how to build up points for travel
"How are you able to travel so much?"
It's a question I hear regularly. My usual response is generally, "We don't do anything." I mean this quite literally. The Man Friend and I go out to eat/order in once a week (twice at the most), we don't go out often (have you seen our booze collection?!), and we're both ridiculously introverted and antisocial, so we're quite content to stay home.
All joking aside, traveling is our favorite, and most expensive, hobby. One way we've been able to afford many of our trips is a simple answer: points. Yep. Credit card points. For the last 4 years, I've accumulated enough of them to earn a Companion Pass for the Man Friend on Southwest Airlines. He flies for (almost) free any time we fly together. How did I earn that? Read on, read on!
Shop Credit Cards
Find a credit card that offers cash back or an option to convert points towards travel. Both Chase Rapid Rewards and Sapphire offer them for my preferred airline, Southwest. Either way, it's important to find one that best matches your needs. The folks over at Nerd Wallet have a great comparison tool to help you get started.
Use Your Credit Card Like A Debit Card
Instead of using my debit card, which earns me nothing, I choose to use my credit card for all of my purchases. However, you have to be cautious. You've got to treat your credit card like it's attached directly to your bank account. Set a spending limit each month and make sure you stick to it.
It's also critical to pay it off in full every month to avoid interest charges. Unfortunately, many reward cards charge higher interest rates to offset the benefits they provide. In addition to keeping your credit score looking good, paying your card off each month can save you hundreds.
Another word of caution: never use your credit card for cash advances. The fees for advances are ridiculously high. Be sure to carry a regular debit card for any ATMs or cash back transactions.
Take Advantage Of Additional Bonuses
Southwest offers some really great additional benefits for Rapid Rewards members. They offer earning opportunities on regular purchases like online shopping, eating out, hotels, and even paying utility bills. You can really bank on the shopping offers, especially when they offer increased multiples for earning.
For example, I love makeup and skincare. Southwest is currently offering 4 points for every $1 spent at Sephora. That means a typical haul at Sephora would net an extra 400 points on a purchase I would have made anyway.
Spread The Love
I'm a member of the rewards programs for each of the major airlines. It's important to earn as often and as much as possible. When we went to Europe last year, we flew American and banked a ton of points for that flight. Needless to say, don't put all of your eggs in one basket (or airline).
So get out there. Join some reward programs. Sign up for a new card. Go see the world!
