$78,000 salary, 30 credit cards, over 1 million points: How a 33-year-old social worker hacks finances with just his memory?

Time of India

22-05-2025

In a modest townhouse in
Riviera Beach
, Florida, a quiet revolution in
travel hacking
is unfolding.
David Do
, a 33-year-old
social worker
earning $78,000 a year, has racked up over a million credit card points—not with spreadsheets or a financial advisor's playbook, but with intuition, memory, and a deeply personal mission to live well, travel far, and spend smart.
While others hoard air miles like heirlooms or consult Excel sheets like sacred texts, Do keeps his arsenal of 30 credit cards tucked in plastic sleeves inside a binder—an homage to childhood Pokémon binders, perhaps, but with much higher stakes. Each month, he doesn't just juggle due dates and rewards categories; he orchestrates them.
'I don't use spreadsheets. I go by memory,' Do told
CNBC Make It
, as casually as someone might remember their coffee order. And yet, since 2017, this casual approach has bought him travel across 33 countries and counting, all while remaining debt-free.
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Raised on Frugality, Driven by Memory
Do's mastery over his financial life doesn't come from an MBA or a course on personal finance—it's rooted in his upbringing. His parents, Vietnamese refugees, modeled frugality as a way of life. Dining out was rare, wants were weighed against needs, and every purchase was questioned.
'They were always like, 'We can't afford that right now,'' Do recalls. 'But they were being smart. They always lived below their means.' That mindset became his own financial compass—one that helped him graduate from college with minimal debt and start life without the burden of lifestyle inflation.
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Do's mastery over his financial life doesn't come from an MBA or a course on personal finance—it's rooted in his upbringing.
From Grief to Purpose: A Career Forged in Compassion
Do's journey hasn't been without hardship. Toward the end of college, his brother passed away—a loss that shook his sense of direction. He moved back home to West Palm Beach, finding refuge with his family and eventually enrolling in a master's program in social work.
After accumulating around $50,000 in student loans, he set a goal: repay them fast, invest wisely, and live on less. By 2020, just five years out of undergrad, he had wiped out his debt entirely.
In 2021, he bought a $182,000 townhouse with a modest 3% down payment—timed just right to benefit from historically low interest rates. His mortgage, insurance, and HOA fees now total around $1,875 a month. For South Florida, that's a steal.
The Art of the Swipe: How Do Plays the Credit Card Game
Dining out in March? That went on a Discover card with 5% cash back. Train tickets? A travel card from Capital One. Amazon shopping? Swiped on a Chase Amazon Prime card. This is Do's subtle genius—he knows the reward structures of each of his 30 credit cards like a second language, using them not just for purchases, but for leverage.
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'I time new cards with big expenses,' he explains. 'If I know I have to pay for car insurance or taxes, I'll sign up for a card that offers a big bonus.'
These carefully choreographed decisions are what led to his over one million
credit card points
. And he isn't hoarding them in hopes of first-class champagne or hotel penthouses. Do travels budget—economy class, modest stays, and calculated redemptions. It's not just about indulgence. It's about experience.
'My goal is to hit 35 countries by the time I'm 35,' he says. His next adventure? A jaunt through Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia—a route that reads more like an Instagram travel influencer's dream than that of a soft-spoken social worker from Florida.
Living Modestly, Dreaming Big
In March 2025, Do's budget tells the story of a man who knows how to spend without excess. From investing nearly $1,000 into his 401(k) to managing healthcare costs for both himself and his mother, every dollar seems to serve a purpose.
And yet, there's still space for pleasure—almost $900 went toward entertainment and tax prep, and nearly the same amount was spent on food, mostly dining out. But even in indulgence, Do ensures his money works for him.
With about $250,000 saved across investment and cash accounts, Do is working toward a unique version of
financial independence
known as 'Coast FIRE'—where enough is saved that, with compound growth, he could theoretically retire on schedule even if he slows his work pace in the coming years.
A Million Points, and a Life in Balance
David Do's story isn't just about free flights or clever swiping. It's about carving a life of freedom and fulfillment within the constraints of an average salary. In an age where debt is common and travel often feels out of reach, Do is a rare figure: someone who has mastered the system without letting it master him.
'I want to contribute as much as I can to retirement, but also live a fulfilling life,' he says. 'And with my job being flexible, I think it's giving me that opportunity.'
Indeed, for a man who trades points for plane tickets and spreadsheets for instinct, it seems that fulfillment is just another carefully plotted journey—one reward point at a time.