An interesting thought and one I've often wondered about: How do we get our parents or grandparents to let loose on some of their outstanding and unused credit for miles and points -- for their enjoyment and possibly our own?
I don't know about your family but growing up, I can't tell you the number of times I was asked by a family member: "What do you want for Christmas? your birthday? graduation?"
What if you answered: "A trip to Hawaii and it won't cost you a thing." Or: " Can I have two to five points off your credit score? I promise you'll get them back."
Very few of us would ever expect, or even ask, a family member to pay for a ticket to Hawaii for us. But what about if you show them how to earn the miles to give us a ticket? I've been doing it for my kids as long as I can remember. I've always been a believer that giving someone an "experience" is far more valuable than a "thing." Anybody see where this is going? And it only costs me 2-5 points on my credit score.
Many of our elder family members have credit scores "through the roof," so to speak. And in their mature years there may be little or no need for additional credit in many families. That great credit score just sits there waiting to be tapped and put to good use. But how to approach the topic? I'm not touching that one with a 10-foot pole other than in my own family. But, it is something each one of us should at least think about: Giving experiences not possessions.
How would this play out in your family?
If you are the older generation of the family: How would you react if one of your children answered your question with: "A Trip to Hawaii and it won't cost you a thing" or "two points on your credit score?" Would you listen or blow off the question as unreasonable or unattainable? I've bought one honeymoon, four graduation trips, and so many birthday, Christmas, and job interview/audition tickets I can't count them all. Will those of you in the older generation now consider this as a gift-giving experience? "Teach a kid to travel hack and they'll travel for a lifetime."
And if you are the younger generation: Could you answer the inquiry that way or name another location you'd really like to see, being fully aware of what was involved in getting your parents/grandparents to earn the miles then using the miles and points involved? You'd have some teaching and handholding to do. And you'd have to accept the responsibility for "closing out the position" upon completion.
I'd love to hear from those of you who have had this conversation from whichever side you were on. I'm sure we will all learn something from your past and present experiences.
Limited Time Offer! First Year Fee Waived: 50,000 Points Transferable to Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Continental and British Airways
I don't know about your family but growing up, I can't tell you the number of times I was asked by a family member: "What do you want for Christmas? your birthday? graduation?"
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| Hawaii from the air, photo by Andrew Ingersoll |
Very few of us would ever expect, or even ask, a family member to pay for a ticket to Hawaii for us. But what about if you show them how to earn the miles to give us a ticket? I've been doing it for my kids as long as I can remember. I've always been a believer that giving someone an "experience" is far more valuable than a "thing." Anybody see where this is going? And it only costs me 2-5 points on my credit score.
Many of our elder family members have credit scores "through the roof," so to speak. And in their mature years there may be little or no need for additional credit in many families. That great credit score just sits there waiting to be tapped and put to good use. But how to approach the topic? I'm not touching that one with a 10-foot pole other than in my own family. But, it is something each one of us should at least think about: Giving experiences not possessions.
How would this play out in your family?
If you are the older generation of the family: How would you react if one of your children answered your question with: "A Trip to Hawaii and it won't cost you a thing" or "two points on your credit score?" Would you listen or blow off the question as unreasonable or unattainable? I've bought one honeymoon, four graduation trips, and so many birthday, Christmas, and job interview/audition tickets I can't count them all. Will those of you in the older generation now consider this as a gift-giving experience? "Teach a kid to travel hack and they'll travel for a lifetime."
And if you are the younger generation: Could you answer the inquiry that way or name another location you'd really like to see, being fully aware of what was involved in getting your parents/grandparents to earn the miles then using the miles and points involved? You'd have some teaching and handholding to do. And you'd have to accept the responsibility for "closing out the position" upon completion.
I'd love to hear from those of you who have had this conversation from whichever side you were on. I'm sure we will all learn something from your past and present experiences.
Limited Time Offer! First Year Fee Waived: 50,000 Points Transferable to Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Continental and British Airways
17 comments:
My elderly mother has been using a credit card which gives her 1% cash back. Fortunately, the 1% does not affect her lifestyle one way or the other. A couple of weeks ago, after I took a last minute wonderful trip to Cabo over the holidays with my 2 daughters (all free with spg points for the hotel and delta points for the flights), I explained to her that the 46000 points I used for the hotel would yield her $460 on her card but netted me a room (with club access for breakfast and liquor/snacks in the evening) which would have cost close to $2500 with all taxes/fees (high because it was over Xmas). I offered to fill out the application and contact the 6 merchants she has set up to automatically charge her old card and have them charge her new spg card. I got 5000 referral points and she'll get 25000 points (plus 5000 for the $5000 spend required which she's more than happy to let me use as her traveling days are unfortunately over). I plan to monitor the spend to make sure she complies with the requirements and offer helpful suggests should she fall short. The funny thing is my mom felt guilty about the time I was spending taking care of changing the automatic merchant billings, but I reminded her that the only reason this was necessary was because of her generous willingness to switch cards and of course it would be ridiculous for me to then expect her to make the calls. Depending on one's parents/grandparents ages, I think it's a good idea to start small with one card. I certainly don't plan to get my mom on a churning schedule. SPG points are what I need most, so this works well for me.
How about if instead of trying to convince them to give something to you, you helped them get free travel for themselves? After all they've done for you, perhaps it would be a nice gesture to do something for them. Just sayin'.
Ike
Rick,
I love your blog, but I disagree with this post. I chose to make my case on milepoint on this thread: http://milepoint.com/forums/threads/giving-the-gift-of-travel-to-your-parents.26764/
You can edit this out of your comments section, I'm not trying to promote anything, just wanted to respectfully share a different view point. I am not asking you to come to milepoint to respond. I just didn't want to come across as taking a shot at you and hiding.
Thanks for all you do, I enjoy reading your work.
As a member of the "older generation", I've encouraged my daughter and her husband to get into this game. I've clearly outlined the requirements for success and the opportunities available. Having just started while in their 20's, affords them both a lifetime of little or no cost travel ---- Senorric
Rick,
I introduced my parents to this concept about 3 years ago, and since they'd had awful (to put it mildly) experiences w/credit cards in the past, they were VERY reluctant to go along w/my ideas. But, after introducing them each to the 75K AA Citi cards & 1 75k AA Biz cc since they were buying a new furnace/central air system anyways, they haven't looked back! They've been to Hawaii twice ($10 each) and are taking a trip (5 people) on AA miles ($50 total)to San Juan for a 7nt cruise. They've nailed the Continental 50k offer, the 2 Barclay's US Air 40k, and the Chase Sapphire 50k.
In fact, Dad called the other day and asked if there were any new "free travel" cards since he'd met the minimum spend on all of the new ones. "Teach a man to fish...." and now I can't get the poles into his hand fast enough! Once they finally "get it" Rick, boy oh boy do they ever get it.
I absolutely loved this post! I love the idea of giving experiences. How many people actually remember who gave them what for graduation? This is a way to make a huge impact on someone's life. I hope to instill the love of travel with our kids.
It's obvious that you practice what you preach and I think you bring so much insight into this travel hacking game. I like that you're putting out the idea of how the generations can work together.
My parents, who were older, brought us all over the world. I always recommend to my everyone to travel while you are able-- which is now. Rick, your blog is great with a morning cup of coffee. It would be great if you could hold a seminar to help someone with the ins and outs of helping to explain this to older generation. I for one would definitely attend!
awesome post Rick. It's been a little while since seeing some really good thought provoking posts on this blog. The last few have been really great!
I recently talked my Mom into getting the Chase Sapphire card so that she could go on more vacations with my Dad. She was so excited to receive this and also ordered a card for my Dad on her account. I explained to her that if my Dad gets his own account (which he thinks he already has) then they would get 50k extra points. It has taken some time to convince them that getting credit cards is worth it, but they are coming along. And surely after my free 16 day trip to Europe coming up in 2 weeks they will be true believers!
My Mom actually loaned me 10K chase points as I was just a little short for my award stay in Paris. Sure came in handy. I will definitely be paying her back with more than she loaned me and helping them plan a trip of their dreams! She opened a credit card for me 6 yrs ago when I was in college and paid my student loans on it so that I could have a credit history. Without this I would not have been approved for the cards I do have. Now it is my turn to try and repay her!
I've definitely convinced my mom to sign up for a Sapphire Preferred card and give me the points since they're more valuable to me for international travel than the coach tickets I can buy for her with cash. I even got myself added as a second card holder and made all the purchases needed for her to earn the bonus. I'll help her get a Southwest card later since I don't fly them but she does. My dad is trickier. He just has no motivation to do anything that involves a hassle, but sometimes he'll put purchases on my card so I can reach the bonus threshold.
I'm looking into how to transfer SPG and Membership Rewards points from other family members, too, but they're all skeptics. The only true convert is my girlfriend, but we travel everywhere together. I told her she needs to earn her own miles :)
I'm currently in the process of trying to get my mother to adopt travel hacking. She has been set in her ways, but is slowly becoming warmer to the idea after seeing it practice.
I have a hard enough time getting young people and peers to understand our hobby. It would be next to impossible to get my elderly father to get it.
Mike1625, I think you've misunderstood. Rick is not advocating that you encourage your relatives to give you free travel. He's advocating that you encourage, teach, cajole your relatives into getting themselves free travel.
Well, I read it again - maybe you're right. :)
Haha. This post reminds me of my neighbors from my youth. The dad sold FORDs. The mom drove a Thunderbird. And when baby girl turned 16, they gave her a 1965 Mustang! That was the best present of all.
It doesn't surprise me that the family of The FrugalTravelGuy would be travelling; but my family just doesn't "get it". As long as I come for a visit, they don't care if the passage is first class or coach.
And yep, I only got past that after I went through the codependency class ;)
No way. I spent all December trying to convince my mom to sign up for an AA card so she and dad could come with us to Hawaii. They were worried about their credit, which is way over 800. They decided to just buy the tickets. "It's simpler to pay." It was the same with Starwood Amex. None of my family get it. The younger ones would rather complain they don't have the money to fly so are forced to drive.
This may be a rookie question, but I'll ask anyways. When getting "gift miles" is the person signing up for the CC putting the miles on their account and you use those miles, or can you use your FF number and receive the miles if your own account, even though the names will not match?
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