Do you love where you live?
You want to know what it’s really like to live in a city, but hardly anyone has lived in enough places to compare. I’ll be providing information you can’t get anywhere else — what it’s really like to live in Toronto, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, Chicago, Kingston, Raleigh, and other places I’ve gotten to (temporarily) call home.
Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn: What it’s like to actually live there
What it’s really like to live in Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn New York, USA Family friendly neighborhoods in the city These two neighborhoods are both literally and metaphorically half way between Park Slope and Ditmas Park. It feels less like the...
Traveling after a breakup and other stereotypes
I’ve learned a lot this year about stereotypes. The moment I mention that my wife and I are separated, the conversation is effectively over. As soon as I mention an ex, every word out of my mouth is viewed from the lens of some chick flick version of a breakup....
The ultimate one-step guide to saving money on flights
The internet is awash in advice on finding cheapest flights. Is it about when you book? Clearing your cache? Using a VPN? Don’t forget about all the sites you should check for the best deal. And tracking prices. And the flights that transfer in your destination...
5 inspiring stories of real estate success
Buying a home empowers you to take control of your life, increases your self-worth, and best of all, gives you options to diversify your financial life. While it might feel overwhelming or out of reach, these women show that against certain odds or challenges, home...
When you need a vacation from traveling
I’m living my best life and filling my days with incredible things, why am I exhausted? Learn about decision fatigue and how to guard against it.
NYC’s best places to work remotely (that aren’t a coffee shop)
I’m always on the lookout for spaces that are friendly to remote workers that aren’t just another coffee shop. In New York especially, it seems like every time I’m back another coffee shop has disabled their wifi to discourage squatters. It can be...
The ultimate one-step guide to saving money on hotels
This tip is simple and it can save you hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars.
Hotels can quickly eat away at your travel budget. A decent hotel in a city can easily be $300 a night. Even AirBnB prices climb pretty high, especially once you add in all the fees. Sure, you can save money by picking a cheap motel (at your own risk) or staying at a hotel outside of town (and dealing with traffic and parking).
There’s a way to save money on hotels without worrying about hacking your credit card points or joining every loyalty program possible or buying through sketchy third party sites.
30 Things People Who Work From Home Are Sick of Hearing
By AnnaMarie Houlis A report on telecommuting in the United States from FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics, 2017 State of Telecommuting in the U.S. Employee Workforce, found that 3.9 million U.S. employees who make up 2.9 percent of the total U.S. workforce work...
Do you share your parents (home) values?
The earlier this summer I chatted with Nora, of the Professional Hobo, about how my nomadic lifestyle was inspired by my parents. While most of my values come directly from my parents, there are a few areas where my views are the exact opposite of theirs. I’m...
You don’t need to quit your job to travel
And you probably shouldn’t. Every few days someone is breathless with excitement to tell me that they’ve quit their job to travel the world. So what now, they ask me. How do they become a pro blogger? Hearing this gets the same reaction as when someone...
Dear Nora: How Financial Experience Dictates How We Live and Travel
Inspired by a reader’s friction with her family regarding financial and lifestyle decisions, today we’ll jump down a rabbit hole with this multi-faceted case study illustrating how various upbringings and ranges of financial experience have played out in people’s...
No, I’m not lost
I was entirely caught off guard by the way people react to hearing about my travels. When I was backpacking in my early 20s or when I was on extended trips, people were happy to hear about my adventures. This time, meeting people can sometimes feel a bit like an...
Leaving Canada doesn’t mean you’re not still a resident
Going on a trip, however long it lasts, doesn’t mean you’re not a resident of Canada. You have to file taxes with the CRA until you prove that you’ve left Canada for good.
How to create a house guide for your pet sitter
It can be difficult to figure out what to include in a house guide for your first pet sitter. You want to make sure everything that might need to be in there is included, but you don’t want to overwhelm anyone! If you’re looking for a pet sitter, I highly...
United Shades of America focuses on Canada
Anthony Bourdain and Parts Unknown isn’t the only Sunday night show on CNN that features a Canada-centric episode. W. Kamau Bell and his United Shades of America show took a look at Canada on Sunday night. For those unfamiliar with the show, Bell travels to...
7 things Americans get wrong about moving to Canada
Everyone’s talking about moving to Canada, but most of the tips on immigration haven’t gotten past moose and poutine. I’m here to clear up some common misconceptions about moving to Canada. Two years ago, my wife and I decided to move to Canada. Neither of us had a...
United Shades of North America
W. Kamau Bell visits Canada in United Shades of America. Is Canada really a utopia? What’s the story with healthcare? What about the experience of visible minorities? I help Kamau figure out if moving to Canada is even an option. You can take the quiz yourself....
Let’s Go: 26 Priceless Tips For Travelling On Your Gap Year
by Nathan Fried So you are going to take a gap year, here are some tips from travel experts on how to make your travels the trip of a lifetime. Read more on Fupping.
Stop overpaying for flights
The key to traveling for less is being flexible about your dates or destination. The more flexible you are, the better you’re able to take advantage of deals! This may seem like you’re compromising, but that shouldn’t be the case. There are lots of...
Gifts a traveler actually wants
Gifts travelers actually want I know my friends and family mean well, but I usually don’t know what to do with the gifts they get me. I live out of a backpack, so that space is pretty sacred — only the absolutely essential items make it in there. ...
Birmingham, Al: What it’s really like to live there
What it’s really like to live in Birmingham Alabama, USA A great, affordable city Everyone told me there was nothing to do in Birmingham. I’m not sure what city they were talking about, because there was a ton of things to do in Birmingham. It was as if...
Chicago’s North Side: A digital nomad’s guide
Chicago is one of those cities I’ve been to dozens of time, but didn’t feel like I really knew at all until this past trip. I’d been there for conferences and road trips, but each time it was too short to get a real feel for the city. I spent two...
Halifax: A digital nomad’s guide
Sometimes I wonder if I could love living in a small city. A smaller, less expensive city. Where I would know my neighbors. Be able to have a meaningful impact in local politics. Buy a building with a storefront downstairs, live my main street retirement dreams. Maybe...
How to make friends in a new city
Moving to a new city can be pretty intimidating. Most people made friends in school, when you practically had to go out of your way to not make some BFFs. Unfortunately, it’s rare for people to actually know how to make friends. It just happens, right? Even if you...
14 Unusual But Possibly Brilliant Savings Tips to Net You Thousands
by Brian Davis Budgeting, like dieting, has very simple fundamentals. Dollars (or calories) in, minus dollars (or calories) out. And yet. I believe that budgeting is not a math problem, but rather a behavior problem (also like dieting). No one is in debt because they...
Birmingham, Alabama: A digital nomad guide
None of my friends could quite understand why I decided to go to Birmingham, Alabama. The only thing we remembered about Birmingham from school was the civil rights movement — which hardly makes it sound like a great place for a digital nomad to land. Birmingham...
Best parks near Toronto — no car necessary
Get out of the city and visit these amazing parks near Toronto — without needing a car.
How to travel for months (or years) without going broke
Here it is: the obligatory how I afford to travel post. People think traveling is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Most of the time I spend the same amount of money each month when I’m on the road as I do at home — or less. The obvious way to save money...
The Tesla World Tour
It’s difficult to imagine what the world would be like without Nikola Tesla. He’s one of the most famous scientists who ever lived and has over 300 patents. His inventions power our lives, yet he died penniless and alone. Living in hotels all of his adult life, he...
The story of Toronto’s St. James Town
When we first moved to Toronto, I quickly became fascinated by St. James Town. While most of Toronto’s highrises are brand new, these ones hailed from an earlier age. Clearly one that didn’t catch on. The low prices and easy subway access were pretty tempting, but...
Everything you need to know about CouchSurfing
When I decided to go on a solo backpacking trip of Western Europe, I figured I’d CouchSurf for a few nights to take a break from hostels and save a little cash. It didn’t quite work out as planned. Instead, it ended up taking over my life. I ended up CouchSurfing (CS...
My time with Jesus People, USA
My experience with JPUSA (Juhpoozah) started with a search on CouchSurfing. Jane had so many references, wrote a bunch of books, has gone on epic bike trips, and lives in an intentional community. Obviously, I wanted to stay with her. Sure, I may be traveling in my...
NYC’s nerdiest day trips
Want to get out of New York? Here are my favorite spots to nerd out in the tri-state area. The Edison Museum What can I add when TMBG has it covered? Although you’ll be lucky if it’s as quiet as they lead you to believe. You can even walk there from NJ...
Retirement planning for digital nomads
There are lots of articles out there telling you how to cut costs and save money. That’s great, but where do you invest that money for retirement when you’re a digital nomad? The remote worker with a pension plan — or even a 401k — is few and far between....
Buying a condo in Canada
You hear it all the time: Toronto is way too expensive to buy anything! In fact, houses downtown are over a million dollars! What’s wrong with this statement? The idea that you need to live in a house right downtown. No one talks about buying houses in Manhattan or...
I went personal item only for 6 weeks
and survived to tell the tale When I booked a United Basic Economy ticket there was a little popup message warning me that my ticket tier was personal-item only. Even though a carry-on was a tiny bit more money (was it $5? it was something insignificant) something...
Renting an apartment in Toronto
You’re finally moving up! Here’s how to find your new home in Toronto, from where to look for listings to what to expect in your lease. If you’re coming from a small town, renting in Toronto is probably going to seem really unpleasant. If you’re coming...
How to find a sublet in New York City
In an era before AirBnB I was a habitual subletter. I managed to live in New York for seven years without ever signing a lease, hopping from one sublet to another and crashing with friends (or my parents) in-between. Finding a sublet in New York is more difficult than...
Setting up your apartment in Canada
Once you’ve signed a lease or bought a condo, it’s time to turn your empty place into a home. Before you move in, you’ll need light, heat, water, internet, and furniture. How to move to Canada Utilities Insurance Furnishings Utilities Unless you’re okay with...
9 reasons to love home swapping
I spent five months traveling in 2017 and am set for at least another five months on the road in 2018. How do I manage without a trust fund? A mix of pet sitting, home exchanges, and couchsurfing. It’s more than just making travel affordable, though. Traveling...
Toronto neighborhood guide
Neighborhoods of Toronto The neighborhood you live in has a huge impact on how you experience the city. Before you rent your first apartment or buy a condo, you want to make sure you’re choosing a place that fits with your lifestyle. Toronto is a big city with...
Managing birth control while traveling
When people talk about getting ready for a trip, they rarely talk about birth control. If you plan on having the kinds of sex that can result in pregnancy and want to use some sort of contraceptive besides condoms, it can take some planning ahead of time. IUD The...
Looking back at 2017, looking forward to 2018
Every year seems to come with big changes and 2017 was no exception. Casey and I started the year by renovating the kitchen in our condo. As soon as we finished, we found pet sitters for our two cats and left for Europe. We didn’t exactly retrace the route of my...
We all swore we’d move to Canada if Trump won. These people actually did.
By Kate Bratskeir But politics did lead some Americans to rethink their allegiance and commit to a different life. Cori Carl, the 33-year-old managing director of The Caregiver Space, moved to Toronto in the months leading up to Trump’s election. “I was definitely...
13 creative ways travel bloggers monetize their blogs
From Jessie on a Journey: [Welcome to] “Blogging Secrets Revealed,” where I’ve been sharing insider knowledge to help those of you wanting to start your own travel (or non-travel) blogs and turn them into income-generating businesses. So far, we’ve gone in-depth on:...
Canada’s Polite and Diffident Independence Celebration
By Molly Worthen The last Presidential election drove many liberals to muse about packing up and fleeing to Canada. Not many actually did so, but Cori Carl had already made good on the fantasy. She and her wife were committed New Yorkers but felt increasingly...
The best places to stay in NYC
Choosing a neighborhood to stay in for your time in New York is intimidating. New York City is huge…and expensive. If you find a great deal on a room in Midtown, by all means, book it! But be warned that if it’s cheap it’s probably microscopic,...
