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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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TPG staffers share their 2023 credit card New Year’s resolutions
Emily Thompson specializes in beginner content as a credit cards editor. She taps into her prior experience as a high school English teacher to help others demystify credit scores and unlock experiences that credit card rewards can make possible.
December 31, 2022 • 8 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.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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.
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Quick summary
TPG staffers share their credit card resolutions for the new year, focusing on improving habits and maximizing benefits.
Key goals include better tracking of merchant offers, optimizing spending categories and avoiding booking frustrations with travel portals.
Auditing card portfolios to eliminate overlapping benefits and strategically applying for new products under eligibility rules are highlighted.
Redeeming small, leftover points and miles balances is encouraged to prevent unused rewards from expiring.
What to consider
Some offers discussed in the article are no longer available.
Eligibility rules, such as the 5/24 guideline, can impact which products you can apply for and when.
Redundant benefits and unused rewards may lead to unnecessary costs or missed opportunities.
What you'll miss from the article
Specific staff strategies for tracking offers, managing overlapping benefits and making the most of eligibility windows.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As we enter another year, many of us are taking inventory of what we want to do better in different areas of our lives. And at TPG, credit cards are at the top of our list.
Below, some of our TPG staffers share their 2023 credit card resolutions and why you may want to make them, too.
Track merchant offers
TPG managing editor Melanie Lieberman plans to find a better system for tracking which cards have what offers. "I often kick myself for missing an offer because I didn't remember it was activated on a certain card," she says.
Senior points and miles writer Katie Genter also resolves to track credit card merchant offers, like Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers, more carefully. She says, "My husband and I have various lists that we jot available offers that we might use in but we need to find a better system. I also want to make a plan to check these offers regularly (like once a week) instead of whenever I remember. There's plenty of value to be found on purchases we're making anyway — I recently got 10% back on a Hyatt stay thanks to a Chase Offer — so not maximizing these offers is essentially leaving money on the table."
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Looking for and adding merchant offers to your cards is an easy way to save money and earn more points and miles on your purchases. No matter which credit cards you have, make sure you're taking advantage of available merchant offers this year.
TPG editor Erica Silverstein wants to make sure she's earning bonus points in all of her spending categories this year. She says, "My resolution is to find a card that gets me extra points for in-person supermarket and gas spending since I'm not maximizing these major expenses right now."
As you think about your credit card plan for the year, consider which cards earn bonus points and miles for your highest spending categories. You may realize you already have cards that offer bonuses for your major categories; if so, make sure you're intentional about which cards to use for different purchases. If you notice you have spending categories you can't maximize, however, you might want to focus on adding a card to cover that earning gap.
Avoid travel portals
Matt Moffitt, TPG's senior credit cards editor, wants to focus on letting go of a habit. He says, "My resolution is not to fall for earning more points on airfare by booking through travel portals, like Chase’s or Capital One’s offerings. In 2022, I had too many frustrating episodes in having to make changes to my bookings; it’s a nightmare with the portals and airlines passing the buck. I’d rather forgo the points for more streamlined management of my booking."
MONGKOL CHUEWONG/GETTY IMAGES
There are many things to consider when making a decision about whether to use a travel portal or book your travel directly with a hotel or airline. There are certainly some benefits, like earning more points and miles, but as Matt reminds us, there can also be some frustrating drawbacks. Make sure to evaluate whether a streamlined booking process or maximizing points-earning is most important to you when purchasing travel.
TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick wants to take a slightly more minimalist card approach. He says, "I have too many cards with benefits that are either redundant or that I don’t maximize. My resolution is to audit my cards, fees and benefits, and thin down my wallet a bit."
When we focus on cards with the highest welcome bonuses or flashiest perks, we can accidentally collect multiple cards with similar benefits. We often think the annual fees for our favorite cards are worth paying, but David's plan of a personal audit is a wise one. If you find you have multiple cards with similar benefits, it might be helpful to consolidate by canceling or downgrading some of them.
TPG staffers know that the card decisions we make when we find ourselves under Chase's 5/24 rule are critical.
Ryan Smith, credit cards writer, is carefully deciding what Chase cards he and his wife want to open next. He says, "Because my wife and I had a heavy dose of business credit card applications and upgrade offers, rather than new applications, over the past year, we are both under 5/24 right now."
"We want to be strategic about this since we didn't plan for it to happen. My wife already applied for the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card to take advantage of its best-ever offer and the Chase Sapphire Reserve during its elevated bonus late last year. I am considering my options with United credit cards and also plan to apply for the Ink Business Unlimited."
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TPG points and miles reporter Kyle Olsen finds himself in a similar situation and is planning accordingly. He says, "In January, I'll be back under Chase's 5/24 rule. While I don't see much value in Chase's suite of Marriott cobranded cards (especially given the uncertainty of Marriott Bonvoy points), I'm considering opening the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card."
"If the current grandfathered rules to the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from Chase remain, I'll be able to switch over from the Boundless to the Ritz-Carlton card after a year of holding the Boundless card. Even though the annual fee on the Ritz-Carlton card is $450 (instead of the $95 on the Boundless card), it would be worth it. The Ritz-Carlton card includes many lucrative benefits like three Ritz-Carlton club upgrades, $300 in airfare credits, an 85,000-point free night certificate and the same generous insurance benefits as the Chase Sapphire Reserve."
The information for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you aren't sure whether you're under 5/24, start here. And if you are or will be under 5/24 this year, we recommend your next card is one from Chase while you have the option.
TPG senior writer Benjamin Smithson wants to clean up his various leftover points and miles balances. He says his resolution is to "clear out entire balances. I keep stumbling across accounts with 5,000-10,000 points that I may never use because it's often too small to redeem for anything great."
If you haven't looked lately, you might be surprised to find several small rewards balances you have on cards you've banished to your sock drawer. The start of a new year is a great time to check all your rewards balances and either redeem or make a plan to replenish them.
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.
