When it comes to loyalty programs this could be a game changer. Come sometime this spring, American Express will be launching Plenti, a cross-brand loyalty program that includes some of the biggest companies in the country. The program will basically allow you to earn Plenti points at one place and redeem them at another. Right now, a total of eight companies are part of the program: AT&T, Exxon, Macy's, Mobil, Nationwide, Rite Aid, Direct Energy, and Hulu. In addition, American Express says they expect to add more companies (what's not clear is whether it'll be before or after the launch).
  

Gas prices are still cheap. They'll stay that way as long as oil prices are low. Recently, crude oil prices have gone up from the $45-range to about $55 (which is still low. I would argue a price at around $80 is good for everyone, but that's for another blog).

Why are cheap gas prices good?

That's an easy one. Everyone who buys gas for their cars already knows why cheap gas is good. It means immediate extra cash in your pocket. Instead of paying $50-$60 to fill up, you're paying $25-$35. That's big savings! 

As far as I'm concerned travel and money go hand in hand. You can't do one without the other. Unfortunately, those that have the worst reputation when it comes to finances are those who are my age. They're in their 20s and early 30s. For the most part, I'd agree with that assessment. No doubt, my generation (millennials) has had it rough. However, what generation hasn't?

I'm new to travel hacking with credit cards. Some may consider it "churning," where you open a bunch of new credit cards all at once every three months or so, and then cancel them about 11 months after opening them to avoid an annual fee (as an example). One of the most common questions I'm asked is "does it hurt your credit score?"

Has my credit score taken a hit?

No. It's actually the opposite. Since I've started building more credit, my score has gone up about 15 points (and now above 800) in 6 months. Why? Well, your credit score is based on several factors. FICO, one of the companies that determines your credit score, for example, bases credit scores on: