Remember MMM's article on getting paid to use a credit card a few months back? Well, 10 months ago I began a quest to get as many credit cards as possible -- not to get money back, but rather to accrue as many airline miles and hotel points to go on some amazing, possibly unmustachian vacations. Well, after an insane journey which involved numerous tactics to supplement my 10 credit cards, I managed to accumulate over 1 million miles (my wife got some cards too, and my mom gave me some points. Thanks mom!).
The end result? I just spent half my points on the following two vacations for me, my wife, and two children (we live in the rural northeast, BTW):
Nov 7 - 13 -- Barbados. Cost breakdown:
Airline tickets for 4, $2,650 retail, paid $200. On flight, if I make 3 small separate purchases I get $300 in CC credit. Total cost, $-100.
4 Star Resort hotel in Barbados, 5 nights , $1500 retail, paid $500.
Overnight lodging the night before Barbados flight, $200 retail, paid 0.
Total cost for hotels and flights, retail $4350, paid $600.
My guess for food, taxis, and some beverages for the trip is around $1500 for 6 nights. Granted 2k for a single vacation is more than MMM spent on all of his. And if Barbados wasn't enough:
February 18 - 28, Honolulu, Hawaii. Breakdown:
Tickets for 4, $4200 retail, my cost -- $40.
Amazing 5 star hotel for 8 nights, $4200 retail, my cost -- $1400.
Total cost, $8400 retail, paid $1440.
Out of pocket costs: 3 day car rental, taxis -- $400. Food, entertainment, etc -- $2000.
There it is. Two amazing vacations for around $6,000. Which raises the original question: am I a badass for spending so little, or a dumbass for spending so much?