Creating purpose and intention around travel funds is so important.

Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle a financial topic that flies under the radar more often than it should—travel. Sure, vacations are meant to be a way to decompress and have some fun after a good period of work, but they can also quietly sabotage your budget if you're not careful!

Pulling from both their own marriage and stories from clients, the Slagles break down how to make travel a *planned* part of your financial life instead of an expensive surprise.

Their approach? Be intentional. Every December, they sit down and map out the year ahead, figuring out which trips are non-negotiable (like weddings, family reunions, or that annual visit to Grandma’s) and which ones are just for fun. They set a big-picture travel budget—$15,000 for 2025—and leave some wiggle room for spontaneous adventures.

To keep trips from messing with their monthly cash flow, they automate savings into a travel-only account and swipe with a dedicated credit card just for those expenses. That way, when it’s time to book flights or splurge on dinner in Paris, it’s already covered—no guilt, no stress.

Travel doesn’t have to throw your finances into chaos. With correct planning, a realistic budget, and some clear priorities, even last-minute trips can stay low-stress.

Key Topics:

• The Travel Planning Problem (01:12)
• How Travel Budgeting Started for Them (02:10)
• Annual Planning & Obligations (04:25)
• Budgeting for Flexibility (08:39)
• Spontaneity Without Stress (09:52)
• Different Funding Strategies (14:54)
• Guilt-Free Travel Spending (17:38)
• Making Budget Fit Your Values (20:50)

Resources Mentioned:

• Fyooz Blog Post: We’re Financial Planners, This is How We Travel

Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together.

At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals.

Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.