What you can expect during a consultation with us
Considered booking a points/miles consultation with us, but want a bit more information before you commit?
Although our Intro to Points and Miles e-book is our best resource for beginners to the points and miles world, for those who want more customized help to get started accumulating points or redeeming points they already have to book a specific trip, a consultation might be the best fit for you!
However, compared to the $25 cost of the e-book, the $50-125 price tag of a consultation can definitely give a certain pause, especially when you aren’t clear on the structure and goals of the time! Trust me, I get it: there’s a reason we put Frugal in our name! We weigh every purchase against the 3 goals that Courtney and I clarified almost a decade ago: being able to travel, being able to be generous with our finances, and the ability for both of us to be home with our girls as much as possible. So, no, a $50 investment isn’t chump change.
However, on the flip side, consider where that $50 might lead you. Last year, we spent a little over $4k in credit card annual fees/travel expenses for over $98k worth of travel! Yes, you read that right. A $94k return on a $4k investment. If a $50 investment on a consultation could be the jolt that gives you clarity for your best steps to get on a journey toward that, it might be worth it for you!
Our most popular consultation is helping those who are just getting started in the points and miles world figure out their best first steps. As of writing, we have completed 17 of these type of consultations. Although each consultation was unique, there were some common motivations for why they signed up for one:
They wanted some one-on-one time with someone experienced in points/miles to ask questions that were preventing them from diving fully into the journey.
The world of points and miles was extremely overwhelming and complex for them. They felt crippled by the wealth of information out there, the amount of credit cards available to sign-up for, where to start, where to put their focus, etc. They wanted someone to help them wade through the noise to be able to focus on the most important things they needed to start.
They wanted a more customized plan for which credit cards to open and points currencies to focus on, based on their specific travel goals and comfort level.
The “Getting Started” consultation starts with you filling out a questionnaire during the checkout process, answering questions about your travel goals, dream vacation aspirations, how much you’re willing to budget for credit card annual fees each month, goals for the consultation, etc. You also book a specific 30 minute slot that best matches your schedule (video call). Throughout the week, we have various times available, including both early morning and late night.
I, then, take your questionnaire and build out a customized plan for you to accumulate the points needed to accomplish your stated travel goal. I don’t keep it vague. It’s not written in generalities. It’s a specific timeline, with specific credit card recommendations, with specific redemptions in mind.
We start our 30-minute Google Meet session with any burning questions you have about points and miles. Then, the majority of the time is spent walking you line-by-line through your customized plan to ensure that you have absolute clarity on the steps you could take to see your travel goals and aspirations realized. I’m also available post-consultation via e-mail with any questions you have along the way. It’s always nice to have someone in your corner that you know you can throw questions that stump you to along the way!
I always say, at least in my opinion, that it’s easier to accumulate points than it is to redeem them! With so many great credit card sign-up bonuses continually coming out, with the credit card issuer’s race to have the highest category spending bonuses (like 8x on gas with the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card!), with the abundance of shopping portals available, and so on, it’s relatively easy to rack up a large quantity of points and miles. It’s the toil of finding award availability, to a place you want to go, at the time that you want to go, while trying to maximize value, that is the toughest part of this world, in my experience!
However, I have almost 10 years under my belt using points and miles to book award flights and hotel stays. So, even though it is complex, with experience, comes a bit more ease and efficiency. You could spend 20-30 hours to book a trip using those hard-earned points and miles, or you could let me spend an hour researching and building out a specific plan that tells you exactly what points to use to make the trip happen!
This is similar to the consultation above, except we don’t just give you a customized plan, we sit down with you (or share screens with you, if you’re not in Indianapolis) and actually walk you through the exact steps to book the trip. There’s no researching how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt or how to navigate Air Canada Aeroplan’s website. We guide you through every step, and try and help you learn the process as we go, so you feel more empowered to do it by yourself next time!
A few testimonials:
“We've been back for a couple weeks now since our trip to California and I just wanted to say thank you again for all your help with planning our trip! California was amazing. AND it wouldn't have been possible in our travel budget without your help! We saved over $8,000! Thank you for answering all my questions over the past few months. I've learned so much!” - Brittany S.
“It’s crazy how a simple 30 minute Zoom can lead to such a dramatic change in how I spend my money. We’ve all heard “work smarter, not harder”, well this was more about finding ways to “spend wisely, not blindly”. By using the tools that Jordan taught me in September 2022, I was able to rack up over $3,000 in points while not changing my spending habits. The only change I made was spending through credit cards that matched my lifestyle goals. I’m very grateful for the Frugal and Free Travelers!” - Keaton F.
If you have any other questions about what consultations look like or if they are a good fit for your situation, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me directly at jordan@thefrugalandfreetravelers.com. We’re here to help you feel more confident to use points and miles to travel frugally and freely!
If you’re ready to sign up for a consultation right now, you can schedule one using the tool below:
