Blogs
Points
The Increasing Importance of Business Rewards Cards
17 Jun. 2018
The Increasing Importance of Business Rewards Cards
Glass Half Full I returned a couple of weeks ago from a 2.5 week trip in Eastern Europe with a buddy of mine.  My friend is very new to international travel, but saw the power of points during our trip.  We had lounge access in every airport that we visited, stayed in elite hotels, and
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Life After A Barclays Shutdown?
16 Jun. 2018
Life After A Barclays Shutdown?
Shutdown About 6 months ago I was shutdown by Barlcays.  The shutdown was unexpected, affected 3 rewards cards that I had with the bank, and it was largely my fault.  Basically late last year I took a couple of back to back trips overseas, and used Barclays Arrival Plus card for a good deal of
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National Points Conference:  FTU New York
2 Jun. 2018
National Points Conference: FTU New York
FTU New York Some people new to the points and miles hobby don’t realize that there are national conferences with people just like them.  The two most prominent are FTU and Chicago Seminars. It’s nearing game time, but if you have an interest and can get to New York in a week, Frequent Traveler University (FTU)
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Downgrading the U.S. Bank Flexperks
2 Jun. 2018
Downgrading the U.S. Bank Flexperks
Phobic When I first got into the points and miles game roughly 5 years ago, I was very fee phobic when it came to annual fees connected to rewards cards.  That phobia has subsided some and full disclosure, I willingly paid the $450 annual fee for the Amex Business Platinum.  Thus far though, it’s been
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Accruing $500,000 Worth of Travel From Points
18 May. 2018
Accruing $500,000 Worth of Travel From Points
Measured Each year I have points and miles earning goals.  My daily goal is earn 10,000 points/miles.  Please understand that I’m not tossing out that stat to brag or boast, as nothing I write is meant to take that path.  I recognize that some people earn much less than that and also know that others
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Fee Free Visa Gift Cards at AAA (select locations)
14 May. 2018
Fee Free Visa Gift Cards at AAA (select locations)
American Automobile Association (AAA) and MS? Fee free manufactured spend (MS) is great.  The only thing that beats it is points + cash (or just heavy amounts of cash!).  I’ve heard the rumor for several days, and according to some recent data points and DoctorofCredit AAA is once again selling fee free Visa gift cards.  The downside
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“Saving” Over $20,000 on My Last Trip
8 May. 2018
“Saving” Over $20,000 on My Last Trip
Saving? I just burned through 585,000+ points in the 2.5 week trip to Eastern Europe with a good friend of mine.  Those were points well spent as we had a good trip.  My buddy hadn’t been out of the country for well over 10 years, so having some comfort along the way in the form
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More Free Points:  Office Max/Depot Promotion
7 May. 2018
More Free Points: Office Max/Depot Promotion
Tip of the Cap A hat tip to reader Ma Barker for pointing out a deal yesterday that I missed:  more free points at Office Max/Depot with another negative cost Visa gift card promotion. The promotion is pretty standard:  get $15 off (instantly at checkout) $300 (or more) worth of Visa Everywhere branded (debit) gift
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