FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Difficulties explaining the credit card points and miles game
Old Sep 15, 2016 | 4:57 pm
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
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Originally Posted by Critterlynn
...if you start out with "baby steps" it can actually simplify your life...Just getting something like a Freedom card with no annual fee and setting it up to auto pay your cell phone, cable and internet. Instead of remembering different due dates and writing checks and wasting stamps you can have just one bill to pay.
I think this is a good way to start. If you put all of your everyday expenses on one card, many people can earn enough for 1-2 flights/year just by doing this (plus, as you say, simplify your finances). When people realize this, the lightbulb goes off. @:-)You can't take someone who has never joined a FF program or used a credit card and expect them to understand churning and MS. It sounds too murky. But once they get a taste of it, they'll want to learn more.

However, as others have said, this is not a game for everyone. Many people (even those with good incomes) have poor credit ratings or were raised to avoid credit at all costs or look down on points programs like coupon clipping. Those people can't be convinced. Plus, why would you want to convince people to try this (unless you are looking for a CC referral bonus)? The more people who get involved, the more the CC companies will clamp down. I'll mention that my recent flights were free, and people can ask if they want to find out more.
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