The Money-Saving Routine That Changed How We Travel
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be tracking 17 credit cards, flying a family of six on points, and actually enjoying the process—I wouldn’t have believed you.
But here we are.
The biggest turning point in our travel journey wasn’t some viral deal or a last-minute upgrade. It was when I finally put a system in place.
Because I’ll be honest—this only works if you have a way to keep it organized. You don’t need spreadsheets or hours a week (no thank you). But you do need a rhythm.
This is the behind-the-scenes of how I track our points, stay on top of payments, and plan trips without losing my mind.

Want to start using points for your own family travel? This beginner guide walks you through the exact steps I recommend.

1. I Track Every Card and Bonus in One Place
I used to keep it all in my head. Spoiler: that doesn’t work once you’re juggling more than a few cards.
Now I use Travel Freely to track every credit card—without needing to link bank accounts. It reminds me when annual fees are coming, when spending deadlines are approaching, and it even tracks our 5/24 status.
If I’m referring my husband to a card or timing new applications, I check Travel Freely first. It’s basically my card strategy command center, and it takes less than five minutes a week to stay updated.

2. I Use Monarch to Pay Off Cards + Categorize Spending
The second part of this system is where the peace of mind comes in. Every week, I open Monarch Money and pay off our balances.
It shows me all of our credit cards and bank accounts in one place, so I’m not bouncing between apps or asking my husband what he spent at Home Depot again. 😅
He has access to the app too, so we’re always on the same page. For us, that kind of transparency has been a game-changer—especially as our card count grew and our redemptions got more advanced.

3. How I Actually Plan Our Trips (and Still Save Big)
This is the part people always want to know: “Do you pick a destination and figure it out, or just wait for a good deal?”
The answer? Most of the time the destination, but really, both.
Sometimes we’re chasing a dream trip. Other times, we book something spontaneous because the deal was too good to pass up. Here’s how I plan it all without feeling overwhelmed:

When We Have a Destination in Mind
Let’s say we want to go to Hawaii, Paris, or Disney. Here’s the step-by-step:
Start with FlightConnections: I use FlightConnections to see which airlines fly there from our home airport (or a nearby one). For bigger trips, I always check positioning flights to expand our options.
Check Google Flights: Even if I plan to use points, I want to know cash prices and schedules so I can compare.
Search for award flights: I start with the airline’s website, then check flexible point portals and award tools like pointsyeah.com, point.me, or seats.aero.
Need help with that? Here’s how to transfer points to travel partners—and why it can unlock so much more value.
Find hotel award availability: With a family of six, I use Max My Point to set alerts and grab rooms that fit us. I also compare with staywithpoints.com or check flexible programs that still use award charts.
Build a family-friendly itinerary: We keep it simple—one big activity a day, plus room for snacks, downtime, and flexibility. I scan a few itineraries online to see what pops up over and over (usually a good sign!).
More help here:
Mom’s Guide to Hyatt for Families
Best Hyatt Hotels in Hawaii for Families of 5+
Guide to Booking Marriott Stays with Points

When a Deal Leads the Way
If I’m being honest, some of our favorite trips have happened this way.
I subscribe to Thrifty Traveler Premium (use code Rewardsmom for $10 off). Their deal alerts have taken us to Europe, Cancun, and Kauai on flights I never would’ve found on my own.
When a deal hits my inbox: I jump on Google Flights to verify the price and dates. If it works, I check if I can book it with points—or if the cash price is so low I’d rather save my points.
To compare points vs. cash, use this guide.
Then I check hotel options: I use the same award tools mentioned above, or see if we can use free night certificates.
I book fast—then figure out the rest. Flexibility is key here. I usually secure the flight and fill in the hotel and itinerary after.

What If You’re Paying Cash?
Even though points are my go-to, sometimes cash deals just make more sense. Here’s how I save when I’m not using points:
Book through a travel portal to earn more points—Capital One is my favorite for stacking points
Use Rakuten for cash back
Check Walmart+ Travel for hotel discounts
Compare across booking sites, and don’t be afraid to call the hotel directly
Consider splitting a trip: Booking Vacation Rentals with Points

The Weekly Routine That Makes It All Work
Here’s how I keep everything moving without it taking over my life:
Check Travel Freely weekly to track bonuses, deadlines, and new card timing
Use Monarch to pay off cards, categorize spending, and stay transparent with my spouse
Set 30 minutes each week for travel planning or research
Take breaks when needed—especially if a redemption feels complicated
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to work for your life.

If you’re ready to put your own routine in place, these are the cards I recommend for flexible travel rewards.
And if this is all new to you, grab my free guide to get started the same way I did: one step at a time.

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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

We haven’t taken the kids to Walt Disney World yet, but my kids are huge Harry Potter fans, so when Universal announced the opening of Epic Universe, we knew we were headed back to Florida. And since we were already flying across the country, I figured—it’s time. Let’s finally do Disney World.

It started with a moment of sticker shock. I was pricing out a Universal Orlando vacation for our family of six—and when I saw the total, I actually laughed out loud. Not the fun, theme-park kind of laugh. The “surely this is a mistake” kind.