Unlocking the Power of Plastic: A Peek into My Wallet’s Credit Card Arsenal

In the world of finance, credit cards are more than just a payment method; they’re a gateway to a world of benefits, rewards, protections, and conveniences. Let's take a tour of my wallet’s carefully curated collection of plastic powerhouses💳. 

The Traveler’s Quintet

American Express Platinum: The jet-setter’s✈️ dream card. With a hefty welcome offer (and hefty annual fee, but we'll get to that in a second) and a plethora of travel rewards, this card is like a golden ticket to airport lounges, luxury hotel benefits, and more. It’s the ultimate travel companion for those who love to travel and explore. The annual fee for the card is a whopping $695/yr😅, but don't balk just yet... Here are all the benefits and credits that easily off-set that annual fee:

- Monthly Digital Entertainment Credit: $20/mo or $240/yr | With this benefit, certain digital monthly subscriptions you charge directly to the card are credited back up to $20 a month - examples include Disney+, Hulu, SiriusXM, etc. 

- Walmart+ Membership Credit: $12.95/mo + tax or $155+/yr | With this benefit, you get to take advantage of the perks that come along with Walmart+, the competing service from Walmart for Amazon Prime. As part of the benefits of Walmart+, you also get access to a Paramount+ subscription, which equates to $5.99/mo + tax or $72+/yr

- Uber & UberEats Credit: $15/mo w/ December @ $20 or $200/yr | With this benefit, $15 a month ($20 in December) is loaded to your Uber account as Uber Cash that you can use towards food, rides, etc., but you will need to use the entire amount within the month as it doesn't rollover. 

- Airline Fees Credit: $200/yr | With this benefit, any airline charges or fees charged outside of the ticket purchase itself are credited back, up to $200 for the year. That means post purchase seat upgrades, baggage fees, etc., but you'll need to specify a single airline at the start of the year - so pick your favorite/most traveled airline you use.

- CLEAR Plus Credit: $189/yr | With this benefit, you can enroll in CLEAR Plus so you can whiz by the already backed up general security and even TSA PreCheck screening lines. 

With just these benefits alone adding up to $1,056+/yr, we've easily surpassed the cost of the annual fee of $695 and swung it to our benefit, and there are still more benefits to use such as the $200/yr hotel credit for pre-paid hotel travel booked through American Express Travel, $300/yr Equinox gym club credit, $100/yr Saks shopping credit, and of course the access to multiple airport lounge networks with American Express (Centurion & Escape Lounges), Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa, Plaza, and Priority Pass airport lounges. The Welcome Offer for signing up for the card and meeting a certain amount of spend after a set amount of months can range from 80,000 to 125,000+ Membership Rewards Points - at the low end, the 80k membership points equates to roughly $560 in cash to use on Amazon, as one example, but can easily be worth much more if you decide to transfer to airline miles on one of the partner airlines for first class travel to a destination of your choice. Finally, this card also gives you automatic status level at two of the largest hotel family brands - Gold Elite with Marriott Bonvoy and Gold with Hilton Honors - giving you access to amenities like free breakfast, hotel lounge access, room upgrades, late checkout, etc.  

In short, if you take advantage of even a subset of these benefits, dealing with the annual fee for this card is a no-brainer🤑.    

Referral Link:

https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/ZEESHPOthF?XL=MIMNS

You Get: 80,000 Membership Rewards Points | I Get: 20,000 Membership Rewards Points

Chase Sapphire Reserve: A card that knows how to treat a traveler right. With an annual travel credit, bonus points on travel and dining, and access to luxurious perks, it’s a card that ensures traveling in style and comfort. Again, we have a hefty annual fee that comes along with this card💰, but just like above, the benefits it provides easily offsets the annual fee of $550 - let's dive into them:

- Yearly Travel Credit: $300 | With this benefit, travel related purchases (airline tickets, hotel stays, rental cars, airline fees, etc.) are credited back to you up to $300/yr.

- DoorDash DashPass Membership & Monthly Credit: $9.99/mo + $25/mo or $120/yr + $300/yr | With this benefit, you get a complimentary DoorDash (and Caviar) DashPass membership valued at $120 for the year, plus you get a monthly $5 credit loaded to your DoorDash account to use towards food and delivery that can rollover for up to 3 months, equating to $60 in food credits to use for the year, plus another $20/mo in credits (across two orders - $10 credit each) towards grocery orders, equating to another $240 in credits for the year. 

- Priority Pass Lounge Access: $469/yr | With this benefit, you and guests traveling with you, are able to make use of a wide array of airport lounges throughout the world (free food, drinks - including alcohol, etc.).  

- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS Credit: $100 every 4 years | With this benefit, you're able to get a fast pass on airline security screening, which can be paired with the CLEAR Plus membership from the Amex Platinum benefit above to get you the most expedient way through TSA screenings at airports.       

Just looking at the combination of the yearly travel and DoorDash credits, you hit the amount for the annual fee. From there, you get to take advantage of the additional benefits, Ultimate Rewards points (where you get a decent Welcome Offer bonus of 60,000 points after spending a certain amount over a set number of months), and protections such as Trip Cancelation/Interruption Insurance and Auto Rental Damage Waiver coverage. The Sapphire Reserve card is my go-to for car rentals as the Auto Rental coverage acts as the primary insurance - so if anything were to happen, I wouldn't need to use my personal insurance to cover damage first. 

In short, the benefits provided here easily pay for the annual fee, and this card perfectly pairs with the benefits of other cards.  

Referral Link:

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19m/6WFYKYBWQ8 

You Get: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards Points | I Get: 10,000 Ultimate Rewards Points

American Express Bonvoy Brilliant: The key to unlocking the best of Marriott and Marriott Bonvoy. There is a theme here with hefty annual fees in the travel category, as the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card also has a sizable $650 annual fee, but it also comes with benefits that offset it as well. The benefits included here are made up of a 185,000 Bonvoy points Welcome Offer, automatic Platinum Elite status, which allows you to take advantage of complimentary room upgrades, hotel lounges, free breakfast/dining credits, late checkout privileges, an annual free night award worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points (which can get you a night at some of the most luxurious properties such as the St. Regis or Ritz Carlton), and a monthly dining credit that credits you back $25/mo or $300/yr for any food and beverage purchases charged to the card. The Marriott family of brands is our go-to for hotel stays, so using this card for Marriott related purchases and stays is a no-brainer, but if your go-to is another hotel family such as Hilton, you'll want to switch this out for the Amex Hilton Honors Aspire card, as an example.  

Referral Link:

https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/ZEESHPNjBm?XL=MIMNS

You Get: 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points | I Get: 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points

Chase Priority Southwest: For the frequent flyer with a love for Southwest, this card adds a touch of priority to every journey. With travel credits, bonus & anniversary points, and boarding benefits, it’s perfect for domestic travel. The annual fee here is $149, but this is offset by benefits such as a $75/yr Southwest travel credit, 4 upgraded boardings to group A1-A15 (which can range from $30-$70 or more per upgrade - really helpful when you forget to check-in on time, or check-in on time and still get deep into the B group...), and a Welcome Offer of 50,000 points.   

Referral Link:

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/226m/FEDBVVTD3A 

You Get: $50,000 Rapid Rewards Points | I Get: 20,000 Rapid Rewards Points

American Airlines Aviator: For when we have to venture beyond Southwest, this card helps our AAdvantage miles soar, with benefits that make every American Airlines flight a little more rewarding and much less taxing from things like baggage fees. The annual fee for the card is $99, but is easily offset by providing waived first checked bag fees that have now increased to $35-$40 per bag each way, for you and up to 4 travelers traveling you on the same reservation. You also get a credit of $25/yr towards in-flight Wi-Fi purchases, as well as a 50,000 mile Welcome Offer. 

The Everyday Essentials

Capital One Quicksilver: Simplicity meets efficiency. With unlimited cash back on every purchase and no annual fee, it’s the card you can swipe without a second thought. This was one of the very first credit cards I opened up. I'm also currently using this to take advantage of a complimentary 6 month membership to Uber One (valued at $9.99/mo or $59.98).

Amazon Prime Visa: For the online shopping enthusiast🛍️, this card turns every Amazon haul into a rewarding experience with unlimited cash back on purchases. A no-brainer for the frequent Amazon shopper, like myself. There's no annual fee and a Welcome Offer of a $100 Amazon gift card. 

Apple Card: The Apple Enthusiast's delight. With extra cash back on Apple and other everyday purchases (like increased cash back at certain gas stations, etc.) and a sleek, fee-free structure, it’s as innovative as the Apple products I buy with it. This card also enables access to the high-yield Apple savings account I spotlighted in a previous post here. 

The Specialized Squad

Wells Fargo Autograph Visa: Points on popular spending categories and cell phone protection make this card a practical choice for everyday needs. The cell phone protection here is particularly useful, which I've used in the past, allowing me to skip out on having to add cell phone coverage to every line on my plan - all I have to do is simply charge the monthly bill to this card and I'm covered across all lines. 

Discover It: The chameleon of credit cards, adapting its cash back rewards to fit my changing spending habits, all while promising a match at the end of the first year. This card also boasts the ability to get Cash Back at retailers such as grocery stores without triggering any Cash Advance fees.

Citi Double Cash: The straightforward, no-nonsense card that rewards me coming and going💵. It can be the workhorse of any wallet, ensuring cash back on every purchase.

Citi ThankYou Preferred: Dining out and entertainment just got more rewarding. With double points in these categories, it’s the ticket to turning fun events into points.

American Express Blue Cash: Cash back on everyday essentials like groceries and gas, as well as access to an array of Amex Offers, makes this card a staple for any financial diet.

Bank of America BankAmericard Rewards: While not a rewards powerhouse, the BankAmericard’s lack of annual fee and balance transfer offers make it a strategic choice for managing debt and improving credit health.

Conclusion

There you have it, the plastic wallet that works as hard as I do💪🏽. Each card has been chosen for its unique ability to enhance financial life, whether through travel, shopping, bonus offers, or simply managing finances more effectively. These credit cards also have additional benefits that can greatly improve the characteristics of what you buy, such as price and return protections, extending warranties, and travel insurance, etc. 

Remember, the trick🪄 to making the most of all these benefits and rewards is to pay off your bill every month, otherwise the interest charged will quickly eat away at any potential benefit values. Additionally, the benefits listed are subject to the terms and conditions of each card issuer and may change over time, always make sure to read the fine print🧐. It’s always best to check with the card issuer for the most up-to-date information on card benefits and welcome/bonus offer requirements. 

- ItsBigZee

P.S. Cue the CapitalOne jingle - what's in your [credit card] wallet? Let us know in the comments below!