sTRATEGY ADJUSTMENTS

For the last 7 years, I have been living my best points and miles life thanks to Southwest Rapid Rewards. Living in the suburbs of Nashville, we have been able to use a small amount of Rapid Rewards to fly so many places nonstop. I wasn’t bothered by the free bags going away with Southwest at all. I rarely check a bag. What is bothering me is the number of miles it is now taking me to get anywhere I usually fly via Southwest. It is significantly more. We still have a companion pass in my husband’s name, so when I fly with him to Miami, it still makes sense for us to fly Southwest. However, we need a strategy change.

I had already been debating a strategy change as my boys are getting older. I started collecting more American Express Membership rewards and Capital One points. I still love my Chase Ultimate Rewards for Hyatt stays. Thanks to credit card sign-up bonuses, we are diversifying our point portfolios. A few months ago, I opened the Bank of America Alaska card. I then added the Citi American Airlines card last month. Then this morning, I thought, let’s see where United miles can get us. So my husband opened the new United Explorer Card. The American Airlines and United cards waive the annual fee for the first year. This is a low-risk way to try the cards to see if they fit our needs.

While sharing my strategy with you, I think it is important to stress that I pay my credit cards off each month. I never pay credit card interest! I track everything I spend daily to make sure we do not spend more than we make. That’s why I don’t push cards on you. I try to mention good deals so you are aware but mostly this is my journey to help inspire you.