What are points and miles?
Points and miles are all about using credit card welcome offers and everyday spending to earn rewards that can be redeemed for unforgettable family trips. However, many points and miles accounts don’t focus on the financial side of things, which I believe is the most important first step. By getting your finances in order first, you’ll set yourself up for success and can fully enjoy the fun part—earning and using points and miles for amazing experiences!
Where to Start
My top advice for families getting into points and miles is to start by making sure you’re in a solid financial position. Ask yourself:
Do you pay your credit cards on time and in full?
If you’re carrying credit card debt and paying interest, focus on building the habit of spending within your means before diving into points and miles.
How’s your credit score?
If you’re unsure, check it for free using the Experian app. This will give you both your credit score and a detailed credit report to help you understand where you stand.
Do you have a travel budget or savings?
Before you meet your first welcome offer, it’s helpful to have some money set aside for travel. I recommend saving a few thousand dollars. While you won’t need it all at once, having funds ready will allow you to book your family’s first trip as soon as you're ready to redeem your points.
Once these basics are in place, you're ready to get started! Let the adventure begin! ✈️
Specific Destination
If you know where you want to go, start by working backward. Ask yourself:
-What airlines fly to that destination?
-What hotels are available there?
The answers to these questions will help guide you toward the right credit card to open, tailored to your travel goals.
Flexible Points
This is where most people start—they know they want to travel but aren’t tied to a specific destination. If this sounds like you, I recommend beginning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Earning the welcome offer will give you 60,000 points, which can be transferred to a variety of travel partners, giving you the flexibility to plan your trip when the time comes.
Free Credit Card Consultation
If you’re unsure where to start, simply fill out my FREE credit card consult form, and I’ll get back to you within three days with a personalized card recommendation. Let’s get you on your way to earning points and planning your next adventure! ✈️
How to Meet a Welcome Offer
If you’re thinking, There’s no way I can spend $4,000 in three months to meet a credit card welcome offer!—trust me, I’ve been there. When I got my first card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, I thought the same thing. But guess what? I hit the minimum spend in just one month! 🤯
Here’s how it happened:
- Our car broke down unexpectedly, costing $2,000.
- The rest came from everyday expenses like groceries, gas, and utility payments.
Thankfully, we had a car fund saved up, so it didn’t throw off our budget.
But what if you don’t have a large, unexpected expense? You’d be surprised how much your regular spending adds up. By putting every single expense—bills, groceries, gas, and more—on your credit card, we realized we could have met the welcome offer in two months even without the car repair.
After your first card, you’ll have a clearer idea of your monthly spending, which is super helpful for planning future cards.
For example, our family is on a smaller budget, so we avoid cards with a $20,000 spend requirement in three months. However, we strategically time new cards to align with big expenses.
Do you pay your property taxes and homeowners insurance separately from your mortgage? Both can often be paid with a credit card! For us, our summer property taxes are almost double the winter taxes, and they’re due at the same time as our annual house insurance. During that season, I’ll choose a card with a higher welcome offer like the Chase Ink Preferred, knowing those big expenses will help me meet the spending requirement.
With a little planning and strategy, meeting those minimum spends becomes a lot more achievable! 💳✨
