Military Miler

Military Travel Rewards

Helping military members and families travel the world for free using points and miles! From annual fee waivers on premium credit cards to free nights and free flights, Tusi talks about all the tips, tricks, and best kept secrets in credit card rewards. Learn how you and your family can travel more often and more comfortably thanks to points and miles—and save thousands of dollars!

This show is brought to you by www.militarytravelrewards.com. Hosted by Jared "Tusi" Mataitusi, an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the USAF. Tusi is a husband, girl dad, die-hard optimizer, and credit card reward enthusiast. IG: @military_miler Email: podcast@militarytravelrewards.com

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20 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes20

Newest first

Friday · 35 min
063 | We're Back! And...I let $1,500 in credits expire last month
I just told everyone how to maximize their credits before June 30th, and I still let $1,500 in credits expire. And I won't lose sleep about it. Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 💰Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + shopping portals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
July 3 · 35 min
062 | A Tale of Two...Thousand Dollars in Taxes
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... Out of the depths of my exceedingly generous & compassionate heart, I loaned Uncle Sam $2,000 in his greatest time of need. On accident. In the form of prepaid taxes. And now it's gonna cost me ˜$100. Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
June 19 · 49 min
061 | Semi-Annual Credit Card Checklist
AND $180 in cashback for FREE by using your CSR's StubHub credit. Time to use your very last Saks Fifth Ave credit😭 Plus a bunch of other benefits and credits you need to make sure you use before they expire at the end of June! Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
June 13 · 40 min
060 | Best $95 Credit Card Strategies for Post-Military Life
Everyone loves a good Teams message from a coworker. Especially when it's about credit cards. This friend is coming close to retirement and wanted to know which low-cost credit card strategy he should pursue after going off into the wild blue yonder. And while I'm normally advocating for getting nearly every card under the sun, most people value simplicity more than ultimate optimization of points. Today we look for the happy medium. Enjoy! Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
June 5 · 56 min
059 | I Might Be the Last Person to EVER Open This Credit Card
I applied for a new credit, got approved, went to the bathroom, came back to apply for the card for my wife, and they were no longer accepting new applications. The points and miles game is always changing and today we're going to talk about opportunities I've missed out on because I kept putting off simple 10-min tasks, opportunities I was barely still able to take advantage of, and what opportunities are still available now but I have a feeling will disappear soon. Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
May 30 · 1 hr 9 min
058 | Airline vs Hotel Cards for Military Members
Why do our 0-10 Strategies include more hotel cards than airline cards? Are hotel cards more valuable than airline cards? Which are more beneficial for TDY travel? Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 💰Use our referral links below to earn cashback bonuses, get sweet discounts on gear, and support the show!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
May 22 · 35 min
057 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Back on the Board?!
I've been ragging on the Chase Sapphire Preferred for years because there's no reason to open it compared to the Sapphire Reserve...And I still stand by that statement. BUT! Chase changed one small rule in the Terms and Conditions and it's a gamechanger, and has changed the 0-10 Strategies for the better! Check out the 0-10 Strategies at www.militarytravelrewards.com/0-10/ If you don't have a Rakuten or CapitalOne Shopping account, use the LinkTree below to get $50 and $80 cashback! 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
May 15 · 47 min
056 | We Have 40 Credit Cards
While sitting on the porcelain throne this week, I opened my wife an Amex Marriott Brilliant card and realized that we now have 40 credit cards! In today's episode, I talk about when we opened all these cards, how much in annual fees we get waived for being active duty military, how many annual fees we do pay, and what our plans are moving forward. Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
May 9 · 43 min
055 | Opening Business Cards in the Military
Can I open a business card? How do I open them? How do I use them? These are all questions I get regularly, so today's episode talks all about the ins and outs of opening business cards and how they can fit into your credit card strategy! When you decide to open an Amex or Chase Ink Business card, use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on some gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + Whoop Referral & Discount Code + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
May 1 · 47 min
054 | How Free Is "Free"?
When it comes to traveling the world on points and miles, we often refer to it as traveling for "free". But how free is it really? That's what we explore on today's episode! Plus an update on using the Chase Sapphire Reserve's Whoop credit for extending your membership or buying clothes, AND members stationed OCONUS keep getting their Lululemon purchases canceled for not being able to ship to APOs. But we might have just discovered a very easy workaround...stay tuned to find out. 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals, Whoop, shopping portals, + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
April 24 · 49 min
053 | The Big Whoop, OCONUS Tax Payments, & An Atmos Atrocity
What's the big Whoop with WHOOP? I learned how to make tax payments with a credit card while stationed OCONUS and hit 3 welcome offers worth several thousands of dollars in the process. AND, I share a crazy story about some of the costs your Player 2 might face when you open credit cards for them... If you need a Whoop referral/discount code, mine's in the LinkTree below! Offer ends May 12. And don't forget, Amex Marriott limited time welcome offers end May 13! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
April 19 · 55 min
052 | Travel Lessons Learned Living in Europe for 4 Years
We've been stationed in Europe for 4 years now, and as we come to our last summer in Italy, I thought I'd share a random smattering of lessons we've learned along all our travels! Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🤩Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
April 10 · 30 min
051 | 0 to 10 Strategies Updated!
I received some great feedback and new information from our awesome Military Miler community, so today I'm sharing the updated strategies as well as answering some listener questions and sharing some listener wins! 🙏🏽Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
April 3 · 1 hr 1 min
050 | 5 Ways to Go from Zero to Ten Cards (AND Earn A MILLION Points in the Process!)
My sister-in-law is joining the military and I've been developing the most optimal credit card strategy for her, whether she only does a 4 year enlistment or stays in for 20. In just 1-2 years, she'll be earning thousands of dollars in clothes, restaurants, concert tickets, free nights at luxury hotels, and flight benefits. Not to mention she'll earn a million points in the process. Now I'm sharing that plan with you, with a couple variations that might better suit people's lifestyles or values. If you want these plans in email form, shoot me an email below or DM me on Instagram! ---------- Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! Use our referral links below to support the show & get sweet discounts on the gear!👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these sweet benefits!
March 27 · 47 min
049 | The most last minute trip we've ever planned, roadtripping with a newborn, & Delta Stays saves the day
We left on an 8 day roadtrip with 2 kids and a newborn but didn't even book all the hotels before we left. And we still got $5,100 in premium hotels (and caves!) for only $265 out of pocket. And I discovered a super sweet hack for maximizing Delta Stays credits with the Amex Delta cards...listen to find out! Cards mentioned in today's episode: American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Chase IHG Premier American Express Platinum Card Use our referral links to support the show (and get sweet discounts on travel gear!)👇 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these benefits!
March 20 · 1 hr 2 min
048 | Best Hotel Cards for Military Members
There are several killer hotel cards that are worth having in your wallet, and for the next 1-2 months, these cards are out with INSANE welcome offers🤩 Stay tuned for which cards are my favorites, which ones you should consider, and how to strategize your credit card portfolio for the long term. And when you've decided which offers to jump on, I'd be grateful if you used my referral links below to support the show! But act quickly, the Hilton offers end 4/15/26 and the Amex Marriott offers end 5/13/26! You don't want to miss these incredible offers because they're worth thousands of dollars. Frequent Miler's Marriott Welcome Offer Guide: https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-complete-guide/ Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: tusi@militarymiler.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member, spouse, or a crusty supervisor who’s missing out on these benefits!
March 13 · 44 min
047 | 6 Ways to Increase Your Credit Card Spend without Increasing the Cost of Your Life
There are so many regular expenses that you currently don't pay with a credit card that you COULD if you just knew how... Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: podcast@militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these benefits!
March 6 · 1 hr 19 min
046 | Costco...the Ultimate Points & Miles Gold Mine with Dave Peterson
Today we have a killer first-ever listener interview with long-time listener & Military Miler, Dave Peterson. Dave shares his unique situation being ADOS and how he falls under both MLA and SCRA benefits for ultimate credit card protections, and how his new job got him interested in points & miles. Less than 2 years later, Dave has opened dozens of cards, earned millions of points & miles, traveled to incredible places, and gotten his kids into the hobby as well. Dave also shares all about how Costco Gold has been a core part of his earnings strategy. All The Hacks Ep. 206: The Gold Market: Strategies for Investing and Reselling with Trey Benedict Welcome to the Military Miler—a show dedicated to teaching military members how to maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: podcast@militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these benefits!
February 28 · 1 hr 55 min
045 | Flying Mom to the Colosseum, OCONUS Credit Cards Strategy, and the Second Mountain with Spencer Reese from Military Money Manual
Special Collab Episode with Spencer Reese from the Military Money Manual! Spencer and I talk about living intentionally, pursuing financial independence in the military, and so much more... In nearly 2 hours, we barely even scratched the surface of what we planned to talk about. We'll be recording again soon. You can find Spencer at www.militarymoneymanual.com or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/militarymoneymanual. And check out his podcast Military Money Manual wherever you listen to podcasts. Disclaimer: since this episode was recorded, people have reported that they have stopped getting reimbursed for the Amex Airline Fee credit for United Travelbank purchases. We don’t know if that workaround is done for good or if this is a temporary pause. (2/28/26) 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: podcast@militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these benefits!
February 27 · 53 min
044 | How to Upgrade to Multiple Premium Credit Cards
Step-by-Step instructions on how to upgrade your cards to get multiple ultra premium credit cards. You cannot upgrade your cards unless you follow these steps, so be sure to listen! Cards you can upgrade: Amex Green and Amex Gold to another Amex Platinum Hilton Honors and Hilton Surpasses to Hilton Aspires Delta Gold and Delta Platinums to Delta Reserves Chase Freedom cards to Chase Sapphire Reserves Chase Marriott cards to Ritz-Carlton cards Helping military members maximize their credit card benefits & travel rewards so they can live the life of their dreams! 🔗 Credit card referrals + gear I use daily: linktr.ee/militarymiler 🤙IG: @military_miler 📽️YouTube: @MilitaryMiler 📝Blog: www.militarytravelrewards.com ✉️Email: podcast@militarytravelrewards.com 👋If you learned something today, be sure to follow the podcast and send it to another military member or spouse who’s missing out on these benefits!