Are Premium Travel Cards Just a Coupon Book? The Truth About Rising Annual Fees
Annual fees on travel cards are climbing, while flexible perks are being swapped for complicated “use it or lose it” credits. What once felt like luxury now looks more like a coupon book designed to push extra spending. Before you shell out $600-$800 for a card, ask yourself: are you actually saving? Or just paying for the illusion of value?
A Definitive Guide to Credit Card Points: What They Are, How They Work and Why They Matter
Turn Everyday Spending Into Free Travel (or Cash Back)
Credit card rewards aren’t just perks… they’re a hidden currency. Our definitive guide breaks down exactly what points are, how they work, and how to earn and redeem them for maximum value. From welcome bonuses to high-value redemptions, you’ll learn how to turn your purchases into free flights, hotel stays or cash, without falling into debt.
How to Build a Credit Card Setup that Matches Your Life
Learn how to build a credit card setup that matches your life, whether you’re into cash back, travel rewards, or both. Expert tips, strategies, and a step-by-step guide.
What is Cents Per Point (CPP) and Why It Matters
Not sure if you should use points or pay cash for your next trip? That’s where Cents Per Point (CPP) comes in. This simple calculation helps you figure out the real value of your credit card rewards so you can make smarter redemptions - whether you’re using cash back, bank points or airline miles. In this post, we break down how to calculate CPP, what counts as “good” value, and how to make the most of every point.
Citi Strata Elite: Is It Right for You?
Citi’s newest premium travel card is here - but is it worth the $595 fee? This post breaks down the perks, points and whether it fits into a smart travel rewards strategy.
What’s in Our Wallet? Our July 2025 Credit Card Strategy
Curious how to build a wallet that earns points for every dollar you spend? In this post, we break down our current credit card strategy - covering the Chase Trifecta, premium travel cards, hotel and airline cards and how we decide what stays and what gets cut. Whether you’re looking to earn more rewards or travel more for less, this peek inside our setup will help you fine-tune your own.
The Credit Card Trap: How to Earn Points Without Falling into Debt
Earning points is fun - falling into debt isn’t. This post breaks down how to use credit cards as a smart tool without paying interest or overspending. Learn how to build a solid foundation, match your cards to your habits, and stay in control while stacking rewards. Perfect for anyone who wants free travel and financial peace of mind.
Chicago: Food, Fun and Free Nights
We spent four days exploring Chicago - eating great food, seeing the sights, and using free hotel nights from a credit card sign-up bonus to keep costs low. Here’s everything we did (and ate) on our trip.
Why We Got the New Chase Sapphire Reserve
We weren’t planning to open a new card, but the refreshed Chase Sapphire Reserve changed our minds. With a huge welcome bonus, new credits and boosted earning rates, it offered real value - for our actual lifestyle. In this post, we break down why we got it, which perks we’re counting on, and how it fits into our credit card strategy.
How to Track Credit Card Annual Fees and Keep Your Wallet Lean
Worried about juggling multiple credit cards with annual fees? In this post, we breakdown how to track those fees, evaluate your cards’ value, and make smart decisions to keep you wallet lean - without sacrificing the rewards.
Five Nights, One Card
We don’t open new credit cards just for fun - but when the sign-up bonus is too good to pass up, we jump. In July 2024, we grabbed the IHG One Rewards Premier Card during a rare promo: 5 free nights worth up to 300,000 points. Here’s how we decide when a limited-time offer is worth it.
The Big Upgrade: Sapphire Reserve’s 2025 Refresh
The Chase Sapphire Reserve just got a major overhaul. With a new $795 annual fee and a long list of upgraded perks - including $500 in hotel credits, $300 in dining and entertainment credits, and 8x points on Chase Travel bookings - the card is doubling down on premium value. But is it worth the cost? We break it all down.
Level Up Your Points Game with a 2-Player Strategy
Teamwork = more travel rewards. 💳✈️
We started using the 2-player strategy back in April 2023 when I referred Jen to the Chase Sapphire Preferred and we haven’t looked back. Learn how we double our bonuses, earn referral points, and make the most of our cards as a team.
Why We Chose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
See how we added the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® to our card lineup to turn work travel into reward points. From 17x earnings on Marriott stays to free night awards and elite status perks, this card became the perfect companion to the Chase Trifecta.
Before the Blog: Boston, Boca & Bogeys
Before The Point Pursuit ever existed, we were already using credit card points to travel. From a Chase Travel Portal redemption to Boston, to free nights in Boca, to an unforgettable golf getaway in Scottsdale - here’s how our first few trips set the stage for everything that followed.
How Our Credit Journey Began: The Foundation
Wondering where to start with travel credit cards? Our journey began with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and a 100K-point sign-up bonus - but that was just the beginning. Learn how discovering the Chase Trifecta transformed our strategy and became the foundation of how we earn and redeem points today.