Travelling the world can often feel completely out of reach when you’re trying to save money, pay rent and keep up with the rising cost of living, but budget travel is far more realistic than you might think.

This week I’m joined by Will and Eve, a couple who quit their jobs six months ago to travel the world on a budget with a one-way ticket and a mission to go as far as their savings will take them. 

From overnight buses and budget hostels to money-saving hacks and travelling slower, they share how to travel on budget without it feeling restrictive. 

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

The best ways to save money travelling in the UK

How to save money on accommodation

Best way to save money on flights and trains

Tips for anyone wanting to travel without spending a fortune

💬 More about Will & Eve:

“Ey up! We’re Will and Eve. Travel lovers and money saving enthusiasts. We’ve packed in our jobs and are currently travelling on a one way ticket, going as far as the brass’ll stretch. Which knowing us, should last us yonks! Follow along to learn how we explore the world while being as tight as a ducks a***.”

INSTAGRAM: @tighttravellers

TIKTOK: @tighttravellers

BLOG: https://tighttravellers.co.uk/

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you.

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review - it helps more people find the show, and it genuinely means the world.

Thanks for listening,

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politics shouldn’t feel confusing, intimidating, or completely inaccessible, yet so many of us young adults feel disengaged or shut out from issues that affect our everyday life.

Well not anymore.

This week I’m joined by Georgia Richardson, Head of Communications at Girls Who Talk Politics, to chat about everything about politics we probably should have learned in school.

From elections to voting, the Green Party to Reform UK, we’re stripping politics right back to basics while having a debrief about last week’s election results. 

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• The politics basics many of us were never taught in school
• Why it’s important to vote
• How political decisions affect your everyday life
• The significance of the most recent set of UK elections 
• How to avoid misinformation online 

💬 More about Georgia & Girls Who Talk Politics:

Georgia is the Head of Communications for Girls Who Talk Politics, a grassroots educational platform dedicated to making politics more accessible for young women. GWTP has grown from an Instagram page to a multiplatform community, hosting sold out parliamentary events and interviewing key political figures including the Prime Minister, among others. The platform is all volunteer run, with every member of the team also working fulltime. For her day job, Georgia works in Public Affairs in Westminster and also volunteers with the Adult Literacy Trust.

Instagram: @girlswhotalkpolitics

TikTok: @girlswhotalkpolitics

LinkedIn: Girls Who Talk Politics

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. \

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you could cut your biggest expense, work from anywhere, and build a lifestyle centred around freedom and flexibility? This week on the Quarter-Life Questions podcast, I’m joined by Emma Truscott, a full-time house sitter and freelancer who’s done exactly that.

Instead of paying rent, Emma travels between homes, caring for pets and properties while working remotely and embracing a lifestyle built around change. We're finding out how she got started, what house sitting actually looks like day to day, and the realities of living life without a permanent base.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• What full-time house-sitting looks like in practice
• How to build trust with homeowners when you’re just starting out
• Emma’s favourite and most memorable house-sitting experiences
• Practical advice for anyone thinking of giving house sitting a go

💬 More about Emma:

Emma Truscott is a full-time house sitter and freelancer who has built a unique, low-expense lifestyle centred around travel, flexibility, and freedom. By moving between homes and caring for pets, she’s been able to significantly reduce her living costs while working remotely and exploring new places. Emma embraces change as part of her everyday life and is passionate about showing others that there are alternative ways to live beyond the traditional 9-5 and fixed-home model.

Instagram: @wheres_ems

TikTok: @wheres_ems

Substack: @wheresems

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. 

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With more than 1.35 million people in the UK now working multiple jobs, this week on the pod we’re diving into the rise of poly-employment and what it actually looks like day to day.

I’m joined by Chloe Mayhew, who’s balancing freelance graphic design, teaching drama and dance, and working in a care home all while building towards a long-term career in the creative industry.

We chat about the reality of juggling multiple roles, the financial side of having more than one income stream, and whether having a “portfolio career” is the future of work for our generation.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• What poly-employment actually is (and why it’s growing)
• What Chloe’s day-to-day schedule really looks like 
• The pros and cons of juggling multiple jobs
• The unexpected skills you gain from working different roles
• Tips and advice for juggling multiple jobs

💬 More about Chloe:

Chloe Mayhew is 27 and based in Glasgow. She embraces a true portfolio career, juggling multiple roles across acting, singing, teaching, care work, and freelance graphic design and social media. No two days look the same, ranging from creative work and filming to 14-15 hour shifts and she’s built a lifestyle that blends variety with flexibility. Chloe is a strong advocate for poly-employment, highlighting how working multiple jobs can actually create more freedom and open doors to a wider range of opportunities.

INSTAGRAM: @chloemayhew___

TIKTOK: @chloerooney_

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. 

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Debt can feel overwhelming, isolating, and like something you’ll never quite get on top of. The truth is, so many people are in the same boat. A 2024 survey found nearly half of Gen Z in the UK has some form of debt.

So this week, we’re talking about how to break the cycle, take back control, and start building a healthier relationship with money. I’m joined by money coach Veronia Spaine, who shares her own journey of paying off £16,000 of debt in just 18 months, along with practical advice to help you do the same. 

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• Veronia’s personal debt story 
• How to get out of the “debt cycle” and take back control
• How to build better money habits that actually stick
• Why starting a savings pot is crucial for long-term financial stability

💬 More about Veronia:

Veronia is a money coach who helps working women pay off their most stressful debt and build savings so they never go back into debt again. After paying off £16,000 in 18 months, she realised that it’s not just about how much you earn, but how you manage your money and the systems you have in place. She now supports women who are earning but not seeing it reflected in their bank account. Her approach focuses on creating simple, practical systems that actually work in real life.

Check out her content on TikTok @veronia.spaine and Instagram @veroniaspaine for more tips and support.

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. 

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Student loans, something so many of us signed up for without really questioning, but lately there’s been a lot more conversation around whether the system is actually fair.

This week we’re breaking down what’s really going on with UK student loans, especially Plan 2, and how the current terms could impact your financial future.

I’m joined by Ollie Gardner, founder of campaign group Rethink Repayment, who explains how the system works, why he’s calling for change, and what changes he’d like to see in the future. 

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• What a Plan 2 student loan actually is and how repayments work
• How interest rates impact what you’ll repay over time
• The problem with repayment thresholds
• The need for better education around the student loan system
• What changes campaigners are calling for

💬 More about Rethink Repayment:

Rethink Repayment is a UK-based campaign group focused on raising awareness about the realities of the student loan system, particularly for graduates on Plan 2 loans. They aim to educate borrowers on how interest rates, repayment thresholds, and long-term costs actually work, while challenging common misconceptions. The group also advocates for policy changes to create a fairer, more transparent repayment system for current and future students.

Find out more about Rethink Repayment and how to get involved via their website.

Sign the petition here. 

TikTok: @rethinkrepayment 

Instagram: @rethinkrepayment

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. 

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the new tax year deadline on April 6th fast approaching, this week on the pod we’re breaking down everything you need to know about ISAs, savings, and how to make smarter financial decisions in your twenties.

I’m joined by money expert Rachel Springhall, who shares a clear, no-jargon guide to ISAs, the different options available, and how to make the most of your money before your annual allowance resets.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• What an ISA actually is and how it works
• The different types of ISAs (Cash, Stocks & Shares, Lifetime)
• How to choose the right ISA for your goals
• Why the April 6th deadline matters (and what “use it or lose it” means)
• Common mistakes people make with their savings

*please note the following episode does not contain financial advice.

💬 More about Rachel: 

Rachel Springall is an award winning finance expert at Moneyfacts with 20+ years working in the finance industry. She also posts regular money updates, explainers and tips online. 

Check out her latest videos here. 

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you. 

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review if you got a minute spare, it helps a lot. 

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what it’s actually like to be a doctor in your twenties? 

This week on the pod, we’re diving into the real experience of studying medicine and working as a doctor in your quarter-life stage, from long hours and burnout to the truth behind NHS strikes and just how competitive things get after you qualify.

I’m joined by Dr Noor Al-Saffar, a Manchester-based resident doctor, and Anusha Gajanan, a medical student at the University of Sheffield, who both share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what this path actually involves - beyond the textbooks and headlines.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• Why they chose medicine and whether it lived up to expectations
• The hardest parts of medical school that no one talks about
• What it’s actually like working as a doctor in your 20s
• NHS doctor strikes - why they happened and what they really mean
• The reality of the competitive job market and current pay and working conditions
• Advice for future med students

💬 More about the BMA: 

BMA Students is the medical student arm of the British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union and professional body representing doctors and medical students in the UK. It advocates for students throughout medical school, providing support, guidance, and a collective voice on key issues like education, wellbeing, funding, and the future of the medical profession. Find out more here. 

Instagram: @thebma // @bma.students

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review - it helps more people find the show, and it genuinely means the world.

Thanks so much for listening - and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moving abroad to teach English can sound like the ultimate escape — new country, new culture, a fresh start… but it can also feel like a massive leap into the unknown.

This week on Quarter-Life Questions podcast, I’m joined by Alex Ranahan, who spent time teaching English overseas before returning to the UK to build his own virtual events business. What might have started as an adventure ended up shaping his life, career and the way he runs his company today.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• What it’s actually like teaching English abroad day-to-day
• The challenges no one talks about when moving overseas
• How living abroad builds confidence and independence
• The transferable skills teaching gives you
• How Alex’s time abroad influenced his virtual events business

💬 More about Alex:

Alex Ranahan is the founder of a UK-based virtual events business. After spending time teaching English overseas, he returned home with a completely new perspective on communication, leadership and adaptability, all skills that now underpin his business. His journey is proof that career paths don’t have to be linear to be valuable.

Find out more about Alex here.

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Slide into my DMs over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review - it helps more people find the show, and it genuinely means the world.

Thanks for listening,

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever scrolled past those “work from your laptop”, “free holidays”, “be your own boss” travel agent videos and thought… wait, is that actually legit? ✈️

Same. 

Well, if you’re wanting to know whether it’s too good to be true or if it’s actually possible, you’re in luck. This week on the pod, we’re talking about all things independent travel agents… and the big question: is it a genuine business opportunity or just another social media pipe dream?

I’m joined by Max Kelly -  an independent travel agent who’s been running his own business for nearly three years. He’s also a director at JLT Travel Group and is known for being very honest online about what the industry is really like.

✨ In this episode, we chat about:

• Whether you can actually make money as an independent travel agent
• How host agencies really work
• The skills you actually need to succeed
• Red flags to watch out for when choosing a host agency
• The truth about “free trips” and travel perks

💬 More about Max:

Max Kelly runs Loupr, a high-end travel company specialising in luxury trips for couples. Alongside running his own business, he’s also a director at JLT Travel Group. Max is passionate about bringing transparency to the industry and helping people understand what it really takes to build a sustainable travel business beyond the glossy TikToks.

TikTok: @goloupr // @itsmax.travel

Instagram: @goloupr // @itsmax.travel

Check out Loupr's website here.

Check out The JLT Group website here.

📲 Want to get involved?

Got a Quarter Life Question you’d love to hear answered on the pod?

Send me a DM over on Instagram @gracemcintosh1 or TikTok  @gracemcintosh_  - I’d love to hear from you.

⭐ Enjoying the podcast?

Please leave a 5-star review - it helps more people find the show.

Thanks so much for listening - and I’ll catch you next week!

Grace x

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.