how many points I have & how I got them

I talk a LOT about other people - usually my clients.

I help people get some pretty wild deals, and it’s a fun job.

But, today I want to talk about how I, a normal guy, have a earned a very solid amount of points.

Here’s how many points I have, and the fun ways I acquired them.

Show me the money points

Real talk: If you were offered $1,000 cash or 100,000 Chase points, which would you choose?

I’d choose the points, then use them for $3k of travel.

And that’s exactly why I love points - the arbitrage opportunity. Which is why I’ve put so much effort into earning the best points for myself.

First, here’s a rough credit card timeline for me:

• 2018: 1st card in college (through local bank).

• 2021: Authorized user on the wife’s Discover IT cash back card.

• 2022: 1st travel card - Capital One Venture Rewards.

• 2023: I got serious

  • Wife: Capital One Venture Rewards

  • Me: Chase Sapphire Preferred

  • Me: Bilt Rewards Mastercard

• 2024: I became a guru

  • Me: Chase Ink Business Unlimited

  • Me: American Airlines Barclays Card

  • Wife: Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Is that a lot of credit cards? Kind of, but it doesn’t feel like it.

And my credit is fine:)

So far above average lol:

At least I’m beating the boomers at something.

How many points I have:

• Capital One Venture Miles

  • 107,000 (my wife & I).

  • How I earned them

    • Spending + many referral bonuses.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards

  • Cards:

    • 97,000 on my Chase Sapphire Preferred

    • 200,000 on my Ink Unlimited

    • Wife about to get 90k bonus from her Unlimited.

  • How I earned them

    • Sign up bonuses, minimal spending, maxing out referrals.

• American Airlines AAdvantage

  • 105,000 miles

  • How I earned them

    • Big bonus, transfer from Bilt

• Bilt Rewards

  • 25,000 points

  • How I earned them

    • Paying rent

Total bank points: 519,000

Total airline miles: 105,000

So yes, I’ve got big plans this summer.

And I’m not a points hoarder - I’ve taken my family on 3 international & 1 domestic week-long trips in the last 12 months, mostly using points.

I’ve found the points stack up quite quickly.

Here’s the list of possible summer 2025 destinations I’ll be presenting to my wife soon (w/ a 3yr old + 6 month old):

• The U.K (England, Ireland, Scotland)

• Eastern Europe

• The Italian/Swiss Alps

• Japan

• South Africa

• Western Canada

• Round the world trip?

• Backup plan: Florida

Let’s see what she thinks.

Two lessons to leave you with:

1) Anyone can earn a lot of points.

2) It’s less about earning points, and more about using them wisely.

Questions?