The travel rewards game just got harder

04/28/26 - Tuesday

April 28, 2026

 

Hey friend,

Before we get into today’s episode, I (Jen) am asking for your help ❤️

I’m running the Disney World Marathon on January 10th (!!) and raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

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Even $5 helps. Truly.

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Now… let’s talk credit cards.

🎧 This week’s episode: “The Credit Card Rewards Game Is Changing (And Banks Are Winning)”

And I wish I could say that title is just us being dramatic… but it’s not.

Banks are:

  • Raising annual fees

  • Making perks harder to use

  • Quietly devaluing points so they’re worth less than they used to be

There have been multiple reports lately showing issuers tightening rewards and increasing costs, especially on premium cards. 

Translation: the “free travel” game is getting more expensive to play.

So if you’ve felt like your points don’t stretch as far anymore… you’re not imagining it.

BUT. (Because there’s always a but.)

You can still travel affordably using points. You just can’t play the game the same way anymore.

In the episode, we break down:

  • What’s actually changing behind the scenes

  • Why banks are shifting the rules

  • How to adjust your strategy so you still come out ahead

Because at the end of the day, we’re not trying to win at credit cards.

We’re trying to use them to get more of what we love, without going broke.

✨ One practical thing you can do this week

Take inventory of your current cards.

💭 Ask:

Am I actually using the perks I’m paying for?
Are these points still worth it for how I travel?

If not, it might be time to simplify. If you need a place to organize your travel reward cards and benefits be sure to check out our Annual Finance Planner.

There’s are 12 tabs to organize everything important to you on an annual basis (think work and insurance benefits, etc) and one of them is just for travel rewards.

While you’re in the process of simplifying…Don’t forget about old 401(k)s!

I don’t have to remind you (but I will) that I lost out on $5,000 of potential gains for retirement because I rolled over my 401(k) incorrectly. That’s why we keep telling you about Capitalize. **

Capitalize helps you find and roll over old retirement accounts into one place, for free, without the usual paperwork headache.

It’s one of those “future you will be so glad you did this” moves.

(And yes, if you use our link, we may earn a commission. We only share things we’d use ourselves.)

If you listen to the episode, leave a comment and tell us:
Are you still team travel rewards… or are you over it?

Cheering you on (in running shoes and all),
Jen

**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.