Since I was 18 years, I’ve opened nearly 20 credit cards. That might sound crazy to a lot of people, but I’ve racked up millions of points, flown in some of the best airplane seats in the world and visited bucket list destinations. All of this, thanks to learning how to maximize credit card points. Of course, I don’t carry that many credit cards in my wallet, and I’ve closed down a few accounts over the years.
It’s also important to note that I’ve had a small business since I was 18, which means that I’ve always qualified for both personal and business credit cards, allowing me to rack up all sorts of credit card points a bit quicker.
Pro Tip: If you are a small business owner, you qualify for a business credit card. You may not even know that you are a small business owner. For example, if you are a freelancer, or if you buy and sell goods online, such as on eBay or Facebook marketplace, you can qualify for a business credit card. It doesn’t matter how big or small your business is, just be truthful on your credit card application.
I Only Carry 3 Credit Cards in my Wallet
Even though I have over 10 credit cards actively open, I only ever carry three credit cards with me. Over the years, and even every quarter, this changes quickly dependent on my goals, as well as bonus categories. These are the top travel credit cards that I carry in my wallet everyday.
Everyday Spender: Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X credit card is my everyday spender. I’ve had the card for a while now and I keep it consistently in my wallet due to the fact that I earn 2x miles on every purchase that I make.
- Annual Fee: $395
- Travel Credit: $300
- Bonus Categories: 2x Miles on Every Dollar
- Lounge Access: Capital One’s Lounge Network + Priority Pass
Dining & Going Out: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is my go to credit card anytime that I am purchasing food or drinks from restaurants and bars. This is the number one starter travel card I typically recommend to most people.
- Annual Fee: $95
- Travel Credit: $50 on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel
- Bonus Categories: 3x Points on Dining, 2x Points on Travel, 3x Points on Online Grocery Purchases (excludes Target, Walmart, & wholesale clubs), 3x Points on Select Streaming Services
- Additional: Get 25% More Value when Booking through Chase Travel
- There is no lounge access with this credit card
Rotating Categories: Chase Freedom Flex
The Chase Freedom Flex is a great credit card with rotating categories on bonus spend dependent on the quarter. This is a credit card I keep in my wallet in case there is a bonus spend for a particular quarter.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Bonus Categories: 5% cash back on on bonus categories. Q2 2024 consists of Amazon, Hotels, and Restaurants. You also consistently earn 3% cash back on drugstores and dining.
- Opt for Points: With a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, cash back can be converted to Ultimate Rewards Points.
Other Credit Cards I Keep Close By
While these three credit cards I carry pretty much consistently in my wallet. There are a couple others that are always close by, especially for specific use cases. The other two that I always swap out for, include the American Express Platinum Card, along with the Bilt Mastercard.
I used to carry the American Express Gold Card, but since I pay close to $2,000 every year in annual fees between all of my credit cards, I recently closed this one out. However, this is still a credit card that I recommend to many people, especially if you are heavier in the AMEX eco-system compared to Chase.
