It’s always a delightful surprise meeting folks who have never ventured into the world of credit card points, happily swiping their trusty debit card for every single purchase. It’s like discovering a hidden land where points aren’t a currency! On the flip side, chatting with fellow “Points Game” enthusiasts is equally thrilling—whether we’re comparing playbooks or debating the superiority of our strategies.
Take my recent trip to Los Angeles: six of us were deep in a credit card chat, and only two of us had moved beyond debit cards. The rest were stunned when we shared how many points we’d racked up, leading to a lively debate about strategies and our favorite vendors—American Express or Chase!
And that, my friends, inevitably leads to THE question: “What’s in your wallet?”—a conversation starter I’m always ready for. Let’s just say, my wallet’s not just for carrying cash—it’s a gateway to a world of points-fueled possibilities!
American Express Platinum
The American Express Platinum is not the card I use for everyday purchases, however it is one that I will always have in my wallet. The American Express Platinum earns you 5X points on all travel booked through amextravel.com or the airline directly, a $200 airline incidental credit, access to the Delta SkyClub, access to the American Express Centurion Lounges, Hilton Honors Gold status, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, National Rental Car Executive status, $100 a year to Saks Fifth Avenue, and a $120 Uber/Uber Eats Credit. Within the last month I have used this card to save over $100 a night via an upgrade to a suite for a business trip, spent numerous hours in airport lounges, received an upgrade to a large SUV with National Rental Car, and purchased a few kitchen utensils using the Saks Fifth Avenue Credit. On average this card saves me well north of $1,000 a year before using the Saks and Uber credits, easily offsetting the $695 annual fee and making this a card worth keeping.
Right now American Express is offering 175,000 American Express Membership Reward points by using this link when you spend $8,000 in the first six months… this is easily worth $800 and could be worth up to $1,600 or more depending on what you use your points for!
American Express Gold
The American Express Gold is the card that I use the most due to its 4X points on grocery/dining and 1X points on everything else. Keep in mind that if you have multiple American Express cards, all of the Membership Reward points are pooled into your account so it is best to diversify your strategy to maximize point values. The American Express Gold is currently offering a 60,000 Membership Rewards point bonus when you use the referral link above(worth $600 or more)! This card is another keeper card of mine that offers 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants and grocery stores, 3X points on travel, and 1x point on everything else. Although the American Express Gold has a $295 annual fee, the average American household will earn enough points from grocery stores alone to cover the annual fee for several years. Combine the modifiers above with the $120 Uber Eats credit annually and you have the card that I pull out of my wallet the most!
American Express Hilton Aspire
The American Express Hilton Aspire honestly pays for itself in credits and free nights alone. Along with instant Hilton Diamond status, the American Express Hilton Aspire comes with a $250 airline incidental credit, a free night annually, plus a 175K point sign up bonus by using this link, worth $900. Hilton Diamond status has been crucial to me getting suite upgrades and last minute reservations for my trips. On our previous trip to Maine, we were able to get upgrades for 4 out of the 5 hotels we stayed in, including upgrades for our grandparents room. Stay tuned for a future post on how to maximize your incidental credit on Delta!
Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is my catch all for establishments that don’t accept American Express. The Chase Freedom Unlimited will earn you a $200 sign up bonus using this link, as well as 5% back at grocery stores(including Target and Walmart up to $600 cash back), 3% back for dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases. I personally believe that paying annual fees for the cards above is offset by the rewards and earning, however if you are looking for a no annual fee card, this is the best!
I actually have several more credit cards than the ones listed above, however I rarely ever use them. What cards do you currently have? Are there any cards you are considering? Leave a comment below with any questions or if you want to devise a credit card strategy!
The Points Authority: Mastering The Points Game 