One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Dec 3, 2015, 8:04 am
#1276
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
The comment about deducting a late model Ford was hilarious, well played, well played!
This is not a hobby when you open a separate bank account in the name of the blog :-)
I'll be announcing a special trip soon and I'll be deducting the crap out of it! I am a CPA, I think I can justify my expenses in case of an audit.
What I don't get is that The Points Guy Inc. has PR staff on payroll and Ben just creams him in comparison!
This is not a hobby when you open a separate bank account in the name of the blog :-)
I'll be announcing a special trip soon and I'll be deducting the crap out of it! I am a CPA, I think I can justify my expenses in case of an audit.
What I don't get is that The Points Guy Inc. has PR staff on payroll and Ben just creams him in comparison!
While we might all complain about OMAAT, at least it generally has truly original content.
Dec 3, 2015, 8:35 am
#1277
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,738
Because 17 reports in LH First, 20 in CX First, 15 EK First, 10 of Andaz Hollywood, etc... is truly original content? He has found a way to find a tax deduction on his lifestyle. You start to see that the reason he repeats these products isn't for the readers... it's so he can visit his boyfriend in LA or take his friends/family/boyfriend on vacation. There is the occasional report that is unique, but they aren't as frequent as they use to be.. but hey.. if he is making $$$ it doesn't really matter right? I think most are skeptical after he asked people where he should live and then picked Seattle.
Last edited by Astrophsx; Dec 3, 2015 at 8:41 am
Dec 3, 2015, 9:22 am
#1279
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Bingo. Though, I would take it a step further and presume that PointsPros also pays for a trip here and there as a "legit" (sorry, couldn't write that with a straight face) business expense - after all, can't expect the "experts" to be able to do their jobs without experiencing the goods.
Dec 4, 2015, 5:15 am
#1281
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,775
Income is not that hard. Credit card referrals are a big business, it might dry up one day but until this is the case it just keeps on giving.
Look at this blog article here from 2012, he made 4k per month without even trying hard or doing big advertisements for credit cards. Also smaller audience and geared towards different people. A travel blog's primary audience all looks into credit cards.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
It is big business, probably not mega big but big enough and I am sure Ben makes more then a lot of people that post here. He started the blog early and I doubt he had a big plan to make a lot of money but latest when he finished his college degree and decided not to join the work force he probably had enough revenue already with the award booking service, adwords on the blog and credit card referrals to compare it to a 'regular' job.
This is the new economy. and there are a lot more examples I talked to my 10 year old about the youtube videos he is watching (other people playing video games, I don't get it myself but I am old) and one of the guys he watches (PewDiePie) made 7 million in 2014:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...youtube-views/
Look at this blog article here from 2012, he made 4k per month without even trying hard or doing big advertisements for credit cards. Also smaller audience and geared towards different people. A travel blog's primary audience all looks into credit cards.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
It is big business, probably not mega big but big enough and I am sure Ben makes more then a lot of people that post here. He started the blog early and I doubt he had a big plan to make a lot of money but latest when he finished his college degree and decided not to join the work force he probably had enough revenue already with the award booking service, adwords on the blog and credit card referrals to compare it to a 'regular' job.
This is the new economy. and there are a lot more examples I talked to my 10 year old about the youtube videos he is watching (other people playing video games, I don't get it myself but I am old) and one of the guys he watches (PewDiePie) made 7 million in 2014:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...youtube-views/
Dec 4, 2015, 6:12 am
#1282
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Income is not that hard. Credit card referrals are a big business, it might dry up one day but until this is the case it just keeps on giving.
Look at this blog article here from 2012, he made 4k per month without even trying hard or doing big advertisements for credit cards. Also smaller audience and geared towards different people. A travel blog's primary audience all looks into credit cards.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
It is big business, probably not mega big but big enough and I am sure Ben makes more then a lot of people that post here. He started the blog early and I doubt he had a big plan to make a lot of money but latest when he finished his college degree and decided not to join the work force he probably had enough revenue already with the award booking service, adwords on the blog and credit card referrals to compare it to a 'regular' job.
This is the new economy. and there are a lot more examples I talked to my 10 year old about the youtube videos he is watching (other people playing video games, I don't get it myself but I am old) and one of the guys he watches (PewDiePie) made 7 million in 2014:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...youtube-views/
Look at this blog article here from 2012, he made 4k per month without even trying hard or doing big advertisements for credit cards. Also smaller audience and geared towards different people. A travel blog's primary audience all looks into credit cards.
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/...dom-of-speech/
It is big business, probably not mega big but big enough and I am sure Ben makes more then a lot of people that post here. He started the blog early and I doubt he had a big plan to make a lot of money but latest when he finished his college degree and decided not to join the work force he probably had enough revenue already with the award booking service, adwords on the blog and credit card referrals to compare it to a 'regular' job.
This is the new economy. and there are a lot more examples I talked to my 10 year old about the youtube videos he is watching (other people playing video games, I don't get it myself but I am old) and one of the guys he watches (PewDiePie) made 7 million in 2014:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...youtube-views/
Dec 4, 2015, 8:42 am
#1283
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
Except that Ben, Gary, and Brian are the top dogs...
Dec 4, 2015, 10:17 am
#1286
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,738
I think you mean to say a GREAT living. There are many other travel bloggers that do very well (Like MommyPoints)... then there are probably even even more that do pretty decent.
Dec 4, 2015, 10:21 am
#1287
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Dec 4, 2015, 10:51 am
#1288
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,738
Dec 4, 2015, 2:03 pm
#1290
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,624
VFTW keeps his day job and still manages to post 5 to 10 times a day. I have no idea how, but he does it. @:-)