It’s been a while since I’ve written a pure “What’s in our wallets” post.
Last year’s version was intentionally different. Instead of constantly shuffling cards, the focus was on hitting big spending thresholds — free nights, elite status boosts, and large one-time bonuses. That strategy worked. It simplified spending decisions and delivered exactly what it was supposed to.
But heading into 2026, the math looks different.
Between trips we took in 2025 and trips already booked (or about to be booked) for 2026, we spent a lot of points. We had the buffer to do it — which is the whole point of earning points in the first place — but now the priority has shifted from threshold bonuses to rebuilding balances.
At the same time, I’m actively working on three different spending bonuses, which naturally pulls attention toward a different mix of cards than last year.
So this year’s wallet isn’t about chasing one or several large spending requirements. It’s about:
- Reloading points we actually use
- Keeping hotel balances healthy
- Finishing the bonuses already in progress
- Staying flexible when plans (inevitably) change
And unlike most years, I’m writing this post as a combined wallet rather than splitting it into “Joe’s” and “Sharon’s.” With our shared goals, trips, and overlapping spending, separating them didn’t add much value.
Our stay at Great Scotland Yard in London was great, but spending 100,000 Hyatt points… not so much
How This Wallet Is Structured
This isn’t a list of “best cards.” It’s a snapshot of what we’re actually using right now — and why.
Cards fall into a few buckets:
- Cards we’re actively using to finish spending bonuses
- Cards we might use to hit annual thresholds (if it makes sense)
- Cards we’ll use for everyday spending to rebuild transferable points
What’s different for 2026 isn’t just which cards we’re using — it’s the mindset behind them.
Cards We’re Using to Finish Spending Bonuses
This is the biggest difference from last year.
In 2025, the plan was straightforward: concentrate spending, hit a few large thresholds, and don’t overthink every swipe.
For 2026, I’m juggling three active bonuses at once. That means some spending is getting deliberately funneled — even when another card might technically earn more points per dollar.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (Upgrade Offer)
Instead of applying for a new card, I accepted an upgrade offer on my legacy Marriott Bonvoy Amex. The structure is a little different than a typical welcome bonus — and it comes with a higher spend requirement — but it still gives us a clear target:
- 85,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in 6 months (from the upgrade date), plus
- One bonus Free Night Award after spending an additional $3,000 (for $9,000 total) in those same 6 months
We’ve already knocked out the spending requirement for the points. What’s left now is finishing the remaining spend to earn the extra free night.
JetBlue Business
We’re not exactly short on JetBlue points — Sharon’s 350,000-point promo haul made sure of that — but there’s still a bonus worth completing.
We have a full year to spend an additional $4,000 to earn 20,000 more points, so there’s no rush. That makes this an easy place to send some 2026 spending without needing to prioritize it above everything else.
Bilt Palladium
When it came down to it, I went with the Bilt Palladium card, largely because the bonus structure is refreshingly clean:
- Earn 50,000 Bilt Points and unlock Gold Status when you spend $4,000 on purchases (excluding rent or mortgage) in your first 3 months, starting 2/7/26
That’s a manageable target that won’t derail the rest of the year — and it fits well alongside the other bonuses already in progress.
Spending Thresholds We Might Chase (But Aren’t Married To)
Beyond those three bonuses, there are a few thresholds we could go after — namely Hilton and Hyatt free nights for spending 15K and the $200 Delta voucher with the Gold Business AMEX for spending $10K.
Right now, the only one I’m seriously leaning toward is Hyatt.
If I can knock out the Hyatt spend requirement early in the year, we could stack:
- the free night earned from that spending threshold at the end of 2025,
- the free night I’ll earn in 2026,
- and the annual free night that comes with the card,
…which could translate into a three-night stay at a Category 1–4 Hyatt.
The catch is obvious: I’m still not sure what our 2026 travel calendar will look like — or how reasonable it will be to use multiple certificates without forcing a trip just to burn them.
So for now, this is firmly in the “if it makes sense” category, not the “we must do this no matter what” bucket.
Everyday Spending Cards: Rebuilding Balances
Once the bonus spend is accounted for, the bigger question becomes which points we want to rebuild.
Looking at balances right now, Citi ThankYou points are the most depleted. That makes the Citi trifecta an obvious option:
- Citi Premier
- Citi Custom Cash
- Citi Double Cash
That setup would let us steadily rebuild a flexible currency we’ve used heavily in the past.
The alternative is leaning back into American Express Membership Rewards, using a combination of the Amex Gold and Blue Business Plus cards to maximize category bonuses and uncapped spend.
And then there’s Capital One.
I still go back and forth on how useful Venture X cards really are for us. Capital One points absolutely have value — but I wonder if I’m spending them because I have them to spend, or if I could just have spent a different bank’s points for the same program. That means whether they become a primary focus or stay in a secondary role is still up in the air.
In other words, the everyday spending portion of this wallet is intentionally not locked in yet.
The Wild Card Factor
Of course, there’s one thing that can blow up every carefully thought-out plan:
A huge sign-up bonus.
At some point in 2026, there will almost certainly be a card with a bonus that’s simply too good to ignore. When that happens, spending priorities will shift, plans will be reevaluated, and this wallet will evolve again.
And honestly? That’s part of the fun.
Final Thought: Wallets Are Cyclical
There’s no single “right” credit card setup.
Wallets change based on:
- Trips taken
- Trips planned
- Points balances
- Current bonuses
- And real-life spending patterns
Last year was about maximizing big thresholds.
This year is about reloading the tank — while staying flexible enough to adjust when opportunities (or temptations) show up.
So… What’s Actually In Our Wallets?
Right now, the physical wallet situation is surprisingly simple.
I’m carrying:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express
- World of Hyatt Visa
Sharon is essentially down to a one-card wallet, and she’s carrying the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant as well (she’s been an authorized user since way back, so it makes sense for both of us to work towards meeting the bonus).
When the time comes, I’ll add the Bilt card into the mix — and I’ll hand Sharon the JetBlue Business card so she can finish off those remaining spending requirements.
And after that?
Who knows.
That’s always the reality with wallets like this. You can make a plan, you can have a strategy, and then a new bonus, a new trip, or a better-than-expected offer shows up, and everything shifts again.
For 2026, the goal is simple: reload points, finish the bonuses we’ve already started, and stay flexible enough to pivot when it makes sense.
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