New year, new approach: How to choose your best credit card strategy for 2026
Editor's Note
January is a time to plan for the next 12 months. While health and wellness often receive significant attention, personal finance should be top of mind as well. You might consider setting up a budget and planning to invest or open a new savings account.
But as you make these financial plans, don't forget to take some time to think about your 2026 credit card strategy as well.
Not sure where to start? Here's what we recommend to start your year on the right foot.
Identify your goals
As with most financial decisions, setting a goal helps determine the best credit card strategy for you. If you haven't already, consider your priorities for 2026. Some questions to ask yourself include:
- Are you taking a big trip you want to pay for with a specific type of points or miles?
- Are you planning a major expense this year and want a card with an introductory 0% annual percentage rate?
- Is the cost of living still pinching your wallet, and you want to focus on earning cash-back rewards?
- Do you want to improve your credit score?
Identifying your goals will guide your decisions about which cards to use more often, which to shelve or downgrade and which new cards to apply for.
Rearrange your wallet
With your 2026 goals in mind, take inventory of the cards you have and adjust what's in your wallet (physical and digital) accordingly.
For example, I spent the past few months earning welcome bonuses on a couple of new cards, so I used them for all my purchases. With those bonuses out of the way, I'm now maximizing the bonus categories for cards I already have.
If you're in a similar situation, take a moment to look at your current cards. If any of them have rotating categories, like the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees), note what the Q1 categories are and check that you've activated them. Also, determine which, if any, of your cards earn bonus points for categories like dining, grocery and travel spending. You'll also want to determine which of your cards offers the best earning structure for everyday purchases.
Once you know where each card fits, you can decide which to use for different purchases. You might end up designating your American Express® Gold Card for dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) for travel purchases and your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card for all other purchases.
When making your plan, remember that some rewards are more beneficial than others for your specific goals. If you want to focus on earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you might instead use your Sapphire Preferred card for dining. It earns 3 points per dollar on these purchases — slightly fewer than the Gold's 4 points per dollar on dining worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) — but you'll earn points that more directly support your travel goals.
Keep, cancel, downgrade
As you look through your card collection in light of your 2026 goals, consider whether it's worth paying the annual fee for each of your cards or whether you should consider downgrading any of them.
Additionally, suppose you notice any major benefits overlap between your cards, such as multiple cards that earn bonus points for streaming. In that case, you may banish one or more to the sock drawer and focus on using one this year to streamline your earnings in this category.
Plan your next card
Finally, identify gaps in your current card strategy before you start looking for your next credit card. This could be as simple as noting the types of points you're running low on and whether you want to earn more of them. It could also be a decision to wait a bit before opening any more cards if your credit score has taken a hit from recent inquiries.
Regardless of your goals, it's helpful to know which types of cards you want to get this year. Then, when a valuable bonus offer comes along, you know if it's worth it for you to jump on or if you're better off going after something else.
Bottom line
As you make your 2026 plans and resolutions, remember to take some time to adjust your credit card strategy for the year. No matter what your goals are this year, the right cards can make it even easier to achieve them.
Further reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees