it is relatively easy to get points and miles and I am glad as well.

The key is to manage this and keep at it.

that's the 'payment' and it's one I do not mind making.

Anyway there have been threads about this subject but I have received miles for buying things at stores that, when you return the items, can give you your money back in different ways and not as a credit back onto the same mile-earning card.

And one of my most recent but actually non intentional small mile-earning for nothing gig was this:

I had bought a gift cert for myself at a ski shop I will visit later this winter. It was for $100. Then a friend of mine needed gloves now so I gave him the cert. He ended up buying $90 worth of stuff at that shop and handed me $90 in cash and a new cert they made for $10. So I got cash back on it and still kept the miles.

Oh well, every one counts, eh?