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Miles and Points Programs to Supplement Income!
In Brazil in 2025, where the cost of living is rising faster than starting salaries, young people between the ages of 18 and 30 are rewriting the rules of personal finance.
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income in creative ways, transforming everyday purchases into valuable assets that finance travel, studies, or even investments.
This isn't luck, but strategy: accumulating points on delivery apps or credit cards becomes a subtle yet powerful financial safety net.
A survey by ABEMF reveals that 881% of Brazilians participate in at least one loyalty program, with redemptions that directly impact the family budget.
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Keep reading!
What are Miles and Points Programs and Why Do They Matter to Young People?
Frequent flyer and loyalty programs are digital ecosystems where routine actions – such as grocery shopping or ride-sharing apps – generate rewards that can be converted into tangible benefits.
In the Brazilian context, these include giants like Smiles from Gol, LATAM Pass, or Livelo, which integrate credit cards, e-commerce, and partnerships with retailers.
See also: When is a Loan Financially Smart? 7 Scenarios Where Credit Makes Sense
Therefore, for young people, these systems represent an invisible lever: accumulate without extra effort and withdraw to alleviate financial pressures.
Furthermore, the concept goes beyond free flights; points can be converted into cashback, vouchers, or even cryptocurrencies on modern platforms.
This democratizes access to "luxuries" like a trip to the Northeast of Brazil, without having to spend a small amount of an intern's meager salary.
Consequently, what was once seen as an executive perk becomes a survival tool for those entering the job market with student debt.
Furthermore, in 2025, with inflation hovering around 4.5%, these programs inject efficiency into the youth budget, where every real counts.
They promote conscious consumption habits, rewarding loyalty instead of impulse buying.
Therefore, understanding its mechanics is not optional – it's the first step to turning the economic game around.
How are young Brazilians accumulating these points on a daily basis?
Accumulating points starts with small choices: opt for a credit card that earns 2 points for every real spent on delivery, and a weekly Uber ride can turn into miles for a weekend in São Paulo.
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income by joining apps like iFood or Rappi, which reward recurring orders.
Therefore, what seems like a trivial expense is transformed into a stock of value, accumulating without pause.
Moreover, social media accelerates this: influencers teach how to "churn" credit cards, transferring points between programs like TudoAzul and Esfera to maximize yields.
A breakfast at Starbucks earns you points in the Santander AAdvantage program, which can then be used for discounts on electronics.
However, the intelligence lies in automation – set up alerts for seasonal promotions, such as the 50% bonus on Black Friday.
Finally, gamification comes into play: apps like Méliuz or Ame Digital transform purchases into missions, with badges that unlock multipliers.
This engages the young mind, addicted to the dopamine of social media, but with real returns.
In this way, daily accumulation doesn't drain energy – it multiplies it, paving the way for passive income.
What Smart Strategies Turn Points into Real Extra Income?
The key is strategic conversion: exchange miles for fuel vouchers at Shell Box, saving R$ 200 per month on transportation.
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income by reselling redemptions, such as concert tickets, via Mercado Livre.
Therefore, an unused ticket becomes 30% profit when listed in Facebook groups.
Furthermore, cross-sector partnerships are invaluable: accumulate points in the Latam Pass program through purchases on Amazon and redeem them for online courses on Coursera, enhancing your skills at no cost.
This argues against wasting resources – unused points expire, but when converted into education, they generate future income.
However, diversify: 40% on travel, 30% on cashback, 30% on taxable donations for income tax deduction.
Finally, tools like the Pontos Brasil app track balances across multiple programs, optimizing redemptions.
Imagine selling accumulated miles from corporate travel (legal, via declaration) to specialized agencies.
Therefore, what starts as a hobby becomes a sustainable side hustle, proving that strategy beats volume.
Think of points as seeds in an urban garden: plant them with routine purchases, water them with promotions, and harvest fruits like a trip that would cost R$ 1,500 but is free – isn't that a harvest any young person can cultivate?
Why is this approach more effective for Generation Z and Millennials?
Generation Z, digital natives, navigates these programs with a fluidity that baby boomers would envy, integrating points APIs with wallets like PicPay.
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income because their lives are fragmented: freelance work, remote studies, and gigs demand financial flexibility.
Thus, points fill gaps where fixed salaries fall short, offering immediate liquidity.
Furthermore, data from ABEMF shows that 88% of participants redeemed benefits in 2025, with young people leading in transaction volume – more than 12 million in Q2.
This reflects a growth mindset: instead of saving the impossible, they hack the consumer system.
However, the real power lies online: communities on Reddit or Telegram share hacks, such as exclusive bonuses for those under 30.
On the other hand, millennials, with fledgling families, use points for family leeway – supermarket redemptions ease the burden of end-of-year dinners.
This tactic argues for empowerment: in a country where 311 out of 16+ seek extra income, points are the affordable, low-hanging fruit.
Consequently, she builds personal equity, where each rescue is a brick in the road to independence.
How to Avoid Common Pitfalls When Using Miles to Make Money?
Expiration is the silent villain: many lose billions in unredeemed points annually, so set alerts for expiration dates.
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income, but only if they monitor hidden conversion fees in transfers.
Therefore, compare yields – Smiles can yield 1.2 cents per mile, while Livelo reaches 1.5 cents in promotions.
Furthermore, avoid overcommitting: save without exceeding your budget, using tools like the Brazilian Mint app to track your spending.
This prevents debt disguised as "points investment".
However, declare sales of miles on your income tax return if you exceed R$ 35,000/year, consulting the... Federal Revenue.
Finally, diversify sources to mitigate blackouts, such as the Gol app outages in 2025.
Choose programs with 24/7 support and rollover policies.
In this way, what could be a loss becomes a lesson, strengthening the financial journey.
| Main Popular Points Programs in Brazil (2025) | Average Accumulation per Purchase (R$1 spent) | Best Rescues for Young People | Cash Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smiles (Gol) | 1-2 miles | Domestic flights | 1 cent/mile |
| LATAM Pass | 1.5-2.5 points | Hotels and car rentals | 0.8-1.2 cents |
| Livelo | 2-3 points | Amazon Products | Up to 1.5 cents |
| TudoAzul (Azul) | 1-2 miles | Electronics Magazine Luiza | 1 cent/mile |
| Sphere (Santander) | 1.5-2 points | Cashback on accounts | 1-1.3 cents |
What real-world examples demonstrate the potential of this method?
Meet Ana, 24, a freelance designer in Recife: she earns 5,000 points monthly via her Nubank Livelo card for freelance work paid through Pix conversion.
By redeeming fuel vouchers, he saves R$ 150/month on customer travel, which he reinvests in UX courses on Udemy.
This cycle – income points turning into upskills – doubled his hourly rate in six months, without a single extra penny from his pocket.
Another example is Pedro, 28, an analyst in São Paulo: he uses Méliuz for cashback on grocery purchases, converting R$ 300 annually into TudoAzul miles.
These miles fund a monthly trip to Campinas for networking, where he forged partnerships that earned him an extra R$ 2,000.
Their tactic? Tracking apps for promotions, proving that points don't replace salary, but amplify opportunities.
These accounts illustrate agency: Ana hacked fixed expenses, Pedro expanded his professional network.
Both argue that, by 2025, points are the silent multiplier for overburdened youth.
Therefore, the potential lies in customized execution, not in generic formulas.
| Advantages and Challenges of Using Points for Extra Income | Advantages | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Flexibility | Fast redemptions without bureaucracy. | Points expire if inactive. |
| Savings in Daily Costs | Up to 20% return on purchases | Rates in international conversions |
| Developing Smart Habits | Learn about finance for free. | Overloading apps to manage |
| Networking Opportunities | Cheap trips to events | Dependence on volatile promotions |
| Positive Tax Impact | Discounts on donations | Mandatory declaration for high sales |
Miles and Points Programs to Supplement Income: Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| Can I legally sell my accumulated miles? | Yes, through authorized agencies, but declare it on your income tax return if you exceed limits; avoid informal websites to avoid falling victim to fraud. |
| What is the best credit card for young people in 2025? | Nubank Ultraviolet or Inter Gold, with yields of 2-3 points per real and zero annual fees for starters. |
| How long does it take to accumulate a ticket? | 20-40 thousand points for a domestic round trip, feasible in 3-6 months with average monthly expenses of R$ 2 thousand. |
| Do reward programs expire points? How can I avoid this? | Yes, generally in 2-3 years; activate rollover or partial redemption to maintain an active balance. |
| Does this work for people with low incomes? | Absolutely – focus on daily cashback; 881% of Brazilians use it, regardless of salary. |
| Does it integrate with crypto or investments? | Yes, Livelo allows exchanges for Bitcoin via partners, but be aware of the volatility. |
| Are there risks of redemptions being cancelled? | Rare programs, but read the terms; prioritize programs with a solid track record like Smiles. |
Young Brazilians are using miles and points programs to supplement their income not because it's trendy, but out of shrewd necessity in uncertain times.
With discipline, this becomes leverage for financial freedom, where each point is a vote of confidence in your future.
In 2025, why not be the architect of your own economic buffer?
To delve deeper, explore the ABEMF research on the use of programs in 2025check out the best cards for accumulating points, or learn to Avoiding mileage scams.
