Hi, I'm Mindy — a career teacher who got obsessed with credit card points and miles. It started with our 10-year anniversary trip to Hawaii. Three and a half years later, our family of four has flown business class to France, hopped through Hawaii, Cayman, Mexico, and more — for a fraction of the retail cost.
Transfer bonuses. Limited-time offers.
Real trip inspiration.
I post updates on Instagram regularly — often days before they make it to the site. If you're serious about points, that's where to follow along.
Follow @travelsavvyfamily on Instagram →Two trips. Two completely different chapters of the same story — built entirely with points and miles.
I stumbled across a Facebook post from a local mom about travel hacking. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading. The next morning I told my husband Bill — he was skeptical, but I was hooked. We opened one card. I started playing the game. The goal: get our family to Hawaii. In year one, we earned nearly a million points.
Business class flights for four. The Hyatt Regency in Paris. A weekend in Lyon. Provence at Le Saint-Rémy. A 2-bed flat near Old Town Nice. We used 931,500 points across Chase, Amex, and Capital One. The retail value was nearly $40K. Our out-of-pocket was around $7K.
"You do not need to be rich, or spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. You just need a strategy."
Teaching is in my bones — it's been my career for as long as I can remember. These days, the classroom looks a little different. I travel the country training teachers and administrators, and on the side, I teach travel hacking to families like yours. New content, same love of helping people figure things out.
Travel has always been our family's love language. Experiences over stuff, right? But let's be honest — experiences with air travel get expensive fast for a family of four. So when I learned that points and miles could change the math, I went all in.
Now I share what I've learned with other families and small business owners. The way I see it: this is a simple plan, rolled out a little at a time. No gatekeeping. No spreadsheets that make you cry. I'll share every tool, every app, and every shortcut that's made this easier and more organized for me. I'm not as smart as you think I am — you can absolutely do this too.
My one rule? Start slow to go fast. The simple wins come first. The fancy international business class redemptions come later. We build the foundation, and the cool stuff follows.
And listen — if you'd rather skip the learning curve, open the cards I recommend and have me book your trips for you, I can do that too for a small fee. (Honestly, my husband would thank you. I love planning travel so much it might be the only thing that keeps me from booking another one of our own.)
Simple wins come first. The fancy international business class redemptions come later. Build the foundation — the cool stuff follows.
Start with one premium card (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred). Build from there with business cards and your Player 2.
Use the card for what you'd already buy. Time applications around big natural expenses. Never overspend for a bonus.
Category bonuses, referrals, and Player 2 strategy. Two adults stagger cards and double the household earn.
Transfer to airline and hotel partners — not portal bookings, not cashback. That's where points become trips.
Your credit score doesn't have to suffer. You don't have to be rich. You just need a plan that fits your real life.
Show me where to start →Get the full breakdown — every flight, every hotel, every point transfer, every fee. The exact playbook from our family trip to Paris, Lyon, Provence, and Nice.
Your case study is on the way. Welcome to The Wander Method.
Whether you want a quick gut-check or a full custom plan, I'll meet you where you are.
Just have a question? Shoot me an email. I love this stuff and answer most simple questions for free. No catch.
Send me a note →We map your goal trip, audit your current cards, and walk away with a plan tailored to you. You leave knowing exactly what to do next.
Book a call →Don't want to learn it yourself? Open the cards I recommend and let me plan and book the whole trip. (Honestly, my husband will thank you — I love planning travel.)
Get in touch →
