Points are a valuable currency — and they’re fun! It’s easy to save a lot of money — or travel in a way you’d never otherwise be able to afford — if you play the points game right.

Earn as many points as you can, and spend as few as you need to get what you want.

But do spend them! Points lose value over time. Not always much every year, and some splurges are worth saving up for. But there’s no good reason to stockpile millions.

The right credit card matters. You still earn airline miles for flying, but the innovation and growth in the points world is in credit cards. You’ll probably want a few different ones once you figure out your personal strategy.

Don’t overextend. Aim to pay your balance in full every month. No judgment here on debt — I’ve been there. But never do it for the points. No amount is worth the cost of interest payments and the stress of falling behind.