We’ve all been there, you’ve had a long flight and everyone is tired. Instead of getting the keys and leaving the airport, you hit the dreaded line at the rental counter. It’s moving slower than the DMV, yet the drop in your patience level is accelerating. Then you remember that I taught you how to skip the rental car line with your credit card perks, and the the beginning of your trip becomes a breeze instead of a burden.

Find the right tools with travel search app to help you book that points vacation of your dreams.

When that welcome bonus lands in your account, it feels exciting… until you start wondering, “Okay, but how do I actually use these points?”
I know it can feel overwhelming, but I’m here to help.

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

I thought I had my premium card setup figured out. I had my go-tos for everyday spending, a clear favorite for lounge access, and a system for rotating through welcome offers on a regular schedule. But a recent change from one of the biggest banks in the points and miles world just shifted the landscape—and it’s made me pause and rethink what my “keeper” cards actually are.

My first minimum spend was like $3,000, and thinking I had to spend that amount kind of freaked me out. But here’s the secret, if you track your spending, you will find you probably spend that much anyway.

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.

One of the questions I get the most usually goes like this—

“Do you choose where you want to go first, or do you just wait for a deal to pop up and plan around that?”

If you’ve spent any time in the points and miles world, you’ve probably heard that transferring points to travel partners usually gets you the best value—and that’s true. But as a mom booking travel for a whole family, I know that maximizing every cent per point doesn’t always work out in real life. Sometimes, using points to erase travel purchases or book through a travel portal actually makes more sense.

With so many shopping portals available, it’s important to know which one provides the best benefits for your family. Two of the best ways to earn extra points on everyday spending are Rakuten and Capital One Offers—but they work differently. If your goal is to maximize travel rewards, here’s what you need to know.