Podcst

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

Financial Feminist

Her First $100K

April 28, 2026

Show Notes

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!


Intro

Your Bills Are Your Boarding Passes

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

How Airlines Make Money When You're Not Flying

Earning Miles on Your Utility Bills (NRG Partnership)

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

How to Travel for Free Without a Credit Card

What Started Solo Travel: A Friendship Betrayal in Amsterdam

Learning to Enjoy Your Own Company at 30

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

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

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

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

Country That Surprised Me Most: Kuwait

The One Thing I Always Pack: A Carbon Monoxide Detector

Worst Travel Disaster: Saint Kitts Airport Scam

Best Flight Deal: $5 Flights as a Lifestyle

Most Underrated Solo Destination: Antigua and Barbuda

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

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