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| By Nilus Mattive |
My wife and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary. We’re on an all-out trip through Indonesia and Japan right now.
Other than clothes and a passport, I only needed to bring three things:
- My laptop to watch the markets and write to you.
- A surfboard to hit a few famous spots on Bali.
- And credit cards that give us travel-related rewards and benefits.
In fact, most of this trip has been covered and enhanced by various incentives, points, and other membership program perks.
I’m talking about layovers spent in first-class-only airport lounges …
Upgraded seats, huge baggage allowances and priority check-ins …
Plus, completely free stays at a couple different boutique hotels.
That includes the Mandapa Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a Forbes 5-star hotel that’s considered one of the best resort properties in the world.
You can combine luxury, high-profit-potential ideas, and networking with like-minded investors all in one place just three weeks from today.
The 2026 Weiss Investment Summit kicks off May 3-5 at the Forbes quadruple 5-star Boca Raton resort in Florida. There, we’ll dive deep into the AI boom, energy, gold, silver, space and other ways you can “Turn Market Chaos Into Opportunity.”
With the “Summit-only” picks you’ll get there, those alone can cover the price of admission. Last year’s attendees saw gains as high as 281%, 258% and 225% … so far!
Plus, the Boca is a fantastic hotel that you’ve got to experience in your lifetime. Make your Summit reservations here today.
Even my TSA Pre-Check enrollment was covered by one of my credit cards as a benefit.
But I’m not telling you all this to brag. It’s to prove a financial point.
That is — even at a time when travel is becoming more expensive and less convenient, there are easy ways to turn your daily spending into the trip of a lifetime.
Now before I go any further, let me say this …
The very best investment anyone can make is paying off existing credit card balances as quickly as possible.
The average interest rate on credit card debt is about 24% right now.
In other words, paying off that balance is like getting a risk-free return of 24%.
And considering the effects of compounding, letting unpaid balances sit for long periods of time is financial suicide.
What if you or someone you know has a current balance that can’t be paid off immediately?
I suggest calling the credit card issuer and trying to negotiate a better rate. Or move the balance to a friendlier lender with a better interest rate.
There are usually 0% intro APR offers floating out there at any given time. Just watch out for balance transfer fees, teaser rates, and the like.
I only recommend using credit cards like a more convenient form of cash.
That means borrowing what I can afford to pay back immediately and paying off my balances in full and on time every single month.
As long as you do this, it doesn’t even matter what your interest rate is. Nor does it matter if the company charges ridiculous fees for late payments.
These days, I even have all my credit cards scheduled for automatic “full amount due” payments just to make sure I don’t forget to meet a deadline.
What about annual fees?
There are plenty of great credit cards that don’t charge them, which is obviously preferable in most situations.
However, I’m willing to pay an annual fee on certain cards, as long as they provide benefits that are worth the yearly cost.
For example, I have a Marriott rewards card with a $650 annual fee. But every year, I get back:
- $300 in credits for using my card at restaurants.
- A free night certificate worth roughly $731.
- Automatic platinum elite status with Marriott’s loyalty program.
- Plus, TSA PreCheck enrollment and other benefits.
So, my $650 annual fee is an “investment” that easily returns double back to me.
Yet annual benefits associated with different cards are just the beginning.
Earning points or cash back for every dollar I spend makes using my cards far better than paying cash, too.
And what many people fail to realize is that the biggest windfalls come from signing up for different credit cards — and those offers change all the time.
For example, I once signed up for two Southwest Rapid Rewards Visa cards in the same year.
The 100,000 Rapid Reward miles I got in the process translated into four free roundtrip domestic flights.
Even better? I only needed to earn a modest amount of additional miles to get a coveted Companion Pass … which allowed me to take a companion on every flight for the rest of that calendar year PLUS the next onefor free. (Other than mandatory taxes.)
And yes, the companion pass even applies to free travel you book with miles!
Only you can decide which programs and strategies make the most sense for your goals.
But the overall point is simple: It’s relatively easy to squeeze extra benefits out of the money you’re already spending.
All it takes is a little planning and discipline.
Just pay attention to all the different bonuses out there … how they interact with individual reward program rules … and then use that information to your advantage.
Do a quick search, and you’ll find plenty of websites that provide in-depth profiles on various card offers and rewards programs. Some popular ones include www.nerdwallet.com, www.millionmilesecrets.com and www.thepointsguy.com.
And for stocks you’ll want to buy with all that money you’re saving, tune in to my regular Monday columns. I’ll continue to show you how those investments can pay off for you for years to come.
Best wishes,
Nilus Mattive
P.S. For the ultimate in luxury travel experiences, nothing compares to the Forbes quad 5-star Boca Raton resort that’s home to our 2026 Weiss Investment Summit.
This May 3-5, not only can you secure a discounted room in our block, but you also have an opportunity to rub elbows with Dr. Martin Weiss, Sean Brodrick, Chris Graebe, even NFL Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino!
Grab your favorite companions … save your seat(s) at this premier investor education event … and get ready to write down all the Summit-exclusive picks we’re about to send attendees’ ways.
We only have a few seats left. And I’d love to see you in one of them. Claim yours here.
