Points for Normal People by Katie's Travel Tricks

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
I pay almost $3,000 a year in credit card annual fees — and yes, that's more than our monthly mortgage. In this episode, I'm walking you through every single keeper card my husband and I hold year after year, showing you exactly how I value each benefit and how I personally decide whether a card earns its place in our wallet. 
I also want to be really clear: what works for our family isn't necessarily right for yours, and I don't think it should be. That's exactly why my team has built card benefit calculators on the blog — so you can plug in your own life and see what actually makes sense for you. At the end, I've got three simple action steps so you can do your own credit card spring cleaning and make sure every dollar you're paying in fees is actually working for you.
ACTION STEPS:
Take stock of every card you have open. Use the Travel Freely app to stay organized, or track everything in a spreadsheet.
Review every card with an annual fee. Use the benefits calculators on Katie's blog to assign your own values to each benefit and see if it's worth what you're paying.
Make a plan. Use the "Ultimate Guide to Closing a Card" (linked in show notes) to understand the full evaluation process before canceling, downgrading, or keeping any card.
RESOURCES
Detailed blog post on the Chase Sapphire Reserve: https://katiestraveltricks.com/sapphirereserve/ 
Map of Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit locations: https://katiestraveltricks.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-participating-restaurants/ 
Overview article on the Chase Ritz-Carlton card: https://katiestraveltricks.com/the-complete-guide-to-the-chase-ritz-carlton-card/ 
Episode on Citi ThankYou Points: https://youtu.be/8Zzdczsvti4 
Bank of America Museums on Us program: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/museums-on-us-partners 
Credit card spring cleaning post:
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
Instagram
💻 Free Course
💳 Best Current Card Offers
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
Booking a flight with the Southwest Companion Pass used to be easier,, but with their recent switch to assigned seating, the process has become a lot more convoluted! If you're feeling confused about how to make sure you and your plus-one actually get to sit together without paying extra fees, you aren't alone. In this video, I'm walking you step-by-step through exactly how to book with your Companion Pass under the new rules so you can navigate the changes like a pro.
I’ll also be breaking down some of the most common issues families run into during the booking process. We'll cover why every single family member needs their own Rapid Rewards account, how to ensure TSA PreCheck shows up on your kids' boarding passes, and the exact steps to take when flight prices drop so you can easily get your points back. Check out the links below for my free course and other resources to help you supercharge your travel rewards!
ACTION STEPS
Track Your Flight Prices: Make sure you understand how to get the best prices, use the "schedule change trick" if you have points, and track your flights on Google Flights. 
Evaluate Your Southwest Credit Card: Look at the card you currently hold and see if it's worth upgrading to the personal card with the highest fee so you can pick seats at the time of booking. If you've had your card for over a year, you can easily change it and just pay the fee difference.
Get TSA PreCheck/Global Entry for Companions: If you have PreCheck or Global Entry, work on getting it for your companion (especially kids and teens) and attach it to their Rapid Rewards account.
Enroll in Touchless ID: If you are over 18 and have TSA PreCheck, opt into TSA PreCheck Touchless ID in the Southwest app to save time at security.
RESOURCES
Free Course: learn.katiestraveltricks.com
All Our Southwest Posts: https://katiestraveltricks.com/destinations/#SouthwestTips
Get the Best Price On Southwest Flights: https://podcast.katiestraveltricks.com/southwest-flight-hacks-tips-and-tricks-for-saving-big/
Southwest Card Guide:
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
Instagram
💻 Free Course
💳 Best Current Card Offers
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
For a long time, the Citi ThankYou ecosystem has lived in the shadow of other rewards programs, but some massive changes in the last year have brought it back onto my radar. Between the addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner and a brand-new premium card—the Citi Strata Elite—there is new value to unlock. I’m especially excited to dive into the Preferred Hotels partnership, which is a hidden gem for anyone who loves booking unique, independent properties using points instead of just the big corporate chains.
In this episode, I’ll walk you through the current card lineup, including how to navigate calendar year credits to make sure you're getting way more value than the annual fee. We’ll also talk about my favorite hotel "sweet spots" where your points can effectively double or even quadruple in value. I’ll show you exactly how to make the most of this often-overlooked program.
ACTION STEPS:
Browse the Maps: If you already have points, check out the new map and database of Preferred Hotels to find high-value properties. https://katiestraveltricks.com/guide-to-booking-preferred-hotels-map/
Mark Your Calendar: If you want to maximize the "triple dip," set a reminder for early December to look into the Citi Strata Elite.
Stay the Course: If you are a beginner, stick to your current three-year plan and keep this info for later so you don't get overwhelmed by too many programs at once. See the three-year plan here https://katiestraveltricks.com/3-year-plan/ 
More Affiliate Card Offers Page: Visit this page to see more card offers available and support our work https://katiestraveltricks.com/more-affiliate-offers/ 
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
Instagram
💻 Free Course
💳 Best Current Card Offers
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

1/23/26 Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
If you've heard the buzz about Bilt's new system for earning points on your rent or mortgage, you're not alone! A lot of people got really excited about the idea of earning rewards on their biggest monthly expense. But after Bilt rolled out their new options, many people have been confused, overwhelmed by the structure, and underwhelmed by the value. In this episode, I’m breaking down the convoluted new Bilt structure step-by-step to help you decide if it makes sense for your points strategy. I’ll explain the difference between their new "Bilt Cash" currency and the tiered spending system, and show you the exact math you need to know.
We’re also taking a look at the three new credit cards launching on February 7th: the Bilt Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium cards. I’ll give you my honest take on the pros and cons of each. While this new program isn't the game-changer many hoped for, there is a narrow group of people this might work for. Whether you want to go all-in or completely ignore Bilt, this episode will give you the tools and free calculators you need to make the right choice for your family.
ACTION STEPS:
Make a Decision: Use my free resources to decide if you want to open a Bilt card, shelve the idea for later, or forget it entirely.
Keep Working on Your Plan: If Bilt isn't for you, keep working on your three-year plan or opening cards at your own pace for your personal goals.
Use the Calculators: If you are considering Bilt, use this Bilt Card Guide to run the calculators for your specific spending scenario: katiestraveltricks.com/bilt-guide-to-cards-earning-on-mortgage-and-rent-payments 
Gather Your Numbers: Before using the calculators, figure out your monthly housing payment, your monthly grocery/dining spend, and your overall monthly credit card spend.
Act Before February 7th: If you decide to apply, you have until February 7th to sign up for a card with the current launch offers.
Listen to Previous Episodes: Go back and listen to last week's episode on earning Bilt rewards without a credit card here: https://youtu.be/0OkDkjBI7v0  Also, if you are new, listen to Season 1, Episode 1 of the podcast sequentially to understand the framework of travel points. Start here:
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
Instagram
💻 Free Course
💳 Best Current Card Offers
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...

1/21/26 Click MORE to see Ad disclosures
Today I’m walking you through a great opportunity to earn Bilt Rewards points without ever opening a credit card. For the next few months, there is a unique sweet spot where you can maximize the partnership between Bilt and Rakuten to earn points on autopilot. I’m going to share exactly how you can set up your account to turn everyday spending—and even bank account sign-ups—into valuable points you can transfer to partners like Hyatt.
We are going to dive deep into the specific steps you need to take to optimize this strategy, especially before the introductory transfer rate changes in May. I’ll show you how to stack your earnings effectively and tell you about exclusive resources our team is working on to help you earn the most. Whether you are new to points or looking for a pivot strategy, this episode gives you the roadmap to supercharge your travel points with minimal effort.
ACTION STEPS:
Note: Use our digital checklist or download a PDF of these steps here: https://katiestraveltricks.com/bilt-rewards-explained-earn-points-even-without-the-credit-card/#ktt-checklist-wrapper 
Sign up for our Rakuten deal list to be notified daily of deals (through March 31) - https://katiestraveltricks.kit.com/rakuten 
Create a Bilt Account: Sign up at biltrewards.com or download the app (skip the credit card application for now).
Add a Credit Card to Bilt: Link a card you use frequently (like a Freedom or Venture card) to your Bilt wallet to earn on Walgreens purchases.
Link Lyft & Bilt: Go to the "Neighborhood" tab in Bilt, select rideshare, and link your accounts. Ensure the payment card in Lyft matches the one in your Bilt wallet (ideally a Sapphire card).
Sign Up for Rakuten: Use my referral link to get the $50 new member bonus: https://www.rakuten.com/r/KMGALL29?eeid=44749 
Link Rakuten to Bilt: Ensure your email addresses match on both accounts and select Bilt Rewards as your payout option in Rakuten. https://www.biltrewards.com/p/rakuten
Maximize Referrals: Refer your spouse/partner (and then have them refer you back if applicable) or family members to earn referral bonuses.
Set Up Rakuten Dining: Link your dining credit card (li
New Here?
Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.
Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.

More from Katie’s Travel Tricks
🔗 Website
Instagram
💻 Free Course
💳 Best Current Card Offers
🎒 Favorite Travel Gear

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...