Hi, I will post in later episode of the full cost and savings of the 2016 trip flights ... but one example, is applying to United Mileage Plus card and getting the 50,000 bonus points after spending the requirements $3k in 3 months, which I simply put my rent/utilities expense on. I redeemed a business class flight from Hawaii to Tokyo for 42.5k points for $5.60 - essentially a business class flight one way from Hawaii to Tokyo would retail around $1,500 to $2,000 dollars, but instead, I only paid $5.60 - now some people would say, but I spent $3k on the credit card first to get the 50,000 points ... but honestly, people have to think that the $3k spend is simply rent/utilities or other bills you would have needed to pay, but why pay in cash and get nothing, when you could put it on credit card and get massive benefits such as free flights out of points? See my point? :)

More to come on examples like these!