Triple Points starts today.  If you understand what this means then odds are you are a bit addicted to Nordstrom like me. I’ve lost thousands of miles & points over the years because I’ve needed to feed my shoe addiction in person (they have shoes for my big size 11 feet).  If I only had the patience to order online and wait for the UPS guy to appear at my door but I rarely do.  It might have something to do with the fact that the chocolate chip cookie at the cafe is so good (satisfying two addictions at once).  Or that my shoe salesman is a top producer earning a free trip each year based on sales (Thankfully, I am not his top customer as designer $600 shoes are not my thing).  Or it might be that shoes tend to fit more often than clothes (which drive me crazy).  Or maybe just the fact that I like to leave the store with a present for myself.  Either way, I should be earning miles with my Nordstrom purchases and so should you.

“You can earn miles and points on everyday spend” is something I read/hear everyday but how can you do it right to maximize points and miles?  I like to keep things simple with four questions (you should easily know the answers, otherwise I’d suggest doing a financial review of your budget and expenses but beware it is an eye opener!)

1. What do I buy each year? (break into categories)
2. How much do I spend a year on those items?
3. Where is the best return for my purchases?
4. What airline do I fly most or need points with?

So let’s start with one category – Shoes, Probably too much, Nordstrom, USAirways.  This is my example, do a test run for your own answers.

Looking at the USAirways online shopping portal, Dividend Miles Storefront, Nordstrom purchases currently earn 3x miles (the rate does change so do check first) for every dollar spent (with exclusions like gift cards).   If you use an miles/points/cash back credit card, you will earn those in addition to the USAirways airline miles- a double dip but decide what makes the most sense for you.  Remember this should be based on what you normally spend – you do not want to increase spending but rather be strategic.

Credit card options I have to consider:

1. hotel credit card that earns 1% (hotel points)
2. airline credit card that earns 1.25% (airlines miles)
3. Nordstrom card that earns 1% ($20 Nordstrom note for every $2,000 points)

Going through the Dividend Miles Storefront, I enter my USAirways Dividend Miles number and then click the icon to take me to the Nordstrom shopping site.  You must go through the online mall link or it doesn’t count.  I shop like normal on the site, adding shoes to my cart and avoiding handbags I love ($500+ for a handbag?  I can take a nice trip for $500 but I digress).  I choose to use my Nordstrom card where I earn 1% (or 3% today with triple points) because the cash back notes go toward shopping – makeup, perfume, shoes, etc. – always good to diversify as airline and hotels are not the only game in town (see also Panera for free lunch, drinks and cookies).

If we use a $100 purchase as an example

• Shop online via the airline shopping portal, I  would earn 300 USAirways miles and 100 Nordstrom points from the purchase.  Nordstrom points do change with various promotions throughout the year.
• If I go to the store, I earn 100 Nordstrom points, indulge in a cookie, gain some weight and forgo the USAirways miles.  Hmmm, Online shopping now appears to be good for my health and airline miles balance!

Now this is a simple $100 example. How much do you spend shopping on clothes, makeup, perfume, shoes, kids clothes, household goods, pharmacy items, etc. in a year?  How much are you already ordering online? Chances are you already shop at stores that could earn you miles and be closer to an award ticket.  Buying the new Apple IPhone?  Order online with Apple through the airline mall and earn miles for something you were going to do anyway.

The miles add up, a few here, a few there.  This is one example of how you don’t need to fly to earn miles, it might take you longer this way but you are getting rewarded for doing what you would do normally.  Unless, like me, you have no patience and want a cookie……but I see a new weight loss diet taking shape here – more shoes, more airline miles and less cookies!

Look for my new post tomorrow on how to win a $25 Nordstrom gift card.  Lest you think Nordstrom is expensive, in my quick search today, there were 87 different shoes and 27 bags each under $25.