Hyatt has announced a series of changes to its award chart, including (gasp) peak pricing. It’s not as bad as it sounds – we’re not talking Marriott numbers here. The new redemption rates apply to all award types and go into effect in March 2020. To off-set this negative news, […]
Hyatt introduces peak pricing + better spa and dining redemptions
Bumped worked and things I question
Several months ago I put myself on the waiting list for a new app called Bumped that paid its shopping bonuses in the form of stock of the company you were shopping with. To me, it seemed like the ultimate customer retention play and I gladly waiting for my invite to join. […]
The holiday shopping season might be the best time for manufactured spending
The holiday shopping season is perhaps the best time of year for manufactured spending. If you’re throwing in the towel when it comes to Visa gift card churning because of all the negative changes, there may be other opportunities for you. Below are a few ways the holiday shopping season makes […]
The reason we will always win
To me, I look at this hobby as the banks, airlines, hotel programs vs. us consumers, just trying to catch a break and save a few bucks on travel. The reason I think we always win is the ability to act quickly. I’ve spent most of my life working for […]
My low volume, high-impact manufactured spending strategy
For the last few years, I’ve been spoiled when it comes to manufactured spending. Thanks to an MS-friendly Walmart, I was able to liquidate thousands of dollars per day with minimal effort. Because it was so easy, I got kind of lazy when it came to strategy and focused on […]
Which do you prefer: Manufactured spending or card sign-up bonuses?
To start with, I don’t think there is any right or wrong answer, but more a matter of the circumstances we are each individually faced with. The ultimate goal of each activity is to generate as high a return on our time with the least amount of effort. I’m personally […]
How do you use your manufactured spending profits?
A couple of days ago I mindlessly opened two emails from Yazing, indicating they had $17.34 to each of our PayPal accounts. I mindlessly transferred the windfall into our checking accounts. It got me thinking about the ways we use our manufactured spending profits and it kind of disappointed me. […]
Dropping high annual fee credit cards
If you want a bit of a shock, total up the annual fees you pay on credit cards. The number is staggering. But I always felt I got more than my money’s worth up until this coming renewal year. Katy and I both carry Amex Gold, Platinum and Hilton Aspire […]
From famine to feast: My month in manufactured spending
Remember a month or so ago, I was whining about not kicking up my game on the 5X Staples Free Week. Well I kicked it up and overdid it for an old guy. In the last 21 days I’ve: 1. I spoke at the Chicago Seminars and reconnected with some […]
FREE Club1 Hotels membership + Extra 7% off hotels, cruises, car Rentals, activities!
Club1 Hotels is once again offering FREE 1-year memberships to readers of this blog. To sweeten the pot, they’re throwing in 7% off all hotel, cruise, car rental, and activity bookings for the next 14 days! To take advantage of this offer, just enter promo code PC7 on the checkout page […]