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Points
Aspiration Travel and Credit Card Applications
27 Feb. 2018
Aspiration Travel and Credit Card Applications
Bling & Splash Splashy and bling filled redemptions are popular in the points hobby.  People seem to love spending large chunks of points on airline first class suites, and apartments topped off with shower’s at 40,000 feet, high end champagne, and intimate service. In accordance with FIDA (Fairness in Disclosure Act), I like to get
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The Opposite of Travel Hacking
26 Feb. 2018
The Opposite of Travel Hacking
Distorted Morality When I describe the points hobby with people I know and meet, a common response often arises. “Oh, so you’re scamming the system!” When I initially heard that, I was confused and maybe even a little insulted.  However, after some thought, I realized that the people making those remarks didn’t understand th...
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Not Sure I’m Going To Publish My Points Book
21 Feb. 2018
Not Sure I’m Going To Publish My Points Book
Just Not Sure I’ve been working on a travel hacking book for the better part of a year now.  It’s my first book, although I’ve done some independent writing at various times in my life, and it’s been a personal goal of mine to accomplish.  The book has taken many hours to write and research,
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US Bank Flexperks vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve?
17 Feb. 2018
US Bank Flexperks vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Say What? For some comparing the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is blasphomy.  In many ways it is for me too.  They are totally separate products with different benefits, earn rates, and annual fees.  The Flexperks has an annual fee of $49, while the much publicized Sapphire Reserve has a
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US Bank Fined for Facilitating Money Laundering
15 Feb. 2018
US Bank Fined for Facilitating Money Laundering
Guilty As Charged US Bank has been found guilty by federal regulators of two felony violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and will pay a total of $613 million (including $528 million in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. attorney in Manhattan) in fines for ties to facilitating money laundering. The lawsuit centers around Scott Tucker,
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Hawaii Timeshare Presentation = 40,000 Hilton Points
6 Feb. 2018
Hawaii Timeshare Presentation = 40,000 Hilton Points
Fractional Ownership? Before departing Honolulu for the North Shore, I was walking around the Ala Moana shopping center just 2 blocks from my hotel in Waikiki.  It’s claim to fame is the world’s largest open-air shopping center.  Besides being quite big, it’s also nice with standard stores that you’d find in any American mal...
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How I Differ with Others in the Points Hobby
5 Feb. 2018
How I Differ with Others in the Points Hobby
Points World Millions of people in the U.S. collect frequent flyer miles.  Add into that hotel and other related rewards, and you’ve got millions more.  Many people participate in the collection of rewards in similar ways.  They have a go to rewards credit card that they put most of their everyday spending on, fly occasionally,
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A Different Way To Value Credit Cards & Points
26 Jan. 2018
A Different Way To Value Credit Cards & Points
Opinions Vary Point valuations differ depending on who you ask and what blog you read.  The valuation variance doesn’t seem all that different for most of the big points blogs, and follow pretty consistent and similar formulas.  I glance at the various estimates, but I have my own way of looking at point valuations.  Most
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