Cards I Always Have in My Wallet
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These cards have proven their worth time and again, offering great rewards, essential perks, and the kind of flexibility that makes them indispensable. Here's why I always keep these cards in my wallet:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a staple in my wallet and widely regarded as the best card to start with for anyone beginning their points and miles journey. The value of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is unmatched, with the flexibility to transfer to a wide range of travel partners, making this card essential for travelers. Learn more about why this is my favorite beginner card here. It's also the key to unlocking the full potential of other Chase cashback cards, as it allows you to convert cashback into transferable points, maximizing your rewards strategy.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is my pick for family lounge access. It also offers 2x miles on all purchases and 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, with unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and over 1,300 Priority Pass™ lounges, it’s an essential card for frequent travelers. I love this card because although it is a premium card, the benefits outweigh the annual fee. With a $395 annual fee, a $300 travel credit each year and 10,000 points on every anniversary makes this one a no-brainer. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is my go-to for luxury travel benefits. It offers 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel. With access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, this card is really hard to let go of once you have it. I recommend this one for lounge access on your anniversary trips, as there are other cards I keep to get my whole family in. Terms apply.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is perfect for small businesses that want simplicity. It offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and it’s a fantastic complement to other Chase business cards if you're aiming to earn more Ultimate Rewards® points. Most people don't realize they can qualify for a business card when they do something as small as sell on Facebook Marketplace. You can read more about that here. If you’re someone who prefers not to track spending categories, this is an excellent choice for steady rewards.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
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Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
