The luxury of credit card points

SuperWify ↓

Yesterday at 9:38 am

Im sorry op, but I don’t understand. Some problem use credit card points for travel, others for gift cards and others for cash back (me).

Ok and so?

Yes, I had family members who can’t afford to pay their full tuition go on exotic vacations with points from travel. Yay for them. They chose to use their points this way. Not my business.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 9:39 am

And yes, many people use points on vacation and owe lots of money.

I have a service business. I'm owed by someone a couple thousand dollars that she claims she can't afford to pay. Then tells me she's taking her family to Florida with points.
That's not Ehrlich

When a family falls behind on tuition because they can't afford it. And then uses points to fly the family to EY, that's wrong.

Yes, they should use their points to pay what they owe before they take vacations on points.

When I have a relative who can't afford to buy their kid simple shoes (without holes) but does multiple vacations "because points is a separate cheshbon" then yes, I see so many people don't see that points is just another way of acquiring cash.
If you can afford your life, then enjoy using your points for vacations.

If you can't afford your life, then using points is irresponsible and possibly stealing from the people you owe money from.

amother

Tanzanite

Yesterday at 9:40 am

If someone says I can’t go on vacation bec we don’t have money. Saying just use points is stupid and insensitive and bad advice. Saying well everyone uses points is really insensitive. If you can’t afford life you can’t afford vacations. Points or not.

If someone doesn’t have money then points should be used on household expenses and tuition. Not vacation.

If ppl who can’t afford tuition are using points on vacations no wonder the schools are upset.

Saying use points for vacation when someone is struggling us irresponsible and insensitive. I don’t see how it helps.

amother

↑ Peru ↓

Yesterday at 9:52 am

SuperWify wrote:

I don't think OP was telling people not to use their points. She was highlighting that for some people, the points is being used for basic necessities. So it's tone deaf to tell struggling families to go on vacation using their points.

There are two different thoughts to take away here. One, that not everyone has the luxury of using points for vacation. Two, sometimes people can only use their points for mileage, so a financially strapped family may not be acting recklessly if they use their mileage.

↑ Genius ↓

Yesterday at 9:58 am

amother Peru wrote:

I completely agree with the first point. It seemed to me like op was suggesting that it’s tone deaf to even mention that you use points for travel because others can’t. I think we can all stretch ourselves to fargin at least that.

amother

↑ Peru

Yesterday at 10:07 am

Genius wrote:

I think OP didn't phrase it properly. Correct me if I'm wrong OP, but I think she was trying to highlight not to automatically assume that everyone can use their points for vacations.

If you're struggling and lament that you can't go on vacations, it can be hurtful for someone to offhandledly suggest- hey, why don't you just use your points. It rubs it in that you're using all your resources just to survive.

It comes down to being careful with your words. Instead of telling a financially-strapped person 'just use your points', you can phrase it 'is perhaps using points and option?' The first version rubs it in. The second version is showing a level of understanding.

amother

Jetblack ↓

Yesterday at 10:09 am

amother OP wrote:

It really bothers me, when posters say "I don't spend on vacation, I use points".
The fact that you use points is a luxury that so many of us don't have.

Instead we use our points for Amazon Cards to buy basic shampoo and toilet paper for the month.
Or the cash back option to at least pay something down towards the balance
Or as a charity option, to direct a donation towards ones school. Fundraising so the school will charge less tuition.

Yes, we get less value compared to a trip to Florida. But at least we get more of our basics covered.

It's just tone deaf. When a poster says she can't afford midwinter and she gets told "use points". That's a very "let them eat cake" mentality.

I was the OP and that and I appreciate this

amother

↑ Jetblack ↓

Yesterday at 10:10 am

amother Seagreen wrote:

We couldn't afford to go on vacation using cash, but by using signup bonuses and spending what we would have anyway, we were able to get a nice bonus and use those points for vacation.
Yes, we could have used those points for cash/rent, but bh we have what we need and this was a nice extra.

Right but the thread is about people who don’t have what we need. Vacation is an extra. This thread was about basics before vacation

amother

↑ Jetblack ↓

Yesterday at 10:10 am

amother Tealblue wrote:

I hear your point and I’m not trying to be offensive. but I am very intentional about earning and spending my points. if I am working towards a trip I plan points for 6-9 months in advance maybe more. it starts by opening whatever credit card is giving best sign on bonus and then putting the biggest purchases we have on them to maximize earnings. I made a ‘deal’ with school to put tuition on credit card, I put shul membership on. camp etc. It’s all planned out so I spend the least amount of actual money on the trip. but since ir sounds like your larger point is that all vacations are a luxury and those that can’t pay their bills don’t take them: I hear that. I guess im more in the middle where my bills are covered but if I had to pay cash for vacations I couldn’t do that, so instead im strategic about points in a way they benefits my entire family

Great but you are working under the premise of being able to pay off the cards because you have money for those basics. I don’t

amother

↑ Jetblack ↓

Yesterday at 10:11 am

amother Tealblue wrote:

this is rude, judgmental and ultimately: incorrect. BH I have no debt and cover all my bills. but there are things that I see a luxury (vacations are one. cleaning help is another but I don’t have any) that I can get by being clever. I am not irresponsible in the least and I very much live within my means. however travel and vacations are something that my family and I enjoy and find is the best way for us to bond and create memories that enrich our lives. we all spend money and time differently. I have issue spending time researching points and then using them rather than money for the luxury of travel. but I am by no means irresponsible. I’m fully paid up BH for yeshiva/camp/shul as well as maaser. how exactly am I being irresponsible ?

Ok, but the thread I started about midwinter was about not even affording basics. So the discussion of oh I used points is for people in a different income bracket

amother

↑ Hawthorn

Yesterday at 10:12 am

SuperWify wrote:

I mean, I wouldn't say yay that someone is refusing to pay money they owe because they want to go on exotic vacations.

amother

↑ Black

Yesterday at 10:16 am

amother Jetblack wrote:

Ok, but the thread I started about midwinter was about not even affording basics. So the discussion of oh I used points is for people in a different income bracket

Not necessarily…
So people shouldn’t be gifted a vacation either? Like the money given for a vacation should instead be given towards basics?

amother

↑ Tealblue

Yesterday at 10:17 am

amother Jetblack wrote:

Ok, but the thread I started about midwinter was about not even affording basics. So the discussion of oh I used points is for people in a different income bracket

I don’t know what thread you are referring to and didn’t realize this thread was a spin off of a other one

amother

Denim ↓

Yesterday at 10:18 am

I believe the same with tax refunds.
Using a tax refund to take a vacation etc.

Whenever people say they used points or a tax refund vacation I internally roll my eyes.

What do I care which pocket and they took it out of. It's not like I'm asking them how they paid for it.

(Example: "oh nice I hear you took a vacation!"
"Oh we used points/ tax refund" and I'm like did I ask you how you paid? What do I care how you manage / allocate your money)

Same with people who say "I need to ask my husband" before making a purchase or agreeing to something. Like don't involve me in your shalom bayis. I don't care what your personal reasons, I just need a yes or a no.

amother

Gladiolus ↓

Yesterday at 10:20 am

amother Hawthorn wrote:

I mean, I wouldn't say yay that someone is refusing to pay money they owe because they want to go on exotic vacations.

With all the talk about school tuition, I wonder if the tuition boards think anything of this.
Alot of cards offer cash back... do they expect you to put it toward tuition?
And I think its one of the biggest problems in our society, everyone has different priorities. But also. Everyone says those paying full tuition "cover" those who don't. And they're the ones who can't afford "extras" as they pay in full.
I dont think there is a simple answer. Or an answer at all.

amother

↑ Denim

Yesterday at 10:22 am

amother Gladiolus wrote:

Points is money earned. I don't see why it shouldn't go toward existing debt you have no other way of paying. It doesn't matter where it's coming from. It's income. Responsible people generally use income for expenses.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 10:28 am

amother Gladiolus wrote:

Many schools ask about vacations, ask how they were paid for.
And absolutely do expect parents to pay up their tuition balance before they go on vacations, even using points

I don't understand how it can not be actually stealing to use money that you have access to for something that's not an absolute bare bones basis need while you still owe money, especially to a Jew.

amother

↑ Jetblack ↓

Yesterday at 10:28 am

amother Black wrote:

Not necessarily…
So people shouldn’t be gifted a vacation either? Like the money given for a vacation should instead be given towards basics?

No that’s not what I said. I’m just saying it’s irrelevant. I started a thread about how I don’t have money for midwinter. Someone said many people use points. So that’s wonderful b but, I don’t even have money to use points if that makes sense. So, irrelevant

amother

Offwhite ↓

Yesterday at 10:30 am

I really think that some people have points down to an exact science. Its an art form. It requires a lot of dedication and time. But those same people also never pay full price for anything, especially not toothpaste or toilet paper. That would be a huge waste of money. It is very much not me but I know a few people like that. They know how to legally work the system. They can quote you which month of the year to buy what products and at which store and for exactly how much per unit at any given time. Its like a hobby to them or something. Most people don't know how to do that but some do. One time I figured I better use some points and I used it and those same people were horrified that I "wasted" my points on whatever because it didn't maximize my spending power. These types know which purchases to put on which credit card. You understand? So much effort goes in. They stretch every penny they earn much farther than the average person. My friends kid knows how to fly first class across the world for the price of coach tickets to Florida. (Not saying that's not luxury, but the point) I'm saying don't judge it necessarily a luxury. There is a chochma & hard work to it.

I would call it the luxury smarts of being so savvy about how to milk credit cards and purchasing power for every penny.