So, I just started with this community & am STOKED with what I've already been able to get out of it. $2,140 in cash saved from some simple foresight! I'm confident ANYONE could do the same if they're planning their travels at least 3 months in advance (to give time to get the right rewards programs, use this community & understand what's possible / communicate with @Jade Mutu etc.). SITUATION I'm someone who loves to travel (At this stage I want to aim for 1 trip per quarter) but: 1) Don't plan ahead early enough to get the best deals/ flexible times. 2) Never properly used rewards points or had a good framework for navigating the seemingly endless options. 3) Gets overwhelmed by the process of booking flights generally & usually opts for a the cheapest choice with budget carriers without considering everything I'll need. WHAT WE DID 1) Signed up for a rewards credit card. I used American Express Explorer (I was going to go Platinum but I'm not big on the fancy stuff). 2) Instantly used the $400 travel credit from the American Express Explorer card for a trip I was planning. 3) Because of speaking to @Jade Mutu I was able to plan ahead & avoid peak times saving me $1000 (not including travel credit) in airfares to Bali. I got a flight for $333 using the AMEX booking platform 👀 🇮🇩 - She also helped me navigate what I would need to take on my flight to decide which fare would be best for me. The initial advice was to get a Flexi ticket, but on reviewing the info because I didn't need carry on baggage & I would have at least 14 days notice to the airline if I needed to change my flight it would be cheaper to just pay the $99 IF I needed to change instead of pre paying an extra $160. 4) Paid for the flights of the 3 people travelling with the Explorer card + accommodation. Got 100,000 bonus points for spending over $4000 in the first 90 days of having the card. Points value around $700.