Have you ever wondered what life would look like if you designed your days around freedom instead of work? What would change if you could travel for months at a time, pick projects you actually enjoy, and still watch your net worth climb into the millions?

Today you’ll hear how Lauren and Stephen Keys, creators of Trip of a Lifestyle, built a million dollar net worth in their early thirties and used it to create a flexible, travel-filled life. They didn’t wait for traditional retirement at 65. They didn’t burn out on the way to FIRE. Instead, they created a lifestyle where they work less, live more, and let their money do the heavy lifting.

This conversation originally aired last year and quickly became one of our most-watched interviews, so it felt like the perfect Best of MKM feature for this holiday week. Lauren and Stephen share how they avoided lifestyle creep, traveled the world cheaply, took mini retirements, paid off two homes, and built more confidence with each dollar saved.

If you're dreaming of more time freedom, this story will show you what’s possible.

CHAPTERS 🎧

0:00 Intro

0:26 Meet Lauren and Stephen Keys

2:00 The moment that changed everything

4:15 Early moves that accelerated their wealth

5:11 Avoiding lifestyle creep

6:50 How they travel constantly without overspending

9:03 Their first six month mini retirement in Hawaii

10:42 Visiting every national park

12:17 Leaving full-time work

13:38 Life at a million-dollar net worth

15:36 Why they still choose to work

16:38 Rethinking traditional retirement

18:05 Breaking down their million dollar portfolio

19:20 Paying off homes vs investing

21:39 Looking ahead to the next decade

22:57 One step couples can take today

23:20 Where to find Lauren and Stephen

RESOURCES 📚

Own Your Time
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

Track Your Net Worth with Empower
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower

Trip of a Lifestyle
https://www.tripofalifestyle.com

Cram Better tutoring
https://crambetter.com

Trip of a Lifestyle Financial Roadmap
https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/roadmap

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you.

Opinions are our own.

Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation.

Marriage Kids and Money (https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.

CREDITS 🎙️

Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson

Editor: Johnny Sohl

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