Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026

Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026

Author: Chris Hutchins February 25, 2026 Duration: 1:14:45
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he uses to stay on top of it all. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/whats-in-my-wallet-2026/ Link to Cards Mentioned: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/whats-in-my-wallet-for-2026/ Partner Deals MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your money Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned CardTool App (Free access here) ⁠Credit Card Holder Wallet⁠ 1Password Blog Posts Premium Card Worksheet How to maximize your Hilton cards 6 reasons to avoid booking through an online travel agency Existing Bank of America relationship customers to keep status longer Credit Card Trackers CardPointers Pro (30% off here and 50% off here) CardRight Travel Freely ATH Podcast Best Cards Page CardTool App Membership Chris’s Card Optimization Spreadsheet AMA: Submit A Question Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:42) 3 Key Reasons to Get A Credit Card (05:23) Chris' Credit Card Goals for 2026 (08:31) Evaluating The Net Annual Fee of A Card (12:56) The Amex Card Stack (23:19) Co-Branded Marriott Cards (25:32) Co-Branded Hilton Cards (27:00) Co-Branded Delta Cards (28:12) The Amex Blue Card (30:34) A Popular Bank's Cards (33:10) World of Hyatt Business Card (33:30) Co-Branded Southwest & United Cards (40:41) More Cards From The Popular Bank (42:11) Capital One Venture Cards (45:17) Bank of America Card Stack (51:09) Alaska Atmos Cards (53:24) US Bank Cards (55:22) Citi Bank Cards (56:56) Wells Fargo Autograph Card (57:43) The Bilt Palladium Card (59:25) Assessing The Major Spending Categories (01:06:32) Cards for Amazon & Costco (01:07:13) The Best "Everything Else" Card (01:08:47) Chris's Takeaway on Credit Card Spending Categories (01:09:26) The Best Card Combos (01:13:00) Credit Card Trackers Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever feel like there's a smarter, more efficient way to navigate your finances, your travels, and your daily routines? That's the core question driving All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life. Hosted by Chris Hutchins, this podcast is built on a simple, powerful idea: maximizing value doesn't mean sacrificing enjoyment. Instead, it's about the strategic choices that free up resources-both money and time-for what truly matters. Chris approaches life as a series of systems to be optimized, drawing from his own experience saving millions through meticulous analysis. The conversations here are practical and wide-ranging, moving seamlessly from credit card points strategies and investment philosophies to the less tangible hacks for personal fulfillment. You'll hear from a diverse roster of experts and icons, including Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez, and Gary Vaynerchuk, who all bring their unique perspectives on building wealth and designing a compelling life. Each episode feels like a focused workshop, offering actionable advice you can use immediately, whether it's planning a luxury vacation for a fraction of the cost or rethinking your approach to career and leisure. This isn't just about frugality; it's about unlocking freedom and excitement through smarter decisions. Tune in for a consistently insightful blend of tactical moves and deeper conversations that challenge the conventional trade-offs between spending, saving, and living well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Podcast Episodes
The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:14
#275: Chris and Kevin dig into how they're actually using AI tools in their daily lives right now. They explore real-world AI use cases, the tradeoffs of sharing personal data, the collapse of trust online, and what all…
The Surprising History of Points and Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
#274: Chris walks through the complete history of points and miles and breaks down the $140 billion machine behind them, so you can get more out of every point you earn. He covers the legal accidents that made credit car…
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:11
#273: Learn to stop overthinking and make better decisions. Chris and Derek discuss how optimizing can go wrong, a coin flip trick for making decisions, journaling as a superpower, how your actions might reveal what you…
My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:29
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals…
How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partne…
Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://…
Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:22
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical to…
I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:24
#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than eve…