33-year-old in Florida making $78,000 a year has racked up over 1 million credit card points

David Do, a 33-year-old social worker from Riviera Beach, Florida, has built an impressive credit card rewards portfolio that has earned him over 1 million points and miles. With a salary of $78,000 per year, he manages to use his credit cards strategically to fund his travels and achieve financial independence.

Do's approach to using credit cards is quite simple: he keeps them organized in a binder with plastic sheaths, like Pokémon cards, and uses apps to track his spending and due dates. However, unlike many travel hackers who use complex spreadsheets to manage their rewards, Do relies on his memory and basic timeline management to stay on top of his credit card statements.

"For people who do travel hacking, like what I do, they have the proper way of using an Excel sheet," Do says. "I don't use an Excel sheet at all. Truthfully, I just go by memory and just be like, 'Oh, yeah, I did apply for this card last year. So let me just keep a timeline of when the annual fee is due, or when this credit card statement is due.'"

Travel hacking involves strategically using credit card rewards programs to score free or discounted flights and hotel stays. It requires a good understanding of the loyalty program rules, points transfer options, and redemption strategies. Do has mastered these skills and uses his cards to earn rewards on everyday purchases.

How Do's Spending Habits Work

Every month, Do examines which of his credit cards offer the most generous rewards and divvies his spending accordingly. For example, in March, he used a Discover card offering 5% cash back on dining purchases for all restaurant expenses.

He also uses different credit cards for specific categories, such as groceries or gas, to maximize his rewards earnings. Additionally, Do signs up for new rewards cards when doing so is likely to benefit him, especially during big expense periods like quarterly taxes or car insurance payments.

Balancing Saving with a Fulfilling Life

Do's ultimate goal is financial independence, which he hopes to achieve through the "Coast FIRE" method. This involves saving a certain amount and letting that money grow until he reaches full retirement age while scaling back his work hours.

"My goal right now is to contribute as much as I can to retirement, but also trying to live a fulfilling life," Do says. "And with my job being flexible, I think it's giving me that opportunity, too."

Current Savings and Retirement Goals

As of now, Do has about $250,000 saved across various retirement accounts and investments. He aims to push this number over $1 million, even if it's not what he necessarily needs to achieve financial independence.

"It's always been economy for me," Do says. "I could redeem it for business, but it just, I can't really sacrifice the points." He plans on using his rewards wisely and taking advantage of transfer options to maximize his savings.