ONE TRIP AT A TIME. Eau Claire's Jeff and Angie Holzinger, pictured, just started up their own online venture within the past few years – thanks to the encouragement of friends – in 2023. This year, they were recognized by the Midwest Travel Network for their growing influence. (All photos via Thrifty Living Travel Freedom socials)

Under their online moniker ‘Thrifty Living Travel Freedom,’ locals Jeff and Angie Holzinger have traveled across the country and globe together. They’re able to do so by stretching their dollars and in turn, share just how they do it across social media and their blog.

As they continue to document and share these adventures online, the duo recently earned an award – the 2026 Rising Star award – from the Midwest Travel Network, an organization which connects growing travel writers with regional destinations and tourism partners.

Since its launch in 2023, Thrifty Living Travel Freedom has garnered some 4,000 followers and subscribers, yet reaches tens of thousands through social media posts. The Holzingers started taking their online endeavor seriously late last year.

“Our follower count is small in the world of content creation, as is our monthly blog visitors number,” Angie says, “but in the past 30 days we have had over 114,000 views on our social media content.”

“We do this because we love travel, encompassing a small escape in our beautiful home or Eau Claire or an international getaway,” she continued. “We want to share with others that those experiences are obtainable on a budget if they’re interested.”

Thrifty Living Travel Freedom’s blog posts range from close-to-home experiences – roundups of alpaca farms, apple orchards and more in the Eau Claire area – to cost-conscious tips and tricks, spanning “road trip gas money saving” hacks to luggage product reviews.

These travels have taken the Holzingers from places around the Midwest to across the country, to international destinations including Spain, Turks & Caicos, Sweden and more.

A number of their adventures have been inspired by finding good deals, Angie shared. “We often differentiate that, for us, budget travel doesn’t mean cheap. It means being intentional about our spending and where we find value,” she said.

“We will splurge on an experience when we see value in it, but that will often be planned around picnics and free attractions to ensure the trip itself isn’t too costly,” she continued.

Northern Lights views with Thrifty Living Travel Freedom.

Tropical adventures with Thrifty Living Travel Freedom.

While each of them have a hefty dose of the travel bug now, before they met, Jeff wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of globetrotting as a hobby.

Ironically, the duo met in a more sedentary way: online. Back in 2003 – “when meeting online was still very new,” the couple noted – the stars (and their dating profiles) aligned, despite Jeff’s lack of interest in traveling.

When they met, Jeff told Angie, ‘I don’t like travel because you don’t have anything to for it in the end.’ Their decades-long relationship nearly ended before it began, right then and there – instead, they met in the middle.

With Angie’s top-notch travel planning skills and Jeff’s money management know-how, they fell in love while traveling near and far.

By 2019, Angie had visited all 50 states, five continents and 35 countries, a decent portion of those trips taken with Jeff at her side.

Thrifty Living Travel Freedom's Top 5 Trip Destinations (Beyond Wisconsin)

1. Germany: "Thanks to our German heritage that we both share, it feels like home."
2. Puerto Rico: "A cultural experience with tropical beauty that doesn't require ea passport. (We specifically suggest beyond San Juan if time allows.)
3. Browne's Beach in Barbados: "(This place is) that little slice of heaven we both return to in our dreams regularly. Think white sand as soft as powdered sugar, calm aqua water and water so clear you can see your toes when you're up to your neck, to get an idea why we love it."
4. Geiranger, Norway: "(This place) wowed us with the absolutely stunning fjords and waterfalls all around."
5. Shipshewana, Indiana: "(This) is a new addition to the list. It's the epitome of hospitality in a charming 800-person town that brings in millions of visitors a year to experience the charm, Amish businesses and unexpected experiences like bison feeding." 

Now, thanks to friends who encouraged the couple to share their cost-conscious adventures and sweet personalities online, the Holzingers have grown their digital venture and skills. As they reach more people, both can see how their experiences help others make their own travel memories.

“We have regular outreach from readers who share they visited somewhere that we suggested and loved it, or tried a travel tip we shared and it went well,” the duo shared. “Those outreaches are our main 'why' that we keep working on (through Thrifty Living Travel Freedom).”

Find Thrifty Living Travel Freedom on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, or keep up with them through their blog of the same name.