For decades, frugal travelers have enjoyed the benefits their points and miles earning opportunities have provided them. Through calculated spending and careful monitoring of their credit and personal finances, points and miles currencies have unlocked the doors to an unlimited number of destinations around the world.
However, obtaining points and miles has become a much more difficult process in these late days. With credit card sign-up bonuses getting harder to obtain and earning opportunities less plentiful, frugal travelers are going into new depths to try and find opportunities to earn points and miles across the spectrum.
Although many of our favorite methods have changed, it does not mean that earning points is a lost cause. For the new frugal traveler who is concerned about earning points and miles in the future, here are three easy ways to diversify points and miles earning opportunities and parlay them into big earnings down the road.
Keep track of credit card applications (and cancellations)
While this may seem like redundant advice for those who are old hat to the points and miles games, it is still a quality lesson worth repeating. In addition to tracking credit for many of the variables that are important to the points and miles earning experience (score, available credit, etc.), new frugal travelers should also keep track of their credit card applications and cancellations.
By keeping track, travelers can better understand when they can apply for new cards and qualify for the bonus, as well as when applying for a new card will not benefit them in the end. With this understanding, travelers can make better decisions that will help them earn more points.
For the cards we do decide to keep, there are still plenty of ways to keep the miles coming in even after the promotional period is over.
Shop at the portals before anywhere else
Most points and miles programs have a shopping portal, which acts like an online mall for everything the frugal traveler could ever need. While many of us are programmed to go down to our local store or to other websites to shop for the items we need, a little reprogramming can help us earn even more points.
Before making an online purchase somewhere, check to see if their store is available on a shopping portal. These portals will often multiply the points or miles spent per dollar when using their affiliate link, meaning travelers can pick up bonus points towards their next vacation for their everyday shopping habits. These promotions are also stackable as well – meaning travelers who use an airline or hotel branded credit card can reap even bigger rewards for their spending!
Color coding is your friend
Finally, not all cards are built equally. Some credit cards offer a bonus on points and miles earnings in certain categories all year or on rotating categories throughout the year. Maximize those earnings by color-coding your cards.
One trick I use is assigning a color-coded dot sticker to each of my cards. Those dots correspond to a category of spending where I earn the most amount of points or miles. Through this organizational tool, I can keep my points earnings maxed out no matter where (or how) I shop.
Even though the easiest way to earn points may be going away, it does not mean we cannot continue to stack the points over time. Through diversifying points earning opportunities and staying organized, every frugal traveler can continue to earn points towards their next great getaway.
How do you diversify your points earning opportunities? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
[Image via Getty]