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When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Go to Vegas, Baby! By guest blogger Katie Miller

My daddy always told me that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.  I don’t know if he’s a little less trusting than me because he lives on the East Coast and I grew up in the South, or because with age comes wisdom.  It’s probably a little bit of both.  I mean really, who’s going to give you something for nothing?  I get that.  It makes sense.  There is always some string attached.

Case in point:  the book club that really, really wants to send you four books for a dollar.  Just select your favorites, sign on the dotted line and hand over your credit card information.  Voila!  It’s that easy to receive four books that you never knew you wanted.  And guess what?  You’re stuck for the next year!  You are now contractually obligated to buy, and pay exorbitant shipping and handling on, a dozen books that you will never, ever get around to reading and could have checked out at the library for free.

So I should have seen it coming.  Me, a person that was raised in the ‘There’s-No-Free-Lunch’ school of thought, should have seen it coming.  But I didn’t…and because I didn’t…I’m going to VEGAS, baby!

How completely fantastic is that?  I’ve never been before, and I am so thrilled I can hardly stand it!  Three days and two nights in the fabulous wonderland of Las Vegas!  Casinos, shows, pools, spa treatments!

…all for the low, low cost of $54,717!

Yep.  Really.  $54,717.  It’s not a typo.  This should so be a completely amazing vacation!  Lifestyles of the rich and famous without the paparazzi!  Hanging out with Britney and Paris behind the velvet ropes in VIP rooms at clubs I’ve never even dared to dream about!

Or maybe not…

…because you see, this trip is being paid for with credit card reward points.  You know, those reward points that the credit card companies dole out when you use their card.  Spend a dollar, get a point.  What a deal!  It’s a privilege to be platinum, isn’t it?  Aren’t I lucky to have such a card?  A wonderful, little indestructible thing that fits right into my wallet and can buy me my heart’s desire any minute of the day or night.  And right now, that plastic is getting me a free trip to Las Vegas.  Not the penthouse suite, but an economy room and a coach seat.  All because I charged $54,717 using my handy dandy little credit card.

…and all I can think is:  Good Lord!  You have got to be kidding me!  I spent enough money on that credit card to buy a big-ass SUV and the gas to go with it, and all I’m getting in return is a chintzy trip to Las Vegas?  The suggested retail value of which is $410.38?

It makes my head spin and my stomach sink!  I could have saved that money!  I could have taken my entire family of seven to Disney World for a month with what was charged on that credit card!  I could have granite counter tops, stainless appliances, travertine floors!  A total kitchen remodel!  I could have sent my kids to university!  I could have $54,717 in a savings account backed by the FDIC!  I could be earning interest!  Egads!

How could I have fallen for something like that?  Because I wanted to believe, damn it!  In Santa Claus, in Lady Luck, in leprechauns and pots of gold, in the magical money tree.  In rewards and free trips.  In you can have your cake and eat it, too.  In a free lunch.  Does life always have to be so real?

So here I am, headed to Las Vegas — the land of make-believe and high rollers.  I may not come home any richer…but I will be going there a little wiser.  And who knows?  When I pick up my hand at the Blackjack table and place my bet, maybe Lady Luck will smile down on me after all.  Wouldn’t that be something?