We were SCARED to USE our CREDIT CARD POINTS: How we overcame the FEAR

We share our anxiety over accumulating and using credit card points. Hear the real truth about getting new cards and using them for free hotel and flights. Over the past year we forced ourselves to get new cards with fantastic sign-up bonuses and redeem points to offset the cost of our global full time travel around the world.
This video will show you how to leverage credit card points and sign-up bonuses to SLASH your travel costs! Learn how to strategically use travel rewards cards to rack up points and miles that can be redeemed for FREE flights, hotels, and more. Get ready to explore the world without breaking the bank!
Bonus points covered:
- Understanding the benefit of sign-up bonuses
- Choosing the right travel card for your needs (SouthWest and Chase Cards)
- Using travel portals to maximize point value
- Responsible credit card use for travel rewards
If you're interested in any of the Credit Cards that we use, please use the links below:
Earn bonus points with a Chase Sapphire® card. I can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
www.referyourc...
Earn Bonus Points with the World of Hyatt Business Card. I can be awarded if you apply here and are approved for the card.
www.referyourc...
Hey Nomads!
We're Chris and Steve, a retired couple adventuring full-time around the globe. To keep our nomadic lifestyle going, we rely on some amazing resources and partnerships. We're excited to share them with you, along with some exclusive discounts to fuel your own travels!
In this description, you'll find:
Our Carry-ons: Discover our carry-on of choice from Osprey (osprey.pxf.io/ospreywheeled40 )
Get Great Cell Phone Data for Cheap: We love Flexiroam, and use it around the world. Get your data plan here. flexiroamlimit...
Fuel Your Wanderlust Books: Grab our books, "Two Carry-Ons and a Plan" and “A Nomad Life” for expert tips on minimalist travel www.amazon.com....
Trusted Housesitters: Learn how to house sit with Trusted Housesitters,stay for free around the world, and get 25% off with our code EATWALK25 (trustedhousesi.... We also have articles on creating a stellar profile on our website (eatwalklearn.c....
Booking Made Easy: Find great deals on hotels and long-term stays with Booking.com. Bookmark our link for great deals! (www.awin1.com/....
Buy Us a Coffee! Support us with a virtual coffee on Paypal (paypal.me/chri...) or Venmo (@chrisengl).
Plan Your Adventures: Save on tours and activities with Get Your Guide (gyg.me/zc4oWo7S ) and Viator (www.viator.com... ).
Fuel Your Wanderlust Further: Dive into our curated travel book list on Amazon (www.amazon.com....
Travel on Rewards: Earn travel insurance and points with our recommended credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred (www.referyourc....
Protect your online stuff: We use Cyberghost for VPN
(www.cyberghost....
► Grab a freebie!:
FREE TO DO LIST: The Nomad ToDo List: A Timeline for Everything You Need to Do Before Launching Your Nomad Life. (mailchi.mp/e67...)
FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER (mailchi.mp/ac3...)
FREE PACKING LIST (/www.amazon.com/shop/eatwalklearn)
Thanks for Watching!
Thank you very much for supporting us. #nomadlife #fulltimetravel #googlefi #travel #healthyeating #nomad #travelcouple #coupletravel #retirement #retirementtravel #budgettravel #digitalnomad #nomadic #cellphone #housesitting #petsitting #expat #liveabroad #liveinternationally #shorttermrental #longtermrental #vacationrental #airbnb #vrbo #cheaprentals #fire
#travelhacks
#budgettravel
#longtermrentals
#airbnbalternatives
#livelikelocal
#traveltips
#crisgawlik
#eatwalklearn

[@TravelswithLlama]

I am deep in the points & miles world. My suggestion is to earn and burn. Don't worry about cpp/redemption value. Just start using them to make your travel better. Someone will always say it isn't right. Remember points devalue just like other assets. Just use them. Use the portal or transfer out, whatever. You can get deep in the weeds that it just sucks the fun. You will learn as you go along. PS - C & S, I will NEVER tell you that your points redemption is bad or wrong. If you like the travel you got from them, then your use of points was GREAT! Keep going.

[@EatWalkLearn]

That's great advice! Thank you

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Great way to look at it. Very helpful thanks 😊 👍

[@GlobalLatterdaySaints]

Lots of comments on this topic - didn’t see if anyone mentioned transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt, but it’s a game changer! Hyatt has great hotel redemption rates, so your points go farther. I am curious about strategies to keep things simple - like focusing on earning miles for just hotels, or just airlines. Would love to see another video with your additional experience this year!

[@EatWalkLearn]

Thank you. You hit the nail on the head. We've moved to Hyatt for a lot of redemptions now and we're focused on hotels as that's what we need most.

[@FIREWeGo]

Great job, guys. We also have been accumulating points, and the benefits are immense. It is intimidating in the beginning, but it is really fun once you understand the rationale behind it. 😊🎉

[@EatWalkLearn]

Yes! Thank you!

[@janitoronfire]

My wife and I are sitting on a ton of points. Can’t wait to use them.

[@EatWalkLearn]

Where to first?

[@PostalNerds]

Probably the British Isles.

[@victw1]

I agree with the first commenter. A lot of the points world focuses on sexy point redemptions We mostly use ours to fly and have never accumulated enough for business class. I think it's all about getting where you want, when you want or sleeping where you want, when you want. This first time I booked United via Avianca points transferred from CC points blew my mind.

[@EatWalkLearn]

Thanks!

[@Leoprieto74]

I have 16 premium travel cards totaling $6,800 in Annual Fees. 🥂

[@EatWalkLearn]

Wowza!

[@JillBrooke]

Wow! Very inspirational Chris & Steve. I have Companion Passes but I’m a single gal so I have to figure out how to use them…

[@EatWalkLearn]

You've got plenty of buddies there in Philly!

[@kimgrod]

The Points Guy also has valuations vs going to Google

[@EatWalkLearn]

Yes. They're a great resource

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Love the real world examples. We are 5 years out from starting our slow travel journey. 🐌 🌎 Trying to set up our foundation now. From building our self insured fund , building up 1 million reward points, to building better eating and exercising habits. 💪🪙💰🧠📚🚲 Good to know though it may seem daunting, it's all doable. 👍🌎

[@EatWalkLearn]

That's the trifecta right there

[@FahlstromJohn]

agree on the pay it off each month. great information 👍

[@EatWalkLearn]

Thanks for watching!

[@slowmads]

So funny. . . Everyone brags about their points “deals”. It’s intimidating! When I’m planning travel, I check out whether points can be used or not. I tend to use them for airfare and hotel rooms (haven’t paid cash for either for 2 years now). I AM aware that the whole points system might collapse or legislated out of existence because I DO believe that our points are at the expense of other CC users. I also know the CC companies can change the exchange rates whenever they please. So, I am also committed to using them sooner rather than later.

[@EatWalkLearn]

Yes! We are a bit uneasy about how we can have point benefits at the expense of others.

[@slowmads]

@@EatWalkLearn In truth, a LOT of what constitutes our “good life” is at the expense of others-the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the low pay for services workers in the hospitality and tourist industries. Feeling bad about all of them doesn’t help. All we can do is to give back-financially or with our time-to offset the inequities. I adhere to the 10% rule (e.g. 10% of my income, including draws from investments, goes to causes/organizations that contribute to the health of the universe). It’s a drop in the bucket, but that’s the balance that works for us.

[@ShiningDawn904]

100% agree! I’m doing this point game with some guilty feelings

[@EatWalkLearn]

@@slowmads that's a great point.

[@Chris_Heather_livingbestlife]

I understand, we are building up a ton of points and inside 2 years until we take off. We use some of them now.

[@TravelswithLlama]

I'm deep in the points world, remember that points can devalue. Be careful stockpiling points.

[@EatWalkLearn]

That's great

[@KA-jh6od]

How do you have a physical address for the cc? I’m pretty good at using my airline miles. I need to get a chase card.

[@EatWalkLearn]

We use Escapees Com for our mailing address. See our domiciling video. (You've Got Mail)

[@micheleisme]

Since 83% of your points were from sign-on bonuses, it seems like the only way to continue getting the great returns is to constantly sign up for new credit cards. You briefly mentioned that. Is that what you are planning to do?

[@EatWalkLearn]

Yes, we get a new card every 2 months or so

[@micheleisme]

@@EatWalkLearn Do you have your mail service forward the cards to you? Or how do you get the cards sent to you when you travel so much?

[@EatWalkLearn]

@@micheleisme we have them scanned so we have the numbers and our Chase cards automatically roll into our digital wallets, so we hardly ever need the cards. When we're at a secure location to receive mail, we have it sent.