What I learned about stocks and finance from the USA road trip

After watching the series Yellowstone at the end of 2022, I really wanted to experience Montana and Yellowstone National Park. So in September 2024 I went on a three-week road trip through the northwest of the USA. I discuss my experiences and insights about finance and stocks in a new podcast episode – and a lot more.

USA road trip overview

In September I spent three weeks traveling in the northwest of the USA – my second long stay in the States. In episode 203 I reported on my first ten-week trip through 12 states. Today I’m talking about my current road trip and some American stocks that I’ve re-evaluated.

This episode will be a little different, but hopefully just as exciting. It’s about both my current road trip and some American stocks that I looked at with new eyes during my stay.

I’m definitely excited for this episode, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered to work it all out. This doesn’t primarily have anything to do with investing, but it does have a lot to do with the memory dividend, which was already explained in detail in the first part.

One of numerous geysers in Yellowstone National Park

Because in my opinion there is no point in foregoing all extraordinary experiences just for the sake of saving money. A trip like this to the USA is expensive, but in retrospect every single euro was absolutely worth it. Nevertheless, the trip was cheaper than originally thought. I’ll also explain why that was the case in this episode.

So that the podcast doesn’t become a boring travel story, I have divided it into three parts:

Part 1 (from minute 5:27)

Here I talk about my road trip in general. Why did I make it? What were the challenges? Where did I save? And how did I manage the money and credit cards? A lot has changed here in the last two and a half years that I would like to address.

Part 2 (from minute 30:13)

In this section I present five stocks from my portfolio, report on my experiences with the companies and share my personal insights. I’m talking about the following stocks: Nike, Starbucks, Deckers Outdoor, Simon Property, Deere & Co. as well as Ross Stores and TJX.

Part 3 (from hour 01:08:21)

Finally, I’ll share anecdotes and lessons learned from my 5,370-kilometer trip through a total of five US states. This time I have the following stories on offer: the Yellowstone effect in Montana, how to turn water into gold, why the number of breweries in the USA has more than quintupled in the last 14 years, the big ticket rip-offs at concerts and, unfortunately, come I can’t avoid the topic of weapons and politics.

View of a valley in Yellowstone National Park (more pictures on Instagram)

Presented by Saily

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Summary part 1

In 2022 I discovered the series Yellowstone with Kevin Costner, which fascinated me with its gripping story and breathtaking landscape shots. The vastness and mountains of Montana in particular left a lasting impression. Inspired by the series, I planned a trip there in September 2024, which also got my better half excited, even though she hadn’t seen the series.

The planning began with booking flights from Frankfurt to Seattle. Conveniently, we were able to continue our journey where we left off in 2022. A particular highlight was a Metallica concert in Seattle at the end of August, which fit perfectly into our schedule. An artificial intelligence helped me plan the route and suggested places of interest along the route, including the western town of Cody and Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. We discussed these tips in detail in a podcast episode of “The Finance Vizier Rocks”.

Our route took us from Seattle via Interstate 90 to Rapid City in South Dakota. Rapid City is known for the nearby Mount Rushmore National Monument, which immortalizes four US presidents in stone. The surrounding area also offers six national parks, including the Black Hills and the impressive Badlands, a unique lunar landscape.

On the road in Badlands National Park in South Dakota

Pre-booking of rental cars and hotels was noticeable as inflation had a significant impact on prices. The cost of rental cars had risen significantly since the pandemic, but through clever comparison we were able to find a good deal. The fuel-efficient Toyota Corolla also helped us keep gas costs down, which made the road trip more affordable overall.

Money and account management while traveling in the USA

For my money and account management, I had a similar setup to my last trip: two credit cards and four debit cards. Although it may seem excessive to some, all of the cards were necessary and useful. I needed a credit card to fill up because not all gas pumps accept debit cards. Debit cards block a sum of $100, which can sometimes be problematic.

I also needed another credit card for hotels. When booking, a deposit is often required, which is temporarily blocked as an amount. This can result in the card’s limit being reached even though there is enough credit available. To avoid such situations, I prefer to pay with credit cards as some hotel chains require a higher deposit for debit cards.

I also had four debit cards with me. I used one exclusively to withdraw money abroad for free, as I can withdraw money three times a month without any additional fees. The other three cards included a household account for everyday expenses, a foreign currency account and a Trade Republic virtual credit card for online purchases. This virtual card was particularly useful as it worked well and gave me additional benefits.

In the USA you can pay cashless almost everywhere, but not always with Apple Pay. For example, at checkout at Walmart you have to use a physical card or the Walmart app. This shows how large retailers are trying to lock customers into their own apps, while smaller companies are often forced to offer more flexible payment methods.

We got by with $300 cash, even though $50 would have been enough. More and more stores in the US no longer accept cash, such as Lumen Field at the Metallica concert, where everything was cashless. This development is not yet widespread in Germany, where many restaurants still prefer cash.

Metallica concert at the Seattle Seahawks football stadium

The use of cashless payment methods is significantly more advanced in the USA than in Germany. This is particularly evident in stadiums and large events, where a simple payment system is implemented. In Germany there are often still difficulties with cashless payments, which can be frustrating for visitors.

Overall, my three-week road trip gave me interesting insights into life and the payment system in the USA. While not everyone needs this many credit cards, for me it was a sensible precaution. These experiences help me to better plan and adjust my finances for future trips.

The Yellowstone Effect and its effects

I really wanted to go to Montana, inspired by the series Yellowstoneto experience the impressive landscape and the cowboy lifestyle. I’m not alone, as many Americans also dream of this lifestyle. However, this trend has created a housing crisis in Montana, as population growth and the series’ influence have greatly affected the affordability and availability of housing around Yellowstone National Park.

The cities in Montana are relatively small, with Helena as the capital and only 33,000 residents. Between 2020 and 2022, over 40,000 people moved to Montana while only 8,700 new homes were built. This led to a drastic decline in the vacancy rate from 6.9% in 2017 to 3.2% in 2022. Wealthy work-from-home workers drove up demand and real estate prices, especially in Bozeman, where the median price of a single-family home rose from under $500,000 to nearly $750,000.

Capitol of the capital Helena – also the filming location for the series Yellowstone

The series Yellowstone has further increased interest in the region through increased tourism and economic development, resulting in challenges for long-time residents. The rising cost of housing and difficulties recruiting staff in Yellowstone National Park are putting many people under pressure. Bozeman is the largest city near the park, but is 90 minutes from the north entrance in Gardiner.

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park in the world and, at 9,000 square kilometers, also the largest in the USA. The park is known for its geothermal phenomena, including 10,000 geothermal springs and 60% of the world’s geysers, such as the famous Old Faithful. With its diverse wildlife, including bears, bison and elk, it offers unforgettable nature experiences. Despite the crowds in the main attractions, our off-season visit was a great experience, although the high cost of accommodation in surrounding towns means booking in advance is necessary.

The Lower Falls in Yellowstone National Park