THE BEGINNER POINTS AND MILES TRACKER

Fly business class. Pay with points. Keep it all in one place.

I'm Liane. I've flown business class to Italy and France mostly on points, and I built the tracker I wish I'd had on day one. It shows you what your points are worth, which card to use, and how close you are to your next trip.

Get the tracker for $19 Read my story

Instant download. Works in Excel 2019 or newer and Google Sheets.

Liane raising a glass of champagne in her Emirates A380 seat

The glowing onboard bar on the Emirates A380

The bar on the Emirates A380. Yes, on a plane.

MY STORY

From real estate broker to business class on points.

By day, I'm a real estate broker in St. Petersburg, Florida. I've spent nearly 20 years helping people buy and sell homes, so I know a thing or two about running the numbers before you commit.

A few years ago I got curious about the lie-flat seats and airport lounges I kept seeing online. I taught myself the basics and started treating my everyday spending like a strategy instead of a habit.

In October 2023 I flew business class to Italy. In July 2024 I did it again, this time to France. Then a Capital One transfer bonus turned into Virgin Upper Class seats to London, and a trip up to Scotland. Points paid for most of it.

Here's what nobody tells you: earning the points isn't the hard part. Keeping track is. Which card has a spending deadline? Which credit resets this month? Which points are about to expire? So I built a tracker. Points & Provisions is where I share it, along with everything I've learned the hard way.

Liane Founder, Points & Provisions
Follow the trips on Instagram: @lianelavie

Where points have taken me

Real trips, real seats, paid for mostly with points from everyday spending and welcome bonuses.

Champagne and snacks waiting in a boutique hotel room in Rome

OCTOBER 2023

Italy, in business class

My first big points trip, and the one that hooked me.

Liane and a companion smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower with the Olympic rings

JULY 2024

France, in business class

Round two, with a lot more confidence and a lot less guessing.

CAPITAL ONE TRANSFER BONUS

London and Scotland, Virgin Upper Class

A well-timed transfer bonus stretched my miles a lot further.

MYTH VS. TRUTH

Three myths that keep people paying cash for travel.

MYTH

"Points are only for people who fly every week."

TRUTH

Most points come from card welcome bonuses and the spending you already do. Groceries, dinners out, bills. I'm a broker, not a road warrior.

MYTH

"A point is a point. Spend it anywhere."

TRUTH

Gift cards and Amazon checkout are some of the worst ways to use points. Moving them to airline and hotel partners can make them worth several times more.

MYTH

"Opening cards will wreck my credit."

TRUTH

Pay in full every month, apply with a plan, and learn the rules first. That's why I tell everyone to learn how it works before they open a single card.

THE TRACKER

Everything you need to stay organized. Nothing you don't.

19 tabs, written in plain English. Yellow cells are where you type. The tracker does the math, flags deadlines, and tells you what needs your attention this month.

My Snapshot

Your whole picture on one screen.

MY POINTS

Total points and miles294,250

Worth about$4,329

Balances expiring in the next 90 days1

5/24: CAN I GET A NEW CHASE CARD?

Me: 5/24 count4/24

Under 5/24. Room for 1 more card before you hit 5.

TO DO

Next yearly fee dueNov 2, 2026

Perk money left this period$230

Certificates expiring in 90 days1

Trip goals with enough points1

Shown with the sample data included in the tracker.

Know your 5/24 count

See how many new cards count against Chase's rule, and the date you're back under it. For you and your partner.

Never waste a credit

Monthly, quarterly and yearly perks each reset on their own schedule. The tracker shows what's left before it's gone.

Which card where

The best card for dining, groceries, gas and travel, ranked by what your points are actually worth.

Can I book it?

Pick an airline or hotel and see every point you could transfer there, before you move a single one.

Catch expirations

Points, free night certificates and companion passes get flagged well before they expire.

Decide on fees

A heads-up before every yearly fee, plus the exact words to use when you ask for a retention offer.

What you get

The Beginner Points and Miles Tracker, instant download
Works in Excel 2019 or newer and Google Sheets
Tracks two people: you and a partner
Points 101 guide and sample rows for total beginners
Free updates when banks and programs change their rules

ONE-TIME PURCHASE

$19

Yours to keep. No subscription.

Buy the tracker

Personal use license. For education, not financial advice.

MY FAVORITE CARDS

The cards in my wallet.

Affiliate disclosure: these are my personal referral links. If you're approved, I may earn points or a commission at no extra cost to you. Offers change often, so read the current terms on the bank's site before you apply.

PERSONAL CARDS

American Express Gold

Earns Membership Rewards on dining and US supermarkets.

Apply with my link

American Express Platinum

The lounge card. Hello, Centurion Lounge.

Apply with my link

Chase Sapphire Preferred

A favorite first travel card. Earns Ultimate Rewards.

Apply with my link

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase's premium travel card.

Apply with my link

Capital One Venture X

Simple miles on everything. My Virgin Upper Class came from these.

Apply with my link

BUSINESS CARDS

Capital One Venture X Business

Venture X miles for your business spending.

Apply with my link

Chase Ink Unlimited, Premier and Cash

Business cards that don't add to your 5/24 count.

Apply with my link

Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business

Chase's premium card for business owners.

Apply with my link

American Express Business Gold

Membership Rewards on your top business categories.

Apply with my link

The perk I didn't know I needed

Airport lounges changed how I travel. Real food, a quiet seat, and at JFK, a hidden speakeasy bar. It turns a layover into part of the trip.

The speakeasy bar inside the JFK Centurion Lounge

FREE RESOURCES

Little tools that earn more.

Rakuten

Earn cash back or Amex points on the online shopping you're already doing. Referral link.

Credit card points stickers

My favorite little hack: label your cards so you always grab the right one at checkout. Amazon affiliate link.

See the stickers

Get the heads-up when the rules change.

Banks change transfer partners and card rules all the time. I'll email you when it matters, plus tracker updates and my latest trips. No spam, ever.

Questions people ask me

What do I need to open it?

Excel 2019 or newer, Excel for Microsoft 365, or a free Google account for Google Sheets. Older versions of Excel miss a few features.

I'm brand new. Is this too advanced?

Not at all. Start with four tabs and the Points 101 guide. Everything else is there when you're ready for it.

Is my information private?

Yes. Everything you type stays in your own copy of the file. I never see it. And please never type passwords or full card numbers into it.

Is this financial advice?

No. It's an organization tool for education. Always check the bank's current terms before you apply for a card or transfer points.

Can I get a refund?

Because it's an instant digital download, all sales are final. But if something isn't working, email me at liane@pointsandprovisions.com and I'll make it right.