Points and Postcards

10/11/2026

This Marriott card has the highest annual fee of any hotel card we carry.

But we think it's worth it. If you frequent Marriott, the Brilliant can be a solid addition to your portfolio.

Here's why:

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant worth the $650 annual fee? Here's our review after adding the card for Marriott Platinum status, elite nights, and hotel benefits.

10/04/2026

Q4 is here, and that means new 5x categories on the Freedom and Freedom Flex. This quarter includes groceries and dining, which should make it easy for many people to earn the maximum 7,500 Chase UR points per card.
Plus, if you spend on dining, that could actually be 7x, up to 10,500 UR points.
All the details plus how to maximize (and earn even more) in our latest post:

The Chase Freedom Q4 2026 categories include grocery stores, dining and American Red Cross donations. See how to earn 5x, plus 7x dining with Freedom Flex.

09/27/2026

Ever heard the term "earn and burn"?

It's a popular phrase in the travel hacking community. In short, it means to use your points, don't sit on them! A points balance isn't a high-yield savings account. You don't earn more points the longer they sit there.

Wonder why that is? We have all the details here:

Learn what "earn and burn" means in the points and miles world and why waiting to use your rewards can actually cost you. Here's why we redeem points instead of hoarding them.

09/20/2026

Let's face it - the majority of us shop at Amazon. Its convenience is just that good.
And while they frequently get our money, it's not the easiest place to earn points and miles beyond the base on our credit card. But there are ways to turn that shopping into points and miles for your future trips.
We just refreshed our Amazon post. Give it a read if you ever shop at Amazon - especially if you're planning to shop Prime Big Deal Days in early October!

Maximize your rewards on Amazon Prime Day 2025 with top credit card strategies, gift card hacks, and stacking apps to earn more points and miles.

09/14/2026

Heard of travel hacking but not sure what it is?
Know that people use points and miles to travel for "free" and want to know how to get started?

Our beginner's guide is for you! Everything you wanted to know about what travel hacking is and how to do it - even with no experience.

What is travel hacking? In the most simple terms, it's using points and miles to travel for free or at heavily reduced rates.

09/06/2026

Ever heard of Rakuten?

It's an online shopping portal where you can earn cash back or points for travel (via Amex or Bilt) on purchases you were already making. There's no extra charge, and all it takes is one click quick when you're on the site you're going to shop.

Want to learn more? Read all about it in our latest post:

What is Rakuten? This cash back shopping portal is an easy way to save money OR earn points for travel hacking.

08/30/2026

Did you know that you could turn your Starbucks visits into points and miles for travel?

From earning extra credit card points to Marriott Bonvoy points and Delta & United airline miles, this is a super easy way to earn towards your next trip.

Details here:

Learn how to earn Starbucks Stars, airline miles, and credit card rewards on every Starbucks purchase using simple stacking strategies.

08/23/2026

Got a furry friend at home? Then you obviously have expenses: toys, beds, food, kitty litter, medicines, etc.

Why not turn those recurring charges into future travel? We're all about turning spending you're already doing into points and miles for your next trip, so here are all the ways you can use your pet purchases to earn more points and miles without spending more money:

08/16/2026

Ever feel like you just can't bear to cook dinner and just decide you're going to order in? While it's not the most economic decision, delivery convenience just can't be beat.
And so if you're spending that money anyways, why not turn that spend into points and miles for travel? Whether you use DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats, it's super easy to capitalize on that spend for your next trip.
Here's how:

Learn our top strategies to earn the maximum amount of points and miles on food delivery to turn your spend into trips!

08/09/2026

There's a perception that travel hacking means frequently opening new credit cards. And while that's how you can earn the most amount of points and miles quickly, it's not the only way to earn points and miles.

Just dipping your toe in? Don't want to open a new card? Can't hit the minimum spend? Here are easy ways to earn points and miles without opening a new credit card.

Learn how to earn points and miles without opening a new credit card. From shopping portals and dining programs to referral bonuses and retention offers, these are the strategies we use to earn hundreds of thousands of points each year.