CHESSNOID

Yes, the economy is in a recession. I said the R word and it didn’t even hurt.  Actually, in recessions because many businesses are trying to stay afloat, more sales seem to go up.  Starbucks is “testing” dollar cups of coffee.  Fast foods keep expanding their dollar menus.  Longer lines await you at Costco with people trying to make their grocery money go farther.   If you are familiar with cup of noodles or macaroni and cheese, you will notice these items seem to be the latest best sellers.

I have been aching to take a trip back to Seattle again but am trying to be thrifty with our money.  I went last April and enjoyed it tremendously.  I started checking out all my frequent flier miles and credit card points, and sure enough I had enough points to get 2 round trip plane tickets.  Woo Hoo!  When I called the credit card travel agency, the customer service representative said I could book them now and save an extra 10,000 thank you points because of the way my credit card perks worked.  He said the terms would change in April and locking them in now would be to my benefit.  So I will be making a return trip to the Emarald City of Rain and Coffee.  Now, I need to figure out how to get free hotel rooms.   I have an idea which I hope will work out.  I am refocusing all my fixed expenses on to one credit card that gives me extra bonus points for using it to purchase gas and groceries.  I checked out my frequent flier miles and will now keep better track of what I accumulate, so I can create another free trip in the future.  The idea is to spend the same amount that I already do now, but to refocus on which cards will give me the most rewards.  I am sure many of you are more savvy than I am at this, but as I try to manipulate this and forecast what I can accumulate in points, the prospect of another free trip seems more real. Lack of money makes you creative for things that you want to do but don’t have cash set aside for.

I remember at a previous collection agency where I worked as a collection manager, I remember winning 2 paid trips to San Francisco and Las Vegas. My wife and I enjoyed those trips immensely and have been hooked on traveling since then.  The company paid for 2 plane tickets, the hotel room, and gave me $500 spending cash both times.  Did I ever tell you how lucky I am sometimes.

Life is excellent!