Family Travel, Almost Free
Hi! I am a SAHM, that’s stay-at-home mom for those of you without kids. I used to work as a tax professional, so I have a fairly good grasp on numbers and finance in general. In order to help my friends and relatives learn more about miles and points, I decided to create a website www.milesforfamily.com
We are just an average family with two kids and a very average income. Our money is tight and travel is difficult to afford sometimes. I do have a serious case of wanderlust, though. Additionally, my family lives in Europe, so bringing my parents for a visit occasionally is a priority, but expensive.
The way we have been able to afford travel is by signing up for various credit cards with bonuses up front. This activity does require excellent credit, though. It is not for those who are planning to buy a house in the next few years. I also hate to admit it, but it is helpful to have a somewhat OCD personality, which I happen to possess! Attention to detail is necessary to keep track of the minimum spending requirements and make sure you make payments on time.
It is also essential to pay everything off in full because the interest on the cards will negate any miles or points you acquire. Admittedly, there are a lot of very good sites that focus on free travel. I do have a difficult time relating sometimes, though. As I said, we are just an average family. We don’t chase status with airlines or fly first class.
I also don’t value frequent flyer miles at more than one cent a piece, about half of what most in this hobby do. That is because valuation decreases the more people you have to find free award seats for. To me, cash is always king when I am not spending toward a particular bonus. But that’s the thing, you can do both. They are not mutually exclusive. Even if switching credit cards constantly isn't your thing, my e-book will focus on ways that families can optimize their limited credit card spending potential.
Because of my hobby, my husband and I have been able to go to Hawaii almost free twice, visit my family in Europe and bring my parents here for free as well. We were able to stay in nice hotels at no cost on quite a few occasions. In the last year alone, we have earned almost a million miles and points in various programs, just by signing up for different cards. Our credit scores are still in “excellent” range.
I am constantly working on putting those points to good use and share them with friends and family. Also, aside from taking anniversary trips, we don’t travel without our kids. So, it does present a challenge of finding award seats for everyone. But I love a good challenge!