Hi Reader,

Summer vacation time is here, and I just had to share a victory from my family's trip about a week ago. It is something that anyone can do, and it is another perfect example of the power of the ask.

Here's the scenario...

My wife and son and I spent nearly two weeks in South Korea in June. It was a dream trip for my son, who has been obsessed with Korean culture -- from the music and TV shows to the food and the language -- for years. It certainly isn't a cheap trip, but we leveraged Chase points and Marriott rewards to make a huge difference in the cost.

BTW, my son isn't the only one who is all about Korean culture. My 76-year-old mother calls herself K-Pop megagroup BTS' oldest fangirl. Their positivity and energy helped lift my mom's spirits during those dark days after my dad passed from cancer in 2020. I tweeted about it in 2022, and the tweet went viral with thousands of BTS fans -- they call themselves "the Army" -- tweeting kind words of support and encouragement for my mom. Army even helped raise more than $1,000 in funds for cancer research in my late father's name. For all those reasons, you'll never hear me be anything but glowing about K-Pop.

Anyway, we had an incredible time on the trip. We ate incredible barbecue and tasty street food -- so much street food. We toured spectacular temples. We cheered with the wildly passionate fans at two Korean baseball games. (Seriously, if you've never seen how much Korean fans get into games, check this YouTube clip out. The games are like being at a dance party every inning. So much fun.) We visited the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, which was staggering. We even logged a little beach time. An absolutely unforgettable visit.

Even the travel was relatively painless, for the most part. The flights were long (like 12+ hours from San Francisco to Seoul after a 3-4 hour flight from Austin to SF) and the time changes were massive (Seoul is 14 hours ahead of Austin), but it went smoothly. That is, until we tried to make our connecting flight on the way home.

Long story short, after dealing with customs and baggage, we missed our connecting flight, leaving us stuck for an additional 5-ish hours at SFO. United Airlines treated us well, all in all, doing what they could to get us on the earliest possible flight, but there's only so much that can be done sometimes.

Here's where our victory happened...

It was a simple ask. "Since we're going to be here for several more hours, would it be possible for us to get some vouchers for food and drink?"

That was it.

A couple minutes later, we were each given vouchers worth $45, adding up to $135 in total vouchers for the family. The vouchers could be used for food and drink, including alcohol, at participating food vendors in the airport.

That was a big deal. $135 is real money, and we wouldn't have gotten it without asking. We put them to use later that day, getting a full meal with a beer and a glass of wine for my wife and I.

On a page at United.com titled "Our United Customer Commitment," the airline says this: "For cancellations or delays within our control, like mechanical issues, that result in your waiting for more than three hours, we’ll give you a digital or printed meal voucher. This voucher can be used for the reasonable cost of a meal at airport food vendors. If you don’t automatically get one, just ask us."

That last part is key because even though it is their policy to offer these vouchers in certain circumstances, it won't always happen. It's yet another example of how just taking the time to ask a simple question can pay major dividends.

That's the overarching message of my book, "Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How To Take Control Of Your Financial Life." You have far more power over your money than you realize, and a simple question can often help you wield that power. The book is filled with 45 different scenarios, ranging from lowering medical bills and credit card fees to getting hotel upgrades and even raises and promotions at work. And each ask comes with word-for-word scripts for how to do it.

The goal: Empowering you to ask the questions that can make a difference in your financial life. I hope you'll check it out.

What's on your mind?

This newsletter is meant to be a conversation rather than a lecture. I'd love to hear what's on your mind.

• What's your biggest financial concern right now?
• Brag about your latest financial win, even if it's something small
• Tell me about a time when asking for something or advocating for yourself made a difference in your life
• Ask me any question you'd like to know or share any comment you have about the newsletter

Those are just a few ideas. Whatever you're thinking about, I'd love to hear. Shoot me a note at mattschulzwrites@gmail.com.

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My mission is to help empower people to take control of their financial lives, and I can really use your help.

If you've read the book, please consider leaving a review at Amazon or Goodreads or wherever you purchased the book. It can make a huge difference.

Thank you so much!

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Talk to you soon,
Matt