When I was ten, Dad lost his job, and our house moved off the Gold standard and on to the Poker Chip standard. For every chore we did, we got poker chips, and if we accumulated enough poker chips we could cash them in for rewards, like “Dad will take you for a boat ride on Post Dispatch lake.”
I cornered the market in poker chips. The experiment ultimately failed because I did all the chores, hoarded all the poker chips and the economy collapsed. Mom begged me to cash some of them in but I explained I liked having them in piles better than any of the rewards.
This behavior has expressed itself in my adult life in two ways:
1) I discovered a month or so ago that I have a gut response to the sound of poker chips clicking. I want to plant my ear on the table and listen to the chips speak to me.
2) I still like piles better than rewards. I have piles of miles on my frequent flyer plans, and I can’t make myself spend them. Money I can spend, but not points. One hundred and fifty dollars for a pair of shoes? Sold! But those same shoes are how many points? Oh no no no. I flew hard for those points. I don’t need those shoes.
Right now I have to book a Miami flight. Dollars: $558.70. Points: 50K. I truly would rather pay in cash than in points. I’m sure the airlines are counting on me to behave this way.
5 responses to “Points”
Ellen, if you have the money, then pay in cash and save the points for when you need to go away but don’t have the cash. Being the ant instead of the grasshopper is great when the barren winter comes.
50K is a shame, isn’t it? It was 75K for a round trip first class ticket to FLL.
I think I kind of know what you mean – it kind of reminds me of my inability to spend a gift card. It’s free money (from other people’s pockets no less) and I still can’t seem to spend them. I keep thinking there’s going to be a huge sale and I’ll be able to get SO much more from the card if I just keep watching and waiting.
Poor darling. Auntie Becs will take away all your nasty, nasty points and use them herself so you don’t have to worry about it any more at all.
No, no. Don’t thank me. Your peace of mind is far more important than my own sacrifice.
What difference does it make?
You’re going to FLORIDA for Christs sake!
You live in a freezing latitude. Under these conditions, it really is irrelevant how it gets paid. You’re going someplace warmer….
Tami- Actually, I’m cash-shy since the taxes on both my and moms houses hit this month, plus insurance on hers. And guess what credit card I put it all on? The one that gave me points for it.Tonya – Yes! I keep thinking I’ll have to fly further than the flight to miami, and I could use it better.Becs – No! No points for you! Cheeky monkey.Benchmark – Bench, do you really think I could get away with crowing about my good fortune more than I already do? I’m sick with luck, I have to complain about something!