Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Are Points & Miles Too Good to Be True? 4 Common Objections

Aug 12, 2026 · 22 min · 10 segments

Points and miles can look complicated from the outside. But for many beginners, the biggest obstacles aren't finding the right transfer partner or choosing the perfect credit card. It's actually the…

Points and miles can look complicated from the outside. But for many beginners, the biggest obstacles aren't finding the right transfer partner or choosing the perfect credit card. It's actually the fears and uncertainty that come with getting started that hold people back. Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place In this episode, Travis and the team tackle four of the most common concerns listeners have about the points and miles hobby:• Is this really legitimate, or is it too good to be true?• Will opening credit cards hurt my credit score?• How am I supposed to make sense of all the information and tools?• Should I save your points for a huge trip, or use them along the way? The conversation explores credit score misconceptions, analysis paralysis, the importance of starting with the basics, and why your first few redemptions don't need to be perfect. And if you've been accumulating points but hesitate to redeem them, this episode offers a different way to think about the value of your rewards. Listen in and see which of these four common fears might be holding you back from getting more value from your points and miles. Original Episodes From This Episode: - Ep. 31 - Unlock the Digital Nomad Life: Travel the World Using Points! (PLUS 8 Days in Portugal & Spain for Under 400k Points!) - Ep. 34 - Secrets of a Professional Travel Planner: How a 10xTravel Award Booker Uses Points - Ep. 47 - Maximizing Credit Card Points: The 3 Types You Need to Know - Ep. 50 - Points & Miles Unfiltered: Our Most Controversial Hot Takes - Ep. 55 - P2s Tell All: Life, Love & Loyalty Points with the 10xTravel Crew’s Partners - Ep. 65 - Inside the 10xTravel Origin Story: Bryce’s Farewell Episode Stay Connected: Join our Community: 10xTravel Insiders Follow us on Instagram: @10xTravelblog Watch this and every episode of Takeoff on YouTube: @10xTravel Subscribe for more tips on travel, points, and miles! Don’t forget to hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this website are from companies which 10xTravel will earn an affiliate commission. 10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Points and miles can look complicated from the outside. But for many beginners, the biggest obstacles aren't finding the right transfer partner or choosing the perfect credit card. It's actually the…

Overcoming Fear of Credit Cards2:00 – 3:17

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:00

For years, I thought, like, the, any second now, any second now, the other shoe will drop or, like, any second now, you know-

BrycePanelist

2:07

Well, there's a cop knocking on my door.

BrycePanelist

2:09

I gotta run.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:09

Ha ha.

BrycePanelist

2:10

Yeah, I'm Bryce.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:11

That-

BrycePanelist

2:11

Yeah.

BrycePanelist

2:12

What's the warrant?

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:12

That this wasn't gonna work-

BrycePanelist

2:14

[laughs]

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:14

... or that some negative thing would come out of the credit card.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:17

So my, um, my grandfather worked in banking his entire career, and he even pulled Bryce aside and was like, "You know, son, you, you, you can't, like, all, opening all these credit cards, you know, those aren't, that's not good for you." You know? Like just how-

BrycePanelist

2:29

I remember

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:29

... different the idea of credit cards was, and so, oh yeah, for years, years and years and years, I was anxious about that.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:39

The 10x Travel team is so incredible and just l- listen to the podcast, learn about it, and maybe you'll open up to it, but, you know, here we are.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:46

I think we're always gonna face that kind of skepticism.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:48

The thing that Bryce told me that helped incredibly was think of this as extreme couponing, 'cause I love that show.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:57

I love that, that show on TLC, [laughs] Extreme Couponers, and that clicked in my brain.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:02

Something about that, that you think of this as a, as extreme couponing.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:05

You're using coupons, you're stacking them together, you're figuring out this map, and it does take a lot of time and effort.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:11

That made me feel better.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:14

That put it into terms that I understood, I guess.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:17

[laughs]

Overcoming Fear of Credit Cards2:00 – 3:17

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:00

For years, I thought, like, the, any second now, any second now, the other shoe will drop or, like, any second now, you know-

BrycePanelist

2:07

Well, there's a cop knocking on my door.

BrycePanelist

2:09

I gotta run.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:09

Ha ha.

BrycePanelist

2:10

Yeah, I'm Bryce.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:11

That-

BrycePanelist

2:11

Yeah.

BrycePanelist

2:12

What's the warrant?

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:12

That this wasn't gonna work-

BrycePanelist

2:14

[laughs]

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:14

... or that some negative thing would come out of the credit card.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:17

So my, um, my grandfather worked in banking his entire career, and he even pulled Bryce aside and was like, "You know, son, you, you, you can't, like, all, opening all these credit cards, you know, those aren't, that's not good for you." You know? Like just how-

BrycePanelist

2:29

I remember

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:29

... different the idea of credit cards was, and so, oh yeah, for years, years and years and years, I was anxious about that.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:39

The 10x Travel team is so incredible and just l- listen to the podcast, learn about it, and maybe you'll open up to it, but, you know, here we are.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:46

I think we're always gonna face that kind of skepticism.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:48

The thing that Bryce told me that helped incredibly was think of this as extreme couponing, 'cause I love that show.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:57

I love that, that show on TLC, [laughs] Extreme Couponers, and that clicked in my brain.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:02

Something about that, that you think of this as a, as extreme couponing.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:05

You're using coupons, you're stacking them together, you're figuring out this map, and it does take a lot of time and effort.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:11

That made me feel better.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:14

That put it into terms that I understood, I guess.

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

3:17

[laughs]