Making the Most of Frequent Flier Miles
I’ve long been a proponent of using frequent flier miles, cash back cards, and even super low balance transfers to the advantage of your personal finances. However, this guy is taking it to a whole new level. After being laid off his executive job, and having amassed millions in frequent flier miles, Jim Kennedy is now using his frequent flier miles to cover his expenses.
Making the Most
Though Kennedy apparently sports a leased BMW and has a storage unit lined with a wine collection numbering 375 bottles and the furnishings of a now foreclosed mansion, he’s living and eating as if he were homeless. With only a minimal amount of savings after 18 months without a job and no source of income, what little money he has saved is being mixed with frequent flier points to earn him stays in Motel 6′s and Holiday Inn hotels, well under the standard he likely had while employed.
Budgeting the Miles
Kennedy budgets himself no more than $5 a day for food and spends as little as possible buy purchasing frozen dinners and heating them up in the hotel microwave. He also shops for hotels with complimentary breakfast, that way he can stretch his $5 budget across two meals rather than three. Luckily, his spirits haven’t worn down. Kennedy continues to look for opportunities online and is jobhunting via any way imaginable.
Documenting the Progress
Those interested in Kennedy’s story can follow him on Twitter, where he’s posting semi-anonymously under a different name to track his progress. His handle is @HomelessThomOC
