Saving over $1 million before hitting my mid-30s wasn’t the result of a massive salary, a glamorous career, or winning the lottery. It came from a regular 9–5, disciplined habits, and a commitment to living below my means while still exploring the world.

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your wealth without giving up travel, this guide breaks down exactly how I did it and how you can use the same strategies to reach your own financial goals.

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My Background: A Regular Job, Not a Finance Guru

I’m Frank, Canadian immigrant to the USA, personal finance nerd, and someone who has visited 28 countries while working standard full-time jobs since I was 24.

I didn’t come from a wealthy family, I didn’t earn a six-figure salary out of the gate, and I didn’t have insider investing knowledge. In fact, until now, I have only done a very small amount of stock trading. What I did have was:

• A long-term mindset
• A simple financial system focused on ETFs and consistent investing
• A willingness to make intentional decisions

Those three things changed everything.

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The 7 Strategies That Helped Me Save Over $1 Million by My Early 30s

1. I Built a Lifestyle That Cost Far Less Than My Income

The biggest contributors were: 

1. Spending less than I earned for a decade straight.
2. Investing the difference 
3. Maximizing the financial tools at my disposals (401K, RRSP, TFSA, credit card rewards) 

Moreover, I avoided a lot (but not all) lifestyle creep by:

• Keeping rent reasonable
• Cooking at home most days
• Avoiding consumer debt
• Traveling on a budget (more on this later)

This allowed me to save 30–50% of my income for years.

Key point: You don’t need to cut everything. You only need to cut consistently. You also do not need to avoid things you enjoy. For example, I’ve purchased two new cars in the last three years while my wife and I lived on a single income. 

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2. I Invested Early and Automapped Everything

I wasn’t picking individual stocks or trying to outsmart the market.
I used simple, boring, effective tools:

• Invest in low-cost index funds since I started my first summer job at Mcdonalds at 16 years old. My brokers of choice are WealthSimple in Canada and Wealthfront in the US. I always picked the “riskiest” options to maximize long term returns.
  • Want to try them out? I’d appreciate if you used my referral links:
    • Wealthsimple: http://wealthsimple.com/invite/PFCHBG
    • Wealthfront: https://www.wealthfront.com/c/affiliates/invited/AFFD-QI3Z-J0U8-H4SG (get 5k managed for free) 
• Automated payroll deductions to my employers’ RRSP and 401k accounts that included company match.
• Very minimal amount of money in high-yield savings accounts and only for short-term goals.
• Maximize tax-advantaged accounts (RRSP/TFSA in Canada; 401k/IRA in the USA).
• Invest any leftover money at the end of each money. 
• Never pay for a chequing account

Automation removed decision-making, which removed excuses.

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3. I Treated Travel Like a Financial Skill; Not an Expense

Traveling to 28 countries taught me that trips don’t have to be expensive. I used strategies like:

• Tracking flight deals
• Traveling off-peak
• Focusing on affordable countries 
• Booking reasonably priced hotels that offered cleanliness and quality
• Using transit or renting cars instead of taxis when possible
• Negotiating in markets and local shops

Travel didn’t drain my bank account. It happened because I managed money well.

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4. I Maximized Credit Card Rewards and Points

I didn’t fall into debt to earn points. Instead, I used:

• A combination of at most three credit cards for everyday purchases
  • Currently, my roster is:
    • Chase Sapphire Preferred for most spending (application link)
    • American Express Blue Cash Everything for Grocery and Gas (earn $200)
    • American Express Blue Business Plus Cards for high priced items
  • In Canada, I used:
    • American Express Cobalt for most purchases 
    • Canadian Tire World Elite for groceries and when Amex is not accepted 
    • Tangerine World for the three 2% categories you choose
• Decided which card to use based on the bonus points potential for each purchase
• Took advantage of signup bonuses regularly
• Took advantage of perks offered with the cards (purchase/travel credits and travel/car rental insurance)
• Strict “pay the balance in full” rules
• As much as possible stick to one hotel chain and one or two airline alliances. I personally use Hyatt for hotels and fly on Star Alliance or One World airlines to collect Air Canada Aeroplan points or American Airlines AAdvantage points. 
• Focused my points redemption on high value per points items 
• Take full advantage of discount codes provided by your employers for everything from rental cars, hotel stays and consumer electronics. 

This saved me thousands every year on travel.

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5. I Increased My Income Slowly and Intentionally

I advanced my career by:

• Taking stretch projects
• Building leadership skills
• Focusing on operational excellence
• Negotiating every job offer

I never made crazy money but I always made a little more each year, and I saved the difference.

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6. I Avoided the Big Money Traps Most People Fall Into

Some examples:

• I always paid my car loans in advance
• High-interest debt
• Constant phone upgrades 
• Expensive social habits 
• Overspending on housing
• Buying things to impress others

Avoiding a few big mistakes matters more than hundreds of tiny wins.

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7. I Used a Simple Budget That Took 10 Minutes a Month

My system:

• Automatic savings → the moment my paycheck landed
• Automatic bills → to avoid fees
• A monthly check-in → to adjust spending
• Yearly goal-setting → to stay aligned with my priorities

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How You Can Start Saving More While Still Traveling

Here’s how you can apply my system immediately:

Start with your “big 3” expenses: housing, transportation, food.

Small cuts don’t matter if big costs are out of control.

Automate every financial task possible.

Simplicity prevents mistakes.

Use credit card rewards to reduce travel costs, not increase spending.

Choose affordable destinations.

China, Southeast Asia, parts of Europe, South America. These destinations offer huge value.

Track your savings rate but not every penny.

Protect your money from lifestyle creep.

When income rises, don’t inflate your spending.

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Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need a High Income to Build Wealth

Saving over $1 million wasn’t a race. It was a decade of small, consistent decisions.

You don’t need a finance background or a high-paying job. You just need a system you can follow, a desire to live intentionally, and a willingness to prioritize long-term freedom over short-term consumption.

If you want to travel affordably, grow your wealth, and live life on your terms, you’re in the right place.