When planning a travel budget, my absolute top tip—especially living in the US—is to start with credit card points and miles. Before looking at cash, I always map out how much of the trip I can cover using the rewards I’ve accumulated from card sign-ups and everyday spending.

Using points to handle the big-ticket items like flights and hotels slashes the baseline cost immediately. Once the major expenses are offset, I build the rest of the budget around daily out-of-pocket costs, primarily dining, local transport, and activities.

Starting with your rewards first gives you a much clearer picture of what the trip will actually cost you in cash—and usually makes a dream vacation far more affordable.