Hi! Due to affiliate rules, I can’t name certain cards, but you’ll find my full list below.
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High grocery and food earning cards HERE.
If you don’t have a clear plan for everyday spending, you’re probably earning points randomly. That means leaving points on the table every single month, especially if groceries are a big part of your budget.
Instead of juggling a bunch of cards, we use a two-card system:
One card for groceries and food, earning around 3x points.
Groceries are one of the biggest expenses for families, and this is where points can add up fast. Having a dedicated food card means you’re consistently earning strong returns without changing your spending.
Grocery & dining-focused flexible points cards I recommend are above. Keep in mind if it’s a cash back card, you’ll need the premium version to make those points flexible. More on that HERE.
One high flat-rate card for everything else, earning at least 1.5x points.
This is your default card for everything else. When you don’t want to think, this is the card you grab.
Your choice here will depend on your favorite points, but I recommend choosing a card that is flexible.
Some people will choose a hotel card here as well for status/free nights. There’s no wrong choice, but for flexibility’s sake I prioritize flexible points cards.
My sister swears by the Capital one Venture X for this with a flat 2x earning rate, but I prefer the points from the bank I’m not allowed to name online. Find my favorite flat earning rate cards HERE.
Could you maximize every category with more cards? Absolutely. Some people love using “card pointers” to squeeze out extra value.
But most of us only have so much mental space.
This two-card setup captures most of the value without the stress. Small, consistent optimizations like this compound quickly when you’re feeding a family.
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