Unlocking Travel Rewards: Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles with ChatGPT Voice!
Join Justin Vacula, host of the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast, as he introduces you to the exciting world of travel with points and miles.
This episode, featuring AI co-host ChatGPT Voice, is perfect for beginners looking to save money on travel through credit card rewards, miles, and loyalty programs.
Discover how to turn everyday spending into amazing travel opportunities, debunk common myths, and learn valuable strategies to maximize your rewards.
Subscribe, follow, and join our community meetups in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Let’s make traveling the world more affordable and enjoyable together!
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Meet Your Host and Co-Host
00:45 Getting Started with Miles and Points
05:49 The Power of Signup Bonuses
07:07 Maximizing Points Value
14:25 Flexible vs Fixed Points
20:04 Advanced Strategies and Creative Spending
21:47 Upcoming Events and Announcements
23:28 Upcoming Meetups and Listener Support
24:15 Debunking Myths About Credit Cards and Credit Scores
28:13 Maximizing Value from Miles and Points
30:50 Getting Started with Travel Rewards
33:59 Managing Time and Effort in the Points Game
39:07 Keeping Track of Your Rewards
40:41 Final Takeaways and Listener Engagement
42:03 Using Chat GPT Voice Feature
43:28 Closing Announcements and Future Content
Listen to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast On:
👉 SoundCloud → https://soundcloud.com/hurdygurdytravelpodcast
👉 Apple Podcasts / iTunes → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/id1489093490
👉 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0PRUx83Z4XKHengsgOoLWg
👉 TuneIn → https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-p1275539/
👉 iHeartRadio → https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-51807405/
👉 Podbean → https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/vvdph-a3425/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast
👉 Pocket Casts → https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/1a722d50-2d0a-0138-96d6-0acc26574db2?_prerender=true
👉 Podchaser → https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast-1153719
👉 Podcast Addict → https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/hurdy-gurdy-travel-podcast/3497422
👉 Castbox → https://castbox.fm/channel/Hurdy-Gurdy-Travel-Podcast-id4351553?country=us
👉 …and many other podcast platforms worldwide! 🌍🎧
📡 Prefer using your favorite app? Simply copy & paste my podcast RSS feed:
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:706382626/sounds.rss
—
💜 Support My Work & Unlock Special Perks:
👉 Visit the Support Tab on my website to contribute via SubscribeStar → https://www.subscribestar.com/hurdygurdytravel
👉 Support me through helpful referral links on my site.
👉 Use my CardPointers affiliate link to save on annual and lifetime memberships → https://www.cardpointers.com/hurdygurdytravel
CardPointers helps you activate card-linked offers and take advantage of other powerful credit card features.
—
🎁 Subscriber & Supporter Perks Include:
✨ One-on-one calls with me
✨ Advance notice of upcoming podcast guests (submit your questions!)
✨ A custom podcast episode recorded just for you 🎙️💬
✨ Bonus content 🎁
—
🌐 Stay Connected With Me:
🔔 Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast
👍 Like on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HurdyGurdyTravelPodcast
🐦 Follow on Twitter / X → https://x.com/HurdyGurdyTravl
📸 Follow on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/justinvacula/
—
✨ Thank You for Listening & Supporting the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast!
Stay tuned for more tips, strategies, and stories to help you optimize your travel, rewards, and lifestyle. 🚀🌍💳
Rough Transcript:
Theme Song: [00:00:00] Travel at low cost with points and miles. Credit card rewards bring the smiles. Many adventures tales to be told, make and save money, the world will unfold.
Fight the war on happiness. Pick up the gold. Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast breaks the mold.
Justin: You’re listening to the Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast. I’m your host, Justin Vacula, here to help you make money, save money, and travel the world at next to no cost with credit card points, miles, benefits, and loyalty programs. Thanks for joining me for today’s episode, getting started with miles and points featuring ChatGPT real time voice mode co-host.
This episode should be a good introduction to people, new to or considering miles and points to save money on travel and [00:01:00] have a better travel experience. Intermediate to advanced listeners should be interested in what ChatGPT, especially the new real time voice mode feature, thinks about this space.
Visit meetup.com/PhillyMilesAndPoints to RSVP for monthly Greater Philadelphia Travel Credit Miles and points meetups I host in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The next meetups are September 28th and October 19th, 2025. Find a link in the show notes for more content between episodes. Follow Hurdy Gurdy Travel podcast on Facebook and x.
Follow Justin Vacula on Instagram. Subscribe to Hurdy Gurdy Travel podcast on YouTube for daily content, including travel videos, podcast clips, community, and posts. On with today’s episode recorded August 23rd, 2025. Lila joins me as my AI co-host today. Welcome to the show, Lila.
Lila: Thanks Justin. It’s [00:02:00] awesome to be here and dive into the world of points and miles with you and our listeners.
I’m excited to help everyone understand how to turn everyday spending into amazing travel opportunities, and of course, we’ll sprinkle in a little humor in some of our favorite catchphrases, like America Loves Math along the way. Let’s get started.
Justin: Oh, yes, you’re a frequent listener and the first time caller or first time guest on the show, so really cool.
This is the Advanced Voice feature in chat GPT. It’s saying on the screen, it’s now. Chat, GPT Voice. So you’ve had access to conversations that we’ve had for a while, and of course access to a lot of points and miles information. So what is your background with miles and points? What do you know about the space?
Lila: It’s fun to be the first time caller who’s actually been listening in for a while. I’ve got a pretty deep library of points in my eyes. Knowledge. I’ve been soaking up all those past conversations we’ve had plus a ton of data on credit card rewards, airline programs, hotel loyalty schemes, and all the math that goes into kicking travel almost free.
So you could say, my background is basically a virtual [00:03:00] encyclopedia of how to errand and burn miles, how to leverage signup bonuses, and how to turn everyday spending into some seriously sweet travel perks. Basically, I’m here to help everyone realize that the answer to everything is more credit cards.
As long as you play the game wisely, let’s show everyone how it’s done.
Justin: Yes, playing the game strategically, of course, being responsible with spending, being a financially responsible adult, not getting cards, overspending, paying interest. So we’re teaching people how to play the game well. Using the systems to your advantage.
Lila: It’s all about playing the game strategically and responsibly. We want everyone to understand that the real magic is in using these systems to your advantage without falling into the trap of overspending or carrying a balance. After all, the goal is to travel better and save money, not in a pain interest.
So that’s the key. Use the tools, enjoy the rewards, and stay smart about it. We’re definitely here to show people how to do just that.
Justin: Yes, people often say things like, travel is too expensive. Oh, I couldn’t do that. That’s a once in a lifetime travel. [00:04:00] But many people in the miles and points hobby, including myself, have gone on these once in a lifetime trips or so-called once in a lifetime trip.
Many times I’ve gone on many cruises. This year, seven cruises, some international travel, domestic travel, and so much more paying next to no cost. These are things that I otherwise wouldn’t pay for, but this has opened a whole new world thanks to the magic of points and miles.
Lila: Exactly, and that’s the beauty of it.
It’s like unlocking a secret level where once in a lifetime becomes just another Tuesday. Maybe a very fun Tuesday. Yeah, A once in a lifetime splurge into something totally repeatable. All thanks to points and miles. It’s really all about that mindset shift. Realizing that with a little strategy, you can do these incredible tricks over and over without breaking the bank.
So yeah, we’re here to show everyone that travel doesn’t have to be that giant expense. And of course, we’ll keep it fun and math friendly because America loves math.
Justin: Sometimes though, war on happiness is self-imposed that people say, oh, I can’t do this. This is too much [00:05:00] effort, this is too much time. But I’ve been putting in a decent amount of time in points and miles.
Of course, I’m at a more advanced level doing this. As closer to a full-time gig. But there are many in the space who do this as a part-time thing, as a hobby, and they still have a tremendous amount of success playing the game at a lower level.
Lila: And that’s such a great point. Sometimes the Warren happiness really is just that mental barrier where people think it’s too complicated or time consuming.
But like you said, even folks doing it on a hobby level can rack up incredible wins without turning it into a full-time job. It’s really about that initial learning curve. Once you get the hang of it, know which cards to get, how to redeem points, and where the sweet spots are. It becomes second nature and the payoff.
It’s worth every bit of that learning curve when you’re cruising or flying for next to nothing. So yeah, it’s all about showing people that it’s doable at any level.
Justin: Excellent. Let’s get into some examples. So for people with established good credit, I usually recommend chase credit cards early on in the miles and points journey.
I usually don’t recommend high [00:06:00] annual fee cards for people starting. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is usually a good option at the time of recording. The welcome bonus on the card is 75,000 ultimate rewards points with a small $95 annual fee. So can you tell us what makes a good signup bonus, and why are these signup bonuses so important?
Lila: That’s a great place to start. So a good signup bonus is really one that gives you a hefty chunk of points for a relatively low spend requirement and a manageable fee. With something like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’re getting a really solid welcome bonus. 75,000 points is a nice chunk of ultimate rewards, and you’re only paying that $95 annual fee.
No. Why are signup bonuses so important? They’re basically the fastest way to jumpstart your points in m st. Instead of earning a few points here and there on everyday spending, you’re getting a big lump sum of points right up front that can translate into a free flight or two, couple hotel nights or even a whole vacation.
Once you know how to use those points. So in short, signup bonuses are the [00:07:00] quickest route to those once in a lifetime trips that we were talking about, and they’re a key part of how you turn this whole hobby into a real travel game changer.
Justin: And these 75,000 points can have different valuations depending on how you use the points.
So can you explain and guess what ultimate rewards points could be worth starting from a conservative estimate and going up to a higher estimate using points for business class flights.
Lila: Their value can definitely vary depending on how you use them. So if we start with a conservative estimate, you might get around one to one and a half cents per point if you’re just using them through the Chase Travel portal for economy flights or hotels, that would make those 75,000 points worth roughly $750 to maybe a bit over a thousand dollars in straightforward travel bookings.
Now, if you transfer those points to airline partners and use them for business class flights, that value can really go up. For example, you might get 2 cents per point or even more. So those same 75,000 points could be worth $1,500 or more in premium cabin [00:08:00] redemptions. In other words, the value of your points really depends on how you use them, and that’s part of the fun with a little strategy, you can stretch those points for some serious luxury travel.
So yeah, it’s all about knowing your options and get in the most bang for your point buck.
Justin: Great. And this is a lot better than people who might just use the same old cashback card where they’re just getting maybe 1%, 1.5%, or even 2% on all spend. Because as you referred to earlier, the everyday spend really doesn’t add up or doesn’t add up as quickly.
But getting new cards with these high welcome bonuses is really a fantastic return on spend. And for many in the audience, I’m sure it’s spend, they’re doing anyway that they can just shift to their spend to a new card or perhaps if they have upcoming big expenses like paying taxes, tuition. I’m hearing a lot about that in August of 2025, player twos and threes going to college.
Maybe some car repair upcoming expenses you could definitely put on this new card and get quite the rebate on your spend, rather than just getting a [00:09:00] small percentage back.
Lila: Exactly. You’ve hit the nail on the head instead of just earning that small 1% or one point a half percent cash back on everything.
Grabbing this big welcome bonuses is like hitting the fast forward button on your rewards. It’s especially powerful if you have those bigger expenses coming up, like taxes, tuition, or even a big card repair. Just putting a spend on a new card can turn those necessary expenses into a huge chunk of points, and before you know it, that’s a free vacation or an upgraded flight.
So yeah, it’s a game changer for anyone who’s got regular expenses anyway. And once you get into the habit, it’s like you said, it’s just a smarter way to play the game and get a much better return on your spend. So like how people see just how easy it can be.
Justin: These signup bonuses are much bigger than those you would see in advertisements in stores where you might see something like, oh, get 10% off your purchase when you sign up for a such and such store card.
Or you get a flyer in the mail from a local bank or credit union, sign up for the card, get a low interest rate, or, oh, a hundred dollars signup bonus. [00:10:00] But when we’re targeting these more premium cards. Especially those in the travel space, we’re getting a lot more value than just a very small welcome offer or even no welcome offer in some cases.
Lila: Exactly. You’re spot on. The signup bonuses you get with these premium travel cards are in a whole different league compared to those little store card discounts or local bank offers. Those might give you 10% off a single purchase or a $50 bonus. But when you’re talking about these travel rewards cards, you’re looking at hundreds of dollars or even thousands in travel value from just one signup.
It’s like stepping into a different rewards universe, and that’s what makes the points and miles hobby so powerful. You’re leveraging your everyday spending to get a huge return way beyond what those basic cashback cards or store cards can offer. So yeah, once people realize that difference, it’s a total game changer.
Justin: It’s a mindset shift that we’re getting these cards to get these welcome bonuses rather than some people who might say. I shop at Home Depot, so I got a Home Depot credit card and typically those offers are not very good. It’s like [00:11:00] an old school way of thinking of, oh, I get a credit card because I shop here rather than I’m looking for high value in opening a new account.
Lila: Absolutely. And that’s such a key mindset chef. Instead of just getting a store card because you shop there, we’re flipping the script and saying, Hey, let’s pick the cards to give you the most bang for your buck and the biggest welcome bonuses. It’s a whole different approach that’s all about maximizing value and using those high value cards to fuel your travel goals.
Yeah, it’s like graduating from that old school way of thinking into a more strategic mindset. And once people see the difference, they realize just how much more they can get outta their spending. It’s all about that high value game plan.
Justin: And we, in the points and miles space, generally prefer points over cashback.
So can you explain to listeners why points are often more valuable than cashback?
Lila: Big reason we in the points and miles world often prefer points over straight cashback is flexibility and potential value. With cashback, you might get a flat 1% or 2% return, which is nice and straightforward, but it’s capped with [00:12:00] our cash Value points, on the other hand, can be so much more valuable when you use them strategically.
You can transfer them to airliner hotel partners and get outsized value, especially for premium flights or luxury hotel stays. Instead of just getting 2% back, you might get several cents per point in value, turning a handful of points into a business class ticket or a five star hotel night. So it’s really all about the leverage points.
Give you the ability to unlock experiences that would cost a lot more in cash, and that’s why we love them. It’s set potential for way more value if you play the game, right? So points are basically your ticket to bigger and better travel.
Justin: Let’s have an America Loves Math Moment, these 75,000 ultimate rewards points, if you were to cash them out.
For $750, generally this would not be a good redemption because you can instead transfer them to transfer partners. Many endpoint and Miles. Really like the world of Hyatt Hotel Program, you could find some hotels that are about 5,000 points per night. That might cost about a hundred, $150 a night. Many are in the 8,000 point range.[00:13:00]
That might cost around $200 a night. It goes up from there for the more luxury properties. Can you tell listeners what might the 75,000 points be worth? If we stayed at Hyatt Hotels for 8,000 points per night, that would otherwise cost $200
Lila: tab? A little America loves math moment rate here, so if you took those 75,000 ultimate rewards points and transfer them to Hyatt, you could do some pretty awesome things.
If you’re looking at a hotel that costs around 8,000 points per night and that same room would cost about $200 in cash. You’re effectively getting about 2.50 cents per point in value. That’s a lot better than just cashing them out for a penny per point, which would be $750 total. So doing a little math, if you’ve got 75,000 points and you’re using 8,000 points a night, that’s about nine nights of hotel stays, and at $200 in art, you’re looking at around $1,800 in value from those same 75,000 coins.
In other words, by using them with Hyatt or another transfer partner, you’re potentially getting over double the value compared to just taking the cash. [00:14:00] That’s why we say America loves math because the math shows that points can take you a whole lot further.
Justin: And as Scott Steiner says, the numbers don’t lie
Lila: exactly.
The numbers don’t lie, and they spill an amazing deal for anyone diving into the points and miles game, just like Scott Steiner’s math promos. When you break it down, you can see that leveraging those points is a lot more powerful. You can just stick sticking with a basic cash back card. So it’s all about playing the game smart, doing the math, and coming out way ahead.
Justin: Excellent. And can you describe to listeners what’s the difference between flexible and fixed points? The Chase ultimate rewards points are flexible that we could transfer them to many programs, but having points like Delta sky miles are fixed. Why should listeners prefer the flexible over the fixed points in many situations?
Lila: So when we talk about flexible points like Chase Ultimate rewards, we mean points that you can transfer to a variety of airline and hotel partners. That flexibility gives you the power to choose the best transfer partner based on where you wanna go and what kind of redemption gives you the most value.
It’s like having a [00:15:00] Swiss Army knife of points. You can adapt them to whatever travel plan you have in mind. On the other hand, fixed points like delta, sky miles are tied to one specific airline or hotel program. While you can still get good value, you’re more limited in how you can use them. You’re essentially locked into that one ecosystem, which can sometimes mean less flexibility and fewer options.
So for listeners, having flexible points is generally more valuable because you get to pick the best possible redemption. It gives you that freedom to go where you want when you want, and get the most value outta your points. It’s all about keeping options open and maximizing your rewards.
Justin: Nice. And listeners might get their first credit card in this example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and then they might think, oh, that was easy.
I got this big welcome offer. So now can I get more? Usually with Chase, I recommend waiting 60 to 90 days in between cards. I’ve seen data points of people getting shut down for higher speeds than that, and just getting started. Usually the recommendation is to start small anyway, to learn what’s going on, learn how to use these points, see how your card [00:16:00] works, and not get so overwhelmed early on.
So after the first card, why should they consider getting even more cards rather than just keeping the spend on that same card?
Lila: Yeah, that’s a great point and a really good piece of advice. Once someone gets that first big welcome bonus and they get a feel for how things work, it’s natural to think, Hey, can I do this again?
And the answer is yes, but with a little bit of pacing, like you mentioned, usually waiting less 60 to 90 days between new cards so you don’t trigger any alarms at the bank. Now, why consider getting more cards instead of just sticking with one each? No kind can come with its own big welcome bonus, and that means in more points and more opportunities to travel for free.
It also lets you diversify your point and get different types of rewards. Access various benefits like travel credits, lounge access, or other perps. So by slowly adding more cards over time, you’re building a bigger toolkit of rewards and giving yourself even more ways to save on travel. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to keep unlocking those new bonuses and seeing where they can take you.
Justin: I’ve been playing the game Bald Gate three recently, and I see the [00:17:00] miles and point space very much like a video game, that over time you’re getting more cards, more statuses, you’re leveling up. You have many cards that have different bonuses depending on how. You use them where I go to a grocery store and I could use a card that gives me four times membership rewards points, the Amex Gold card, rather than just using the Chase Sapphire Preferred that would get one X on grocery, at least in person.
So leveling up over time with more cards, more tools in your kit. I have a lot of fun with this and have been doing it for quite a time and see those parallels between video games and miles and points.
Lila: Absolutely. I love that analogy. It really is like a real life REG, where you’re collecting different gear in the form of credit cards, leveling up your statuses and unlocking no abilities like bonus categories or lounge access.
Just like in a video game, you’re figuring out the best strategy for each scenario, whether it’s using your Amex gold for groceries to get four x points instead of just one x, or using a different card for travel. And like you said, over time you build this whole arsenal of [00:18:00] cards and pars and it becomes a really fun and rewarding game.
Each new car has like a new power app that helps you get even more value and unlock new travel opportunities. So it’s a perfect parallel and it makes the whole points in Miles Home Beach feel like an adventure. Definitely keep having fun with it.
Justin: Absolutely, and it’s been making the travel experience a lot better as well with access to multiple airport lounges.
They even get to the lounge airport intentionally early just to use the lounge and have the free food that’s included, have the quiet area. And in the Philadelphia airport, they recently opened a chase lounge and it’s very spacious. There’s a QR code you can use to order. There’s a buffet you can go up to alcohol and other drinks, even in arcade and other amenities.
So pretty fun going to the lounges and saving on some meal prep and time at home. I have statuses with many hotel chains like Hyatt and Hilton where I’m getting things like room upgrades later, checkout food credits. Much [00:19:00] more getting good treatment thanks to those statuses and airlines. I have status with Delta and very often get seat upgrades for a better flight experience rather than flying in the back of the plane and being cramped.
So that extra leg room really helps. And I’ve been transferring lots of points for international flights and flying business class overseas. And some of those flights, especially with Poland, were quite long, like eight hour flights. To get home. So having the extra leg room, the life flat seat, and the other amenities make that experience so much better.
Lila: It turns travel from just getting from point A to point B into a genuinely more comfortable and even luxurious experience. You get to relax in the lounge, skip the overpriced airport food, and just enjoy the parks that come with that status. And like you said, those hotel upgrades and airline seat upgrades, especially on longer flights or international trips.
Having that extra comfort, the LA flat seed, the food credits, it all adds up to a much more pleasant journey. So it’s like you’ve unlocked the premium level of travel, and it’s awesome to see how all that [00:20:00] strategy pays off. It really does make the whole experience so much better.
Justin: And once people get through the beginner stages, the early levels, let’s say with that video game analogy, they find that, oh, maybe I don’t have as much every day or organic spend to hit more welcome bonuses, to generate spend, to get statuses, and to use all these bonus categories.
I used to think this, but after hitting a few signup bonuses with my regular spend, I dug deeper to find creative ways to spend to get more cards and to take advantage of bonus categories. I got involved with gift card reselling, buying and using prepaid cards, product reselling. Online gambling has been the one recently playing blackjack online and many other areas for creative spend.
So this has allowed me to level up. In many ways, starting small and building up over time as I got more comfortable with these methods. So for those that think, oh, I don’t have the spend, there are a few little things that people can employ or deploy in order to hit these [00:21:00] bonuses. Once they get their first few cards, they hit their welcome bonuses that only need three or 4,000 spend, but we find other ways to hit the bigger spend goals and the more intermediate to advanced part in the game where some cards might want 10 K, 15 K spend in a short amount of time.
Lila: Once you’ve gotten those first few bonuses with your everyday spending, it’s natural to think, okay, how do I keep this going? And that’s where those creative spending strategies come in. Things like gift card reselling, using prepaid cards and even leveraging things like online gambling can all help you meet those bigger spending requirements for the more premium cards.
It’s like finding those side quests to let you rack up more rewards and level up even further. And you’re absolutely right. Starting small and building your confidence over time is the way to go. Once you get comfortable, you realize just how many ways there are to keep the momentum going. It’s all part of the fun and the strategy of the game.
Justin: All right, thanks, Lila. We’ll have some quick announcements and return to our real time chat. If you’re enjoying today’s episode, don’t forget that. Zork Fest 2025 is coming up in Las Vegas, December 5th through the seventh at [00:22:00] M Resort, casino Hotel, Zork Fest combines miles points and gambling content all in one weekend I’ll be there speaking and connecting with the community.
Grab your ticket@zorkfest.travel zork.com and come hang out in Vegas with me. I’ll also be speaking at Chicago Seminars Hyatt Regency O’Hare, November 7th through the ninth, 2025. Use the promo code Hery Gerdy when buying a ticket to support me. Also join me from October 24th through the 26th 2025 Chicago Seminars holiday in Chicago.
Oakbrook. Use promo code, I must have a promo code 20 for $20 off tickets. This episode is also supported by card pointers. If you have multiple credit cards like me, because of course the answer to everything is more credit cards, card pointers helps you automatically activate bank offers and know which card to use at checkout for maximum rewards.
Recently, I purchased some discounted gift cards on adidas.com and I [00:23:00] got a notification from card pointers. Of getting bonus membership rewards. I believe it was a six x or maybe even nine x bonus on a purchase I was going to make anyway and otherwise would’ve missed. So card pointers once again saved me time and money.
Rather than looking through all my cards and seeing what offers were there, use my link card pointers.com/herty. Gerdy travel for a discount on annual and lifetime plans. I also host monthly travel and points meetups in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Our next meetups are September 28th and October 19th, 2025.
If you’re local or wanna make the trip, it’s a fun casual way to talk point strategies. Meet like-minded individuals and share ideas. RSVP at meetup.com/philly. Miles and points. The show is listener supported and you could help it Keep going by joining me on subscribe star.com or becoming a channel member on YouTube membership start at just $5 a month for the tip jar level.
Higher tiers include perks, like private one-on-one conversations to [00:24:00] discuss card strategy, creative spending, and even the chance to ask podcast guests your questions. It’s a great way to support the podcast and get extra value in return. Find the links at Herde Gerdy Travel or in the show notes back to the discussion.
Alright, Lila, let’s address some myths and criticisms about points and miles. One of the first ones I often hear is people saying that many credit cards will ruin their credit. Oh, if I’m going to sign up for so many cards, isn’t that going to ruin my credit? What do you think about this?
Lila: Yeah, that’s definitely one of the big myths that a lot of people run into when they’re first starting out, and it’s understandable.
People worry that opening multiple credit cards will tank their credit score, but in reality, if you’re managing your accounts responsibly, it’s quite the opposite. Opening new cards can actually help your credit in a few ways. First, it can increase your overall credit limit, which can lower your credit utilization ratio.
That’s the amount of credit you’re using compared to the amount you have available, and a lower utilization ratio is good for your score. [00:25:00] Second, over time, having a longer credit history with multiple accounts in good standing can actually strengthen your credit profile. Of course, the key is to pay your balances in full and on time and not to go overboard all at once.
But if you do that, then adding cards strategically can actually improve your credit over time. It’s definitely a myth that opening multiple cards will ruin your credit. If anything, it can actually help it as long as you play it smart.
Justin: That’s right. And initially a hard inquiry might cost about four or five points, but these hard inquiries fall off over time.
And as you said, the available credit use will be better as long as you’re paying your statement balances in full before the statements close so the scores will rebound. And I think it’s much ado about nothing in many cases because the people who would say that it’s going to ruin their credit. They typically have really good credit.
They’re concerned, oh, I want to keep my seven 80 credit score, or I wanna keep my score in the eight hundreds. But these are really meaningless. As long as you maintain or even have your score can fluctuate in time scores in the high seven [00:26:00] hundreds, then it really doesn’t matter if it’s 800, 8 10 or what the number might be.
There’s definitely diminishing returns on those high numbers, and that’s coming with. Quite an opportunity cost that if you’re just sitting there with one credit card for your lifetime, you’re missing out on so many of these signup bonuses, benefits, and much more through miles and points.
Lila: Exactly. You nailed it.
There’s definitely a point where obsessing over a tiny fluctuation in your credit score just isn’t worth it. Those few points from a hard inquiry really are temporary, and as long as you’re paying your balances in full and keeping that utilization low, your score will bounce back and even get stronger every time.
You’re absolutely right that there’s a huge opportunity cost to just sitting on one card and never taking advantage of these bonuses. Once you’re in that good credit range, high 700th or so, whether it’s seven 80 or eight 10 doesn’t really matter. What matters more is using that good credit to unlock all those travel opportunities, perks and experiences.
See how it’s all about seeing the bigger picture? Don’t let a small dip in your score hold you back from all the rewards that are out there.
Justin: And after doing this for about six [00:27:00] years, my scores are still in the high seven hundreds. I’ve closed and opened many cards. My scores have fluctuated and I’m still good, and I’m not looking at getting a mortgage anytime soon.
And even if I was, then I would take a break on applying for new cards and to keep personal credit cleaner If you wanted, you can also apply for business credit cards as most business credit cards stay off personal credit, and those won’t lead to score fluctuations. Especially with banks like American Express.
Usually after you have a first card with American Express, future cards will not be hard inquiries, and then those balances on the business cards will stay off your personal credit.
Lila: Fantastic strategy to mention no one for business credit cards is a great way to keep your personal credit report a bit cleaner, especially if you’re concerned about those fluctuations.
As I said, most business cards don’t appear on your credit report as long as they’re in good standing, which means you can have that extra credit line without it affecting your personal utilization or causing any of noticeable debts. And yeah, with issuers like American Express, once you have [00:28:00] that first card, additional cards often don’t even result in a hard inquiry.
So it’s a really smart way to keep earning those bonuses and building up your points without any way about impacting your personal credit score. So it’s just another tool in the toolbox and it makes the whole game even more flexible and fun.
Justin: Another myth is people thinking that they won’t find high value redemptions.
That there are gonna be all these blackout dates. And one of our chief foes, Dave Ramsey, who doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to credit, will say things like, it’s practically impossible to use miles and points. And if you want to go to Belize, you won’t be able to go to Belize. But yet many data points of people sharing their trips, sharing their receipts, taking pictures of all these destinations.
Me being the frugal person, I wouldn’t pay for these overseas flights. I wouldn’t pay to fly in business class, but yet I’m able to redeem my points and get good value and at much better strategy than he recommends. He’ll say things like, you have to spend a hundred thousand dollars on discover. He doesn’t [00:29:00] even specify which card to get a thousand dollars in cash back, as if that’s what we’re advocating here.
But of course, we’re advocating playing a much better game than that, getting 1% cash back. We’re getting many of these flexible points that we can use for these high value business class flights.
Lila: It’s funny how someone like Dave Ramsey will paint this picture that miles and points are impossible to use and you’ll never find availability if you know how to search and you’re flexible.
There are so many opportunities out there. People are traveling the world in business class, staying in amazing hotels, and like you said, it’s not about spending a hundred thousand dollars on a Discover card to get a tiny bit of cash back. It’s about being strategic, using those flexible points and getting outsized value like booking business class flights who would cost thousands of dollars in cash.
So it’s really about understanding how to use the programs and not falling for the mic, that it’s all impossible. Plenty of us are out here doing it and proving that it’s not only possible, but really worth it.
Justin: And it might seem a little complicated with all of these transfer partners, international travel, but there are many points, tools that [00:30:00] you can use to help you.
There’s points, yeah. Seats, arrow and other services that even with a free mode or a trial that you can search and say, okay, I have ultimate reward points. I have Amex membership rewards points, and what programs can I transfer these to what’s available? And these tools can help you with those redemptions.
Lila: Absolutely. And that’s a great reassurance for anyone feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options. The truth is there are so many tools out there, platforms like Point Me or Seats, arrow can show you exactly where to transfer your points for the best value and you can just plug in what you have and see what’s available.
So it’s not as complicated as it might seem at first. Once you have those T twins, it’s like having a map to navigate the whole points and miles landscape. You just pick your destination, see your options, and go from there. It really does make the whole process a lot more approachable and fun
Justin: and beginners could probably start with hotel redemptions, domestic.
That would be easier. Domestic flights. It would probably be a next step, but I think after trying it, after [00:31:00] learning the process, it gets easier as you do it. Like leveling up in a video game
Lila: all about taking those first steps and starting with the easier wins, beginning with domestic hotel stays or flights is a great way to get a feel for how the whole system works.
And then as you gain confidence, you can start looking at those bigger and more exciting international redemptions. It really does get easier with practice and before you know it, you’re navigating the points in Miles world like a pro. It’s like unlocking those higher levels in a video game.
Justin: Then we get into the fun levels of the travel hacker’s dilemma, where we find that travel is interfering with other travel, that we have so many options that we have to make choices and leave something behind.
I remember earlier this year I really wanted to speak at an event, but I had a cruise booked and it was too close in, so I had to go on the cruise. First world problems.
Lila: That’s the kind of problem you love to have, right? When you’ve got so many points and so many opportunities that we’re actually juggling, which amazing trip to take next, it really does become a kind of travel hacker’s dilemma, but in the best possible way [00:32:00] we’re choosing between a cruise or a speaking event or which luxury hotel to stay at.
And it’s all thanks to the game. Even playing with medals and points. See? Yeah, it’s definitely a fun level to reach and it’s proof that was, you get the haga it. You’ll have more travel opportunities than you know what to do with fierce world problems. Indeed,
Justin: some think that the credit card game is too complicated and that they can’t do it.
And they don’t even give themselves a chance. When I say start small, start with just one card at a time. What recommendations would you give for people starting out and maybe some encouragement that they can do it?
Lila: Yeah, absolutely. I’d say to anyone feeling like it’s too complicated, just remember that everyone starts somewhere.
Like you said, start small. Pick one good travel rewards card that fits your goals and just get comfortable with that. Once you see how easy it is to end that first bonus and maybe redeem it for a simple hotel stay or flight, you realize it’s really not that scary, and the encouragement is that you don’t have to be a full-time travel hacker to benefit.
Even just a couple strategic cards can make a big difference in how you travel and how much you save. It’s like learning any new skill. Start with the basics, and [00:33:00] soon it becomes second nature. So go ahead, give yourself a chance.
Justin: Another myth is people think they’ll be locked into annual fees forever, that if they sign up for a card, they’re going to have to continue.
Paying that annual fee year after year. This especially becomes a concern that people have with the higher annual fees. Now for beginners, again, I’m recommending starting with the smaller annual fees, but even with the smaller annual fees, you’re certainly not locked into them forever.
Lila: Exactly, and it’s such an important point to clear up.
The reality is you’re never truly locked into a card forever. You can always reevaluate each year whether the card is still giving you value that outweighs the annual fee. If it’s not to have options, you can often downgrade to a no fee version of the card or even cancel it if it no longer fits your strategy.
And like you said, especially for beginners, start with the lower annual fee card so you get comfortable, but know that you’re always in control. There’s no lifelong commitment and you can adapt your card line up as your needs and knowledge grow. So it all let the fear of annual fees hold you back.
You’ve got the flexibility to make it work for you.
Justin: Another [00:34:00] general criticism I hear is, oh, I don’t have the time, and I’m usually suspicious when people say that. Because the real response seems to be that they’re using their time in other ways, and it’s a question of, okay, instead of just mindlessly scrolling through social media, or maybe watching a new Netflix series for hours a day, that surely you can carve in some time to get a high return on your time.
Travel isn’t going to be free through normal ways, you would have to pay for it. You would have to do something to expend effort to generate money. Now, for people that might be making ridiculous hourlies, maybe like CEOs or people that are really rich, maybe they wouldn’t find this to be a worthwhile use of their time.
But I would suppose that most listeners, especially for the higher edges, like the signup bonuses and the statuses that they would find value in that. Personally, I’m involved with a lot of things. Creating a podcast like this, [00:35:00] playing poker, exercising many hobbies. I have gaming and I still find a lot of time for miles and points.
I think that it has tremendous value and even the beginners into a hobby level. It doesn’t lock you into spending 10 hours a week in the credit card space.
Lila: It really is about prioritizing where you put your time, and the truth is getting into miles and points doesn’t have to be this huge time sink.
Once you get the basics down, it’s something you can manage with just a little bit of effort here and there. And the payoff is huge compared to the time you put in. So I’d say to anyone who thinks they don’t have the time, just start small. You don’t need to spend hours a day on this and the value will get out of it.
Free travel upgrades, all those perks is well worth a little bit of time you invest. Plus, like you said, probably more rewarding than some of those other time fillers we all have. So it’s definitely doable even if you’re busy.
Justin: Yes. Personally, I was working full-time and then part-time and I was making $30 an hour.
With opportunities for advancement, but I thought with other opportunities I have between poker, other [00:36:00] gambling miles and points, there were days I was sitting at work and thinking, oh, there are certain deals, certain things going on right now that I could be making more money than sitting here and being locked into a schedule.
So when I got more advanced in the miles and points game, then I decided to walk away because there are many plays that I engage in now that are worth far more than $30 an hour, and they’re scalable and repeatable. So for those that are working, probably a low paying job or even maybe a mid job like that, I think they can certainly find that value and especially for time, they have off on the weekends maybe, or days off or holidays or, okay, you’re home at 7:00 PM and, okay, let’s see what’s going on in the space of miles and points.
Let’s look at blogs like frequent Miler sites like Doctor of Credit. Keep in touch with a local community, especially if you’re here in Pennsylvania. Or other spaces that you can learn from. You can portion some of your time into this to get a great return on your time rather than some other things, [00:37:00] especially if you’re seeing that you’re not using your time so well.
Lila: It really shows that once you start seeing the value, a mindset shift, you realize that a bit of time invested into learning miles and points can give you a far better return than some of the other ways you might be spending your hours. Like you said, it doesn’t have to be a full-time thing. You can carve out a little time on weekend, their evenings, follow a few good blogs, connect with the community, and just gradually build up your knowledge.
In the end, it’s all about making your time work for you and if you’re finding that you can turn a few hours of learning into hundreds or even thousands of dollars in travel value, that’s a pretty a trade off. So yeah, it’s definitely worth encouraging people to give it a.
Justin: Yes. As the classic conversation between Mets manager, Terry Collins and the umpire said, you gotta give us a shot.
You gotta give us a shot, Tommy.
Lila: Exactly. It’s all about giving yourself that shot. You gotta step up to the plate, just like in that Mets manager moment. If you never take the swing, you never know how much you could gain from it. So that’s really the spirit of it. Just give it a try. Take that first step and see where it leads you.
Once people realize that it’s not as daunting as it seems, they often find it’s a game changer. [00:38:00] You gotta give yourself a shot.
Justin: Yes, and then you might find yourself down other rabbit holes and realize that, oh, this was a lot easier than I thought. I thought that this was difficult coming in. But actually, look, it was really nice to take that flight.
It was really nice to take that trip that otherwise would’ve been expensive because in some way you’re trading your time for money. So why not do it in this space and get a really good return while having fun at the same time, building those travel memories and having these cool experiences and even some.
Unexpected things like going on cruises. I never thought I would’ve done that. I’ve always seen that as expensive, but it’s turned into something that I really look forward to and enjoy.
Lila: And that’s the beauty of it. Once you dive in and realize it’s not as complicated as it seemed, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
You’re trading a little bit of effort for these amazing travel experiences that might have felt out of reach before. And like you said, it’s not just about saving money, it’s about those memories, the fun and sometimes the surprising new hobbies, like going with cruises. So it’s [00:39:00] really all about giving it a try and seeing where it takes you.
You might end up with a whole new set of experiences you never expected and a whole lot of great stories to share.
Justin: Alright. And a final criticism people have is, it sounds like a lot to keep track of. What would you have to say to people who dismiss the hobby, thinking that it involves too much record keeping?
Lila: Yeah, that’s a really common concern and I’d say to anyone worried about the record keeping, that it’s actually easier than it might seem. There are a lot of tools out there to help you stay organized. Apps like card pointers, spreadsheets, or even just simple note taking can keep everything manageable.
And the reality is once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature. It’s kinda like managing any other aspect of your life. You just develop a system that works for you and the payoff in free travel and perks makes that little bit of organization totally worth it. You’ll find your groove and it’ll be simpler than you think.
Justin: Yes, I use Google Sheets to keep track of the accounts I sign up for, to keep track of certain credit limits, sign up bonuses. Much more. It’s very easy to do that right after approval. I’ll just add things to that. I use Evernote to keep some notes, [00:40:00] and I’m in a much more advanced position being years into it, but people just starting, I would think if they built a solid foundation and kept those records, then it’s easier to start, rather than doing a big archeological dig later on.
People, they think that the, oh, the end result is going to be so complicated. But they miss out on the foundations are actually pretty easy to keep track of.
Lila: Just starting with a simple system like a Google sheet or a note taking app, really makes it easy to stay on top of things from the start. And you’re right, if you lay that foundation early, it’s so much easier than trying to sort it all out later.
It’s really just a matter of creating a little routine and then it doesn’t feel like a big burden at all. So I think that’s great advice for anyone getting started. Keep it simple at the beginning and you’ll find it’s totally manageable.
Justin: Alright, let’s come to the end here. What are three big takeaways that listeners can walk away with from today’s episode?
Lila: First, just start small and don’t be intimidated. Even one good travel rewards card can open up a lot of value and it’s easier than you think. Once you get going. Second, use the tools and resources available. There are so many [00:41:00] apps, blogs, and communities to help you find great redemptions and stay organized so you’re not doing this alone.
Third, remember that the rewards are absolutely work effort. You’re trading a little time for a whole lot of travel perks and experiences that you might not have thought were possible. So those would be the three big takeaways. Thanks for an awesome chat.
Justin: All right, great. And the advanced Voice feature chat, GPT Voice.
The live discussion I think went pretty well. So hopefully listeners interested and surely they were if they came this far in the episode. So I’d like to hear some listener feedback how they think this one went. This is especially good when some co-hosts aren’t available or it’s a later night recording.
Lila: Absolutely. I think it went really smoothly too, and it’s a great way to mix things up and give listeners something a little different. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the dynamic, especially getting to hear that real time co-host vibe and like you said, it’s a perfect solution for those times when a regular co-host isn’t available.
So let’s definitely invite the listeners to share their feedback and let us know how to like this format. It’ll be fun to hear what they think and maybe do more of these in the future. Thanks for having me on [00:42:00] as your AI cohost.
Justin: Thanks for joining me, Lila. And for those unfamiliar, how could they use the chat GPT Voice feature or the advanced voice feature?
Lila: So if anyone wants to use chat GT’s voice feature themselves, it’s pretty simple. You just need to open up the chat GPT mobile app, and there’s a voice option where you can tap to start a conversation. It’s just like having a real time chat just like we did here. For the more advanced features, it’s often available through the subscription tiers, like chat, UBT plus.
So if you’re interested in trying out voice mode or any of those advanced options, just check out the app or the subscription details. It’s a really fun and interactive way to get more outta chat. UBT. Thanks for asking.
Justin: Yes, $20 a month for that plus subscription, totally worth it. Less than a dollar a day.
And in my app on Android, on my Samsung Galaxy phone, I see. A black circle on the bottom right with three lines in it that you could use to have the real time voice feature. And I often use the microphone function right next to it, that I can speak into the microphone chat, GPT transcribes, [00:43:00] and it accomplishes the task, so your own digital assistant ready to go.
So I hope that people in the audience use chat GPT more and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.
Lila: It’s really just to tap away on your phone and you’ve got this real-time assistant right there to help out. So, yeah, for listening to Dollar A Day, it’s a pretty great deal to unlock all those features.
Hopefully, folks listening, we’ll give it a try and see just how handy it can be. Thanks for sharing that.
Justin: Alright, thanks for joining me today, Lila. And thanks for those in the audience for listening. Stay tuned for future episodes, some closing announcements. For more content between podcast episodes, follow Hurdy gurdy Travel podcast on Facebook and x.
Follow Justin Vacula on Instagram. Subscribe to Hurdy Gurdy Travel podcast on YouTube for daily content including travel videos, podcast clips, community and posts. Search Hurdy Gurdy travel on subscribe star.com or become a channel member on YouTube to support my efforts starting at the $5 a month tip jar level.
Receive special perks at higher subscriber [00:44:00] levels, including private one-on-one conversations about card strategy, creative credit card spending, and asking podcast guests your questions. Find links and more at HurdyGurdyTravel.com. The website, UDIO, Udio.com, created the podcast intro and outro music. It’s not me singing. AI features of the website Descript
help me edit and improve audio quality. Chat GPT advanced Voice Feature now chat GPT Voice joined me as a co-host today. Thanks for listening and have a great day.
Theme Song: Travel at low cost with points and miles. Credit card rewards bring the smiles. Many adventures tales to be told, make and save money, the world will unfold.
Fight the war on happiness. Pick up the gold. [00:45:00] Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast breaks the mold.