New York (CNN/Money) - Ben Franklin may believe that a penny saved is a penny earned, but don't tell that to Jeff and Joelle Berlat.

It's not that the Houston, TX couple don't care about making the most out of the money they earn. They do. In fact, they're worth $185,412, most of which is in their retirement funds and personal savings accounts. Not bad for a couple in their mid-thirties. (Jeff's 36, two years older than Joelle.)

But by Jeff's own account, he and his wife are lousy role models for frugal types who believe the only way to get rich is to squeeze every penny and track every dollar.

"We're horrible about budgeting," he admits. "We save what we save and we spend the rest."

Take their passion for travel. In the past year alone, they've visited Ireland and Cancun and have taken weekend trips to Virginia, New York City and Chicago. New Orleans is on the itinerary in November. Their first trip in 2003 will be a week in Germany.

How do they do it?

Instead of tracking their everyday expenses, the Berlats simply shovel huge sums of money in savings and leave the rest for carefree adventures. Both max out their retirement accounts, which are primarily invested in large cap mutual funds. They also stash $2,000 a month in savings, which they stash in both stock mutual funds as well as "safe" investments like money market and municipal bonds. Anything left over is fun money. In fact, based on their current savings rates and assets, they'll become millionaires in just under 10 years. (To find out how long it will take you, click our Millionaire in the Making calculator.)

"We own no individual stock because we don't have the time to devote to maintain a portfolio of individual stock investments," says Joelle, who works as a senior tax manager at Deloitte & Touche. "I'd rather have a professional money manager do that for me...I'm also a big believer in having something liquid that's relatively safe."

That said, the couple is quick to point out that several factors help them save and spend as freely as they do.

Their combined $160,000 salary goes a long way to helping them achieve their goals. And Jeff credits his wife for getting him on track financially.

Three years ago, in fact, he was struggling to pay off credit card bills. At the time, he was in his first job and his paycheck was modest. Joelle, on the other hand, was living in a house she owned and had already amassed $80,000 in her 401(k).

"I was one of those money pits, when you're making $25,000 a year and you're $10,000 in debt. I always knew I'd have the habit to save but I never had the money to do it," he says. "When Joelle and I moved in together I focused on managing my money. She paid the mortgage and it let me pay my debts. I couldn't have done it without her."

Today, Jeff -- who's a cash manager at an oil and gas services company -- has over $15,000 in his own 401(k) and each time he gets a raise he boosts his savings but keeps his spending rate level. That kind of discipline has helped the couple stash some $45,000 in money market and bond funds. And it's helping them refinance the house they bought last June after selling Joelle's first home.

By switching to a 15-year loan, they'll pay $300 more a month on their mortgage. But the long-term rewards mean shaving some $170,000 from interest costs over the life of their loan. Meanwhile, Jeff just paid off his 1998 Mustang, which he plans to drive for a long time. And he's using the money that went to car payments to make extra house payments and to boost their savings even more.

"We don't have kids so this helps us put away more money," he said. "And there's no state income tax. That's a huge help. I can't imagine living in New York or Boston. We couldn't afford to fund our 401(k)s like we do if we lived in Boston."

But aside from investments -- house and retirement savings -- Jeff and Joelle spend freely on travel. When asked if they track everyday expenses, like grocery and utility bills they point to their credit card bill, which reflects most of their costs.

"We charge everything we can -- groceries, Internet service, the phone bill, gas -- and earn air miles," says Joelle. "Then we pay it off every month."