Credit cards, the lazy way
Are credit cards evil? Nope. Pay the whole bill every month and they're a tool you point at what you want: a free trip, cash back, a few hotel nights. Carry a balance and they'll eat you alive.
One good card is plenty for most people. - Oliver
What a sign-up bonus is actually worth
Open a card, spend $5,000 on things you'd buy anyway in 3 months, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred gives you 75,000 points. Here's that next to its $95 fee.
Why 1.35 cents a point? Here's a real flight:
SFONew York (JFK)
How we value a point
Published values for Chase points run from 1.4 cents (NerdWallet, 2026-10-13) to 2.05 (The Points Guy, 2026-10-01). Those lean on business-class seats most people never book, so we use what an ordinary economy seat actually got: the flight above, rounded down. Odds are you'll beat our number.
Cash back is always worth 1 cent a point, so that's the floor if you never travel.
Which card should you get?
Pay the balance off first. The average card charging interest costs 22.36% a year (Federal Reserve, August 2026). That's about $1,118 a year on a $5,000 balance, more than the whole Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus is worth. How to pay it down.
Get the Sapphire Preferred, set autopay for the full balance, and use it for everything. Done.
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Bonus
- 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months, worth about $1,013
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 3x dining, gas and streaming, 2x travel, 1x everything else
The one card I'd give anyone. A $95 fee, and its points move to airlines and hotels like JetBlue, United and Hyatt.
Apply at Chase My referral link. I get rewarded if you're approved through it.
Same card. Chase points move to airlines and hotels like JetBlue, United and Hyatt, so they work for almost any trip.
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Bonus
- 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months, worth about $1,013
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 3x dining, gas and streaming, 2x travel, 1x everything else
The one card I'd give anyone. A $95 fee, and its points move to airlines and hotels like JetBlue, United and Hyatt.
Apply at Chase My referral link. I get rewarded if you're approved through it.
Skip the points game. A flat 2% card with no fee is the whole answer.
-
Citi Double Cash
- Bonus
- $200 after $1,500 in 6 months, worth about $200
- Annual fee
- $0
- Earns
- 2% on everything
No fee, no categories, nothing to track. Every dollar gets 2 cents back.
Apply at Citi No referral. I get nothing from this link.
Open these in order, a few months apart, and hit each spend before the next. Chase goes first because of its 5/24 rule (below). Plan on a few hours a year to track deadlines and fees, and check the rules before each one.
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Bonus
- 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months, worth about $1,013
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 3x dining, gas and streaming, 2x travel, 1x everything else
The one card I'd give anyone. A $95 fee, and its points move to airlines and hotels like JetBlue, United and Hyatt.
Apply at Chase My referral link. I get rewarded if you're approved through it. -
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Bonus
- $200 after $500 in 3 months, worth about $200
- Annual fee
- $0
- Earns
- 3% dining and drugstores, 1.5% everything else
No fee. Next to a Sapphire, its cash back moves over as Sapphire points, so the 1.5% becomes travel points.
Apply at Chase No referral. I get nothing from this link. -
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
- Bonus
- 3 free nights (up to 50,000 points each) after $3,000 in 3 months, worth up to $1,050
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 6x at Marriott, 3x grocery, gas and dining, 2x everything else
If you stay at Marriotts. 6x points at their hotels, and the 3 free nights come quickly.
Apply at Chase My referral link. I get rewarded if you're approved through it. -
American Express Gold
- Bonus
- As high as 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months, worth up to $1,050
- Annual fee
- $325
- Earns
- 4x dining and US groceries, 3x flights, 1x everything else
For big restaurant and grocery spenders. Amex shows each person their own offer, so yours may be lower.
Apply at Amex No referral. I get nothing from this link. -
Citi Strata Premier
- Bonus
- 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months, worth about $720
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 3x flights, hotels, dining, groceries and gas, 1x everything else
A $95 travel card from a third bank, for after your Chase and Amex picks.
Apply at Citi No referral. I get nothing from this link. -
Capital One Venture
- Bonus
- 75,000 miles after $4,000 in 3 months, worth about $975
- Annual fee
- $95
- Earns
- 2x everything, 5x hotels and cars booked through Capital One
A $95 travel card from a different bank, and 2x on everything is easy.
Apply at Capital One No referral. I get nothing from this link.
Current offers worth a look
32 cards, each checked against the issuer's own page. Offers change often, so check before you apply.
| Card | Bonus | Worth about | Annual fee | Year one, after fee | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel points | |||||
| Chase Sapphire Preferred (my referral)3x dining, gas and streaming, 2x travel, 1x everything else | 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months | $1,013 | $95 | $918 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| American Express Gold4x dining and US groceries, 3x flights, 1x everything else | As high as 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months | up to $1,050 | $325 | up to $725 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Capital One Venture2x everything, 5x hotels and cars booked through Capital One | 75,000 miles after $4,000 in 3 months | $975 | $95 | $880 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Citi Strata Premier3x flights, hotels, dining, groceries and gas, 1x everything else | 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months | $720 | $95 | $625 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve (my referral)8x Chase Travel, 4x flights and hotels booked direct, 3x dining, 1x everything else | 100,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months | $1,350 | $795 | $555 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| American Express Platinum5x flights and prepaid hotels, 1x everything else | As high as 175,000 points after $12,000 in 6 months | up to $1,838 | $895 | up to $943 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Capital One Venture X2x everything, 10x hotels and cars booked through Capital One | 75,000 miles after $4,000 in 3 months | $975 | $395 | $580 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Hotels | |||||
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless (my referral)6x at Marriott, 3x grocery, gas and dining, 2x everything else | 3 free nights (up to 50,000 points each) after $3,000 in 3 months | up to $1,050 | $95 | up to $955 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| World of Hyatt4x Hyatt, 2x dining, airlines and transit, 1x everything else | Up to 60,000 points: 30,000 after $3,000 in 3 months, then 2x on up to $15,000 more in 6 months | up to $990 | $95 | up to $895 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| IHG One Rewards Premier10x IHG, 5x groceries, gas and dining, 3x everything else | 180,000 points after $3,000 in 3 months | $1,080 | $150 | $930 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Hilton Honors7x Hilton, 5x dining, US groceries and gas, 3x everything else | 70,000 points and a free night after $2,000 in 6 monthsLimited time, ends 2027-01-13 | $280 | $0 | $280 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Hilton Honors Surpass12x Hilton, 6x dining, US groceries and gas, 3x everything else | 130,000 points and a free night after $3,000 in 6 monthsLimited time, ends 2027-01-13 | $520 | $150 | $370 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Hilton Honors Aspire14x Hilton, 7x flights and dining, 3x everything else | 200,000 points after $6,000 in 6 monthsLimited time, ends 2027-01-13 | $800 | $550 | $250 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant6x Marriott, 3x dining and flights, 2x everything else | 100,000 points after $6,000 in 6 months | $700 | $650 | $50 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Airlines | |||||
| United Explorer2x dining and hotels, extra miles on United, 1x everything else | Up to 80,000 miles: 70,000 after $3,000 in 3 months, plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user | up to $960 | $150$0 the first year | up to $960 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold2x Delta, dining and US groceries, 1x everything else | As high as 80,000 miles and a $250 credit after $3,000 in 6 monthsLimited time, ends 2026-11-04 | up to $1,210 | $150$0 the first year | up to $1,210 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus2x Southwest, 1x everything else, 3,000 points every year | 50,000 points after $1,000 in 3 months | $625 | $99 | $526 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select2x American, dining and gas, 1x everything else | 80,000 miles after $3,500 in 4 months | $1,160 | $99$0 the first year | $1,160 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Atmos Rewards Ascent3x Alaska and Hawaiian, 2x gas, streaming and transit, 1x everything else | 50,000 points and a $99 companion fare after $1,500 in 90 days | $700 | $95 | $605 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| United Quest2x travel and dining, extra miles on United, 1x everything else | Up to 90,000 miles: 80,000 after $4,000 in 3 months, plus 10,000 for an authorized user | up to $1,080 | $350 | up to $730 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum3x Delta and hotels, 2x dining and US groceries, 1x everything else | As high as 90,000 miles and a $300 credit after $4,000 in 6 monthsLimited time, ends 2026-11-04 | up to $1,380 | $350 | up to $1,030 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority4x Southwest, 2x gas and dining, 1x everything else, 7,500 points every year | 60,000 points after $2,000 in 3 months | $750 | $229 | $521 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Cash back | |||||
| Citi Double Cash2% on everything | $200 after $1,500 in 6 months | $200 | $0 | $200 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash2% cash back on everything | $100 after $500 in 3 months | $100 | $0 | $100 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited3% dining and drugstores, 1.5% everything else | $200 after $500 in 3 months | $200 | $0 | $200 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Chase Freedom Flex5% rotating categories, 3% dining and drugstores, 1% everything else | $250 after $500 in 3 months | $250 | $0 | $250 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred6% US groceries and streaming, 3% transit and gas, 1% everything else | As high as $300 after $3,000 in 6 months | up to $300 | $95$0 the first year | up to $300 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday3% US groceries, online shopping and gas, 1% everything else | $150 after $2,000 in 6 months | $150 | $0 | $150 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Capital One Savor3% dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming, 1% everything else | $200 after $500 in 3 months | $200 | $0 | $200 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Business | |||||
| Chase Ink Business Preferred3x travel, shipping, ads, internet and phone, 1x everything else | 100,000 points after $8,000 in 3 months | $1,350 | $95 | $1,255 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited1.5% on everything | $750 after $6,000 in 3 months | $750 | $0 | $750 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
| Chase Ink Business Cash5% office supplies, internet and phone, 2% gas and dining, 1% everything else | $750 after $6,000 in 3 months | $750 | $0 | $750 | 2026-10-21 Offer may have changed, check before applying. |
Business cards need a business, but a side gig counts: Chase lets sole proprietors apply with their Social Security number (<a href="https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/basics/business-credit-cards-for-sole-proprietorships">Chase</a>), and most business cards don't count toward 5/24. I get rewarded if you're approved through a referral link. Every other link pays me nothing.
What a point is worth, by program
| Program | We use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chase points | 1.35¢ | Published values for Chase points run from 1.4 cents (NerdWallet, 2026-10-13) to 2.05 (The Points Guy, 2026-10-01). Those lean on business-class seats most people never book, so we use what an ordinary economy seat actually got: the flight above, rounded down. Odds are you'll beat our number. |
| Amex points | 1.05¢ | The flight above, booked with Amex points through JetBlue, which converts 10 Amex points to 8, rounded down. Published values run 1.3 to 2.0 (The Points Guy 2026-10-01, NerdWallet 2026-10-13). |
| Citi points | 1.2¢ | The lowest published value, NerdWallet. The Points Guy says 1.9. |
| Capital One miles | 1.3¢ | The lowest published value, NerdWallet. The Points Guy says 1.85. |
| Hyatt points | 1.65¢ | The lowest published value, The Points Guy. NerdWallet says 1.8. |
| Marriott points | 0.7¢ | The lowest published value, NerdWallet and Bankrate. The Points Guy says 0.75. |
| IHG points | 0.6¢ | The Points Guy and NerdWallet agree. |
| Hilton points | 0.4¢ | The Points Guy and NerdWallet agree. |
| United miles | 1.2¢ | The Points Guy and NerdWallet agree. |
| Delta miles | 1.2¢ | The Points Guy and NerdWallet agree. |
| Southwest points | 1.25¢ | The lowest published value, The Points Guy. NerdWallet says 1.4. |
| American miles | 1.45¢ | The lowest published value, The Points Guy. NerdWallet says 1.7. |
| Alaska and Hawaiian points | 1.4¢ | The lowest published value, NerdWallet. The Points Guy says 1.55. |
| cash back | 1¢ | Cash is cash, 1 cent a point. It's also the floor for most points if you never travel. |
The rules banks play by
Only matters if you open more than one card. Break one and you're turned down, or approved with no bonus.
- Chase
- 5/24: usually no approval if you've opened 5 or more personal cards with any bank in the last 24 months. Most business cards don't count. Also at most 2 Chase cards every 30 days, and no bonus on a co-brand card (United, Hyatt, Marriott) you've had a bonus on in the last 24 months (Frequent Miler, Chase).
- Amex
- Once per lifetime: if you've ever had the card, you likely can't get its bonus again. Amex shows a pop-up before it checks your credit if you won't get one, so you can back out. At most 1 card every 5 days and 2 every 90. Cancel within a year and Amex can take the bonus back (Frequent Miler).
- Citi
- 48 months: one bonus per card every 48 months. The Strata Premier now says no bonus if you've ever had it. At most 1 Citi card every 8 days and 2 every 65 (Frequent Miler, Citi).
- Capital One
- About 1 card every 6 months, and it often checks all 3 credit bureaus. No bonus on a card you got one on in the last 48 months (Frequent Miler, Capital One).
- Bank of America
- 2/3/4: at most 2 new cards in 2 months, 3 in 12 and 4 in 24 (Frequent Miler).
Questions people ask
Does opening a card hurt my credit score?
A little, for a little while. Applying adds a hard inquiry, which takes fewer than 5 points off most people's score, and FICO stops counting it after a year (myFICO). A new card also lowers the average age of your accounts. More available credit and on-time payments tend to win it back.
Will my score go down for good?
No, as long as you pay on time. Payment history is the biggest piece of a FICO score, 35% of it (myFICO). Set autopay for the full statement balance and you can't miss.
Why bother?
The bonus. 75,000 Chase points is about $1,013 of travel at our value, for spending you'd do anyway. That's a round trip to New York with plenty left over, on a $95 card.
How long does this take to manage?
One card: almost none. Autopay the full balance and you're done. Chasing bonuses: a few hours a year, tracking spend deadlines, annual fees, and when to cancel or switch a card to a no-fee version. If that sounds like a chore, stick to one card.
What if I can't hit the spend?
Don't force it. Buying stuff you don't need to reach $5,000 eats the bonus. Open the card ahead of a big planned expense instead: a move, a vacation, insurance paid yearly.
Should I cancel a card I don't use?
Usually not in the first year, since Amex can take the bonus back (Frequent Miler). After that, ask to switch it to the bank's no-fee card instead of closing it. You skip the fee and keep the account's age on your credit report.
How do people keep track of all this?
A simple spreadsheet: card, date opened, spend needed, spend deadline, annual fee date. The spend clock starts the day the account opens, not when the card shows up in the mail. Chase gives you 3 months, Amex 6.
What's 5/24?
Chase usually turns you down if you've opened 5 or more personal cards with any bank in the last 24 months. Chase doesn't publish it, but it's widely reported (The Points Guy). It's why Chase cards go first.
Do you make money from this?
From two Chase links, yes: Chase gives me points when a friend is approved through them. They're labeled "my referral". Every pick is the card I'd recommend for that goal either way, and the cash back pick and most of the table pay me nothing.