My perception of credit cards has changed...

Here's the plan:

1. Sign-up for credit cards that offer generous frequent flier mile bonuses
2. Use said cards to pay everyday expenses such as bills and gas (not new clothes, vacations, etc.)
3. Pay balance in full each month so no interest accrues
4. Reap rewards including free flights, rental cars, hotel rooms
5. Go to http://travelhacking.org/meaganp-wants-you and sign-up for the Travel Hacking Cartel for a better explanation (and I'll get bonus miles for referring you)

Cody now has a Delta Gold Visa and I have a American Express Citi Mastercard for this purpose. I feel that we have proven ourselves responsible enough with our finances to have credit cards for one explicit purpose and not go insane with them. In fact, they stay neatly glued to their acceptance letters inside page protectors inside our budget binder. I'll update on our progress periodically. If all goes well, I'm hoping for a free flight by the end of summer 2012.

Quote of the Day

"There are thousands and thousands of people out there living lives of quiet, screaming desperation who work long, hard hours at jobs they hate to enable them to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't like." - Nigel Marsh

CELEBRATION

We've met our goal! Woo Hoo! Back in September I set a goal for us to have $5k in our "Whatever Club" account (aka house fund) by the first of the year and we have accomplished it! As long as our circumstances remain the same, I feel like we can absolutely continue with this momentum. After the first of the year we plan to put the majority of my paycheck into this account every month. If that works out, this number will be growing by a thousand or more every month. Our new goal is double-digits by June 2012.