Key Takeaways
- Last year I announced a case study program in which I would work with a cross-section of readers and help them plan and organize their trips, walking
- And, I said in the beginning, I’d share their stories along the way to help inspire your own trip.
- It’s been a few months since I last updated their progress, and, with the project winding down, I want to share one final update for each student and
Last year, Route for Less launched a case study initiative to support readers in transforming ambitious travel goals into achievable plans — guiding them through every stage of trip planning, from budgeting and saving to logistics and mindset.
As promised, we’ve shared their journeys along the way to inspire others facing similar challenges.
With the program now concluding, here’s a final update on how each participant progressed toward their dream trip:
Jianne
Jianne is a 27-year-old office worker from Manila aiming to take a two-week vacation this year. Living in the Philippines, she faces limited access to travel rewards programs, restrictive visa policies, and a relatively weak local currency.
At the start of the program, Jianne was consistently overspending — dining out frequently, relying on taxis, shopping impulsively, and citing recurring “unexpected” expenses. Her spending regularly exceeded her income, so our priority was establishing sustainable habits that aligned with her long-term goal.
Since responsible travel begins with financial clarity, we guided Jianne to track every expense. This revealed numerous small, recurring costs she could adjust without sacrificing quality of life — from daily coffee purchases to weekend meals out.
We helped her reduce discretionary spending on food delivery, transportation, retail, and alcohol — and introduced a simple savings habit: a change jar for coins and small bills.
Changing lifelong spending patterns is rarely linear. Midway through, Jianne paused her tracking, resumed some impulsive habits, and briefly reverted to overspending. But progress isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness and course correction.
Jianne didn’t complete her trip during the program timeline — the starting point required more foundational work than a single year allowed. Yet by the end, she had achieved a major milestone: living within her means, paying down debt, and building her first dedicated savings account.
While her dream vacation remains on the horizon, she’s laid essential groundwork — proving that financial discipline is the first and most powerful step toward freedom on the road.
Here’s what Jianne has to say, in her own words:
Diane
Diane, age 59, lives in rural Canada on a fixed pension income with her husband. For years, she dreamed of visiting Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands — but assumed such a trip was financially out of reach.
Though her income couldn’t increase, her expenses could — and as a Canadian resident, she had strong access to airline loyalty programs and credit card rewards.
Like many, Diane associated travel with wealth — not strategy. Our goal was to shift that narrative. We prioritized preserving her retirement savings while maximizing monthly contributions to her travel fund.
Expense tracking uncovered easy wins: switching to a lower-cost mobile plan, meal prepping to reduce grocery waste and restaurant spending, and curbing impulse buys — especially at discount stores.
Her monthly savings grew from $20–$50 CAD to over $500 CAD. More importantly, she began reframing purchases through a new lens: “Does this bring me closer to my trip — or further away?”
She also encouraged her husband to cut back on smoking — improving his health *and* adding hundreds of dollars annually to their travel budget.
Today, Diane has saved more than $6,500 CAD — all from disciplined budgeting and smart reallocation of existing funds.
We also introduced her to strategic travel hacking: she applied for the American Express and TD Bank Aeroplan cards, met minimum spend requirements, and combined legacy points — amassing 90,000 Aeroplan points and 17,000 Air Miles. These will fully cover round-trip flights to Australia and provide flexibility for domestic or regional connections.
With patience, family support, and targeted financial tools, Diane turned a decades-old dream into an imminent reality. This August, she’ll embark on a six-week journey across Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands — reuniting with friends she hasn’t seen in over 30 years.
