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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
As a senior editor on TPG's content operations team, Christine Gallipeau helps staff and content contributors craft their travel stories so they're engaging and approachable to all kinds of readers. She has edited travel content for nearly 10 years, specializing in vacation destinations, hotels, loyalty programs, travel tips and more.
June 13, 2026 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The author discusses how significant homeownership expenses can be leveraged to earn valuable travel rewards.
By timing large purchases with new premium card applications, they maximized welcome bonuses to fund a future bucket-list trip.
A shift in card strategy was prompted by a major home renovation, leading to the addition of two new premium travel cards.
Points and miles earned from these expenses are being used to book a high-value business-class trip to Easter Island.
What to consider
Welcome offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
Eligibility for multiple bonuses may depend on specific program rules and timing of applications.
Transferring points between programs can open up additional redemption options, but some flight segments may not be covered by certain mileage programs.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed tactics for aligning large home expenses with travel rewards strategies to maximize value from unavoidable spending.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
After 10 years of homeownership, I've had my fair share of pricey expenses.
Washing machine won't complete a wash cycle? That'll be $330 for the labor and part swap. Fireplace won't stay lit? Goodbye $460 for the cleaning and inspection — plus another $900 for a new pilot light.
Then there are the never-ending water heater issues that seem to cost me $1,000-plus every other year.
Unexpected financial hits are par for the course when it comes to owning a home. But with the right strategy, they can also create opportunities.
With thousands of dollars in spending on the horizon, I realized I could use those unavoidable expenses to earn enough points and miles for a bucket-list business-class trip.
Here's how I've handled home expenses so far — and why this major project led to a change in my strategy.
The card offered perks I knew I'd use — including a $300 annual Capital One travel credit applied to bookings made through the Capital One Travel portal and lounge access at my two home airports — plus a simple earning structure that works well for everyday spending.
GABRIELLE BERNARDINI/THE POINTS GUY
You'll earn:
10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
The last earning rate for all other purchases is what particularly caught my eye, as this catch-all category for everyday expenses offers more miles per dollar than what you'll get with many other general travel cards.
While I knew I'd take advantage of it for pet-related purchases and other items rarely included as an elevated earning rate category, I also liked having a reliable card for large home-related expenses, from annual maintenance to unexpected repairs.
Relying on my Venture X for home-related purchases for the past few years has served me well so far.
In fact, I've racked up enough miles to cover several nights of a weeklong stay at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Barbados and partially cover an upcoming five-night stay at Amansara in Cambodia, both through Capital One's "cover travel purchases" fixed-value redemption option.
ALL ACCOR
Knowing I was about to begin a major home renovation project in the form of a top-to-bottom, start-from-scratch refresh of my kitchen alongside significant updates to my living room, it seemed like a perfect time to add another card to my wallet. After all, I knew a few appliance purchases could easily satisfy a spending requirement for a new premium credit card's welcome bonus.
Naturally, the Chase Sapphire Reserve became a front-runner, thanks to its best-ever welcome offer of 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (no longer available).
New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Since I'd owned most of my furniture for a decade, replacing it alongside the renovation suddenly made sense. I wanted my home decor to match the new cabinetry, stone, paint and appliances I've selected.
After considering a few cards, ultimately, I settled on the United Club℠ Card.
At the time I applied, the card was offering the opportunity to earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (no longer available).
A United Airlines plane on final descent into Dulles International Airport (IAD). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Because United Airlines has a major presence at Dulles International Airport (IAD), a hub I use frequently due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and has become one of my preferred airlines, the card immediately caught my eye despite its high $695 annual fee.
That's when things really clicked.
If I successfully earned both bonuses, I'd earn at least 100,000 miles with the United Club Card and 150,000 points with the Sapphire Reserve, the latter of which I could transfer to United MileagePlus, a Chase transfer partner, for a whopping total of 250,000 miles.
Say no more. Within days of coming to that realization, I applied for both cards.
How I plan on spending the bulk of the points and miles
It didn't take long to meet the spending requirement for my United Club Card's welcome offer. Just 24 hours after receiving the card in the mail, I purchased five new appliances. Within days, the offer's 3,000 PQPs appeared in my MileagePlus account, and after my first billing cycle, the 100,000 miles were deposited.
BOB KRIST/GETTY IMAGES
Once I earn the 150,000 points with my Chase Sapphire Reserve and transfer them to my MileagePlus account, I have big plans for how I'll use the bulk of the miles.
After visiting Asia for the first time this year, I already have my sights set on another new-for-me continent for 2027: South America.
As an architecture buff and lover of far-flung destinations that haven't been spoiled by overtourism, I've long wanted to visit Easter Island.
Rapa Nui, as it's known locally, is one of the world's most remote inhabited islands and can only be reached by air from Santiago, Chile, or via select world cruise itineraries.
A world cruise is out of reach for me, so instead, I'll fly from D.C. to Easter Island, with connections in Houston and Santiago, to finally see the island's iconic moai in person.
United miles won't cover the Santiago-to-Easter Island segment on LATAM, but they can cover the rest of the itinerary, including a nine-plus-hour business-class flight from Houston to Santiago. With the trip priced at nearly $11,500 in cash, it's exactly the kind of redemption that makes my home renovation spending feel worthwhile.
Homeownership comes with plenty to celebrate — and plenty of expenses.
While there's no way around the cost of maintaining and upgrading a home, there are ways to get more value from that spending.
In my case, a major renovation project is helping turn thousands of dollars in home expenses into a dream trip to Easter Island that would have otherwise been out of reach.
