Discounts for Students

• Acer: 10% Student Discount + Free Shipping
• Adidas: 15% off for students through UNiDAYS
• Adobe: Students save 60% on Creative Cloud.
• Adorama: Students who register can access discounts on select items with SheerID.
• Apple: Shop their Education store for great discounts for students.
• AT&T: Many schools provide student discounts through AT&T and you get $10 off per line with qualifying plan.
• Autodesk: Students and educators can get free one-year educational access to Autodesk products and services to create 3-D projects for engineering and graphic design.
• B&H Photo: Exclusive discounts and free shipping on most orders when you sign up through UNiDAYS.
• Best Buy: Get exclusive student deals that provide savings on current prices.
• Dell University: Become a member and get exclusive pricing on computers (over $1,000 off some models)
• ESR: 25% Student Discount
• HideMyAss! VPN: 75% off a 36-month subscription
• JourneyEd: provides student discounts on computers, electronics, software from Microsoft, Adobe, and more.
• Microsoft: Up to 10% off for students and parents
• Samsung: Shop their Education Offers Program for 15% (and sometimes up to 30%) off tablets, laptops, smartphones, and more.
• ThinkEDU: Student discounts on software, textbooks, dorm supplies, Apple products, collegiate apparel and more
• Verizon: Many schools provide student discounts through Verizon. Check if you are eligible here.

Streaming Discounts for Students

• Discovery+: Students can get Discovery+ for just $2.99/month
• Paramount+: Students get 25% off a Paramount+ subscription
• MLB.tv: 35% off an MLB subscription for students
• YouTube Premium: YouTube Premium offers students a month free then $6.99/month rate

Health & Beauty Discounts for Students

• IdealFit: 23% student discount on protein, collagen, and other supplements
• Milk Makeup: 10% student discount on makeup and skincare
• Peloton: $6.99 per month: University/College Students
• Revolution Beauty: 20% student discount on hair care, makeup, and skincare
• Sand & Sky: 15% student discount on skincare and body care
• Strawberrynet: 10% student discount on skincare, makeup, and fragance purchases

Entertainment Discounts for Students

• AMC Theatres: Participating theaters provide discounts to students with valid ID.
• The Art Institute of Chicago: $75 annual student membership.
• Broadway in Chicago: Ticket prices as low as $18.50 for select performances.
• Carnegie Hall: $10 student tickets are available for selected Carnegie Hall presentations.
• Denver Art Museum: Admission is $10 for college student residents of Colorado and $15 if you’re student but not a Colorado resident.
• Ikon Base Pass: Over 50% off Ikon Pass multi-resort season ski pass for Colorado ski resorts.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: $17 admission for students with a valid ID, students who are residents in NY, NJ, or CT can choose the price of their ticket.
• New England Aquarium: College students enjoy $2 off one full-priced adult Aquarium admission ticket.
• Regal Theaters: Discounts vary by location.
• Spotify: Spotify Premium + Hulu and SHOWTIME is $4.99 per month for students.

Books, Magazines, and Newspaper Student Discounts

• The New York Times: Enjoy a year subscription for just $1/week.
• The Wall Street Journal: Students get digital for $4 per month or digital+print for $10 per month.

Finance Deals for Students

• Chase College Checking Account: Students between 17 – 24 will have no service fees for up to five years and get $100 for opening a new account.
• Bank of America: Students under 25 will have no monthly maintenance fee.
• US Bank: Students 18 and older won’t pay a monthly maintenance fee.
• TD Bank Checking Account: No minimum balance or maintenance fee for students 17 – 23 years old. Plus, qualifying customers can earn $100 with 15 debit card transactions within 60 days.

Food Discounts for Students

• Dairy Queen: Discounts vary by location, 10% most often.
• Dominos Pizza: 33% discount with UNiDays.

Insurance Discounts for Students

• Allstate: Students under that age of 25 can save by qualifying with good grades, completing the teenSMART driving program, or attending school 100 miles or more away from where the car is registered.
• Farmers: Students between the ages of 16-24 can qualify for a “Good Student Discount” with good grades
• Geico: Full time students with a good academic record can be eligible for up to a 15% discount on certain coverages.
• Nationwide: Students between the ages of 16 and 24 may be eligible for a “Good Student Discount” with a B grade average.
• State Farm: Student discounts vary by state.

Jewelry, Bags & Accessories Discounts for Students

• AUrate New York: 15% student discount on jewelry
• Blue Nile: 15% student discount on regular priced jewelry
• Jomashop: $10 off a $100+ spend on brand name sunglasses
• Kipling: 15% student discount on backpacks, handbags, luggage, and more

Moving Discounts for Students

• Penske: College students get 10% off on all truck rentals plus an additional 10% discount if you book your one-way rental online.
• SMARTBOX Portable Moving & Storage: Mention that you’re a student or faculty member during the free quote process and get a discount on your moving and storage services.

Other Student Discounts

• Amazon Student: Free Amazon Prime trial for 6 months; includes delivery benefits, as well as exclusive ways to shop and stream.
• FedEx: Enjoy 20-30% off with your student ID card.
• The GM College Discount: Offers up to $500 off select Chevrolet, Buick or GMC cars.
• Proviz Sports: 10% student discount on cycling, running, and outdoor gear

Choosing your student discount strategy is up to you, but students should be aware that there are always discounts to take advantage of. After all, our college years fly by, and “real world” prices can wait until after graduation.

Make sure to check out our compilation of Teacher Discounts that can help your favorite professors save big!

Are we missing any student discounts? Leave a comment and we will update our list!

The post 100 Stores Offering Discounts for College Students appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Frugal Living: How Do You Find Your Dream Job? (Part 1)

Frugal Living: How Do You Find Your Dream Job? (Part 1)

In this week’s episode, we talked with Juliana Rabbi, a career coach and former recruiter for multinational corporations, to learn from her expertise. Listen to the latest episode of  Frugal Living on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor.fm, iHeartRadio, or anywhere you go to find podcasts.

Frugal Living means more than spending less. It also means maximizing your income. The more you make (and the less you spend), the more you’ll be able to save for retirement. That’s why it’s important to consider career options.

In part one of the interview, Rabbi shares her advice on negotiating a remote work environment. Many office workers found themselves working remotely during the start of the pandemic in 2020. They developed new habits and skills, and some were rushed back into the office more quickly than they would have liked.

Rabbi’s advice? Build a serious case. Consider your audience. Don’t focus on why you want to work remotely. Focus on why remote work benefits your employer. This could mean lower costs for office space or more productivity. 

To hear the full conversation, check out Frugal Living on Apple Podcasts. And for more from Juliana, visit her website julianarabbi.com.

Read a Transcript From This Episode

Jim (00:03):
This is Frugal Living. <music> How do you find a career doing what you love? This week I talked with a career coach about exactly that. She knows so much about this. It’s what she does for a living. So I don’t want to take any more time with the intro. Let’s just jump into it. This is part one of a two-part conversation. <music>

Juliana (00:35):
I’m Juliana. I’m a career coach and I help professionals to land a remote job.

Jim (00:41):
You have a history, not just of working remotely yourself, but, you know, you’re a career coach now, but you came from recruiting and from multinational corporations. You know this business inside and out. And so I wanted to just hear every thought you have about this.

Juliana (00:58):
So nine years ago, when I was not working remotely yet, I was at this point of my life that it was okay. It was not terrible. Like, I had a good job, good salary. I was living in Spain in Barcelona. It was fine. So even my friends were like, “Wow, you have a perfect life.” But for me, it was like I want more. So there was something missing for me. Although people, they would say my life was perfect. So I never really settled for what others were saying. It was, I should be happy with that. I always wanted more. And then remote work was a way that allowed me to do that. And I think especially now after the pandemic, that so many people could experience that. And not only see themself in the situation, people that maybe never thought about it. They never consider work remotely. They not only had to do that, they had no choice at some point. But they also saw it worked for them. So they were like, “Okay, it can be done. I enjoy that. The work is done, but I have more flexibility. I am more in charge of my time.” So what is happening now is that people don’t wanna go back to the office when companies are saying, “Well, it’s time to go back to the office.” And then that’s when they come talk to me because they wanna find options to keep working remotely. And I always tell my clients and people in general that the first option should be try to negotiate to go remote with your current manager, if you’re working obviously. And also obviously, if you like the corporation, if you like the kind of job you’re doing. If you’re, like, decided to change careers or if you’re not happy with the company or the job you’re doing, you need to change jobs. And then you go for something different. But if you’re happy with your company, if you enjoyed working remotely during the pandemic or if you didn’t work remotely but would like to give it a try ’cause it’s worth it–that company, that team, that manager–then the easiest thing is to talk to your current manager because trust is already there. They know you, they have been seeing the results that you bring to the table. You have a big knowledge about the corporation, the process, the clients, and all of that. There is a real cost of replacing an employee, hiring someone, and all the training. So it’s, like, they wanna keep you there probably, right? So how to make the most of that if you’re happy with the job. So the first thing I tell my clients to do when they wanna talk about going remote in their current companies, that they don’t improvise this kind of conversation. It’s a really serious topic, a really serious situation. So it’s not about improvising. And it requires preparation from the employee. So the first thing would be write it down, like, literally write it down a list of why you want to go remote. Why do you wanna keep working, working remotely or go remote for the first time? So have clarity about why do I wanna go for that? And also how it’ll impact the company if I start working remotely or if I keep working remotely. So see the situation from your perspective but also from the company’s perspective. It’s always interesting to bring their perspective instead of being selfish and just say “because I’m gonna save money with transportation” or “because I wanna play with my dog at lunch break.” So don’t make it like this. It’s gonna make you look silly and probably won’t achieve the results you want. So make a solid list of arguments of why you wanna go remote and how it would impact the company.

Jim (04:14):
Can you give us a couple examples? What might be some things to consider from the company’s point of view? Like, obviously we all know why we might wanna be remote. But what are some things you might wanna consider from the company’s perspective?

Juliana (04:26):
If the company rents a place, for example, or working space or they have a big office and you don’t go there, they can save money with that. Which is what some companies did during the pandemic ’cause people were not going there. So if they had, like, four floors, they reduced to one floor and now they are, you know, considering paying again to rent the other three floors. So it’s like, “Well, you’re gonna save money. I won’t be there. I don’t need my table there,” for example. Yeah, anything related to, I don’t know, maybe they have some extra benefits. Like, you go to the office and there you have lunch. They pay your lunch or they pay for something. It’s like, “Look, I, I don’t need you to pay my lunch. I can have lunch at home as far as I can keep working remotely.” Also to not only material things, but bring to the table, like, “Look, the clients are happy with my results during all this time that I have been working remotely. My performance didn’t go down. So the fact that I’m not physically in the office already confirmed that it doesn’t affect the fact that I’m not here.” So if you work remotely during the pandemic, of course you’re gonna have way more arguments. And sometimes we take for granted that your manager will remember all of them when you’re having this conversation. But, hey, the manager has other things. It’s your movement to ask to go remote. So it’s your responsibility to bring the list and say, “Look, that client, I was able to handle that even if he was the most difficult client.” Or, “I could meet that deadline even working from home.” Or, “When we had that problem, I could figure out how to find information even if we didn’t have all the systems in process.” So yeah, try to go as deep as you can from the saving cost point of view. But also from, “I was delivering. I know the client. I can keep doing the thing. Uh, what we are doing in person, like visiting clients, I have been doing over Zoom for, like, two years. And the results are even better than they were before.” So it’s kind of remind yourself first and then be able to remind your manager about that just to make sure you’re on the same page. And also understand which is the worst thing that can happen after this conversation. Because I mean, we wanna be optimistic and ideally your manager is gonna say yes. But eventually you could, you know, maybe get fired. Maybe you could hear a no. And then are you willing to keep working in the office even after having this conversation? Or do you have a plan B in case they say no? So from your side, what is the worst-case scenario and how do you wanna deal with that? So it’s not about being pessimistic but instead being realistic and prepare for the consequences. Have options for you, um, and for the company also. And then obviously also think about the best thing that can happen, which is probably they say no, but maybe there is also an intermediate step. “Look, you cannot keep working fully remote. Maybe you can work remotely every Monday and Friday,” for example. So like a plan B, something intermediate. You’re still waiting for fully remote if this is your goal. But understand which other options could be also good for you and make sense for the company. And then once you have clarity about what you need to prepare before this conversation, then you decide about the conditions for the conversation itself. So it’s not something you wanna talk over coffee on the kitchen, running between one meeting or the other. Or the day that you know that your manager is angry because you lost a big project. You need to be smart and try as much as possible to choose the best moment because it is a delicate conversation. So try to put together the best condition. Like, schedule a formal meeting with anticipation. So there is no rush. “It’s not like I didn’t tell you.” “I just have five minutes.” Or– No, plan that. Book the time in the agenda. And then create a script for that three or four main topics that you wanna cover. How are you gonna introduce the topic? Which is the data that you wanna present? Some achievements that you did while you were working remotely? Or if you haven’t worked remotely before, what you think you can achieve? Or what you have learned during the pandemic that maybe you can implement? So bring the important topics. The less you improvise the better cause it’s a serious conversation. And also you don’t need to memorize all of that. You can easily even do, like, a PowerPoint presentation. Or print a document, one copy for you, one copy for them. So just bring it written down because the nerves in the moment might make you forget about it. So just write it down and it’s easier because you’re just following the script that you created before. I spoke to so many people that they say, “Yeah, yeah, I should have this conversation with my manager.” And then three months later, I’m like, “How did it go?” “Well, I did not find the time because we are very busy at work ’cause it’s (?). It’s always busy at work. There is always something important going on. So again, because this is your priority, you need to define a deadline. Your manager won’t say, “Hey, do you wanna talk about that talk?” He doesn’t know that you wanna have this conversation. So define a deadline. Try as much as possible. Maybe not the last day of the month, if you need to close stuff. But pick up a date and stick to it because otherwise you’re gonna keep postponing. And there is, like, a fear component because it’s a challenging conversation, right? There’s a lot of things on the table. So it’s easy to keep postponing. So to break this pattern down, just pick up a date. And then this is the date for the conversation. Then you need to organize the script and all of that. And then when you’re finally talking to the manager, be sincere with the person, with yourself about, yeah, why that is so important for you. So it is a professional conversation, but also show, like, “This matters for me. Like, I will be happier if I’m working like that. I wanna keep working for the company. I like my job. I know I have results to deliver. But this matters to me.” Because not everybody’s willing to keep working remotely or to work remotely. Some people are dying to go back to the office for a different reason. Maybe they feel lonely. Maybe they are not productive working from home. Or they don’t have a proper space at home and they cannot travel. So it’s like, “Why am I gonna keep working from home?” Some people have food in the office, snacks, and, like, a brand-new office. They’re like, “I just enjoy meeting people, having lunch with people. Uh, I separate, like, work and my personal life because at home I’m replying emails until 11 PM.” So not everybody wanna keep working remotely. So if you do, just show why it is that important for you. Show the results. Again, if you worked during the pandemic, you have, like, I don’t know, maybe 60% of the situation on your side because you have data to demonstrate that. Obviously if you worked well, right? Also share what you learned about yourself, about the work, about the client, things that improved, and new skills that you develop. So bring all those things to the conversation. And again, put yourself on the company’s shoes. So if you go for this important meeting and say “Look, I wanna work in my pajamas ’cause it’s more comfy” or “I want to save money,” that’s not the way you go for this kind of that. So think what is on it for the company. Like, “I’m gonna keep doing my job. It won’t really change much or anything for you. It’s just that physically I won’t be here, but you have ways to reach me out. I’m gonna keep doing the work as I have been doing. So my performance should not change.” So guarantee that to the company. Another thing that can help is suggest, like, a trial period. Instead of saying, “Yes, whatever,” just say, like, “Maybe for a month, two months, or three months and then we talk again. We review my goals and my performance and the client’s feedback.” That could be good especially if it’s the first time you’re going remotely. If you have been working remote for a year and a half, two years, maybe you can skip that. But some managers would say, “No, everybody’s going back. I don’t know how it’s gonna be only you being from home.” “Okay. So let’s give it a try.” And you play a bit this flexibility. But again, if you have done that during the pandemic, the chances that it work are really high. But you give your manager the possibility to review and talk again after a few months. It’s easier to say yes to small thing than to say “yes, whatever” especially if people are going back to the office. Just offer this one-month trial, two months, something like that. And then you talk again. This is kind of the guideline I tell people. But basically I would summarize: Prepare for this conversation. Don’t take for granted it’s gonna happen or “I’m gonna improvise something” or “I’m just gonna talk to my manager over the coffee machine.” No, this is a serious conversation. And the more you show that you’re ready to do that and committed to the company and the results, the higher the chance that they will say yes to you.

Jim (12:59):
It sounds like one of the biggest issues people have with this conversation is they’re not taking it seriously. It sounds like the people you’re talking to, some of them are looking at this as more of a conversation to be had between meetings or, like you said, you know, in the lunchroom. Rather than the serious time of scheduling time, sitting down in an office, and having your notes prepared. It sounds like that makes a big difference.

Juliana (13:23):
Yeah, because probably if you need to have this conversation, you’re going against the movement that is happening in your company, right? So if you’re already remote, you don’t need this conversation. But if you wanna go be different than what other people are doing, then you need to have a solid argument to show why. If it makes sense to the company, how it won’t affect your performance, the service you deliver to the client. So yeah, it shouldn’t be improvised. Even if you’re very confident about yourself and your skills, I still suggest that you take at least, like, 20, 30 minutes to write down a few things, to prepare the script, to schedule the meeting, to… Yeah, like, when you’re in front of your manager, what are you gonna say? How are you gonna bring this topic up? So it does require preparation. The chances that you’re gonna get a better results will increase as much as you prepare for that.

Jim (14:13):
I totally agree. And I really like the idea too… One of the first things you mentioned was consider the costs to a company. Worst-case scenario, if you lose your job, if you bring this up and they fire you, it costs money to hire a new employee. That is a cost for the company. And I think a lot of us forget. A lot of us are very focused on, “This is my job. I need an in income and losing my job would be bad.” But a lot of us forget that replacing an employee, especially a skilled or technical employee, can be very expensive and very time consuming. Walking into a meeting like this with that knowledge can give you an extra boost of confidence.

Juliana (14:52):
But also be prepared for, “Okay, what if they fire me? Am I willing to risk that?” Because remember, if you’re having this conversation, probably you are happy with your job. You are happy with the company, the clients, the work you do. So in a certain level, you are also risking that. But then it’s like, “Yeah, I definitely don’t wanna go back to the office. I would prefer to work remotely for the same company in the same job. But if I have to go back to the office, I’m gonna look for another job.” So in this case, well you have actually nothing to lose. You’re giving it a try in a safer environment. But if it doesn’t work, you know you’re gonna look for something else. So it’s valid also. But it’s important to reflect about those things to avoid surprises, right? If you know all the options, all the possible scenarios that can happen, well you’re more prepared to handle that.

Jim (15:41):
Very good advice. There’s another aspect to this conversation: The idea that negotiating with a current employer is one challenge. But how do you find a job that you’re really passionate about if it means leaving where you are? Do you have any advice in that situation?

Juliana (15:59):
Yeah. When we talk about passionate job, it’s also important to understand that the perfect job doesn’t exist. So when people say my dream job, I use this term sometimes because people understand it. But personally, I don’t believe there is a perfect job because jobs are not perfect. Like, there will be always a small thing that you don’t like or that you like less or that colleague that, you know, bothers you a little bit. So I am completely pro going for a job that makes you happy. That brings your best version. That fulfills you. That you’re happy to do that, but it still, it won’t be perfect. So being passionate is different than finding the perfect job that I like 100% of the things that I do every single day of the month, every single day of the year. No, we are adults. So that’s not how things work. So it’s more like choosing a job that you like most of the things that you do. Like, most of the time I’m happy, I’m motivated, I enjoy what I do. And then there is a, probably still, a small part that you don’t enjoy. But I consider that you can call it a passionate job because you like most of it. You are happy about most of that. And that keeps you going. So just to say that the dream job or a perfect job doesn’t exist. But that said, once you have clarity about your life goals and your career goals, it’s a bit easier to find a job that aligns with that. If you’re just looking for money or “I just need a job because, yeah, everybody works,” then pretty much anything you get will do the work. But if you really wanna find something that you’re passionate about, that you enjoy, it’s important to align that with where I am in my life, in my career right now. Where do I wanna be in the short term, maybe in one year or two years? Where do I wanna be in five or 10 years? And I know it’s hard to think that far away, but when we think about which kind of life I wanna live. Maybe I don’t know the job exactly, but I know that I wanna have people reporting to me because I like to be a leader. I like to train people. Or I wanna make an impact in something related to the environment because this is something that I care about. Or I wanna be able to take my kids to school in the morning and then pick them up in the middle of the afternoon. Or I wanna be respected as a specialist in this area because I like people to recognize my… So all those things, they are mix of personal and professional thing. But once we have this clarity, you start eliminating jobs that are definitely not gonna give you that. And then you have a smaller list of jobs that you can play a bit and then start talking to people maybe that do a similar job because sometimes we imagine, “Oh, it would be cool to work in this job.” It seems perfect from the outside. And then when you talk to someone, it’s like, “Well, you know, it’s tiring. You know that, uh, you know, you have to study a lot or it gets very boring. You have to–” And then maybe you’re like, “Wow, I had no idea about that.” So yeah, once you eliminated some options, you start talking to people who are doing the job. And it could be, like, a 15-minutes, 20-minutes conversation. So obviously you won’t spend five hours asking the person everything. But maybe one question that we already give you a hint of “Oh, I like that” or, you know, “This is not exactly what I were thinking about.” Also understanding that every person is different. So you might have the same or a similar conversation with different people to get different perspectives. And then you, you make your own choice. But talking to people who are doing the job will bring you closer to the reality and give you more elements to go back to the clarity point of view and find is it bringing me closer to my short term-goals, to my long-term goals, and all of that. So you open up possibilities. Sometimes it’s as easy as, “I need to study something specifically. Learn one specific skill. That is the gap that I have between now and the job I’m passionate about. I just don’t know how to get there.” Maybe it’s a matter of a online course or a six-month course or one-year– Which is not that long if you’re thinking about a long-term game, right? So today you’d think you would like to try something, but you never try because you don’t have the skill and then you get stuck and then you’re not happy. Well, if you wanna give it a try to it, just learn something. And sometimes even, like, with YouTube tutorials, you can learn one specific skill or a program. So it doesn’t need to be like a formal education. But yeah, I would say clarity about where you are, where you wanna get professionally but also personally, and then which kind of job supports that. Not the other way around, “I’m gonna land a job and then I’m gonna structure my life all around the job.” That’s what most people do. But I believe we can do the other way around. <music>

Jim (20:49):
That’s part one of our conversation. Thanks a lot for listening. And thank you to our guest, Juliana Rabbi. Today’s episode was edited by Genny Blauvelt. And I’m Jim Markus. Don’t forget to check out frugallivingpod on all the social media. That’s frugallivingpod, all one word. Frugallivingpod is on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, all over the place. And Frugal.fm. That’s where you can go to get show notes and transcripts. Anything we talk about in these episodes, anything we need to link to, more information about our guests, all of that is at Frugal.fm. And today’s show is brought to you, of course, by Brad’s Deals. That’s B R A D S D E A L S.com. Brad’s Deals has a team of editors who scour the internet for the best deals on everything. I’ve worked at Brad’s Deals for more than five years and I’ve never seen anything quite like it. All of my coworkers here love finding a deal. And it’s an incredible thing. When we talk about finding a job that you love, that’s what this career is. That’s what this company is. It’s a bunch of people who like to find deals and to share them with you. And it’s free to use. Go to BradsDeals.com. That’s B R A D S D E A L S.com. <music>

More About Frugal Living With Jim Markus

This episode was sponsored by Aosom and Highlights. Use our code FRUGAL15 for an extra 15% off your order at Highlights.com.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad’s Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Jim Markus hosts season five, out now.

The post Frugal Living: How Do You Find Your Dream Job? (Part 1) appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

What’s With the “Fakespot Verified” Flag?

What’s With the “Fakespot Verified” Flag?

You’ve probably seen some news stories about problems with fake reviews online and counterfeit goods. Brands and sellers are sometimes incentivizing, paying, or outright faking online reviews of their products and services. Even worse are those that are selling outright counterfeit products as if they are the real deal, and they use fake reviews to hide what is really happening. When these manipulative, deceptive techniques succeed, consumers are the ones who lose.

What is Fakespot?

The Brad’s Deals editorial team is well aware of this, and we always keep a careful eye on signs that reviews are not legit. Our editors are also trained to spot counterfeits. A few years ago, a service called Fakespot came to our attention. If you haven’t used it before, the idea is simple. Enter a URL for an eligible e-commerce or hospitality site, and Fakespot will run an analysis to give you a letter grade from A to F on the trustworthiness of the reviews*. Fakespot also warns you if there have been counterfeits sold through a listing. Naturally, our team started using it right away to help protect our users.

*Note: Fakespot analyzes the reviews of a product, not the seller or the quality of the product itself.

Fakespot Verified

However, we didn’t stop there. Last year, we connected with Fakespot and started a conversation about how our two services could work together. It was a natural fit because we are committed to empowering consumers with real information to make smarter decisions. This partnership has resulted in two things that are great for consumers–the “Fakespot Verified” flag on Brad’s Deals and the “Verified Deals” on Fakespot.

When you see a deal on Brad’s Deals that has the “Fakespot Verified” flag, it means that an editor ran the deal through Fakespot to check the quality of reviews before we posted it. This is just one part of our evaluation process, but you can read about How We Vet Sellers and Products for more information. Based on our conversations with Fakespot about their grading system, we only give the “Fakespot Verified” flag to listings that are a “C” or higher. This is our minimum grade for anything sold through a third-party seller. We have higher standards when it comes to high-risk categories like safety equipment or children’s toys, so we will only post these items from third-party sellers that have an “A” grade on Fakespot.

On the Fakespot website, through the “Verified Deals” program, they are highlighting high-quality, editor-verified deals from Brad’s Deals that can be trusted. It is just the beginning, and we are excited to expand on this in the coming months.

Our mission at Brad’s Deals is to create the consumer advantage, and that means providing safe, trusted, and verified online marketplace shopping. Every day we practice what we preach on behalf of our readers. Fakespot is a logical extension that allows us to further deliver on that purposeful mission. If you have any questions about our Fakespot partnership, please contact us directly at help@bradsdeals.com or comment below.

The post What’s With the “Fakespot Verified” Flag? appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Apple Refurbished Products: Are They Worth It?

Apple Refurbished Products: Are They Worth It?

There’s a reason Apple products boast such an outspoken and devoted following: they’re pretty, they’re user-friendly, and they’ve topped the American Consumer Satisfaction Index’s annual consumer satisfaction survey for the past 12 years and counting. So why doesn’t everyone have one? Blame the price tag, because quality doesn’t come cheap.

We’ve written before about why buying a Mac at the Apple store is a waste of money, but just because the brick-and-mortar store doesn’t offer many (read: any) discounts on its gadgets, doesn’t mean you can’t find a deal on an iPhone, MacBook or iPad directly from Apple. How? One word: Refurbished.

A word of warning: we’re going to get really deep into the weeds here. Here’s a quick summary of what we’re about to cover, the links will jump you down to more detail on each topic:

• Are refurbished Apple products good? Yes.
• If you want the best warranty on a refurbished Apple device, go with Apple Certified products.
• Open box and refurbished are not the same thing.
• Apple Certified refurbs sell out quickly.
• Trading in old electronics could save you big time on a new Mac.
• Always double-check the refurb model number against that of its new counterpart.

If you want to learn absolutely everything there is to know about refurbished Apple products and learn a few hacks that will save you some serious cash, keep reading. We promise it’s worth the ride.

What does “refurbished” mean in this context?

We get a lot of reader questions like: “Are refurbished Apple products worth it?” or “Can I trust refurbished Apple devices?” The answer to these questions is, in a word, yes. BUT — it depends on where you buy them. Refurbished electronics have a reputation for being buggy, broken or without any kind of meaningful warranty, but when you buy an Apple Certified refurbished item, it’s guaranteed to be just as good as something brand new — as long as you buy it directly from the Apple Certified Refurbished section of Apple’s website. Apple Certified Refurb items aren’t going to be drastically cheaper than buying new (discounts hover around the 15 percent mark) but it still pays to go straight to the source for a few big reasons.

Whereas most companies that refurbish Macs (think Mac Connection, B&H, Best Buy and Abt Electronics) offer only a 90-day warranty and charge you for a longer one, Apple offers a one-year warranty that is the same as the warranty offered on its regular products, and gives refurb customers the option to purchase Apple Care as well. So if you purchase your refurbished Apple product somewhere other than the Apple Store, you’re not going to be able to take it back to Apple for repairs — your warranty will be tied with the store where you bought it, and that’s where you’ll have to take it if anything goes wrong.

And then there’s the messy issue of open-box sales. If you buy an open-box Apple product from another retailer, you could be stuck with no warranty at all, because some resellers will only provide a warranty that’s based on when the item was originally purchased. So if you’re buying an open-box MacBook at Best Buy on August 1, 2022, and the previous owner of that MacBook bought it at Best Buy with a year-long warranty on August 4, 2022, you’re now the proud owner of a laptop with a warranty that is set to expire in three days. Lucky you!

So what’s the difference between “open-box” and “refurbished?”

A refurbished item was returned to the retailer because there was something wrong with it. When this happens, the retailer (or a third-party refurbishing outfit) takes it apart, fixes the problem, and returns it to the operational status before selling it again under a refurbished banner. Apple runs its refurbished items through pretty extensive testing. And since they are the ones that are making these products in the first place, that testing is going to be a lot better than the testing done by a resale company.

An open-box item is something that was returned to the retailer after the original buyer changed his or her mind. Often the store in question will inspect the item to determine whether or not it has anything mechanically wrong with it. If they deem it safe for resale, they call it an open-box sale. It’s worth noting that this “inspection” isn’t an official test, meaning the retailer usually doesn’t take the item apart to make sure it’s in pristine condition. Apple doesn’t offer-box items, although many of the items it sells under the refurbished banner are likely open-box returns, it still has to call them refurbished because they’ve been previously owned.

For serious discounts on Apple products, utilize trade-in programs.

Have an old iPad, MacBook, iPhone or iPod laying around gathering dust? If you’re looking to buy a new Apple product at a significant discount, look into the Apple Reuse and Recycling Program. Apple will buy your unused smartphones, laptops, and tablets (and they don’t have to be Apple products!) and issue you an Apple Store gift card as payment.

Even if the device you want to trade in for a discount isn’t eligible for a trade-in at the Apple store, there are still a lot of places that will buy it from you. If you want more information on electronics trade-in programs, check out these related blog posts:

• Recycling that Pays: 6 Ways to Cash in Old Electronics
• How to Use Trade-in Programs to Get a New Smartphone (for Less!)

How do I buy a refurbished Apple product like an expert?

We’re going to break down the best refurb deals we could find on all your favorite Apple products in a minute, but before we do that, we thought we’d let you in on a couple of insider tips and tricks for refurb shopping:

1. If you’re going to buy an Apple Certified refurbished item, make sure you check the prices against the brand-new models at other retailers. New products are never discounted at the Apple Store, so while the price on an Apple Certified refurb will be lower than the Apple Store price on a new model, it might be selling for more than a discounted new item at another store. For example, this past holiday season, Walmart was selling the iPad Mini 2 – brand new — for $199, but the Apple Certified refurbished model was going for $229.
2. Once you’ve done your homework and are sure that the refurbished price is the best out there, don’t wait too long to buy. Apple refurbs sell out quickly and often take weeks to restock. This is especially true for laptops, iPads, and the Mac Mini.

With this expert knowledge under our belts, let’s dive into the deals…

Refurbished Laptops

Apple offers a variety of different kinds of laptops, but because they don’t update their styles very often, it can be tricky for the average consumer to tell the difference between a brand new model and something that’s a few years old. Brad’s Deals editor Casey has a special trick that can help you make sure the refurb you’re buying has the same specs as a brand new model: check the part number.

We added two 12-inch, ‘Space Gray’ MacBooks to our Apple Store cart. The top MacBook is new, and the bottom is Apple Certified refurbished. We circled their model numbers in red, and as you can see, they match exactly except for the first letter.

As a rule, Apple Certified refurbished items will have model numbers that start with “F” but will otherwise match their new counterparts, so this is a good way to double-check the specs before you spring for a refurb.

Apple Refurbished Products ARE Worth It

Bottom line, Apple refurbished products are an excellent way to save money on rarely-discounted items. Just make sure you double-check that the warranty information is available and that you know all the details before you press submit on your deeply discounted Apple order. 

Got questions about anything we outlined above? Feel free to drop us a note in the comments!

The post Apple Refurbished Products: Are They Worth It? appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

How Do You Live Life As A Digital Nomad?

How Do You Live Life As A Digital Nomad?

How do you travel the world doing what you love? This week, Jim talked with Isabel Leong about what it means to be a digital nomad. Check out Frugal Living on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Anchor.fm, iHeartRadio, or anywhere you go to find podcasts.

The interview focused on two of our most popular topics: travel and entrepreneurship. Leong shares how she got started and what changed once she made it into her career. 

As always we have a full transcript of the show below. Looking for more information on travel? We talked with travel expert Mark Jackson about what to expect this summer, and we also found how to go to Disney World for almost free. Want to hear more from Isabel Leong? She blogs at Bel Around The World (and discusses her SEO strategies, which help her monetize her writing).

Read a Transcript From This Episode

Jim:
This is Frugal Living. <music> People embrace frugality for different reasons. Some want security and stability. Others want fewer restrictions. They wanna work wherever and however without reporting to the same building every day. And that brings me to this week’s guest. Isabel Leong is a digital nomad. She’s a traveler and an entrepreneur. She talked to me about travel, how she got started as an avid traveler, and how she supports herself while visiting places most people only dream of. Here’s our conversation. <music>

Isabel:
Hi everyone, I’m Isabel. And I’m a travel blogger at Bel Around The World and a SEO coach as well.

Jim:
So excited to chat with you. I checked out your site. I checked out a lot of your social. You, you’ve been everywhere.

Isabel:
Yeah, thanks! Um, well, I’ve been to over 40 countries now. So there are still a few continents I’ve yet to check off. But yeah, I’ve been, it’s been a pretty fulfilling journey so far.

Jim:
You live a life that I think a lot of people would envy. I think a lot of people like the idea of traveling and seeing as much of the world as you’ve seen. How did you get started?

Isabel:
Well, yeah, I got started when I was on this student semester. It’s called a semester abroad. So I’m from Singapore and I was in uni and sometime in the third or fourth year, you get to go abroad for one semester to finish your studies for that semester. And so I chose France as my, as the country to do my school in. 

So that was kind of the first time at 21. The first time I was traveling solo and so far from Asia all the way to Europe. So that got me really excited. I, yeah, I got everything prepared. I researched a ton of stuff. And so I thought that, you know, during my travels, I wanted a place to document my journey. I wanted a place to share my research that I’ve done before for other people who might be going through the same thing. 

And so that’s how my travel blog Bel Around The World was formed. Yeah, and it sort of just happened from there. Like, it was a six months full of adventures. Like, I remember, I think I went to 55 cities.

Jim:
Was this during that semester abroad while, while you were…

Isabel:
Yeah.

Jim:
Wow!

Isabel:
Yeah, while I was studying. So it was like I chose to pack all of my classes in three days. And then the remaining four days I would be out gallivanting somewhere.

Jim:
You went all over. Can you tell me a little bit about how you made that choice to go to France and where you ended up?

Isabel:
I ended up in this France, uh, university, which was in Normandy. It wasn’t super central. Like, it wasn’t in Paris where flights were accessible, things like that. So it did presented some more complications. Like, I would have to take–it’s a car-ride-sharing app. So I would have to, you know, look at who’s going from my little student town to, to somewhere where there is an airport. 

And sometimes in Europe, they’re known to have super-cheap bus companies. Like, I remember taking a one-Euro bus from France to Belgium, something like that. So I would always get ho–get ahold of all these opportunities to travel and then couch surf because I was on a student budget. So I’m constantly looking at couch surfing gigs to see, yeah, if I could couch surf in a new place for free.

Jim:
How much of this was spur of the moment and how much of this was planned?

Isabel:
Ooh, back then I was really new. I was really green into traveling. So a lot of it, like… If you ask me today, I would book my Airbnb one day in advance. But back then I think I did have some planning and also because I was in school. So sometimes I would have down times for me to do my research and plan ahead.

Jim:
So you’re saying back when you didn’t have as much experience, you spent more time researching than you would now.

Isabel:
Yeah, absolutely. I remember having this five- or seven-day itinerary to Amsterdam with a friend. And it was a Google spreadsheet and everything was color coded. And it would be where we would eat and what we would do for what days. So that was really… Like, I think I still have a copy of it on my blog when I first, um, started, like, traveling. So that is kind of crazy.

Jim:
Can we dive a little bit deeper into that? Can you give me an idea of what, what are some of the specifics that you would’ve planned for a week in Amsterdam then? And then can you show me a little bit more of what a trip now looks like?

Isabel:
Yeah, for sure. So the first things I would cover definitely was accommodation. So I would definitely plan ahead in advance. Look at booking sites or Airbnb and make sure that, you know, like, the location is good, it’s safe, the host is trustworthy, things like that. 

And then I would go into researching the different places, the different highlights, the different tourist attractions in, in a city that I’m gonna visit. I would bookmark it on Google, Google Maps so that I have all the stars. And when I zoom out, I have an overview of all the different places I wanna go. 

And based on the number of days I have, say if I have five days, I might section each, I will, I would split the entire overview into five different parts so that I know where to visit in each day. This includes day trips from Amsterdam, we would go see the windmills. So yeah, this includes day trips as well. 

Today I would just, um… A last trip, my last trip to the Dominican Republic, we had three weeks. And basically we wanted to cover as much of, um, the Dominican Republic as possible. So there was some Airbnbs that we booked ahead in advance. And then that is the open itinerary. So I would just go there, talk to the host, talk to local people, see what’s going on in the area. And then in the spur of the moment, maybe today it’s a great day or today it’s rainy so we’re gonna stay in and work. 

We would, yeah, we would just visit based on the local recommendations. I don’t actually do research about travel as much anymore, especially with the micro attractions to visit. Whereas, like, before, say I’m going to the Dominican Republic, I would still do my research. But this time I like to go to forums. 

I like to go to groups and ask people, “Oh, who’s been to the Dominican Republic? What kind of attractions do you recommend?” And then I get real-time updates and recommendations. And from there I still bookmark the places that I have to go, which gives me, kind of, a rough idea on the route that I will travel. But yeah, but I don’t go into really specific details this time.

Jim:
It sounds like when you first started you were using a lot of those surface-level Google searches, “What should I see in Amsterdam? What should I see in the Dominican Republic?” And then making sure you hit those. And now that you got more experience, it sounds like you’re relying on local, you know, your host or the people you meet there and the people you can meet that have been there ahead of time on forums. So you know where to go to have those conversations. Am I understanding that right?

Isabel:
Yeah, absolutely. And also because I was 21 back then, and it was, kind of, like, bucket list items that I had to check off because I’m only gonna be visiting Amsterdam for one time, the rest of my life, for the rest of my life. Yeah. That came with more haste, which is why I wanted to cover all my grounds back then. But now with the life that I’m living, because I travel full time, I’m slowly starting to take it slow. And also because I’ve traveled more widely now, it is okay for me to skip certain attractions because sometimes you can suffer from travel burnout as well. So I prefer to take it slow these days.

Jim:
That’s very smart. And you mentioned the life you live now, you’ve built a life around travel. This is a passion of yours. A lot of our listeners are gonna be wondering how can they do something like that? Like obviously COVID and the rise of the remote work environment has expanded. So it’s a lot easier now for more people to get into this. What advice do you have for someone who wants to do what you do?

Isabel:
Yeah, for sure. I mean, not everyone is into, is going to go into the travel-blogging track. Think about tapping into some of your skills that you have. Like, say you’re good at graphic designing or you’re good at programming. Maybe you can start from there. Think about the skills and look for jobs that are related, that are looking for skills like yours to start with.

Jim:
Are there specific sites where you can find these types of communities?

Isabel:
Hmm, I like to go on Facebook groups. So there are a ton of Facebook groups that are travel themed. You can start from there. That’s where, that’s, kind of, my primary source that I go to whether it’s for traveling or whether it’s for looking at, connecting with other fellow nomads.

Jim:
Let’s get a little bit more specific into the way that you’ve built this. Your life specifically as a travel blogger, does that pay for your travel? How, how do you afford to travel the world?

Isabel:
Yeah. I would say travel, my travel blog is the primary source of income. And it is through doing blogging so many years that I’ve accumulated different digital marketing skill sets, like social media marketing or content marketing or email marketing. 

So it, kind of, is an all-encompassing role. So travel blogging is my main source of income. And then I sometimes would get people requesting to have me help them with the digital marketing work. Like, for example, I would be traveling in Mexico. I was working with a travel tour company in Mexico. 

And then they found out that I was also helping other people with, like, SEO with beefing up the website and making sure their online presence is seen. So that was when they started engaging me. So it’s kind of like my lifestyle is built around travel, but I’m able to do the things that I love. And I’m able to build up all these skill sets that are, kind of, interconnected in a way. 

So yeah, I would say these are two forms of income. And then I’ve also recently, during the pandemic in 2020, I started creating a course, creating courses, teaching people how to grow their traffic organically with content.

Jim:
You’re a small business owner. You’re an entrepreneur. We talk to a lot of people who start businesses in vastly different areas. But what makes yours unique is most of the business owners we talk to build a business in a specific place. And they build their business around, you know, living in wherever they live. You’ve built a business around travel. Your business travels with you, and now you consult and you teach courses that are other ways that you support yourself.

Isabel:
The blogging thing was not planned really. Like, I’ve always had the dream to be able to blog full time. But coming from Singapore back then, I had a limited audience. I thought it would really just be limited to my Singapore audience whereas all the bigger bloggers are coming from the U.S.

Jim:
There are a number of challenges that face someone trying to start a business, especially blogging. Building an audience is probably one of the first things that is gonna be a hurdle for anyone. Especially like you mentioned, American travel bloggers may have built-in audiences in other areas. How did you start? Like, how did you get your first thousand people reading your blog?

Isabel:
Yeah. At first, remember, remember I was traveling throughout Europe, so I had tons of content. So I simply wrote whatever I wanted to, like itineraries that I had researched, my New Year countdown experience in Paris. I remember my first viral post, which is still trending on the first page of Google today, was how to create a Google Maps itinerary with Google Maps, things like that. And, also posts that are really comprehensive. I started focusing more on what Google wants, what the audience wants to see rather than what I want to blog about.

Jim:
It sounds like you’re starting very organically. You’re starting very much with your interests. Then you’re looking at what you’ve done and seeing how people are engaging with it and then making your future decisions based on where you’re seeing the most engagement.

Isabel:
Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Like, well, most people nowadays, they are setting up a blog in the, in a bid to monetize it and be able to earn passive income from it like I do now.

Jim:
Okay. So if someone wants to follow in your footsteps–they’ve started a blog, they’re starting to see traction, they’re starting to evaluate where they’re seeing the most performance–I, I guess where does, where does SEO come into play here? So SEO is, like, the foundation of your business, right?

Isabel:
Yeah, because when I really study my analytics, it can come from different sources. It can come from Google traffic. It can come from Pinterest or social media, like Facebook or Twitter. It can come from YouTube. So when I studied my traffic, I found that the majority, like almost 75%, in fact, of my traffic, comes from Google search. 

So basically it’s, like, people searching “what to do in Amsterdam for three days.” And they come across my article because it’s at the top of Google. So that’s when I found that to make the best use of time… Because for instance, Pinterest, it requires a lot of time designing the pins, posting the pins, and also engaging. So the most efficient way I found is to really focus on organic traffic, which is traffic coming from Google. And that’s where SEO comes into play. 

SEO, it means such engine optimization. It basically means optimizing your content for Google. And so with a variety of factors, you would be optimizing your content so that it will appear on the first page of Google when people are searching for certain keywords. And yeah, and that was how I went about growing my traffic. 

Why I really focus and tell people that traffic is the number one thing to focus on if you’re growing a blog and trying to monetize it is because without traffic you’re not gonna get advertising money. Without traffic, um, if you wanna pitch to brands, you have to show them your accolades. You have to show them your traffic numbers, your engagement levels. So without traffic, you wouldn’t have all of that. And you wouldn’t be able to be in a position, where you’re in a position of authority to work with these brands. 

Which is why, um, I like to focus on SEO because it’s, like, everybody wants an efficient way to grow their traffic. And SEO I found is the most efficient way. Because, for example, I’ve written a post about the best places to visit in Greece in October many years ago. And every time when summer approaches, it still ranks as number one. My traffic starts shooting up as summer approaches. So this is something that I can write a few years ago and leave it on its own. And it was still bringing traffic for me because it’s seasonal.

Jim:
We talk a lot about building passive income. And it sounds like that’s what you’re doing by leveraging SEO. You’ve already created the content. You’ve done the work. And now because it ranks on Google, every year you have a traffic bump. To bring this back into the travel world, I’d love to hear a little bit more about your experiences there. Where are you now? Where are your favorite places to have visited, that kind of thing?

Isabel:
Yeah. I’m right now in Costa Rica actually. I landed about a week ago from traveling the Dominican Republic for three weeks. And it’s, kind of, relieving to finally have a base to settle down and get work done, you know, instead of procrastinating. Yeah, I’ve been traveling around South America the past year because of the pandemic.

It kind of forced me to travel full time. Like, I cannot go back to Singapore anymore. And I’ve already traveled so far all the way to Latin and South America. So it, kind of, gives me a good excuse to do some slow traveling and visit a continent that I’ve never, uh, visited before. Some of the best places that I really enjoy. 

The first one would be New Zealand because I spent a considerable amount there. It was actually my first time. This was my first place that I lived in outside of my home country, Singapore. I mean, compare, compare that to living in a tropical city in Singapore. That is amazing. That’s like a dream, a total dream. 

And also the atmosphere is just, you’re surrounded by nature all around. You’re waking up to nature calls instead of cars. Yeah, because New Zealand is such a beautiful landscape so there’s plenty of nature around. And the pace of life is also very different as compared to Singapore. So it’s kind of, it was a nice breath of, a fresh breath of air.

Jim:
You are kind of a Google expert. And I don’t just mean with SEO. But more than once you’ve talked about using Google’s technology, existing technology, free-access technology, to help you find either a plan–where you’re going to go–or to find restaurants when you’re there. I also noticed on your Instagram recently, you had advice on showing people, like as a solo traveler, where you are using Google Maps.

Isabel:
Yep.

Jim:
You, you just have a, a lot of Google…

Isabel:
Hacks.

Jim:
Tips. Yeah, Google tips and hacks.

Isabel:
Yeah, I would say so. I mean, because Google’s so omnipresent and there are a lot of features that we don’t really know of. And they have also tried to make it as, you know, they try to make people addicted to Google. So it does have a lot of untapped functions that we can use as a traveler, whether we are offline or online. <music>

Jim:
This conversation made me want to plan my next trip. It also reminded me of some of the freedom financial independence offers. So thanks to this week’s guest, Isabel Leong. You can find her at BelAroundTheWorld.com. That’s Bel with one L. Today’s show was edited by me, Jim Markus. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on iTunes. And as always, you can find our show notes and transcript at Frugal.fm. <music>

More About Frugal Living With Jim Markus

This episode was sponsored by Aosom and Highlights. Use our code FRUGAL15 for an extra 15% off your order at Highlights.com.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad’s Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Jim Markus hosts season five, out now.

The post How Do You Live Life As A Digital Nomad? appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Frugal or Fiction: You can make so much money from real estate

Frugal or Fiction: You can make so much money from real estate

How do you know whether financial memes are trustworthy? That’s the focus of our new Frugal Living segment: Frugal or Fiction. Check out Frugal Living on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Anchor.fm, iHeartRadio, or anywhere you go to find podcasts. 

Genny Blauvelt, our audio-editor intern this season, came up with a clever way to evaluate financial memes. It’s a new segment on Frugal Living, and we’re calling it Frugal or Fiction. In this first-ever episode, we discuss a screenshot from Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Earn Your Leisure (@earnyourleisure)

The post challenges readers to buy a new rental property every year, so they can make $192,000 per year in passive income after a decade of accumulation. Is that possible? We’ve recently discussed the FIRE movement, which relies on passive income. Here’s what we learned from the show.

Claim: It’s better to chase passive income opportunities than active income opportunities
Evidence: FIRE relies on passive income. It’s how we retire.
Verdict: Passive income is real. It’s just not usually fast or easy.

More About Frugal Living With Jim Markus

This episode was sponsored by Aosom and Highlights. Use our code FRUGAL15 for an extra 15% off your order at Highlights.com.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad’s Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Jim Markus hosts season five, out now.

The post Frugal or Fiction: You can make so much money from real estate appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.