Learn & Optimize

The Seattle Flyer's Guide: Best Travel Credit Cards for SEA (2026 Edition)

SEA isn't like other airports. This guide covers the best credit cards for Seattle frequent flyers in 2026, including lounge access strategies, Alaska Airlines perks, and winning card combos.

ATMOS Rewards (2026): The CardSavvy Guide to Alaska & Hawaiian Airlines for West Coast Hawaii Travelers

Alaska and Hawaiian's new unified Atmos™ Rewards program changes everything for West Coast Hawaii flyers. Learn the 3 earning modes, companion fare strategies, and airport-specific playbooks.

Bilt 2.0 Update (Jan 2026): The New Tiered Rent Points Option (And the Real Math)

Bilt just released 'Option 1' for rent rewards—a tiered system earning up to 1.25x points based on spend. We break down the math of Option 1 vs. Option 2 to help you choose.

2026: The Year the 'Coupon Book' Credit Card Finally Jumped the Shark

Premium travel cards have mutated into subscription bundles with rising fees and fragmented credits. Here's why 2026 credit card complexity hit a breaking point.

Bilt 2.0 Panic: Should You Transfer Your Points Before the Switch?

Worried about Bilt 2.0 devaluing your points? Here's why panic transferring is usually the wrong move—and when it actually makes sense to move your balance.

Bilt Card 2.0 Review: Is the 4% Back & Mortgage Rewards Hype Worth It?

Bilt launched a new card lineup with 4% Bilt Cash and mortgage rewards. We cut through the marketing math to reveal the real value of Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium.

Weekly Product Update: Comparator Tool, PDF Reports, and "Guest Mode"

A look at the new "Math First" features we launched this week, including the new Card Comparison engine and enhanced mobile experience.

Ramit Sethi’s “3 Credit Cards” Advice: A 2026 Review & Critique

We review Ramit Sethi’s 2026 credit card advice, analyze the new fees for the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum, and explain how a multi-card setup can earn you hundreds more.

Best “Unlimited” Spend Credit Cards in 2026: Yes, You Can Beat 2%

Why a flat-rate card is the anchor of any savvy wallet, and how to get better than 2% returns on your everyday spending.

Best Credit Card for Frequent Alaska Airlines Travelers (2026)

Living in SEA or fly Alaska often? Forget the hype—here is the math behind the newly rebranded Atmos™ Rewards cards vs. the Chase and Amex heavy hitters.

A 10% Interest Cap Sounds Great. Here’s Why It Could Kill Your Rewards.

Even the Spokesperson Got Declined: What a K-Pop “Card Denial” Can Teach You

IVE’s An Yujin went viral after being denied the very card she models for. Here’s why it happened and what it teaches us about credit eligibility vs. marketing.

Amex Gold vs. Amex Platinum: Rewards, Fees, and the "Coupon Book" Reality (2026)

Choosing between Amex Gold and Platinum in 2026? We break down the rewards, annual fees, and the 'coupon book' credits to help you decide.

The Real Annual Value of Paying Rent with Bilt in 2026

How much is paying rent with Bilt really worth? We crunch the numbers on points and the hidden 'float' value for 2026.

The 2026 Guide to Airport Lounge Access: Best Cards & New Rules

Airport lounge access has changed in 2026 with new visit caps and guest fees. We breakdown the best cards for lounge access from Chase, Capital One, and Amex.

The 5 Best Credit Cards for Costco in 2026 (That Beat the Store Card)

The Costco Anywhere Visa is good, but is it the best? We rank the top 5 credit cards for maximizing your Costco rewards in 2026, including hidden gems that earn up to 5%.

Are You *Really* Getting 2% Cash Back with Costco Executive? (The Math Says No)

The Costco Executive membership promises a 2% reward, but the $65 upgrade fee eats into your returns. We did the math to find your *true* effective cash-back rate.

The 7% Costco Hack? The Truth About the PayPal Debit Card Strategy

Does the PayPal Debit Card really earn 5% at Costco? We break down the math, the monthly limits, and how stacking it with Executive membership can net you 7% back—if you follow the rules.

Robinhood Gold Card at Costco: Is the '5% Cash Back' Strategy Real?

We verify the viral 5% Costco hack using Robinhood Gold. Is the math solid?

How My Family Earns 5.25% Cash Back on Online Shopping (And Doubles Our Rewards Cap)

We unlocked 5.25% cash back on almost everything we buy online by stacking Bank of America Preferred Rewards with a strategic category selection—here is the exact setup.

Are Premium Card Credits Real Value or Forced Spending? A “Coupon-Book” Scorecard (2026)

We score the biggest premium cards of 2026—Amex Platinum, CSR, Venture X, and Gold—using a strict "Real Value" rubric to see if they are worth the fee.

How My Family Earns 5.5% Cash Back at Costco (And Effectively Doubles Our Rewards Cap)

Learn how we stack the Costco Executive Membership with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards "Platinum Honors" tier to earn 5.5% back on wholesale club purchases—and how we navigated the spending limits.

Venture X vs. Sapphire Reserve: The 2026 Showdown

A clear, 2026-updated showdown between the simple Capital One Venture X and the perk-heavy Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The Best Grocery Credit Cards for 2026: A Practical Guide

A practical, narrative guide to the best grocery credit cards in 2026, comparing cash back vs points and covering key exclusions like Target and Walmart.

The 80/20 of Credit Card Rewards: The 5 Categories That Matter Most

Optimize these five categories and you will capture the majority of the upside without turning your life into a spreadsheet.

How Much Can Families Actually Save? The Math of Credit Card Optimization

Introducing CardSavvy: The Math-First Approach to Credit Card Rewards

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Welcome to Card Savvy

Why your wallet should be working harder than you do. Moving from simple payments to strategic arbitrage.

Our Promise: Unbiased, Math-First Recommendations

CardSavvy Optimizer Glossary (FAQ)

Definitions for Uplift, Upside, Net Value, and other key terms used in the CardSavvy Optimizer.

CSR vs. Prime Visa in 2026: The Quantitative Break-Even

A math-first break-even analysis for the new 2026 fee structure. When is the Chase Sapphire Reserve actually worth it over the Prime Visa?

The CardSavvy Philosophy: Math Over Marketing

Why your credit card strategy is probably wrong (and how to fix it without a spreadsheet).