When I left my job, one of our biggest dreams was to finally visit the places we’d spent years reading about.
Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the lavender fields of France… all bookmarked in our travel guide collection.

But let’s be honest: flights are expensive, and when you’re on a fixed income, even economy seats can feel like a splurge — let alone business class.

So we assumed our trips would be simple. Budget-friendly. Maybe a few domestic flights and lots of road trips.

We were okay with that… until one evening changed everything.

It happened over wine with our neighbor, John — who seems to be on a new adventure every time we see him.

“How do you do it?” I finally asked. “You travel more now than when you were working full time.”

He just smiled and said, “Capital One Shopping.”

I thought he was joking. Capital One? A bank?
But no — he meant a free browser extension that helped him snag deals not just on travel… but on nearly everything.

I was skeptical. I’d used coupons my whole life. I knew my way around a sale. But this wasn’t about clipping.
This was smarter.

I installed Capital One Shopping in about 30 seconds.
No forms. No cost. Just a browser extension that quietly worked in the background.

And what happened next?
Well, let’s just say I felt like I’d been missing out for years.

Suddenly, I was seeing real-time price drops on flights, hotels, and even the tools I normally bought from Lowe’s or Amazon.
It automatically applied coupon codes at checkout. Compared prices across retailers. And showed me deals I would have never found on my own.

But the real kicker?

One day I searched for Delta flights.
And just like that, there it was — a business class ticket at a price I usually pay for coach. No gimmick. No catch.

I clicked. Booked. And that was it.

I always thought business class was for executives and reward point collectors.
But now I know: it’s also for retirees… if you know where to look.

We boarded the plane early.
Stretch-your-legs space. A real dinner. A warm blanket. A pillow that actually did something.
And the best part? My wife slept through most of the flight — something she’s never been able to do in economy.

It wasn’t about luxury.
It was about comfort without guilt.
Something we’d earned, but thought we couldn’t afford.

Now I use Capital One Shopping almost daily.
Whether it’s booking a hotel or just restocking household supplies, I’ve saved on:

• Flights and rental cars

• Hotels and luggage

• Groceries, home tools, clothing

• And even silly little things like gardening gloves and kitchen gadgets

It even has a deal feed and personalized alerts once you create an account (which I highly recommend).
I started getting daily emails with tailored deals, and learned that if I made just one smart purchase a month, I’d save $130+ annually.

That’s more than I ever made cutting coupons.

If you’re anything like me — someone who still wants to live well, explore more, and spend less — this is the easiest shift you can make.

It costs nothing.
It saves like crazy.
And it turns ordinary plans into extraordinary memories.

We’re now eyeing Japan.
Business class again.
And this time? We’ll know what to expect — quiet comfort, at a price that still lets us sleep at night.

You don’t need a travel agent.
You don’t need a credit card hack.
You just need a small tool that knows how to find the big wins.

Capital One Shopping turned us from bargain hunters into savvy travelers — without ever changing our budget.

It’s free. It’s easy. And if you’re dreaming of that trip…
This might be your best first step.