travel
Never leave money on the table. This is your shortcut to upgrading your life, money and travel—all while spending less and saving more. Get tactical moves and deep dives into designing a life you’re excited about. Host Chris Hutchins is a life hacker who has saved millions by breaking down every aspect of life and looking to maximize happiness at the lowest cost. Chris and guests like Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez and Gary Vaynerchuk are here to deliver smart strategies you can plug into your own life—from a money hack that increases your net worth, to a routine change that boosts your productivity.
Chris and Amy Hutchins broke down how they took a two-week family trip to Switzerland and Italy that would have cost $35,000 for roughly a quarter of the price. They used about half a million points, four free night certificates, and $9,000 in cash to cover business class flights, a fairytale hotel in the Swiss Alps, and a luxury resort on Lake Como.
To avoid a steep $1,000 cross-border drop-off fee when returning a rental car from Italy, Chris Hutchins and a friend discovered they could pick up a car at the Milan airport and drop it off in Lugano, Switzerland. The 75-to-80 minute train ride proximity allowed them to secure a 10-day Hertz rental for $450.
The Hutchins family stayed at the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio on Lake Como by leveraging Hilton points and free night certificates. Normally priced around $1,650 a night for a courtyard room, they booked the property for four nights using 680,000 Hilton points and four free night certificates, highlighting the redemption value.
Chris Hutchins discussed turning a Bilt transfer bonus into Avianca miles to book Swiss Air business class flights for a family of four. By transferring 175,000 Bilt points with a 100% bonus into 350,000 Avianca miles, and later using 320,000 of them for Swiss Air tickets, he achieved a high redemption value.
Tad Fallows and Chris Hutchins discussed findings from reviewing over 60 private market investments through Long Angle, revealing that the most established investment managers achieve better net returns by reducing losses compared to emerging managers.
Chris Hutchins noted that Long Angle operates as a free private community specifically for people who hold $3 million or more in investable assets to navigate their wealth among peers.
US Mobile is offering unlimited data plans starting at $15 per month on Verizon's network. The $15 plan includes de-prioritized data throttled after 50GB and 5GB of hotspot data, while a $20 plan offers priority data and 50GB of hotspot data.
Visible offers an unlimited data plan for $25 per month on Verizon's network. This plan includes de-prioritized data but provides unlimited hotspot data, making it a compelling option for users who frequently use their phone as a hotspot.
Mint Mobile and T-Mobile are offering unlimited data plans at competitive price points. Mint Mobile's plan is $30 per month with de-prioritized data and 10GB of hotspot, while T-Mobile's plan is $35 per month with similar data limitations.
The speaker claims that advertised carrier deals for new iPhones are often not true savings when factoring in the cost of the plans themselves. Upon analysis, the price of plans with these 'deals' was found to be $30 to $60 per month more expensive than comparable plans on the same network without the advertised discounts.
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) have seen significant improvements in the last few years, offering better support for devices like smartwatches and tablets, improved data priority, and enhanced international roaming options. The adoption of eSIM technology has also made switching carriers much easier.
A formerly valuable T-Mobile perk offering free in-flight Wi-Fi on select airlines has diminished. The speaker notes that these airlines now offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers, often sponsored, diluting the exclusive benefit that T-Mobile customers once enjoyed.
The speaker argues that device credits offered by major carriers, even substantial ones like $1200 off an iPhone, often fail to compensate for the higher monthly plan costs. These plans can be $30 to $60 more expensive than comparable plans on the same network, negating the perceived savings from device promotions.
Chris Hutchins shared how he first got into the world of points and miles, sparked by a college spring break trip to Cabo. He recounted how his father's frequent travel led to early frequent flyer accounts for him, which eventually enabled him to afford the trip he otherwise couldn't have.
Chris Hutchins suggests that for many individuals, holding two credit cards might be the optimal number for managing points and miles effectively. He contrasts this with the complexities of managing numerous cards, implying a simpler approach can be more beneficial.
Chris Hutchins advocates for parents to set up frequent flyer accounts for their children, similar to investment accounts. He notes that children can accrue miles on their own paid tickets, and there's even a possibility of them earning status, which can be a fun, albeit perhaps unnecessary, perk.
Chris Hutchins observed a substantial acceleration in his points accumulation in the most recent year, describing it as a "huge inflection." He attributes this to a combination of managing business expenses and obtaining employee and business cards, creating significant opportunities for point earning.
Chris Hutchins states that Hyatt is currently the most rewarding hotel program, even after a recent devaluation. He argues that Hyatt's top-tier status offers superior benefits compared to other hotel chains and highlights the program's retained award charts and guaranteed upgrades as key advantages.
Hyatt's primary hotel footprint consists of approximately 1600 properties across 38 brands, categorized into luxury, lifestyle, inclusive, classics, and essentials. The partnership with Mr. & Mrs. Smith significantly expands this to around 3000 properties, though the speaker notes that redeeming points for these partner hotels may not offer the best value.
Despite recent point value adjustments, Hyatt continues to utilize an award chart, providing predictability for redemptions. The chart ranges from 3,000 points for a category one hotel to 75,000 points for a category eight in prime season.
According to Chris Hutchins, the median value of Hyatt points is generally agreed upon to be between 1.5 and 1.7 cents per point. He further notes that in the 75th to 90th percentile, this value can increase to between 2 and 2.7 cents per point.
Starting October 1st, new and existing cardholders of most Chase Ultimate Rewards cards will see a reduced transfer ratio to Hyatt points, changing from 1:1 to 4:3. This means approximately 1.33 Chase points will be needed for every one Hyatt point, unless they hold a Chase Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred card.
Dom Franks explains that unlike daily habits like sleep and diet, home health improvements are one-time actions that provide long-term benefits with no ongoing decision fatigue. He highlights these as high-leverage actions that complement other health practices.
Dom Franks states that severe home health issues, such as chronic mold exposure, carbon monoxide, radon, lead paint, or severely polluted air, can have a detrimental health impact comparable to eating a very unhealthy diet. While rare, these acute issues can cause significant health problems.
Dom Franks reports that clients have experienced life-changing improvements in sleep after addressing issues in their home environment, with some sleeping through the night for the first time in years. He also notes benefits like reduced fatigue, increased creativity, and improved focus attributed to better lighting and air quality.
Dom Franks advocates for the precautionary principle in home health, suggesting that individuals should aim to limit exposure to substances like PFOA in water even without definitive dose-response data. He believes the burden of proof for safety should lie with demonstrating safety, not for removal.
Dom Franks found that while most homes have areas for improvement, his assessment of Chris Hutchins' home indicated it was on the healthier side with no massive red flags. He estimates that about 20-25% of homes tested have a severe problem requiring immediate action, while the average home has five to eight issues that could lead to immediate felt impacts and reduced long-term disease risk.
Dom Franks outlines four critical factors for air quality in bedrooms that impact sleep: particulate matter (like smoke, dust, pollen, mold spores), ventilation (using CO2 as a proxy), humidity (ideally 35-55%, below 50% to prevent mold), and chemical presence (VOCs). He notes that elevated particulate matter can disrupt sleep.
Dom Franks suggests that opening a window is the simplest way to improve ventilation, followed by using fans to accelerate air transfer. For situations where opening windows is difficult due to weather, he mentions energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) as a more advanced solution, with some new products resembling window AC units offering this functionality.
Dom Franks emphasizes that many elements of creating a healthier home do not require large expenditures or complicated changes. He asserts that straightforward, effective actions can be taken immediately to improve one's living environment.
Dom Franks estimates that while severe problems are found in 20-25% of homes tested, the average home contains five to eight issues that, when addressed, can lead to immediate felt impacts and reduced long-term disease risk. Examples include improving air quality, lighting, and water filtration.
Dom Franks detailed four main air quality factors to consider in bedrooms for sleep quality: particulate matter (PM), ventilation (measured by CO2), humidity (aiming for 35-55% and below 50% for mold prevention), and chemical presence (VOCs). He stressed that high PM levels can disrupt sleep.
Despite industry-wide changes, Brian M believes the Southwest Companion Pass will continue to exist. He suggests that while Southwest might increase the qualification requirements for the pass in the future, they may hold off for a bit longer after significant recent changes to their product.
Brian M discusses the rise of debit cards in the loyalty space, citing a new "X Money" debit card offering 3% cashback as a significant development. He notes that while currently restricted to Canada, this trend suggests potential for similar offerings in the US.
Chris Hutchins and Brian M discuss the current state of the points and miles world, acknowledging the prevalent 'doom and gloom' narrative but asserting that there are still many positive opportunities. They suggest that while keeping up with changes requires more effort, new entrants and positive developments offer hope for the industry.
After flying on Southwest's revamped planes, Chris Hutchins noted the experience felt similar to other airlines, with a surprising availability of extra legroom seats. He observed that even with A-list status, many extra legroom seats were empty, offering a contrast to experiences with airlines like United and American.
Chris Hutchins and Brian M discuss the potential legislation aimed at capping credit card interest rates. Both speakers believed this was unlikely to pass, and early 2026 predictions that it would significantly impact points and miles have not materialized, reinforcing their belief in the continued viability of points and miles programs.
Chris Hutchins points out that Southwest's basic economy award flights are a good deal for those not needing same-day changes, as they offer similar benefits to what were previously standard award flights. He contrasts this with Delta's punitive basic economy awards.
Chris Hutchins and his wife Amy Fox discuss how they booked a last-minute trip to Bora Bora that would have normally cost over $20,000, by using points. They managed to get about a 65% discount on the dream trip, but later decided to switch resorts and pay more.
Chris Hutchins and Amy Fox discuss the challenges of choosing a vacation destination when having many options and points/credits to use. They found that the abundance of choices, or 'golden handcuffs,' made narrowing down a trip more difficult.
Chris Hutchins and Amy Fox debated between Fiji and Bora Bora for their vacation. While Fiji flights were readily available, many hotels were booked, leading them to reconsider Bora Bora, a destination they were more familiar with.
Chris Hutchins mentions a "search quirk" that made a room in Bora Bora appear unavailable. This strategy was part of their process in booking the vacation, and he plans to detail it further in the episode.
Brad Barrett and Chris discuss the lasting impact of Bill Perkins' "Die With Zero" concept, four years after an initial episode. Barrett explains how the book's ideas on "seasons of life" and "time-budgeting" have influenced his perspective on prioritizing experiences and people over mere accumulation.
Chris reflects on his personal experience after listening to Bill Perkins' "Die With Zero" concept, admitting he was previously focused on endless accumulation. He realized he was making irrational decisions, prioritizing optimization over valuable time with his family, which prompted a re-evaluation of his goals.
Brad Barrett acknowledges the importance of frugality in the initial stages of pursuing financial independence, as it provides freedom and options. However, he suggests that once financial independence is reached, frugality becomes more of a spectrum, and one should be intentional about how they spend their time and with whom.
Brad Barrett shared that his daughter recently graduated high school and is preparing to go to college, a milestone that, combined with reflecting on Tim Urban's 'The Tail End' article, has made him acutely aware of how quickly time passes. This realization reinforces the importance of being intentional with how his time is spent and with whom.
The host discusses whether credit card points and miles are still worthwhile given increasing annual fees, coupon book-like card benefits, and devalued award programs. He argues that for many, points cards still offer better value than cashback, even when used simply to reimburse travel expenses at a 1 cent per point rate.
In response to concerns about high annual fees and "coupon book" benefits on premium cards, the host highlights several cards with lower annual fees ($0-$150) that offer good point-earning potential. Examples include the Citi Strata Premier, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Wells Fargo Autograph, and Capital One Venture.
The host notes a significant increase in award travel availability across various classes and destinations this summer. This abundance of award space, with redemption values ranging from 1.5 to 5 cents per point, makes points significantly more valuable than cashback.
Despite a noted devaluation in Hyatt points, the host reports that the actual value reduction is only around 8-12%. He contrasts this with soaring hotel cash prices, which have increased significantly more, suggesting that even devalued points can still offer good value.
For those who prefer simplicity, cashback cards are presented as a viable option. However, the host points out that many cashback cards lack the travel protections often found on points cards. He also notes that some cashback cards offering over 2% have had their requirements increased or are tied to large bank balances.
The Navy Federal Flagship card is highlighted as an interesting cashback option for those who qualify for membership. It offers 3% back on travel and 2% on everything else for a $49 annual fee, making it a strong contender in the cashback space.
The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, effectively offsetting its $95 annual fee for those who use the service. The card also allows for valuable point transfers to airline and hotel partners, offering redemption rates far exceeding 1 cent per point.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card, which previously offered significant cashback rates (2.625% on everything, 3.5% on travel/dining) for those with a $100,000+ balance in BofA/Merrill Lynch accounts, has increased this threshold to $1 million. While still offering a 50% boost at the $100,000 level (2.25% on everything, 3% on travel/dining), this change makes the top-tier benefits inaccessible to most.