Don’t Transfer Miles on United!

Lee and I have racked up some United miles from flights and our credit card purchases in the last couple of years. In reviewing some gift options for the Monetorium, I looked up the option on United’s website to transfer miles to someone else’s account. Wow – what a scam!

They charge a $35 processing fee and then 1 cent per mile transferred. It doesn’t sound like a lot at first, but add up 60,000 miles transferred, and you’re paying $635 to give away your miles. When a domestic flight can cost 50,000 miles, it’s almost the same as paying twice for a ticket.

Why wouldn’t you just give them the cash to buy a ticket? Then use your miles to meet them for free! (If you can find a precious available seat)

Gifts: Ask For What You Need

Friends and family typically want to give you gifts for your birthday and holidays. Tell them what would be helpful for your plans! You’ve already told them about your plans, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. Instead of flowers, a few drinks out, an expensive cake, decorations for your home, or brand-new books, how about something for your adventure?
Gifts For Your Adventure: Let’s say you’ll be traveling. Money is a great gift in some cultures and you can spend it exactly as you need. However, if they wouldn’t feel comfortable giving you money for gifts, how about gift cards or something specific you’ll need. Using travel as an example, here are some ideas for them:

Specific items, like a Backpack – For those not fond of giving monetary gifts, giving you a single item that makes a big difference in your adventure can be the perfect gift.

Gift Cards to a travel gear store like REI – This can help you pick up all the little things you need to carry in your pack. Believe me, it adds up!

Gift Cards to a hotel chain – Sometimes after some rougher stretches of travel, a hotel gift card can be just what you need!

Gift Certificate or Paid Booking for an activity – If whitewater rafting the Colorado is an important part of your adventure, check with your rafting company for gift certificates a family member or group of friends can give you. It will mean a lot to them that they could help make your trip possible.

Gifts Before Your Adventure: Say you’re starting a small winery. You might want to begin collecting processing machinery for your grapes. This means acquiring specific and expensive items, which may be too expensive for anyone to offer as a typical gift. Because you will be spending your dollars on winery items, ask for gifts you could use now to help you save for the machinery.

Ask for grocery gift cards for your birthday – Everyone needs to eat. This is an excellent gift because this can guarantee a lower food bill and will get you closer to acquiring your grapes.

Ask for kid or canine help – You might have a munchkin who needs some attention for a couple of nights while you are in meetings, or an old lazy dog who would love to be let out a few times a day while you are out of town this year. Ask for help instead of paying babysitters or kennels. This can save you bundles and doesn’t cost your friends much at all except a little of their time.

Ask for a Netflix or Blockbuster Subscription – Most find the Monetorium does not include movie theatre expenses, but it may include some entertainment via a $16/mo mail-in DVD service. It’s much cheaper than theatres and arguably better than $45/mo cable.

Ask for used books – Newer books can be expensive! If you have a friend that has extra books lying around their house, ask for a short stack, and you can return them when you’re done. Another inexpensive way for a friend to save you bundles. Better yet, start a book swap amongst your friends.

There are so many ways and we’ll be talking about them! Half of my family is Asian where money is preferable to actual gifts, and the other half requires a registry for any major event, so I completely understand the need to have different options for different folks. Whether it’s for current expenses or things you’ll need for your adventure, take a good look at what you’ll need and pick out a few items where your friends and family can help. They want to participate and will appreciate the suggestions!