Earlier this year I realized that I could be a lot more focused on paying bills using my credit card to earn frequent flyer miles. I was already putting work-related expenses on a credit card but those didn’t add up to much and all of my family expenses were being paid by check or debit card.

When you think about how much you spend at the supermarket, on medical bills, on vacations, and kid’s expenses, it’s adds up to a lot. Now, I pile it all on my new credit card. I chose one which gives the most miles per purchase plus some bonus miles up front. To make sure I don’t go crazy racking up big debts, I pay the whole amount off every month and keep my credit limit low.

I’m looking forward to booking a vacation with my new miles, but In the meantime, I found out the points on my original business credit card were about to expire, so I started my Christmas shopping by purchasing some great gifts using those soon-to-be-gone points. It was quick and easy and it really did feel like I was  getting something for free!