Top Learnings, Hacks and Credit Cards of 2022

Reward Optimization

Chris Hutchins shares his top credit cards for 2022, focusing on maximizing points and benefits. He highlights the Amex Gold as his primary card for dining and groceries, achieving 98% of his spending in bonus categories. The Chase Sapphire Reserve serves as his main travel card, although he notes a slight shortfall in optimizing its bonus categories.

The reserve annual fee is 550 versus the preferred at 95, but if you deduct 300 for the easy to use travel credit, then at 250 you're paying an extra $155 for the reserve.

--- Chris Hutchins

Chris also mentions the Chase Amazon Prime Visa for its 5% cashback on Amazon purchases and the Capital One Venture X for general spending, emphasizing the importance of aligning card use with spending habits 1.

   

Travel Strategies

In discussing travel credit card strategies, Chris Hutchins emphasizes the value of Capital One points, which he used for a cost-effective trip from London. He and his wife both opened Venture X cards to capitalize on the sign-up bonus, considering the annual fee offset by travel credits and bonuses.

Building up some Capital One points was certainly beneficial because I was able to use them to transfer to Turgishare and get an amazing deal back home from London this year.

--- Chris Hutchins

Chris also utilizes the Amex Platinum for flights and specific hotel cards for stays, while his business expenses primarily go on the Chase Inc. Business Preferred and Capital One Spark Cash Plus cards. He advises listeners to sign up for cards through his site if they find the same offers elsewhere, ensuring they optimize their rewards 2.