When it comes to earning American Express Membership Rewards points, most people focus on welcome offers from new credit cards and every day spending. While both strategies are incredibly valuable, there’s a lesser-known yet equally powerful strategy to quickly rack up points—using Rakuten. This method is especially useful given AMEX’s stricter rules on new card sign-ups. Here’s how you can earn a substantial amount of Membership Rewards points without applying for a new card.

When it comes to Christmas, our family keeps things simple and intentional with a tradition I love: the four-gift Christmas. If four gifts were good enough for Jesus, then they’re certainly good enough for our kids! This approach helps us focus on the reason for the season without feeling materialistic or overwhelmed by “stuff” when it’s all over. Each of our four gifts is themed after the original gifts given to Jesus—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—plus a fourth surprise from Santa and their stockings. Let me break down how it works and why it’s been such a blessing for us.

Due to recent changes in affiliate rules, I’m not currently allowed to share the full step-by-step instructions on my website. But if you keep using my links, I’m hopeful I’ll be able to share more openly soon. In the meantime, you can still access the full guide on how to earn two Companion Passes right […]

These are the cards I come back to over and over—they’ve proven themselves with solid rewards, useful perks, and the kind of flexibility that makes family travel way more doable. I’ve kept them in my wallet year after year for a reason. Because of affiliate guidelines, I can only share these cards within a list format, but I think you’ll still find the info super helpful.

If you’ve been exploring the world of credit card rewards, you might have come across the term “5/24 rule.” It’s a rule that can make or break your strategy for earning points and miles, especially if you’re looking to unlock amazing family vacations with credit card rewards.