BUENOS AIRES — Maria Laposata quit her job and traveled around the world with her husband for one year. She took what she called a "mini-retirement" and visited over 70 cities in 22 countries during their year of travel.

The couple set a $75,000 budget for the trip, covering travel expenses and home bills while they were away. They tracked their spending daily and stayed close to their forecasted travel budget.

During their travels, Laposata stood 15 feet from rhinos during a safari in Zimbabwe. She took a pizza-making class in Naples and learned to haggle during her travels in Morocco. Her husband is an experienced mountaineer.

About a month into the trip, they felt exhausted and added buffer days to each city they visited for rest. They sought advice from fellow travelers who had already visited their upcoming destinations.

Laposata sprained her back during the trip. Her back sprain caused her pain for months and on the worst days she could hardly move. She initially purchased a backpack emphasizing pockets, organization, and anti-theft features rather than back support. She now prioritizes back support when choosing a travel backpack.

The couple agreed to return home as soon as one of them obtained a job offer. They were in Buenos Aires at the end of their trip. When they neared job offers, they flew to the Caribbean. "We'd just go home, and that would be it?" Laposata said.

Laposata overlooked budgeting for the expenses of returning home after the trip. She used savings she had not planned to touch to cover costs like a new apartment deposit, first month's rent, movers, and groceries.

After returning to work, she focused her job search on roles similar to her previous position. She was laid off years after returning to work. She later founded Travelries, her own travel company.