I like saving up points to buy stuff. I participate in a few click-to-earn programs, like MyPoints and e-Rewards. So when I was looking for a credit card – and even before I actually wanted one – I was interested in the rewards programs. I found an article from a few months ago on the Free the Drones blog that said some credit card companies are reducing how many points or cash back you get. I’m glad to hear that the cash-back programs are better than the reward points, because that’s what I ended up with – USAA Cash Rewards. I wasn’t expecting to get a “rewards” credit card at all, because of my credit history (or lack thereof?), but the USAA one definitely says I get cash back. I would actually have preferred something like Amtrak Guest Reward points, because I miss taking the train, but such is life.
There’s also a cool series at Free the Drones about retiring abroad – particularly in Costa Rica, which my mom says has a large expat community. It’s funny, I never really thought much about Costa Rica, it always seemed like a somewhat backwater sort of place, but I’m coming to find that it’s actually a very nice tropical nation – and there’s even a gay and lesbian community in San Jose!
Raise your hand if you think I can earn enough in cash-back rewards to retire in Costa Rica! 
