Why did I start TheCreditTraveler?

Hey there! As I’m sure you’ve probably read at least one or more of the articles I publish out on this website which could be on credit cards, how to maximize your spends, how to buy a car, etc… and I wanted to tell you a bit about myself and what prompted me to start this website.

Background

I am currently set to graduate from Texas A&M University – class of 2019 with my Master’s in Financial Economics. Prior to my masters, I completed my Electronics and Communication Engineering degree from Vellore Institute of Technology in India.

I’ve been lucky to have never faced adverse financial challenges and strived to support myself through college. To meet monthly spends, I’d participate in debate tournaments and conferences across the country – cashing in on the prize money which helped my through my years of undergrad.

Upon arriving into the United States, I received a scholarship and in-state tuition waiver on the basis of merit to pursue my Master’s degree. To support my life in Texas, I started working a part-time job in concessions quickly being promoted thanks to my work ethic and professionalism.

Eventually, I left that job to intern with a small start-up company which taught me important skills I use almost everyday. While interning 40hrs a week, I also took up a research job at my department working 20 hrs/week totaling 60hr weeks. This helped me save substantial amounts not just to pay my tuition fees but also enabled me to fulfil my long-time dream of buying a car.

I still work part-time and between that, my financial investments, savings as well as University scholarships, make my student life seem not so dead.

How I got into credit

I think I got my first credit card in 2017 when my roommate just told me to apply for it, and unknowingly I did. The second card was the same story with a friend telling me I could benefit and short-sighted as I was, I did so. I always paid everything off in full so I never worried about losing track of my expenses and bank balance. I only spent money on what I needed and not on what I wanted – never spending more than 30% of what I held in liquid assets.

It’s only when I started reading and researching more into credit did I realize how a life in America – if to be had and enjoyed – was heavily dependant on establishing a foundation which would enable me to get more things when I was ready for them. I read countless blogs, articles, books and one common thing I learnt from them was managing personal wealth to create additional wealth without having to work extra for it.

Hence, given that I had a good history of weekly on-time payments, a score of 780, I aggressively started applying for credit cards based on my/family expenses. Thanks in part to my parents having high spends, I could put their expenses on my card and we all got what we wanted. Needless to say I got constant criticism, was joked at, laughed at at the stupidity I was involving myself in.

Additionally, starting this blog (free at first) had it’s own fair share of criticism from people unwilling to believe there is someone willing to put it all down simplifying the facts for others.

I value certain perks/benefits over the money that I pay for them and by putting in time, money and effort, I can safely say I have built a solid foundation for my financial future while the haters and naysayers are still stuck at the state they were in before and potentially losing money either today or will tomorrow.

If and when I travel, I am relaxed, enjoying the comfort of lounges, a neat upgrade and maybe special treatment such as an airport pick-up or drop – things I don’t pay for but are included just because of decisions I made early on (sorry if it seems like a brag, I assure you it’s not).

Interactions with experienced individuals is important and I’ve gotten both the good and bad side of things. I’ve met people who’ve retired early as millionaires because they were financially prudent and I’ve met people who’re in their 30s still paying student loans with next to no money in their name.

Why I do what I do

No one ever guided me – sure my parents are financially well educated but how often do children ever learn/listen to parents. We learn from experiences and mistakes. I learnt from experience how important it was to build a diversified credit portfolio because when I went in the market to buy a car or a house or take out a loan towards purchase of one, it matters. When I ran into an issue which wasn’t included in my insurance, I was covered thanks to the cash-back I never cashed out from my credit cards.

My experiences provide teachings not just to me but all the people I share them with and I hope others don’t face loses that ruins them either today or puts them on a path headed there.

Advice isn’t free always, it comes at a cost. In my case it’s my time, dedication and determination to do whatever I can to help my readers achieve the best in their lives and that ground work started on 28th November when I started this website.

Everyone should be like me – NO

Each and everyone of us is different and have different priorities in life. Do what’s best for you but also consider the advice you get along the way. Listen to a 1000 people but do what you feel is right for you and stick by that decision.

I am not here to profit off of this because frankly, my time is worth a lot more than a referral or two, but those help me support not just pay for the website, but also enable me to give back to you as readers through give-aways and put me in a position to write more about my experiences in life.

I’ll leave you all with one peace of advice which I follow on a daily basis. Don’t owe people anything or put yourself in a slave like position that you regret for life. Live life the way you want to but plan for the future today.