✈️ Travel Hacker of the Month: Carrie from TrackRak
Carrie and I hit it off immediately because we’re wired the same way — we both love easy, realistic strategies that help you earn more points without turning your life into a spreadsheet. And just like everything I feature on No Point Left Behind, I only promote tools I personally use. TrackRak is one of them. I’m an affiliate, yes, but I’m also a paying customer, and that’s the part that matters to me. If you want the full Lazy Girl breakdown of how I use TrackRak in my own routine, I wrote a whole post about it — you can read it here. I try to keep it real around here, and Carrie’s approach fits perfectly with that philosophy.
💡 How Carrie Got Started
Carrie’s journey began back in the eBates days. She loved earning cashback but wanted to travel more. When she discovered she could earn Amex Membership Rewards through Rakuten instead of cash, everything clicked.
“Maximizing every dollar I spent became a strategic game.”
That same mindset inspired her to build TrackRak — born out of frustration with missed cashback increases and a desire for simplicity. Now, she helps others catch those rate jumps automatically.
👩👧👦 Who She Travels With
Carrie mostly travels with her three kids. As they’ve grown, making memories together has become her biggest priority. Her recent college‑graduation trip to Croatia with her oldest daughter was a turning point — her first taste of solo travel.
“I stayed near them most of the trip but gave them space to explore. I loved it — and I can definitely see more solo trips in my future!”
🌍 Favorite Trip Booked with Points
Carrie used to hoard points, waiting for the “perfect” redemption. Then she decided to use them — and booked business‑class flights to Croatia with points.
“It completely changed how I think about travel. I used to see flying as something to endure, but this time I wished the flights were longer!”
She’s also enjoyed stays at the Andaz Scottsdale and Wild Dunes Resort — experiences she says she never would’ve paid cash for.
🧠 Travel Hack She Swears By
Carrie’s golden rule: stack rewards whenever possible — but keep it simple.
She sets TrackRak alerts for higher Rakuten rates, uses the best credit card for points, and buys gift cards during special promos to layer extra rewards.
“When Amazon was a Chase 5x category, I stocked up on gift cards. When grocery shopping, I always use Kroger Pay in the app to get 3x on groceries. I also jumped on the 'Paze Craze', and have been getting almost daily deliveries from Sephora!”
🚫 Mistake She Made Early On
Carrie wishes she’d switched her Rakuten earnings from cashback to points sooner.
“When my kids were little, taking cash seemed practical. I didn’t realize how valuable those Membership Rewards could be for travel.”
Now she’s teaching her college‑age kids how to maximize rewards — her daughter is even getting her first Chase Freedom Unlimited card soon!
🌍 What’s Next
After years of saving points, Carrie’s ready to use them for her bucket‑list trip to Africa with her kids.
“My Croatia trip taught me that points are meant to be used — not saved forever.”
💳 Favorite Credit Card
Carrie keeps her wallet simple. Her go‑to is the Chase Freedom Unlimited, earning 1.5x on everything (plus 3x on dining and drugstores).
“It’s my favorite beginner card — especially when paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve.”
Carrie’s Personal Referral links:
I only share tools and cards I personally use, and I never recommend anything just for commission. Carrie’s credit card links in this post are her personal referral links, not mine — using them helps support her work and her family’s travel goals.
I am a TrackRak affiliate, but I’m also a paying customer every single month. I started using TrackRak long before partnering with Carrie, and I’d still pay for it even if I weren’t an affiliate. Fans of No Point Left Behind get a special offer through my link: $1 off Premium monthly or $10 off annually for as long as you stay subscribed.
🔔 About TrackRak
TrackRak monitors Rakuten all day and sends real‑time text alerts when cashback rates increase — no repetitive daily emails, just actionable updates. It also includes historical cashback charts, a suggestion box for alert thresholds, and new features coming soon.
Using my referral link gives you $1 off Premium monthly or $10 off annually for as long as you stay subscribed.
Learn more: TrackRak
Want my personal take? I also wrote a Lazy Girl guide to TrackRak that walks through exactly how I use it.
💬 A Note From Julie
I’ve genuinely enjoyed getting to know Carrie — her approach to points is simple, smart, and exactly the kind of energy I love featuring here. We met because of TrackRak, and since I only promote things I really use, it was an instant fit. I’m an affiliate, but I’m also a paying customer, and I think that matters. I try to keep it real around here.
I hope you enjoy getting to know Carrie as much as I have. And if you want to meet more real‑life travel hackers, check out my former features:
If you want to be a future Travel Hacker of the Month, share your humble brags in my Facebook group Travel Hacking Moms Group — I love seeing your wins. And if you’re shy, you can always email me your story at julie@nopointleftbehind.net.
