RESOURCES
RESOURCES AND TOOLS WE RECOMMEND
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Resources for Using Points and Miles
Travel Freely (Click for Travel Freely)
TravelFreely is a must for anyone starting in points and miles. As soon as you receive a new credit card, you can enter it into the app and it will send you alerts when you are close to the deadline on your spending bonus offer. It also tracks your 5/24 status with Chase and how many days you need to wait between credit card applications.
AwardWallet (Click for Award Wallet)
AwardWallet tracks the expiration dates of your points and miles for airlines, hotels and more. We started with the free version and quickly upgraded to be able to add more loyalty programs. The last thing you want to do is forget to do something to extend the expiration on the points you worked so hard to obtain.
360 Travel Tips Spreadsheet (Click here for Spreadsheet)
This is the spreadsheet we use to track our credit card anniversary dates, sign up bonus minimum spend and deadlines, perks etc.
Apps/Websites to Earn Cash Back or Points
Rakuten (Click here for Rakuten)
Rakuten is a shopping portal that you can add as an extension on your web browser and receive cash back for your online shopping. They will either send you a check or you opt to receive points instead (the latter is worth more than 1 cent per point.) You will get $30 after your first purchase of $30, by using the link above.
TopCashback (Click here for TopCashback)
TopCashback is a shopping portal similar to Rakuten. Often times, they are paying out more than Rakuten, so I typically check both. If TopCashback and Rakuten are equal in their payouts, I will use Rakuten, since I am set up to receive American Express Membership Rewards vs. cash.
CapitalOne Shopping Portal (Click here for CapitalOne)
This portal has great deals, sometimes targeted at 30% off. CapitalOne Shopping portal does not require you to have a credit card of account with Capital One. If you use the link below to sign up and make at least a $10 “qualifying” purchase (read their terms), within the first 30 days, you will get $30.
Fluz (Click here for Fluz)
Enter refer code BONNIER45409F97 to get 3 boosts for up to 25% cashback
Fluz is an app where you can buy discounted gift cards up to 35%. They even have “parties” on special days to earn higher rates. Once you sign up using a referral link, you will be given 3 vouchers for 325% back. The way to maximize the vouchers is to buy 3 different $10 gift cards to max the 35% out at $2.50 per transaction. Note: use the vouchers right away-they expire quickly.
Download App from the Appstore and use referral code to get vouchers:
CardPointers (Click here for CardPointers)
This app helps you to know what card to use where, to maximize the points you earn in bonus categories. CardPointers now has an AI feature that you can use to know what card to use at a store by pointing your camera at it. There is also an extension for your browser that will help you add all the American Express and Chase Offers all at once. Then the app keeps track of the offers for you, so that you can find which card you loaded the offer onto.
There is a free trial and if you use this link below, you will get a discount if you decide to upgrade to the pro version.
Cashback Monitor (Click here for Cashback Monitor)
Once you see how easy it is to use shopping portals, this website will tell you which portal is paying the most cash back at that particular time.
Hotel Websites to Find Award Availability
Awayz by Odynn (Click here for Awayz)
Max My Point (Click here for Max My Point)
Open Hotel Alert (Click here for Open Hotel Alert)
Articles and additional information we find valuable
We have a wonderful community in the points and miles world and there are some large companies that that write excellent articles. Instead of “reinventing the wheel”, we thought it would be easier to provide the information we think is valuable all in one place. A big H/T (hat tip) to all the bloggers webpages I have linked to below!
Points and Mile Terminology — by The Points Guy
Credit Cards that offer Pre-TSA reimbursement
Valuation of Points – by The Points Guy
Chase and American Express Transfer Partners – by NerdWallet
Complete Guide to Credit Card Application Rules by Bank – Frequent Milers