The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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How everyday families can use the power of credit cards to support their lives
Nick Ewen is TPG's editor-in-chief and helps readers leverage credit cards (he has more than 25 of them) and loyalty programs to travel more for less. He's been at TPG for over 11 years.
November 4, 2026 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Credit cards can help families enhance travel experiences and support household finances through rewards and perks.
Adding children as authorized users can build their credit history and teach financial responsibility in a controlled way.
Selecting the right card depends on spending habits and goals, such as prioritizing cash back, avoiding foreign transaction fees or seeking flexible rewards.
One-time bonuses for new applicants can provide an immediate boost, while shifting everyday purchases from cash to cards can unlock additional value.
What to consider
Authorized user features may include spending limits to help manage young users' habits.
Some cards allow customization of reward categories, which can maximize returns based on individual spending patterns.
Choosing cards that waive foreign transaction fees is important for those with international expenses.
What you'll miss from the article
Real-life examples illustrating how different families tailored their card strategies to fit changing financial needs and life stages.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Many of us here at TPG love to leverage our favorite credit cards to enhance our travels. From trying out the newest lie-flat product to relaxing in an airport lounge, these products can go a long way in unlocking memorable experiences.
But for many Americans, credit cards represent a tangible way to support their household’s bottom lines — especially in the face of rising costs and the unexpected hurdles that life can throw in their way.
Recently, TPG founder Brian Kelly sat down with three everyday families to help them maximize their wallets — and the conversations demonstrated the true power of making rewards work for you.
Here are some real-world stories that show just what credit cards can unlock for you.
Building financial literacy
One of the most under-the-radar benefits of credit cards is how they can build financial literacy and set your children up for success in the real world. No, this isn’t about giving teens or young adults unfettered access to a big credit limit. Instead, it’s the power of adding them as an authorized user to an existing credit card.
That’s exactly what we recommended to Seungah Jeong for her 14-year-old daughter, Emi. She just started high school and is starting to spend her own money. By becoming an authorized user on her mom’s card, she can start building up a credit history for when she’s ready to go off on her own.
Even better? Some cards allow you to set individual spending limits for your authorized users, so your kids can learn about budgeting in a controlled environment.
Earning rewards where it matters most
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Everyone has different needs when it comes to credit cards, and making the most of your everyday spending requires two important items. Put simply, you need to know:
Where do you spend your money
How do you want to use your rewards
If you never eat out, a credit card with a bonus on dining purchases won’t do you any good. If you’re a frequent international traveler, you don’t want to swipe a card and incur foreign transaction fees. And if you focus on earning rewards with a single travel provider, you may be missing out on more flexible rewards.
We saw this play out with all the families we met.
Take the Goralczenkos. Parents Andrew and Tracy have quadruplets who are heading off to college, and both were laid off two years ago when the company they worked for suddenly went out of business. They had been collecting rewards on their favorite theme park credit card for years, but in their current situation, that’s not doing much for them.
Instead, they can shift their focus to cash-back rewards, picking up a new card that awards them 3% back on some of their biggest purchases — like gas and groceries.
It was a similar story with Seungah, whose 18-year-old son Oliver was heading off to Greece for college. Our recommendation was to get a new travel rewards card, specifically one that offers flexible rewards and waives foreign transaction fees. That means Oliver won’t be hit with up to 3% in fees every time he swipes the card in Europe.
Finally, there was Renee Lewis-Mance. She and her husband, Chris, are retired, but she’s very into the points game, focusing primarily on a single airline and a single hotel loyalty program. While these programs can be valuable, Renee is missing out on one of the biggest benefits of being retired: flexibility.
That’s why we recommended adding a new transferable rewards card to her wallet. Earning points or miles in one of these programs provides an array of redemption options when she’s planning a trip. She’s not locked into a single airline or hotel chain, which could limit her options.
Grabbing a one-time bonus
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Beyond earning with your everyday spending, most popular cards offer one-time bonuses for new applicants (subject to minimum spending requirements). This allows you to take home a big haul of points, miles or cash-back rewards up front while picking up a new card that better fits your spending habits.
This was particularly appealing for the Goralczenkos. The card we recommended came with a $100 welcome bonus, plus 3% back on some major everyday spending categories. That won’t get them a flight to Europe, but in their current situation, cash back is much more appealing.
Chris Mance found himself in a similar boat. He was able to grab a one-time, $200 cash-back bonus on a new card that was also a better fit for where he spends his money each month.
But even more importantly, this new card will help him address the final strategy ...
Avoiding using cash
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Here at TPG, we like to joke that there’s no “point” to using cash for your everyday purchases — but there’s certainly risk. Carrying around a bunch of cash leaves you vulnerable to theft, and even if you opt to swipe a debit card, you’re generally earning no rewards on those purchases.
That’s the exact situation that Chris Mance found himself in. While his wife (Renee) loves playing the points game, Chris usually pays cash or uses a debit card for his regular trips to Home Depot and the grocery store. However, by shifting those purchases to a cash-back credit card, he can unlock some significant rewards.
Based on our estimates, his grocery purchases alone could turn into $250 in cash back every year.
In addition, since Chris was spending a good chunk of money on home improvement purchases — tools, gardening supplies, plants — we recommended a card that will allow him to customize his rewards by picking a category to earn 6% back in the first year. That alone should net him around $300 in rewards.
The best part? This card had no annual fee.
In both cases, Chris isn’t spending more money than he already planned to spend. He’s just switching to a payment method that rewards him for his existing spending habits.
Bottom line
The world of credit cards features an array of products to meet the needs of virtually every American. Sure, there are options geared toward luxury travelers with a variety of benefits to help elevate their next trip. But many others can be a great fit for everyday pursuits, like shopping at the grocery store or building your child's credit history.
Ordinary families can easily take advantage of cash-back rewards to support their household bottom lines, and can boost their earnings by carefully analyzing their spending habits to select the best card(s) for their wallets.
And as long as you’re responsibly managing your credit and spending within your means, the only way to lose is by not participating at all.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
