Since I was never a rich guy, I have always found ways to do things or get things with coupons, discounts and rewards programs. For several years I was the king of the fast food coupons. I know real sexy right!!

In todays world, we have the opportunity to use credit cards to start earning points for the flights and rewards you want. Most airlines have a card and rewards programs but in my experience, the American Airlines Advantage programs are the best ones. Think about it, you want to fly to Europe, American Airline has lots of flights. If you have rewards on SouthWest or other airlines, they don't all fly where you want to go. The Advantage Rewards programs have several ways to earn points. First by getting a card, there are offers for 30,000-60,000 points for getting the card and buying things and making your payments. Flights to Europe require 30,000 to 60,000 for a round trip. Also the program gives you bonus points when you purchase flights with the card. Current offers I found... Advantage Cards

The program gives you points for shopping!! The Advantage Shopping is great. Most of us shop online anyway, so sign into the shopping network, then select the store, Waalmart, Macys, Pennys almost any store that has online shopping. You will get from 1-10 points per dollar spent and that is even if you do not use an Advantage Rewards credit card. If you use the credit card you get points again there. Check here to sign up for Advantage Shopping Netwrk

The program also gives you points for dining out. Using the Advantage Dining program you can go out to eat at participating resturants all over the USA and get anywhere from 3-10 points per dollar spent. Then they will sent you a request to review the location and you will get more points for that. One year I needed over 3000 points to have enough for the flight I wanted and I got them in about 2 months of eating out. This will get you into Advantage Dining

Get started today with a new card, start shopping or go out to dinner. Remember having a card does not mean you have to carry a balance. I use my cards for everything, never spend cash. Save your cash for end of month and pay that bill you ran up getting points.

I know that you most likely have several credit cards in your wallet, but hopefully they are paid off and you have a good credit rating.

You can close one of them and select one of the Advantage cards that gives the most bonus points that you can qualify to have.

Then try to use them for everything and pay them fully every month. It is easy to accumulate 30,000 to 60,000 points a year. A lot of the ways you accumulate points will give you 2-10 times what you spend. Using the shopping and dining rewards network, you get points for shopping and dining everyday...