{"id":116253,"date":"2026-07-07T23:52:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T23:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=116253"},"modified":"2026-07-07T23:52:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T23:52:03","slug":"3-credit-cards-everyday-wallet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/3-credit-cards-everyday-wallet\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 Credit Cards That Earn a Place in My Everyday Wallet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When I share stories with my friends about the flights and hotel stays I've taken thanks to points and miles, their first question is always &#8220;which card should I get?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>My answer isn't what they expect. I tell them they shouldn't get one card \u2014 they should get at least three.<\/p>\n<p>The reality is that no single credit card is the best at everything. One card might earn bonus rewards on travel, while another shines on groceries, dining, or everyday purchases. Fortunately, you don't need a wallet full of credit cards to maximize your rewards \u2014 just a small lineup with complementary bonus categories to cover your spending.<\/p>\n<p>Here's the three-card setup that I myself use everyday and recommend to others, too.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Why_Three_Cards_Instead_of_One\">Why Three Cards Instead of One?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many people try to find one credit card that can do everything. The problem is that it just doesn't exist.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, I think of my credit cards as a team where each one has a specific job. One is my everyday card that handles purchases outside bonus categories. Another earns the bulk of my grocery and dining rewards. And the third fills in whatever gaps remain based on my spending habits and travel goals.<\/p>\n<p>Between these cards, there's very little spending left that isn't earning a strong return.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Card_One_My_Everyday_Card\">Card One: My Everyday Card<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If I had to pick just one card out of the options mentioned in this article, it would be the <a data-ccid=\"4048272\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CapitalOneVentureXRewardsCreditCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/a>. It's the card I reach for whenever a purchase doesn't fit into one of my other bonus categories. That's because it earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.<\/p>\n<p>Just as importantly, those miles can be transferred to one of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/capital-one-transfer-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Capital One's airline and hotel partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond earning rewards, it also includes several useful <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/venture-x-benefits\/\" rel=\"noopener\">travel benefits<\/a>, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/capital-one-rewards\/venture-x-travel-credit\/\" rel=\"noopener\">$300 annual Capital One Travel credit<\/a><\/li>\n<li>10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/tsa-precheck\/\" rel=\"noopener\">TSA PreCheck or Global Entry<\/a> application fee credit<\/li>\n<li>Access to Capital One Lounges and participating <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/travel\/priority-pass-lounges-guide\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Priority Pass<\/a> lounges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I don't use the Capital One Venture X for everything, though. That's because my next card earns way more on one of my biggest spending categories: food.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4048272\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/94\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/CardArt-CapitalOneVentureXRewardsCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a data-ccid=\"4048272\" class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card' href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CapitalOneVentureXRewardsCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$395<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel-focused card, stacked with benefits. Cardholders get complimentary access to Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass\u2122 lounges (after enrollment), receive up to a $300 annual travel credit for bookings via Capital One Travel and up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. There's also an anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles, equivalent to $100 towards travel. High earning rates include 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2X on all other purchases.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/VentureX\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-8-5f959878e#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Card_Two_Maximize_Food_Spending\">Card Two: Maximize Food Spending<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The second card in my wallet \u2014 the <a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/a> \u2014 has one job: earning as many points as possible on food. Between groceries and restaurants, this is one of my largest spending categories every month. I use the Amex Gold to maximize these purchases. The card earns:<\/p>\n<p><ul><li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n        <li>5X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>3X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com\r\n        <li>1X on other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul><\/p>\n<p>The card's dining and grocery earning rates are excellent on their own, but the monthly statement credits are what make the annual fee much easier to justify. Since I already order takeout, use Uber, and occasionally eat at Resy restaurants, I'm using benefits I'm already paying for anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Together with the Capital One Venture X, these two cards cover the vast majority of my everyday spending.<\/p>\n<p>And compared to other competing products, it's easily the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/best-credit-card-for-dining\/\" rel=\"noopener\">best card to use when spending on food and drinks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"4028085\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/4206696d-827e-44e5-bfc0-d0ce86822875.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express\u00ae Gold Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express\u00ae Gold Card' data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nFind Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nFind Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$325<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card stands out for its robust rewards, especially for food enthusiasts. It offers 4X points on dining worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X), and 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. Cardholders can take advantage of multiple annual dining credits at select locations and up to $120 in Uber Cash credits for U.S. rides and Uber Eats (received as $10 monthly credits), just add your American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card to your account in the Uber app and select it as the payment method. Enrollment required for select American Express benefits.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards&#xAE; Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.<\/li><li>Earn 4X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.<\/li><li>Earn 4X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.<\/li><li>New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.<\/li><li>Earn 3X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.<\/li><li>Earn 2X Membership Rewards&#xAE; points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.<\/li><li>Earn 1X Membership Rewards&#xAE; point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.<\/li><li>Pay It&#xAE; lets you tap in the American Express&#xAE; App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It&#xAE; gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.<\/li><li>Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.<\/li><li>$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express&#xAE; Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.<\/li><li>$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express&#xAE; Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.<\/li><li>$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.<\/li><li>New! As an American Express&#xAE; Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star&#xAE; Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.<\/li><li>Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.<\/li><li>Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind - backed by American Express&#xAE; service and support. Only for American Express&#xAE; Card Members.<\/li><li>Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24\/7.<\/li><li>No Foreign Transaction Fees.<\/li><li>Annual Fee is $325.<\/li><li>Terms Apply.<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul><li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n        <li>5X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>3X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com\r\n        <li>1X on other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/GoldAmex\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-8-5f959878e#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"The_Third_Spot_in_My_Wallet_Is_the_Most_Flexible\">The Third Spot in My Wallet Is the Most Flexible<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The first two cards in my wallet have stayed relatively consistent over the years. Spot number three, however, is the one I'm constantly revisiting.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, these are my two favorite options.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Option_one_Bilt_Palladium_Card\">Option one: Bilt Palladium Card<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For renters who can maximize its benefits, I think the <a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BiltPalladiumCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) deserves some consideration.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest draw is the ability to earn transferable Bilt Points on eligible rent and mortgage payments while also earning strong rewards on everyday purchases. Since housing is one of the largest monthly expenses for many people, being able to earn transferable points on those payments can add up quickly.<\/p>\n<p>I also like Bilt because of its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-transfer-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer partners<\/a>. I frequently redeem points with programs like <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/alaska-atmos-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Alaska Airlines<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/world-of-hyatt\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World of Hyatt<\/a>, both of which offer excellent value and play a huge role in my award travel strategy.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest drawback is the $495 annual fee (<a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>). However, if you're maximizing the card's travel credits, earning and burning <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-cash\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Cash<\/a>, and participating in the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/bilt-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt Rewards<\/a> program at large, the math can work surprisingly well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"remark\"><strong><em>Note: <\/strong>Bilt Cash expires at the end of each calendar year. Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"212\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CardArt-BiltPalladiumCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Bilt Palladium Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Bilt Palladium Card' data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BiltPalladiumCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$495<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Bilt Palladium Card delivers premium value through a mix of strong everyday earning, substantial annual travel credits, and flexible rewards that can be used for both luxury travel and real-life expenses like rent and mortgage payments. With a high-value welcome bonus, Priority Pass access, and generous ongoing credits, it's well-suited for cardholders who want elevated benefits alongside practical redemption options.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ??>\n<html><body><ul><li>Earn points on housing payments with no transaction fee<\/li><li>Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.<\/li><li>2X points on everyday spend<\/li><li>$400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.<\/li><li>$200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.<\/li><li>Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/li><li>Priority Pass ($469\/year value). See <a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biltrewards.com\/terms\/palladium-card-guide-to-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guide to Benefits<\/a>.<\/li><li>Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.<\/li><\/ul><\/body><\/html>\n<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points on everyday spend<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/BiltPalladium\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-8-5f959878e#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Option_two_Wells_Fargo_Autograph_Card\">Option two: Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If paying another annual fee doesn't appeal to you, I'd look at the <a data-ccid=\"5048294\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-WellsFargoAutographCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"5048294\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsfargo.com\/credit-cards\/autograph-visa\/terms\/?product_code=CC&subproduct_code=AU&FPID=012988I6P10000&sub_channel=AFF&vendor_code=IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>) instead.<\/p>\n<p>This card fills in several spending categories that neither Capital One Venture X nor  covers particularly well, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gas<\/li>\n<li>Transit<\/li>\n<li>Phone plans<\/li>\n<li>Streaming services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It's also exciting to see <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/wells-fargo-rewards\/transfer-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Wells Fargo continue expanding its transfer partner program<\/a>, making the points significantly more valuable than they were just a few years ago.<\/p>\n<p>For someone looking to keep costs low while still rounding out a three-card wallet, I think this is one of the strongest no-annual-fee options available.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"5048294\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/merchant.linksynergy.com\/fs\/banners\/40602\/40602_58.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Wells Fargo Autograph\u00ae Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Wells Fargo Autograph\u00ae Card' data-ccid=\"5048294\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-WellsFargoAutographCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><span class=\"qs-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"5048294\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsfargo.com\/credit-cards\/autograph-visa\/terms\/?product_code=CC&subproduct_code=AU&FPID=012988I6P10000&sub_channel=AFF&vendor_code=IM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong>\r\nEarn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$0<\/b><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-tabs\"><a class=\"qs-more\" href=\"#more\">Show more<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"wwl\">Why We Like It<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"hl\">Highlights<\/a><a href=\"\" data-tab=\"er\">Earning Rates<\/a><div class=\"qs-tab-wwl\">The Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card rewards cardholders with diverse spending requirements, offering unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. It enhances travel experiences with benefits like an auto rental collision damage waiver, emergency assistance, and Roadside Dispatch<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>, and no annual fee.<\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-hl\"><ul><li>Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.<\/li><li>Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.<\/li><li>Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.<\/li><li>$0 annual fee.<\/li><li>0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR thereafter.<\/li><li>Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.<\/li><li>Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.<\/li><li>Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24\/7 Visa Signature<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Concierge.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"qs-tab-er\"><ul>\r\n<li>3x on travel \u2013 including airfare, hotels, car rentals, timeshares, cruises, and more<\/li>\r\n<li>3x on transit \u2013 including parking, tolls, subways, ride shares, railways, ferries, and more<\/li>\r\n<li>3x on dining \u2013 including dining in, take-out, catering,\r\ndelivery and more<\/li>\r\n<li>3x at gas stations \u2013 including gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations<\/li>\r\n<li>3x on phone plans \u2013 including landline providers and cell phones<\/li>\r\n<li>3x on streaming services<\/li>\r\n<li>1x on other purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/WellsAutograph\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-8-5f959878e#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Are_Multiple_Annual_Fees_Worth_It\">Are Multiple Annual Fees Worth It?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This is the second most popular question I get asked. And yes, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/cameron-card-portfolio\/\" rel=\"noopener\">paying annual fees<\/a> on multiple credit cards can be expensive. But I've found it's more helpful to think about the value each card provides instead of the number printed on the statement.<\/p>\n<p>The Capital One Venture X&#8216;s travel credit and anniversary bonus miles offset much of its annual fee for me. Likewise, I naturally use enough of the  card's monthly credits that the effective cost is much lower than the advertised annual fee.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, every person's spending habits are different. If you won't use the benefits or statement credits a card offers, there's no reason to pay for them. But if your lifestyle already aligns with those perks, paying multiple annual fees can actually result in greater overall value while helping you earn substantially more rewards.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>My wallet has changed over the years as new cards have launched and benefits have evolved. One thing, however, has remained the same: I've never found a single credit card that does everything well. Instead, I've had the most success by pairing a few complementary cards that each serve a specific purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, that's my Capital One Venture X, Amex , and either the Palladium Card or Wells Fargo Autograph, depending on what I'm trying to optimize.<\/p>\n<p>You don't need to build the exact same wallet I have. But if you start thinking about your credit cards as a team rather than individual products, you'll earn far more rewards from the purchases you're already making \u2014 without carrying a wallet full of cards.<\/p>\n<div class=\"compare-cards-wrap compare-count-cards-3 compare-p-cardless\"><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/94\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/CardArt-CapitalOneVentureXRewardsCreditCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> Earn 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a data-ccid=\"4048272\" data-exit=\"ccw\" class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card' href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CapitalOneVentureXRewardsCreditCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$395<\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--6\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel<\/li>\r\n<li>2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nextinsure.com\/imaging\/opt\/4206696d-827e-44e5-bfc0-d0ce86822875.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"American Express\u00ae Gold Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">American Express<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Gold Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nFind Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-how-apply\" title='American Express\u00ae Gold Card' data-ccid=\"4028085\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-AmericanExpressGoldCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">How to Apply<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$325<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"4028085\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanexpress.com\/us\/credit-cards\/card-application\/apply\/prospect\/terms\/gold-card\/91101-10-0\/?print#terms-details\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><br>(Terms apply)<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--5\"><strong>Credit Score<\/strong><p>Excellent, Good<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul><li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>4X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)<\/li>\r\n        <li>5X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>3X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com<\/li>\r\n        <li>2X Membership Rewards<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com\r\n        <li>1X on other eligible purchases<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-card\"><div class=\"compare-pre\"><div class=\"compare-image\"><div><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CardArt-BiltPalladiumCard.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Bilt Palladium Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-name\">Bilt Palladium Card<\/div><div class=\"compare-offer\"><strong>Welcome Bonus<\/strong> 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-apply\"><a class=\"btn-use qs-apply-now\" title='Bilt Palladium Card' data-ccid=\"212\" data-exit=\"ccw\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/BiltPalladiumCard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div><div class=\"compare-fee-score\"><div class=\"compare-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee<\/strong><p>$495<span class=\"compare-terms\"><a data-ccid=\"212\" href=\"https:\/\/legal.cardless.com\/rates_and_fees\/bilt\/rates_and_fees.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"compare-rating compare-rating--0\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"compare-earning\"><ul>\r\n<li>Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.<\/li>\r\n<li>2X points on everyday spend<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div id=\"ftoc\"><div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Why_Three_Cards_Instead_of_One\">Why Three Cards Instead of One?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Card_One_My_Everyday_Card\">Card One: My Everyday Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Card_Two_Maximize_Food_Spending\">Card Two: Maximize Food Spending<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#The_Third_Spot_in_My_Wallet_Is_the_Most_Flexible\">The Third Spot in My Wallet Is the Most Flexible<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Option_one_Bilt_Palladium_Card\">Option one: Bilt Palladium Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Option_two_Wells_Fargo_Autograph_Card\">Option two: Wells Fargo Autograph<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Are_Multiple_Annual_Fees_Worth_It\">Are Multiple Annual Fees Worth It?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Bottom_Line\">Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The best credit card strategy isn&#8217;t about finding one perfect card. It&#8217;s about building a wallet where each card has a specific job. Here&#8217;s the three-card setup I use to maximize everyday spending, earn transferable points, and get more value from every purchase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":115826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12055],"tags":[12520,12621],"coauthors":[36397],"class_list":["post-116253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-credit-cards","tag-card-benefits","tag-earning-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116253"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":264216,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116253\/revisions\/264216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116253"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=116253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}