Thats what Emily Jablon thought.
Until she met Daraius Dubash.
And it wasnt that her now-husband was rich it was that he had mastered the intricate game oftravel hacking.
Theyve even treated their parents to extravagant vacations all on frequent flyer miles and points.
On their blogMillion Mile Secrets, they share their travel stories and strategies.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
He came across [a frequent flyer blog] and really just ran with it.
Early into their relationship, he encouraged Jablon to join him.
Did you know?
I declined… but then he ended up taking me on my first flight.
When he told her hed gotten the first class flight essentially for free, she was in.
It was what really solidified my faith in the whole credit card rewards hobby, she says.
And it hasnt just been credit card rewards; theyve done lots ofcrazy things to earn milesand points.
I still get mail from them eight years later.
He also drove round-trip to Illinois in one day (seven hours each way!
), because there were no Chase banks where they lived.
On that trip, he opened four differentchecking accountsand earned 100,000 miles.
Id say it was worth it, says Jablon.
One of their favorite trips?
The Maldives, a series of exotic islands off the coast of India.
This vacation was really amazing for many reasons, explains Jablon.
(you’re able to readtheir full trip report here.)
In other words, if you start now, you could be on your dream vacation in 18-24 months.
For a less ambitious trip, he estimates itd take 6-12 months from start to travel.
And the easiest way to quickly earn points?
Through credit card sign-ups.
Banks issue more airline miles than the airlines themselves, explains Dubash.
With Dubash and Jablons expert help, weve answered some common ones below.
Should I Get a Travel Rewards Credit Card?
Only if it’s possible for you to be responsible with it.
If you cant think of your credit card like a debit card, dont get one.
As Ive said before, points and miles are never worth going into debt over.
(Not to mention that interest charges negate the benefits of any rewards you might earn.)
How Many Cards Should I Apply for?
Start with one credit card and then just gauge how that goes, recommends Jablon.
Are there any challenges completing the minimum spend requirement?
Paying the balance in full every month?…
If that goes well, then you could start applying for maybe two or three more, she explains.
Just do whatevers comfortable for you, urges Dubash.
Which Card Do I Apply for?
Have a goal in mind, says Dubash.
Figure out which miles will get you there the most efficiently, and then start earning [them].
But… What About My Credit?
Concern aboutcredit scoreis probably the biggest reason people avoid rewards credit cards.
It is also one of the biggest misconceptions, according to Jablon and Dubash.
Monitor your credit score so you could see the impact to your credit score yourself,Dubash says.
The crazy reason your credit score will actually increase after you get a new credit card?
Credit utilization ratio, which is a big factor in your credit score.
What Do I Do With My Miles?
Theres no point in holding them, because airlines keep devaluing their award charts, explains Dubash.
Isnt It a Lot of Work?
In short, yes.
Its a puzzle, says Dubash.
you could still get involved on a casual basis.
Im a little more relaxed about miles and points, but I still definitely use them, says Jablon.
My parents divorced when I was eight, says Jablon.
We didnt have extra money to travel.
I always wanted to, but I never thought it was going to possible.
It just involves a little bit of time and attention to details.
Im lucky, Jablon acknowledges, with a giggle.
She is and with some hard work and savvy travel hacking, many of you could be, too.
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget.
Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
