Category: Travel

What Are My Best Uses Of Credit Card Rewards?

At the beginning of the year, I was really thinking about how to get more from my credit cards. I opened up a card or two, worked to get the welcome bonus, and was plotting how best to use credit card bonuses to reduce the cost of our multiple planned trips in the coming year.

I have some large medical bills coming up, the question becomes a little more pressing. If I have to pay out lots on money on my credit card(s), I would like to get the most out of it that I can.

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The Stories We Tell Ourselves

This week, I was supposed to be attending WCICON20 in Las Vegas. I have been looking forward to going for months.

I wanted to attend the first meeting, in Park City, but couldn’t arrange the time off. Many people posted how much they enjoyed it, and I was looking forward to meeting people who want to talk about finances, education, and even wellness. More, I was looking forward to meeting people who aren’t all internists. Maybe I even had some fan-girl interest in meeting the people behind the blogs I read (or podcasts I listen to) each week.

Not to mention, I was looking forward to 1 week away from the office, away from the EMR, and possibly in some sun.

However, in the past weeks, we have had to deal with the arrival of the novel coronavirus in our country, and the prospect of quarantine (or self-quarantine).

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2019 In Review

This is the time of year when people make resolutions for the next year. Usually there is talk of losing weight, saving more, getting ahead.

Before I consider resolutions (or plans) for 2020, I would like to look back at 2019, and think about accomplishments I can point to with pride. I find it is healthier for me to concentrate periodically on things that have gone well, rather than always pointing out what needs to improve.

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7 lessons from our recent road trip

9 PB&Js may not be enough

Packing a good lunch or two is an excellent start to a road trip. It cuts down on costs (at least $23, based on our return trip), and helps move the trip along, when you can pull out a sandwich instead of stopping to buy something. Packing a lunch is also good for your health. One may quibble about the health benefits of a PB&J, but it’s certainly better for me than what I might be tempted to get: burgers, fries, Dorito’s…

Unfortunately, when your travel partner is a very large man who exercises a lot, 9 sandwiches don’t last as long as you might expect.

Next time we’ll pack more.

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House of (Credit) Cards

Last month, my husband got in on the credit card rewards game. He has a new card, and has to spend $3000 in 3 months–or $1000 a month. If he does that, he will get a very nice sign up bonus: enough miles for a round trip ticket to Europe.

I figured this would be easy-peasy, considering our monthly expenditures. But it is turning out to be a little more challenging than I thought.

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Anticipation

I’m going through a tough time now. I’m working long hours, and I can’t say I am loving winter. In fact, Spring is welcome to drop in, any time it feels ready.

Normally when I start feeling like this, I’d start daydreaming about my next trip. I would browse the internet to consider various destinations, maybe even finding a plane ticket, or looking at hotels to stay in.

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