Status Update: Earning United Miles

July was about talking about earning MileagePlus miles. August is suppose to be about earning MileagePlus miles. I am failing. As of this moment, only 650 miles have been credited to my account.

This is a far cry of having 75,000 earned by August 31 and banked them by September 30. Here is a list of activities that I completed and am waiting to be credited to my account:

Transfer from Emiles (500 Miles)
Purchase from Kiehl's through Shopping Portal (100 miles)
Purchased Wines (2000)
Purchase Marriott Gift Cards (1500)
Ordered from Peapod (600)
3x First Friday Chase Sapphire Dining Promotion (1900 - Business Lunch Yes!)
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Total: 6,600+ 650 (above) = 7,250

Also, I have applied and been approved for the Chase Ink Bold. If I can get the card and spend $5,000, I will get a minimum 55,000 points. So achieving the 75,000 mile goal hangs in the balance of getting this credit card.

Here are a road map of additional promotions I plan on participating in to earn miles:

Purchase Nationals Tickets from Score Big
Participate in United Dinning Rewards
Open Investment Account
Order from GILT
Transfer from eRewards

Finally, I plan on transferring any points earned on my Chase Sapphire in August to United.

I have the plan to earn 75,000 miles, but I need to get serious about doing it.

Am I missing out on any other ways to earn easy MileagePlus miles?
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31 Ways to Earn United Miles - Put Into Practice

Each day in July, we talked about one way to help increase your MileagePlus account balance. Throughout the month, I kept on getting the same question: "How will all these small offers get me on my dream vacation? Is it possible to earn enough miles to get me there?

The answer is a big fat yes!

Mileage earning is a marathon and you have two options: run it like the hare or the tortoise Sometimes we want to be the hare and earn miles the quick way by credit card sign-up bonuses. The problem with this is for most people, like me, the race isn't just about taking one trip. Therefore, earning miles only though credit card sign-ups will only get you so far in the race. Why the tortoise wins the race most times!

July was about talking about earning United Miles. August is about doing it!

Throughout the month of August, I am going to try to earn as many United miles as possible. There are only four rules:

           1) Spend the least amount of non-justified money ie money I wouldn't spend anyway

           2) Everything has to be ethical - would my grandfather be embarrassed by what I am doing?

           3) Can only apply for one new credit card that earns United miles

           4) Only miles earned in August and credited by September 30th count

As of today, August 1st, here is the balance in my MileagePlus account:

Yes, you can stop laughing now. I have a whopping 2,622 MileagePlus miles in my account. Just another important reason to do this little experiment. My goal is earn 75,000 miles in the month of August.

Lets see what the month of August brings.
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