One of my favorite blogs is Gary Leff’s travel blog, View from the Wing. I used to read it occasionally, but once I started to notice unusually rich credit card signup offers a little over a year ago, like 100,000 British Airways Avios points, I started to read it religiously. Since then, I’ve accumulated around one million frequent flier miles and hotel points in various programs, achieved Silver, Gold, and Platinum status in various hotel programs, and received around six or seven thousand dollars in cash rebates from credit card companies. Total out of pocket cost: < $1,000. Total effort: relatively little. Highly recommended! Speaking of travel, forgive the commercial announcement, but if any of our readers have plans to go to Milan in 2012, I have a voucher for a two-night stay for two at the Uptown Plaza hotel that I likely won't be able to use. For more details or to make an offer. Dbernste at gmu dot edu.