If you’ve ever watched a big chunk of your budget disappear into rent and thought, “There has to be a smarter way,” there’s good news. Bilt is a rewards program that helps renters (and everyday spenders) earn points you can use for flights and hotel stays.

Cash back is great for simplicity, but transferable points from gateway cards are where the real leverage lives. Instead of being stuck at a flat 1¢ per point, you can move those points to airline and hotel partners and tap into award “sweet spots” that price flights and stays far below cash rates.

Have you ever wondered if you should add your partner as an authorized user on your card, or apply for their own card and earn a welcome bonus? This guide breaks it down simply, helps you travel sooner, and teaches you to protect your credit at the same time.

I used to watch school-break fares jump overnight and think, “Maybe next year.” The turning point was learning how to aim American Express Membership Rewards® points at the right partners, and only transferring once seats and fees checked out. That’s when “someday” trips started turning into actual vacations.

If you aren’t new to the points and miles hobby, you will know that elevated offers really help boost your numbers. It’s thrilling to open a card, meet a minimum spend, and see your account fill with all those points. Sometimes you are in between cards and don’t know what to open. Sometimes there are rumors of a “big” bonus were swirling, but nothing has been announced yet. So, should you wait for an elevated welcome offer, or go ahead and apply?

The truth is, you don’t need to master every points program to book free (or almost free) international flights. You just need the right credit cards. The right cards will earn you points you can actually use for long-haul travel.

I’ll never forget the moment I stretched out in a lie-flat seat on my flight to Rome. The ticket would have cost nearly $2,800, but instead I used 60,000 points I’d earned from my credit card. If I had chosen cash back, those same points would have given me about $600 off my statement. Both are valuable, but in that moment, the difference between cash back and flexible points had never felt clearer.

I still remember the first time I used a travel credit card to get my whole family into a lounge. My kids were munching on free snacks, my husband grabbed a crispy Diet Coke, and I finally got to sit in peace for five minutes. That little pocket of calm made the whole travel day easier all because I knew the best airport lounge access credit cards for families.

If you are going to spend money on new clothes, backpacks, and tech, why not earn points or cashback while doing it?

If you’re focused on getting more family travel out of your budget, hear me out: there are travel credit card alternatives to the Costco credit card that can actually help you book flights and hotels using points.