Credit cards
Updated March 2026

The Cards in Our Wallet

These are the cards we actually carry and use every day. The Amex trifecta is our core strategy — we also list strong alternatives if the Amex ecosystem isn't your thing.

Quick Comparison

CardBonusAnnual FeeBest ForRating
American Express Platinum80,000Membership$695Our Travel Workhorse4.8/5
American Express Gold60,000Membership$250Our Everyday Earner4.7/5
Amex Business Gold70,000Membership$375Our Business Multiplier4.5/5
Chase Sapphire Preferred75,000Ultimate$95Best Starter Card4.6/5
Capital One Venture X75,000miles$395Best Premium Alternative4.7/5

Amex

**** **** **** 4821

American Express Platinum

4.8/ 5.0
Our Travel WorkhorseIn Our Wallet

American Express Platinum

Welcome Bonus

80,000

Membership Rewards points

Annual Fee

$695

Point Value

~2.0¢ per point

Earning Rates

5xFlights (booked direct)
5xHotels (Amex Travel)
1xEverything Else

Pros

  • Centurion Lounge access + Priority Pass
  • $200 airline fee credit + $200 hotel credit
  • $200 Uber Cash + $155 Walmart+ credit
  • 5x on flights booked directly with airlines
  • Hilton Gold + Marriott Gold elite status

Cons

  • High annual fee ($695) — you need to use the credits
  • Only 1x on most non-travel spending
  • Credits require some effort to maximize

Our Verdict

This is the card that goes everywhere with us. Every flight, every hotel booking — 5x points. The annual fee is steep on paper, but between the airline credit, hotel credit, Uber Cash, and lounge access, we come out well ahead. It's the backbone of our points strategy.

Apply for American Express Platinum

Amex

**** **** **** 4821

American Express Gold

4.7/ 5.0
Our Everyday EarnerIn Our Wallet

American Express Gold

Welcome Bonus

60,000

Membership Rewards points

Annual Fee

$250

Point Value

~2.0¢ per point

Earning Rates

4xRestaurants
4xU.S. Supermarkets
3xFlights (booked direct)
1xEverything Else

Pros

  • 4x on restaurants worldwide — best dining earn rate
  • 4x on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/yr)
  • $120 dining credit + $120 Uber Cash annually
  • Points pool with Platinum into one MR balance
  • Beautiful rose gold metal card

Cons

  • No lounge access
  • U.S. supermarket cap at $25K/year
  • Some merchants don't accept Amex

Our Verdict

This card earns more points on daily spending than anything else in our wallet. Every restaurant, every grocery run, every food delivery — 4x. Those points pool with the Platinum, so they all funnel into the same travel fund. It's the quiet workhorse that makes the big trips possible.

Apply for American Express Gold

Amex

**** **** **** 4821

Amex Business Gold

4.5/ 5.0
Our Business MultiplierIn Our Wallet

Amex Business Gold

Welcome Bonus

70,000

Membership Rewards points

Annual Fee

$375

Point Value

~2.0¢ per point

Earning Rates

4xTop 2 Categories
4x(Auto-detected monthly)
1xEverything Else

Pros

  • 4x on your top 2 spending categories each month (auto-detected)
  • Points pool with personal Amex MR cards
  • Flexible spending categories adapt to your business
  • No preset spending limit
  • Strong welcome bonus

Cons

  • Requires a business (sole proprietorship counts)
  • 4x capped at $150K/year in combined purchases
  • No lounge access

Our Verdict

The third piece of our Amex trifecta. Business expenses that don't fall into travel or food categories still earn 4x through this card's auto-detected top categories. All the points flow into the same MR pool. If you have any kind of business — even freelance or side hustle — this card is a no-brainer addition.

Apply for Amex Business Gold

Chase

**** **** **** 4821

Chase Sapphire Preferred

4.6/ 5.0
Best Starter Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Welcome Bonus

75,000

Ultimate Rewards points

Annual Fee

$95

Point Value

~2.0¢ per point

Earning Rates

5xTravel
3xDining
3xOnline Grocery
1xEverything Else

Pros

  • Low annual fee for premium transfer partners
  • 75,000 point bonus worth ~$1,500 in travel
  • Points transfer to Hyatt, United, Southwest & more
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Primary car rental insurance

Cons

  • No airport lounge access
  • Lower earn rates than premium cards

Our Verdict

If you're not ready to commit to the Amex ecosystem, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best entry point into travel rewards. The $95 fee is easy to justify, and Chase's transfer partners (especially Hyatt) punch way above their weight.

Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred

Capital One

**** **** **** 4821

Capital One Venture X

4.7/ 5.0
Best Premium Alternative

Capital One Venture X

Welcome Bonus

75,000

miles

Annual Fee

$395

Point Value

~1.7¢ per mile

Earning Rates

10xHotels & Rental Cars (Cap1)
5xFlights (Cap1)
2xEverything Else

Pros

  • $300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel
  • 10,000 bonus miles every anniversary
  • Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges
  • 2x on EVERYTHING — no category tracking
  • Effective annual fee: ~$95 after credits

Cons

  • Transfer partners slightly less valuable than Amex
  • Must book through Capital One portal for bonus rates

Our Verdict

If you want a simpler setup than the Amex trifecta, the Venture X is arguably the best single premium card on the market. 2x on everything, great lounges, and an effective annual fee around $95 after credits. It's the best "one card to rule them all" option.

Apply for Capital One Venture X

Not Sure Where to Start?

Our beginner's guide walks you through the strategy step by step — which card to get first, how to maximize everyday spending, and how to actually use the points.

Read the Beginner's Guide