Author: Matt

I’m drawn to frugal living websites. I know that every dollar saved is a step closer to my goal, whether it’s retirement, emergency fund, travels, luxury embalming, or whatever. But I struggle with cutting costs.  That’s why I enjoy articles like 17 Weird and Wacky Ways to Save Over $7,000 a Year (Spoiler alert: number 13 involves reuse of Ziplock bags.  Dealbreaker.  My grandmother could have taught a master’s-level class on that topic).  I look for savings tips with the most gain and least pain.  Save $14,000 a year by switching soap brands?  Sign me up.  Cut $100 a month by reducing…

In How to Find Flight Deals, Part I, we learned about using the Hopper app to find flight deals, especially when flexible on destination and time.  Today, we’ll look at how Kayak’s Explore function is another way to snag cheap flights when we have flexibility. Kayak Explore. If you’ve taken the “flexibility is a superpower” message to heart, Kayak has a cool function called Explore that can help you find a cheap destination.  On your desktop, select “explore” on the left side of the screen. Using the mobile app, scroll down to “Explore from [your origin]” and click “Let’s go.” With Explore, you have the option to enter a budget,…

After months or years of saving, you’re finally able to take that trip. Congrats! What now? Here are 30 ways to save money in Europe (or really, anywhere). We’ve covered how to find travel deals using Hopper and Kayak.  We’ve talked about saving money with cheaper substitutions of equal convenience.  These 30 ways to save money in Europe will reduce costs without sacrificing convenience or enjoyment. By embracing value travel, you’ll be that much closer to your next trip. These 30 ways to save money in Europe will reduce costs without sacrificing convenience or enjoyment. By embracing value travel, you’ll be that much closer to your…

This week brought us a news account that was odd even by 2020 standards.  Biologists encountered the unexpected: a stainless-steel monolith in the southeast Utah desert.  Think super tall, narrow refrigerator.  The shiny triangular prism belonged more to a sci-fi movie set than to Red Rock Country.  Yet the monolith was in place for four or five years, according to Google Earth, which does not lie. Until it disappeared. Aliens or art? The monolith fueled intense speculation.  Was it sent by extraterrestrial beings?  Was it a message from our future selves?  Or was it avant garde desert art? Whatever its origin, the monolith was clearly not native…

We’ve explored how to use Hopper and Kayak to find flight deals, especially when we’re flexible on date, destination, or both.  In some ways, we’ve gone and saved the best for last.  Google Flights is a bargain hunter’s best friend, with features to find flight deals and ensure you’re getting a good deal.  Apptop vs. Desktop. This is an easy choice.  Google doesn’t have an app.  But fear not, because Google Flights is integrated with your mobile browser.   Basically, google “google flights” (you could “bing it” at risk to life and limb) and access Google Flights through your browser of choice.  What I like about Google Flights. There’s a lot to like. …

Using Airbnb for lodging is a key way to make a European trip affordable, especially for families. Follow these nine tips to find an awesome Airbnb rental in Europe. Before we start…. What’s so great about Airbnb for families?  It’s easy to get more room for less than the price of a hotel.  We’ve snagged two-bedroom apartments with kitchen and washer for less than the cost of a single hotel room.  It’s the ultimate in value travel! Almost always, the longer you stay, the less you pay per night.  This is because most hosts charge the same cleaning fee for a…

Travel in couch. Or on the couch. So joked a good friend this week after his family was forced to cancel a trip to Bolivia to visit family. There’s not much travel during a pandemic. Many families have lost loved ones this year. And nearly all have missed seeing family members. Though much less important, many of us have cancelled trips.  Maybe a weekend trip to the mountains, a holiday visit with family, or a 111-day cruise around the world (I wish).  Humans are designed to move—to explore. And right now, most of us are, well, not. What can we do?  Short of…

It’s tough to save up for travel.  Surprise bills happen.  And travel savings is often the first casualty.  Fortunately, there are lots of rewards and cash back credit cards to help boost your travel savings (or emergency fund).  What’s in my pocket? I combine two Chase cards–the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire—with the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi to boost my travel savings. Most websites that discuss credit cards are selling a product. When you click on their links, they may be paid. This post has no affiliate links. Travel in Coach and I will receive no benefit if you…

To offset web hosting and other costs, Travel in Coach may receive compensation from some services, including Scott’s Cheap Flights, when you click on a link or sign up. Travel in Coach will only promote products or services that we use and believe in. Thank you! Google Flights, Kayak, and Hopper are indispensable tools for the value traveler.  I have used each of them—and their fare alerts—to snag cheap plane tickets.  But manually searching for deals is time-consuming and inefficient.  You need someone to do the hard work of finding airfare deals for you.     This is where Scott’s Cheap Flights comes into play. …

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