Thanks everybody for your helpful hints; of course I am more than happy to read to learn, but just not 66+ pages of FT. Anyway, I have already started reading and wonder whether there is some kind of a lexicon that explains what is BB/Kate/VGC and so on...? Also, I understand the concept of using a cash back / bonus points CC to buy the gift cards, but how does one reconvert the gift cards so acquired, back to cash, so that I can rinse and repeat?

A quick pointer on that would be much appreciated.