Loyalty mechanics
Rewards, ownership, and loyalty
Compare miles, brand currencies, bearer assets, and the mechanics behind rewards that expire versus rewards you own.
Do airline miles expire?
Some airline miles never expire; others lapse after months of inactivity — and policies change. How to check your program's rules and keep miles alive.
Which loyalty programs expire your points? The category patterns
Expiration windows follow patterns by category — coffee, hotels, airlines, retail, credit cards. How each category typically works and how to check yours.
You track sleep, steps, and macros — the case for tracking everything you consume
The quantified-self movement stopped at the gym door. The case for extending awareness tracking to everything you consume — and doing it for you, not an app.
What is a bearer asset?
A bearer asset belongs to whoever holds it — no registry, no issuer permission, no revoke button. Cash, gold, Bitcoin: the concept explained simply.
Why brands pay rewards in their own currency
When a reward is paid in a brand's own currency, the brand sets its value, where it spends, and when it expires. The structural economics, calmly explained.