I still remember the first time I used a travel credit card to get my whole family into a lounge. My kids were munching on free snacks, my husband grabbed a crispy Diet Coke, and I finally got to sit in peace for five minutes. That little pocket of calm made the whole travel day easier all because I knew the best airport lounge access credit cards for families.

If you are going to spend money on new clothes, backpacks, and tech, why not earn points or cashback while doing it?

If you’re focused on getting more family travel out of your budget, hear me out: there are travel credit card alternatives to the Costco credit card that can actually help you book flights and hotels using points.

I thought I had my premium card setup figured out. I had my go-tos for everyday spending, a clear favorite for lounge access, and a system for rotating through welcome offers on a regular schedule. But a recent change from one of the biggest banks in the points and miles world just shifted the landscape—and it’s made me pause and rethink what my “keeper” cards actually are.

If you want to know how to stay organized earning over a million points a year, here’s how I do it, without spreadsheets, apps or overwhelming systems. Learning how to stay organized earning points is the key to making the most of credit card rewards.

Denied a credit card with good credit? Learn why it happens, what to say when you call the reconsideration line, and how to improve your chances of approval next time.

Let’s talk about something a lot of people wonder when they first get into points and miles: Are credit card annual fees worth it? It’s a fair question—and the answer depends on how you use the card, but in many cases, the value far outweighs the cost.

Streamline your travel experience by holding the right credit cards to skip the line!

So you’ve earned a bunch of credit card points, now what?
There are smart, flexible ways to book flights with your points, even on airlines your card doesn’t partner with.

People assume that because I talk about points and miles a lot, I must be a spreadsheet-loving, detail-obsessed person who never gets overwhelmed. That’s… not exactly true.

The truth is, I have a love-hate relationship with travel credit cards.

I love what they’ve done for our family—I mean, we’ve stayed in five-star resorts for free, flown to Hawaii in peak season, and saved thousands of dollars on school break travel. But the mental energy it takes to keep it all running? That’s real. Especially as a mom managing a household, sports schedules, and a business.