Why I’m Not Buying IHG Points

The short answer…

…because I don’t need the points right now. Specifically, I don’t have a fancy trip coming up to…say…Bora Bora, Paris, or Hong Kong. This current 100% bonus is great. And if you’re looking to book one of those luxury hotels, it’s a killer deal. But if you’re planning on hoarding the points (as I often do), then this is far from a no-brainer.

Maybe I’m a jaded old fart, but I agree with my buddy Tim. He wonders if all the recent IHG promos are leading to the “D word.” Could it be another…gulp…devaluation?? Without basing my answer on any information whatsoever, I’d have to guess the answer is yes. And probably pretty soon.

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Investing In Miles

My posts tend to be tailored to anyone regardless of net worth. But I’ve gotten quite a few questions about what to do with investments recently. Specifically, how to earn miles with a good-sized pile of cash. The short answer…

As always, Fidelity offers up to 50,000 miles for investors – United, American, and/or Delta. As far as banks go, BankDirect offers American miles for checking accounts. You get 100 miles per month for every $1,000 in your account. The negatives? This is only up to the first $50,000. Plus, there’s a $12 fee each month. With the limit and fee, it’s a good offer where there used to be a great one.

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Quick Clicks

I’ve been told the free AwardWallet codes I post are disappearing in a hurry. Some of you guys have gotten frustrated. Honestly, I’m a part of the problem on this one. If I had comments set up here, it would be an easier system for all. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. So what I’d like to do is try to help in a different way. I’ve hoarded some codes and will continue to put a few more aside as they come in. If you’re missing out, just let me know and I’ll try to get one to you as soon as I can. Sorry about the trouble with this!

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Current Contests

I post these contests less than ever before, but still do it every so often. Today is one of those rare occasions. If you’re in a gambling mood…

  • A huge 250,000 points from Starwood is possible.
  • Win 5 nights in New York from Virgin America here.
  • How about a trip to Kenya here?
  • Belize isn’t bad, either.
  • Maybe $4,000 towards a dream trip?
  • Or an incredible golf vacation from United?
  • I wouldn’t mind this $5,000 Visa gift card.

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Not That Upset About Amazon

Amazon Payments is on the way out. As of October 13th, there will be no more sending $1,000 to your buddy. If you have helpful family members, you’ve probably had access to a few of these accounts. Well, you should still send your payments for September and October. Then what? I’d suggest moving on. This is far from a huge deal. We’ve had access to Amazon Payments for years now. Deals die. This was far from the biggest. Next…

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