Peeking Inside My Core Wallet
Hey friends, what's going on? Phillip here, and after a wild ride of signup bonus spending, it's time to get serious (well, serious-ish) about my everyday core wallet strategy. We're diving deep into the cards I use all the time and WHY.
The Lineup: My Daily Drivers
My core wallet is built around maximizing points on everyday spending. Here's the team:
American Express Gold Card: This is my MVP for 4x points on dining and groceries. It's a no-brainer!
Capital One Savor Card: New addition alert! This bad boy is for 3x on streaming and entertainment. Hello, maximized binge-watching rewards!
Capital One Venture Card: My go-to for general travel and those "uncategorized" purchases. That sweet, sweet 2x on everything is hard to beat.
Mesa Homeowner Card: Because adulting is expensive. More on this hidden gem in a sec...
American Express Platinum Card: For premium travel perks and those sweet lounge access moments.
American Express Blue Business Plus: Strictly for business expenses, keeping things separate and racking up those MR points.
Deep Dive: Why These Cards Make the Cut
American Express Gold Card: Yeah, the annual fee is there, but the dining and grocery multipliers are amazing for my family. Plus, I can easily offset the fee with those monthly dining and Uber credits (Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Uber Eats—yes, please!).
Capital One Savor Card: Three points on dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming?!?! This card offers a ton of flexibility and has great synergy with some of my Amex transfer partners.
Capital One Venture Card: The $95 annual fee is easily offset by the card's perks. You get two points per dollar on any purchase with no caps, which is kind of incredible. Plus, I have access to Capital One transfer partners, which honestly are not bad as long as you're not looking for hotels.
Mesa Homeowner Card: Okay, this one's a bit niche, but if you own a home, listen up! You get points just for having a mortgage, plus bonus categories like insurance, home improvement, and utilities. Seriously, check it out!
American Express Platinum Card: Yes, it's a premium card with a premium fee, but the lounge access is clutch for my travel style. Not to mention, the FHR credit, airline fee credit, entertainment credit, and Uber Cash credits add up fast!
American Express Blue Business Plus: Keeping business and personal separate is key. This card makes it easy with 2x on everything up to $50,000 per year.
The Bottom Line: It's All About Optimization
Could I get away with just the Amex Gold? Maybe. But by strategically using different cards for bonus categories, I'm seriously boosting my points earnings. It takes a little extra effort, but those extra points can translate into a premium economy flight each year!
Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS)
Feeling overwhelmed? The Capital One duo (Savor + Venture/Venture X) is a solid, straightforward option for beginners.
Don't Forget the Gas!
I'm currently rocking the City Custom Cash or the Amex Business Gold for 4x on gas purchases.
Your Turn!
So, there you have it – a peek inside my core wallet. Now, I want to know: What's in your wallet? Share your card setups and strategies in the comments below!
Until next time, keep those points flowing!