[IMG_1178 copy]Andy Hill * ANDY AND NICOLE HILL, A COUPLE FROM MICHIGAN WITH TWO CHILDREN, TOOK THEIR FAMILY TO AN ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT IN SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, MEXICO, FOR FIVE NIGHTS AND SIX DAYS. * THE TRIP COST THEM JUST $329 DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY SPENT 10 MONTHS COLLECTING NEARLY $6,000 WORTH OF CREDIT CARD POINTS. * Andy and Nicole have always been smart spenders and savers. In fact, Andy has his own blog and podcast where he discusses — along with other topics — strategies for saving money and building wealth. * VISIT BUSINESS INSIDER'S HOMEPAGE FOR MORE STORIES. In 2018, Andy Hill and his wife Nicole took their two children to an all-inclusive resort in San José del Cabo, Mexico for five nights and six days. Though the trip was valued at around $6,000, the Michigan family spent just $329 on the entire vacation — food, flights, hotel, and a spa day included. Andy and Nicole have always been smart spenders and savers. In fact, Andy has his own blog and podcast where he discusses — along with other topics — strategies for saving money and building wealth. In order to plan a memorable vacation without dishing out thousands of dollars, the couple dove into the world of credit card points. Keep reading for a breakdown that shows how, exactly, they did it. WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL FINANCES, ANDY AND NICOLE ARE NO STRANGERS TO NUMBER CRUNCHING. Courtesy of Andy Hill In 2013, the couple bought a $350,000, four-bedroom house by putting down $155,000 and taking out a $195,000 mortgage. At the time, Andy was (and still is) a sales director. Nicole became a stay-at-home parent shortly after the moved. Andy told Business Insider that while they settled on a 15-year mortgage with a 3% interest rate, they set a goal to pay the whole thing off in less than five years. By increasing their income, decreasing their expenses, staying organized, and cutting down on non-essential spending, they were able to pay it off in just under four years. AFTER SUCCESSFULLY PAYING OFF THEIR NEARLY $200,000 MORTGAGE IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS, THE COUPLE DECIDED TO GO ON THEIR FIRST FAMILY VACATION. Courtesy of Andy Hill The couple and their two children went to an all-inclusive resort in San José del Cabo, Mexico, for five nights and six days. "The kids played all day with us in the family-friendly pool and met new friends in the kid's club. Nicole and I enjoyed exercising in the fitness center in the mornings, laying out in the pool cabanas during the day and eating at a different on-campus restaurant each night. We didn't even care if the kids ate all of their food because it was all-inclusive," Andy wrote in a blog post. THE FAMILY STAYED AT THE PARADISUS LOS CABOS, WHERE RATES START AT $314 PER NIGHT. IF THEY'D TAKEN A LESS SAVINGS-ORIENTED APPROACH TO THE TRIP, THEIR FIVE-NIGHT STAY ALONE COULD HAVE COST AROUND $1,570. BUT INSTEAD, THE ENTIRE TRIP COST THEM JUST $329. wwing/Getty Images The expenses, Andy told Business Insider, were divided three ways: * $125 for tips * $95 to pay an annual credit card fee * $109 for food during travel days SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * I visited the glittering Greek island of Mykonos, the summer destination of choice for billionaires — and it's a very different experience if you aren't swimming in money * A hedge-fund exec just dropped $95 million on a Billionaires' Row penthouse in NYC. Here are the other wealthy buyers in the building, from Ken Griffin to a Brazilian heiress. * Meet Tadashi Yanai, the richest person in Japan and the founder of Uniqlo, who's worth $31 billion and owns 2 golf courses in Hawaii SEE ALSO: A MICHIGAN COUPLE PAID OFF THEIR $200,000 MORTGAGE IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS ON A COMBINED SALARY OF $150,000. HERE'S HOW THEY DID IT — AND THEIR TIPS FOR ANYONE TRYING TO DO THE SAME. DON'T MISS: 11 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR 20S TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE BY 30
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