My Other Asset

I've never discussed my other hidden asset since I never thought I had much of 'em. (No, not that kind of asset, silly.)

I have quite of bit of airline miles, hotel points, and American Express Membership Rewards points accumulated. I’ve heard the rule of thumb that each mile/point is worth approximately 1 cent. So if you have 100 miles or 100 points, it’s worth about a buck. But is that true?



I haven’t previously taken stock of how many miles and points I have, but I figured it’ll be fun trying to figure out what they’re approximately worth. As I’ve mentioned previously, I want to travel to Hong Kong-Macau-Tokyo with my sister for my big 4-O. I’ve valuated my points and mileage based upon my dream itinerary. With fluctuating currencies/fares/rates, this is admittedly a very unscientific calculation. But as the sage Cookie Monster sang, it’s good enough for me:

• Marriott Rewards Points: 44,107 points

Since my sister lives 1200+ miles away, we need to rendevouz and stay at a hotel near LAX before and after the trip. The Residence Inn in El Segundo costs $134/night or 15,000 reward points (or, 1 reward point = $.009). Based upon this calculation, my current Marriott Rewards Points balance is worth $394. (Yeay! Our pre-trip and post-trip hotel stay will be taken care of!)

• Hilton HHonors Points: 77,589 points

1 night stay at the Conrad Hilton in Hong Kong costs approximately $3100HKD/night, or $400USD/night, or 40,000 HHonors points (or, 1 HHonors point = $.01). Based upon this calculation, my HHonors account is currently worth $776.

• American Airlines Aadvantage Miles: 130,058 miles

Since American Airlines’ itinerary sucks, I’ve decided to check its partner airlines, JAL’s prices. An economy-class, open-jawed itinerary from LAX-HKG-NRT costs $1,106, or 70k miles/person (or, 1 AA mile = $0.015). If I were to fly business class, the fare would cost $8,202, or 110k miles/person (or, 1 AA mile = $0.07). (Even if I had to buy additional miles to fly both my sister and myself on business class, it’s worth 1 AA mile = $0.06) Based upon these figures, my Aadvantage miles are currently worth between $1,950 - $9,104!! (Holy cr&p!! We are sooo flying business class!)

• American Express Membership Rewards Points: 41,151 points

I am most likely going to convert my Membership Reward Points to HHonors points so that I can stay at the Hong Kong Conrad Hotel for free. For every 1,000 Membership Rewards Points, I get 1,300 HHonors Points. Since I can only convert in increments of 1,300 HHonors points, let’s say I convert 33,000 of my Membership Rewards points to get the 42,900 HHonors points I need. Using the calculation above, my 33,000 Membership Rewards points is worth $330. With respect to my remaining 8,151 points, American Express’s shopAmex store allows me to buy products with an exchange rate of 1 Membership Rewards points = $0.005, or $40. Total value of balance: $370.

• United Mileage Plus: 4,835 miles

Ha. I used to have many more miles, but I used them up to buy tickets to fly my sister and myself to JFK for our trip to Paris last year. Now I only have 4,835. It’s not enough to buy me an economy ticket anywhere. Total value of balance: $0.

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So there you have it: My frequent flyer miles and hotel points are worth about $3,490. On the high-end, it’s worth $10,644. I am paying a yearly fee for the privilege of accruing AA miles (via my Citibank Mastercard) and American Express Membership Rewards points. But based upon what I've calculated above, looks like it's well worth it. I’m feeling richer already! :-D

My Girls' Getaway Weekend

As reported last week, I went on a girls' getaway weekend with my BFF. During the days leading up to the getaway, however, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy made unannounced visits that put a damper on my weekend and a huge dent in my pocketbook. I will report about the Murphies in the next couple of days.

Other than my Murphy-related expenditures, my spending during the weekend wasn't too bad. As previously reported, the hotel package cost $312.12 (including tax), but included:

• Overnight hotel accommodation


• Two (2) premium signature cocktails (per reservation)


• One (1) $50- giftcard from Chi-Chi Mall


• Two (2) 50- minute massages at The Spa

We started Staturday morning in Laguna Beach at Las Brisas' breakfast buffet. With tax and tip, the breakfast cost $20/person. Although valet parking cost $10 including tip, it allowed us to walk around the beach and the cute shops and galleries for a couple of hours after breakfast.

After we checked into the hotel, we spent some time by the pool and the hot tub for some relaxation. I wouldn't have minded spending the rest of the afternoon watching the Trojans trounce the Bruins, but it was clear my BFF didn't care to do so.

We went to CVS to buy some water and snacks ($13.23) and stopped at Claim Jumper to nosh on their yummy cheese potato cakes and couple of non-alcoholic drinks ($17.76 including tip).

We then went shopping at the tony nearby mall. I bought a black lightweight cardigan for $32.22 and some badly needed panties (4) for $21.53.

In the evening, we took advantage of the 2 free cocktails included in our package at the hotel lobby bar. Our only expense was the bartender's $5 tip.

We then dined at the mall's upscale Italian restaurant. With 2 wines and 2 entrees, the total tab came out to $58.00. We used our $50 gift certificate and added $20 to cover the shortfall plus tip. Before we left however, the waiter who took a shine to us, treated us to a complimentary tiramisu. We left an additional $10 tip.

The following day, we decided to have breakfast in bed and ordered room service for $34.47. We took a leisurely stroll around the Performing Arts Center before we headed to the spa. Since my massage was already included in the package, my only out of pocket expense was a $20 tip to the massage therapist.

My total expense for the girls' getaway: $287.52. Considering what we got, this was a steal and I can definitely cashflow this. But then, there's the Murphies...

Shtinkykat On Vacation - Happy Thanksgiving!

My sister's staying at my place this week and I'll have absolutely no privacy. Since I keep my finances and my blog a secret from my friends and family, I won't have any time to update this blog for about 5 days.

But I'm sure I'll have lots to report about my spending after I get back from Vegas my sister leaves. (Eek.)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Cheap Stuff To Do In Vegas

I'm headed to Vegas over Thanksgiving weekend. So far, the plan hasn't been prudent or frugal. BUT, we're only spending a day and a half so I can't really do much damage, right? I've also been doing a bit of research to rein in the spending.

Here are some of the things I can do:

$0.00: Usually, this time of the year, Vegas gets pretty cold. But based on the weather we're having lately, it looks like we're going to have an unseasonably warm Thanksgiving. I'll be packing my bathing suit and spending some time at the pool.

$0.00: Since I'll have a car, I'm thinking of taking a side-trip downtown and check out the Fremont Street Experience. The FSE is a 90-foot-canopy that covers the entire street. Every hour between sunset and midnight it comes alive as Viva Vision -- an integrated video, graphics, and music show.


$0.99: Deep fried Twinkies and Oreos. I really don't care much for Twinkies or Oreos. But deep fried Twinkies and Oreos drizzled in chocolate and covered with powdered sugar? I'm intrigued!

$1.99: While we're Downtown, I'll have a classic shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate's San Francisco Shrimp Bar & Deli. Or I may have the $2.99 big shrimp cocktail instead. Back when I was a college student, the shrimp cocktail in a parfait glass cost $.99 and it impressed the heck out of me. I wonder if I'll still be impressed?

$0.00: The emerging Downtown Arts District may have some free gallery tours and special events.

$2.50: The Plaza in Downtown has cheap well drinks.

$7.77: At Mr. Lucky's 24/7 in the Hard Rock Hotel, I can order the Gambler's Special: Steak, three grilled shrimp, a choice of potato or broccoli and a salad. It's not on the menu -- I'll have to ask the server -- and is available around the clock.

$0.00: Free admission to Mix Lounge at THEhotel before 10 p.m. (I don't stay up much later than that anyways! LOL.)


$12.95: I can live out my fantasy to be a Showgirl. Just kidding. But I could be part of the Rio Casino's Masquerade in the Sky show.

$7.50: Try Mo's chocolate covered bacon bar at the Forum Shopes at Caesars Palace. I know it sounds disgusting but I've heard people RAVING about this.

$0.00: Centaur Art Gallery at the Fashion Show Mall.

$0.00: Last time my sister and I were in Vegas, we couldn't catch the Sirens of TI show due to high winds. Hopefully we'll catch it this time.

Why do I get the feeling that I'll suffer from a massive sugar coma during this Vegas trip? Anyhow, here's a good guide for doing Sin City on a budget. Viva Lost Wages and have a great weekend folks!

My Non-Frugal Thanksgiving Plan (Read: Bad Decisions)

Of course, as soon as I write about how I keep my credit card debt a secret from my friends and family, I'm confronted with a scenario of how it's biting me in my patootie.

My older sister is visiting me for 5 days for Thanksgiving. Just as a background: My big sis has always been more responsible with her money than I, so she doesn't have the kind of debt that I do. She has much more discretionary income than I do. The problem is, she's not totally aware of my debt level and wants to do expensive stuff that I probably can't shouldn't afford. In her defense, I used to do all these expensive stuff with her in the past which explains why I'm up to my eyeballs in credit card debt. Unfortunately, I can't seem to tell her that I can't afford to do those kinds of things anymore.

Wimp Out Mistake #1: My sister wanted to go to the Four Seasons Resort for Thanksgiving dinner, which would have cost $110/person (not including tax, tip and alcohol). I managed to put my foot down and said absolutely not. But... I compromised and we're going to a chi-chi restaurant that serves a prix fixe Thanksgiving meal for $54/person instead. Sigh...

Wimp Out Mistake #2: I live in a 1 BR and know we will go stir crazy. I was looking up for stuff my sister and I can do for relatively cheaply during the 5 days. I asked my sister what she was interested in doing while she's out here.

Unfortunately, a friend sent us information about a $119/night deal at the Venetian. Vegas is about a 5 hour drive from where I live and my sister seemed eager to go for at least an overnight stay.

I love Vegas but I don't think I can afford this trip without dipping into my savings. I really didn't want to do this but I felt compelled to be a gracious hostess and I agreed to do the Vegas thing.

Unfortunately, the $119/night deal isn't available during the weekend of Thanksgiving and costs $250/night (not incl. tax). (Surprise, surprise.) We ended up booking a room at the Bellagio instead for.... drumroll $216.91/night (incl. tax). If you take into account gas (estimate $80), I'm looking to spend $150 for my share. And this doesn't include food or entertainment. Sigh.

This is my problem since I can't seem to tell my sister that I can't afford to do any of this stuff. I'll just need to look at my budget and see where I can squeeze extra money. I'm also expecting to get some business travel expenses reimbursed so I may be able to afford this.

Sigh. Oh well. Viva Las Vegas and have a great weekend folks!

My Financial Kryptonite

Since I was feeling a bit blue and melancholy recently, I did what I often do when I’m feeling down – I flipped through my vacation scrapbooks.

While I was growing up, my parents couldn’t afford to take my sister and me on very many vacations. I spent most of my life listening enviously to other people’s tales of travels to far-flung, exotic places.

I can still recall how I was instantly transported to Italy when my high school classmate, AR, described the beautiful frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. I eagerly eavesdropped my law school classmate, DP's, tales of her sailing trip to Costa Rica during winter break. I remember how I looked longingly at my friend SB’s pictures of himself cuddling tiger cubs in Indonesia.

In 2003, I received a nice bonus ($7,000 after taxes) from my company. Rather than using the bonus money to pay off debt, I blew it on a fabulous, extravagant trip to Australia. I was instantly hooked.

I no longer wanted to travel cheaply like I did when I was in school. I live frugally day-to-day, and a vacation is my escape from the daily drudgery of life. If I’m going to vacation, I want to stay at luxurious accommodations and I want to eat extravagantly!




I watched a documentary on MTV called A Map for Saturday, where Brook Silva-Braga, a 20-something year old, documented his year’s travels through 26 countries on 4 continents. Silva-Braga’s budget travels required him to deal with lack of privacy in hostels, bed bugs, cheap eats and travel scams. As much as I envy the breadth of his travels, I know I don’t want to explore the world through this type of prism. I can live with the trade-off of not being able to travel so frequently or extensively when I have a relatively expensive travel budget.

Traveling is clearly my financial kryptonite, my Achilles' heel. But I'm okay with that since I don’t toil away in a cubicle 9 hours a day because I find it rewarding - it is merely a means to an end.

Although I don’t regret one bit that I used my bonuses to travel rather than to pay down debts, I do rue the fact that I often used my credit cards to finance my vacations. The biggest difference now is that I will budget my trips, save, and will never go into debt to go on a little holiday anymore.