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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.
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How I maximized my points and miles to travel as a teacher on a limited budget
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
November 7, 2022 • 9 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 article explores a practical approach to using points and miles for travel, especially for those with limited budgets and rigid schedules.
It emphasizes building flexible points and miles balances with airlines and hotel programs that fit typical travel needs, rather than chasing luxury redemptions.
Key strategies include seeking budget-friendly redemptions, such as off-peak flights and lower-category hotels, and prioritizing cards with modest or no annual fees.
The author demonstrates that even with time and financial constraints, consistent planning can enable frequent travel.
What to consider
Teachers and others with fixed schedules may face higher travel costs due to peak-season restrictions and limited flexibility.
Focusing on programs with strong presence at your home airport or destination increases redemption opportunities.
Choosing cards with modest or no annual fees can help maximize value for those on tight budgets.
What you'll miss from the article
Personalized strategies for balancing points, miles and cash-back rewards to make travel accessible on a limited budget.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
There are some different approaches when it comes to traveling with points and miles.
A lot of people around TPG, for example, live for a killer redemption. They go for the cards with the biggest bonuses, spend hours researching their redemption options, and use their points and miles to book lie-flat seats and suites in luxurious hotels.
This, however, is not how I learned to use points and miles. A high school English teacher in my previous life, my travel goals and budget were modest and my mental bandwidth was limited. I didn't have my eye on status or first class; I just wanted to be able to go to the beach and visit my friends who lived far away.
So, my approach was a bit different from some of the pros you see around here. Below, I'm breaking it down so you can see if it might work for you too.
The challenges
Being a teacher comes with a rigid schedule and difficult work-life balance, making it tough to travel when compared with other occupations. Here are a few of the challenges I faced when planning travel.
A tight budget
When I first started using points and miles, I was a new teacher and my budget was tight. I wasn't lured into points and miles by the promise of luxury travel; I was lured in by the idea of travel being an option for me at all.
SHUTTERSTOCK
I could barely afford my car insurance payment at that time of my life, so paying out of pocket for flights, lodging and other travel expenses was unattainable for me.
A limited schedule
A serious perk of being a teacher was the time off from school that allowed travel. However, my days off were predetermined for me. I didn't have the flexibility to, for example, decide to go to Hawaii in the off-season. The school calendar is designed for time off only in the "on" season, so getting off-peak pricing was almost never an option for me.
Limited mental energy
Teachers juggle a lot of things. When I came home at the end of the day, I was exhausted and still had piles of papers to grade. As much as I wanted to be able to travel, I did not have the time or energy to devote to learning and implementing elaborate points redemption strategies. The best I could do was to remember to use one card at the gas station and another at restaurants, and even that was pushing it.
The approach
I had three major components to my strategy to keep me sane and help me work within my budget.
My points and miles balances
Instead of choosing a goal trip and using that to determine which cards I got, I focused on building and maintaining a good balance of some points and miles I knew I would be able to use when a travel opportunity arose. For flights, I kept both Southwest points and American Airlines miles available since both airlines have a significant presence in my home airport and offer plenty of good deals.
For hotels, I kept balances of IHG, Hilton and Hyatt points, knowing I was likely to find availability and a good deal with a hotel in one of these groups wherever I wanted to go.
I also used cash-back rewards cards to keep a separate travel fund that I used to cover things like food and theme park tickets when I traveled.
It was really important that I stretch the points and miles I had as far as I could, so I aimed to redeem as few as possible for each trip by booking 5 a.m. flights and always keeping an eye out for Category 1 Hyatts. By doing this, a card sign-up bonus could take me on multiple trips rather than be eaten up by one larger redemption.
I knew that I wouldn't get lounge access or significant status with my lower-fee cards, but that sacrifice was worth the savings for me. Fortunately, there are also some really valuable card options that come with no or lower annual fees. I focused on cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which gave me excellent welcome bonuses and cardholder value with little annual fee investment.
My strategy worked like a dream for me during my nine years as a teacher. My points and miles allowed me to book travel without hesitation when a friend moved to Peru and invited me to visit, when I found good deals on flights to visit my friends in California and when I decided to see if I could afford my dream trip to Hawaii.
LUCIA ROMERO HERRANZ/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES
I was able to travel on almost every school break, and that was only possible because of points and miles.
If you find yourself working with an exceptionally tight budget or limited mental energy, you can still make points and miles work for you.
Determine your travel budget
Be realistic about what you can and are willing to spend on traveling. Decide what, if any, annual fees you feel OK paying and set a rule for how you'll know when to pass on one. We, for example, make a really convincing argument that The Platinum Card® from American Express is well worth its annual fee, but the $695 (see rates and fees) out-of-pocket expense isn't right for everyone. If you aren't in a place where it makes sense right now, you have plenty of other great options.
Set some travel goals
If you have a specific trip you really want to take, use it to help you determine which card(s) to get next. But even if you don't, think about what types of trips you want to take in general terms. I, for instance, wanted to mostly travel domestically, so a Southwest card was an excellent option for me.
CAIAIMAGE/AGNIESZKA OLEK/GETTY IMAGES
If, on the other hand, you have family who live abroad and want to be able to visit them more regularly, you'll want to choose a card with an airline that offers good deals to get you there.
Make your plan
If you're just starting out, start small. Whether your travel goal helped you narrow down a specific trip or if you still have just a general idea of what points and miles you want to earn, choose one or two cards that will help get you there.
And if you're on a really tight budget, look at your cash-back rewards card options to help you cover the costs that points and miles generally don't.
Great cards for a tight budget
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $2,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
Why it's great: This card earns 7 points per dollar on Hilton purchases; 5 points per dollar on dining at U.S. restaurants, on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas; and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. What really makes this card budget-friendly, though, is that it comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, allowing you to take advantage of Hilton's fifth-night-free perk and stretch your points even further.
Apply here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card
Welcome Bonus:Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $69.
Why it's great: This card's welcome bonus is worth $700 according to TPG's valuations.
Apply here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
Why it's great: This card allows you to earn 2% cash back on all your purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay). This card is a reliable one to keep in your wallet when you're buying something that doesn't earn additional points with another card.
Apply here: Citi Double Cash Card
Bottom line
The best points and miles redemption strategy is the one that works for your budget, lifestyle and goals. By setting your travel budget and deciding what points and miles will serve you best, you can find a strategy that will take you anywhere you want to go.
For rates and fees link of the Amex Platinum card, click here
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American express card, click here
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.
