283. How to Turn Your Bills into Free Travel with Shakeemah Smith (The Passport Abuser)

What if every bill you're already paying could get you closer to a free flight?

Today I'm talking to Shakeemah "Keem" Smith — founder of Bills to Boarding Passes, solo travel educator, and the woman her family literally nicknamed The Passport Abuser — to talk about how she's traveled to nearly 100 countries without paying out of pocket for a single flight in three years. And no, you don't need a high-limit credit card or a six-figure salary to do this.

Keem breaks down her Bills to Boarding Passes method, the airline partnerships most people have never heard of, why solo travel might be the most powerful thing you do for yourself this year, and the exact first steps to take this week, no matter your income, your debt situation, or your starting point. You’re gonna want to share this episode with a friend!

Ready to turn your everyday bills into free flights? Sign up for our FREE Bills to Boarding Passes workshop with Keem & Tori: ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠

Compare the cheapest flights from all major airlines at ⁠Skyscanner.com⁠

Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to find our credit card recommendations and any other resources mentioned on our show!

00:00 Intro

01:36 Your Bills Are Your Boarding Passes

04:07 Airline Miles vs. Credit Card Points: What's the Difference?

07:05 How Airlines Make Money When You're Not Flying 

09:32 Earning Miles on Your Utility Bills (NRG Partnership)

11:03 How Keem Got to Her First 20 Countries for Under $100 

13:55 How to Travel for Free Without a Credit Card 

16:22 What Started Solo Travel: A Friendship Betrayal in Amsterdam

19:10 Learning to Enjoy Your Own Company at 30

21:29 Traveling as a Black Woman — Safety, Research & Real Talk

28:24 Actionable Steps for the Woman Who Thinks She Can't Afford to Travel

31:44 Japan for $6 — Three Times (and Other Receipt-Worthy Receipts)

35:19 Treating Retailers Like You Treat Men: The 2-Out-of-3 Rule

38:44 Country That Surprised Me Most: Kuwait

39:31 The One Thing I Always Pack: A Carbon Monoxide Detector

41:27 Worst Travel Disaster: Saint Kitts Airport Scam

44:45 Best Flight Deal: $5 Flights as a Lifestyle

45:42 Most Underrated Solo Destination: Antigua and Barbuda

47:20 Final Message to the Woman Who Thinks Travel Isn't for Her

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