After several weeks of careful planning, you might have already applied for one (or more) credit cards and embarked on your journey to earn cashback or points.
Your endgame?
Maybe fulfill those exciting travel dreams you set back in our conversation about 5 Credit Cards for Young Professionals and College Graduates. However, as you earn that coveted welcome bonus, steadily accumulate points and well understand why more than one credit card not hurting you, you’re likely eager to explore how to maximize their potential and “make those dreams come true.”
In today’s conversation between Brady Yu, co-founder of TripPlus and Ava Lee, a college student, it is all about unleashing the full potential of your points. It’s time to turn those dreams into reality. Let’s dive in!
1. Points Flexibility vs Efficiency
So, it’s like a little “trick or treat” game with your points – flexibility or efficiency, you choose! 🎃💰
For instance:
- Direct bill offsetting is 10,000 Amex MR points = $60.
- “Pay with points at checkout” (usable at Dell, Amazon, etc.) is 10,000 MR points = $70.
- Booking flights and accommodations on Amex Travel is 10,000 Amex MR points = $100.
- When you redeem for airline miles, you can generally get a value of over $120 for every 10,000 Amex MR points.
2. Win-Win (Trick or Treat) Magic of Points
3. Best Values From Your Points
Ava, let’s dive into it with a little “trick and treat”:
4. No Regrets on Points Transfer
Let’s do a little “treat and trick” to break it down:
In the example above – A real treat – $139 for every 10,000 points.
Let’s look at another hotel. The trick is played – 12,000 points only give you $63. When you break it down, it’s a $53 treat for every 10,000 points. This is less than using them for bill offsetting.
5. Options With Points
“I’ve invested so much time and effort in accumulating points, but are they proving difficult to put to good use?” This question always tops the FAQ chart.
Next week, Brady and Ava will unlock their full potential together. If you are young professionals, college graduates, students, and even newcomers to the U.S., stick around!
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About Maria
Hi, I’m Maria, the founder of Maria Points The Way. I help families simplify award travel and turn points into extraordinary, luxury journeys to Asia Pacific. When I started out in Fall 2023, I created a special travel boxset—a curated 8-episode series designed to introduce my own kids (now in middle and high school) to the incredible world of miles and points.
To me, points are more than just travel perks—they’re part of financial awareness and literacy. Points are money. And that’s exactly how I teach families to think about their points: as assets to manage strategically through a personalized portfolio. I’ve woven real-life stories and practical tips into each episode to make it approachable and inspiring for families, newcomers, and curious travelers alike. Every graphic in this series was thoughtfully designed and created by me—with love—to make learning both beautiful and practical.
This guide is perfect for:
- Even high schoolers—it’s never too early to build strong financial habits and travel-savvy awareness (my kids started in elementary school!)
- Beginners exploring points and credit cards
- Recent arrivals to the U.S.
- Young professionals and college students
