All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he uses to stay on top of it all.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/whats-in-my-wallet-2026/

Link to Cards Mentioned: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/whats-in-my-wallet-for-2026/

Partner Deals

MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off

Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free

Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your money

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

CardTool App (Free access here)

⁠Credit Card Holder Wallet⁠

1Password

Blog Posts

Premium Card Worksheet

How to maximize your Hilton cards

6 reasons to avoid booking through an online travel agency

Existing Bank of America relationship customers to keep status longer

Credit Card Trackers


CardPointers Pro (30% off here and 50% off here)

CardRight

Travel Freely

ATH Podcast

Best Cards Page

CardTool App

Membership

Chris’s Card Optimization Spreadsheet

AMA: Submit A Question

Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(02:42) 3 Key Reasons to Get A Credit Card

(05:23) Chris' Credit Card Goals for 2026

(08:31) Evaluating The Net Annual Fee of A Card

(12:56) The Amex Card Stack

(23:19) Co-Branded Marriott Cards

(25:32) Co-Branded Hilton Cards

(27:00) Co-Branded Delta Cards

(28:12) The Amex Blue Card

(30:34) A Popular Bank's Cards

(33:10) World of Hyatt Business Card

(33:30) Co-Branded Southwest & United Cards

(40:41) More Cards From The Popular Bank

(42:11) Capital One Venture Cards

(45:17) Bank of America Card Stack

(51:09) Alaska Atmos Cards

(53:24) US Bank Cards

(55:22) Citi Bank Cards

(56:56) Wells Fargo Autograph Card

(57:43) The Bilt Palladium Card

(59:25) Assessing The Major Spending Categories

(01:06:32) Cards for Amazon & Costco

(01:07:13) The Best "Everything Else" Card

(01:08:47) Chris's Takeaway on Credit Card Spending Categories

(01:09:26) The Best Card Combos

(01:13:00) Credit Card Trackers

Connect with Chris

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty.

Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/navigating-change-maya-shankar

Partner Deals

Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift

Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software

Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Maya: Website | Instagram

Book: The Other Side of Change

Podcast: A Slight Change of Plans

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke

ATH Podcast

Ep #81: Making Smarter Decisions and Knowing When to Walk Away with Annie Duke

Ep #265: I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep

Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(00:38) What People Get Wrong About Change

(05:14) The Antidote That Makes Change Easier

(12:11) Past Change vs. Intentional Change

(16:02) Maximisers vs. Satisficers

(19:10) Anchor Your Identity to Your Why

(23:15) How to Discover Your Why

(25:03) Navigating Change With a Very Different Partner

(29:17) Breaking the Rumination Cycle

(29:58) Mental Time Travel

(31:55) Affect Labeling

(32:39) Tools for Better Self-Understanding

(36:01) AI as a Conversational Partner

(39:43) Tactics For Thinking Through Big Changes

(42:01) Moral Elevation

(43:36) Why Reading Fiction Matters

(44:29) Repurposing Your Experience

(45:34) The First Step When Everything Changes

(47:31) Where to Find More From Maya

Connect with Chris

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than ever before, and how he built a personal AI assistant that's already started to run his life behind the scenes.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/how-to-build-with-ai-tools

Partner Deals

Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS

Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances

NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

AI Models & Assistants

ChatGPT

OpenClaw

Gemini

Claude

AI Coding & Building Tools

Replit

Lovable

Cursor

Codex

Productivity & Automation Tools

Wispr Flow

Zapier

Nimble Links

Tampermonkey

Developer Infrastructure

Clerk

Supabase

GitHub

FinTech: Plaid

How to Run OpenClaw as your Virtual EA

Blogs

Doctor of Credit

Frequent Miler

The Points Guy

Deep Personality

Credit Cards

American Express® Gold Card

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Bilt 2.0

ATH Podcast

Ep #263: How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A

Chris’ Card Optimizer Tool

Ask Chris Anything!

Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:41) Why This Is the Best Time Ever to Build Software

(04:14) How to Build Almost Anything with AI

(13:53) Why Context Is the Real Superpower

(15:58) Using Planning Mode Instead of Guessing

(16:41) Which AI Tool Should You Start With?

(17:53) Building a Real Credit Card Optimizer from Scratch

(28:48) What It Actually Costs to Build with AI

(32:38) The Real AI Learning Curve

(33:38) Moving from Cursor to Claude Code

(36:17) Why You Should Try Building Something (Even If You're Not a Coder)

(37:00) How OpenClaw Changes the Game

(38:57) Why Security Still Matters

(42:25) A Conversation with Ted, Chris' AI Assistant

(44:07) Letting AI Work While You Sleep

(49:41) Learning to Be Clear, Specific, and Intentional

(50:03) Start with a Real Problem

(50:39) Breaking Projects into Small, Winnable Pieces

(50:58) What Would You Build If Building Were Easy?

(51:59) Keeping Track of Cost and Budget

Connect with Chris

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#264: Learn how the Bilt ecosystem works, from earning Bilt Rewards to the new cards, transfer partners, perks, and where the real value is. Whether you’re new or already earning, this is a practical guide to using Bilt strategically and avoiding common mistakes.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/bilt-ecosystem-explained

Partner Deals

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2

Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-commerce platform

Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS

Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Bilt 2.0

Bilt Blue Card (Rates and fees here)

Bilt Obsidian Card (Rates and fees here)

Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here)

Bilt Cash

Bilt Travel Portal

Bilt Dining

Bilt Home Design Collection

Complimentary BLADE airport flight

Mastercard World Elite Benefits Guide

Award Search Tools

Award Wallet


point.me (20% off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS20)

Gopuff

BevMo!

Rakuten ($50 bonus here)

Robinhood Gold Card

Frequent Miler Article: Bilt Housing Payments

ATH Podcast

Luxury Hotel Upgrade Program

Ask Chris Anything!

Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(02:28) What Makes Bilt Rewards Different

(07:03) How to Earn Bilt Points Without a Credit Card

(13:52) Referral Bonuses and Earning Limits

(14:17) How Rent and Mortgage Payments Work

(16:06) Earning Through the Bilt Neighborhood Network

(17:16) Earning Without a Card: The Real Tradeoffs

(17:46) How Bilt Point Redemptions Actually Work

(21:39) Transfer Partners and When Bonuses Matter

(24:18) How Bilt Status and Elite Tiers Work

(25:32) What Each Bilt Status Level Unlocks

(31:49) A Major Caveat With the New Bilt Cards

(34:36) Breaking Down the Current Bilt Card Lineup

(35:33) Bilt Blue Card

(37:34) Bilt Obsidian Card

(41:19) Bilt Palladium Card

(48:59) Housing Payments and What Changed

(50:16) Earning Based on Billing-Cycle Spend

(55:18) The Original Fee-Free Model

(59:26) Cash-Out and Statement Credit Options

(01:08:44) Simplifying the New Bilt Choices

(01:14:21) The Bilt Silver Lining

Connect with Chris

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#263: Chris breaks down exactly how he’s earned millions of points and miles, and why simplicity matters more than optimization. He covers signup bonuses, spending strategies, credit score impacts, business cards, cash-back alternatives, and how to decide when a card (or perk) is actually worth it.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/points-and-miles-simplified-credit-cards

Partner Deals

Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent

Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software

Notion: Try Notion Agent free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Credit Cards: Best Cards Page

Alaska Airlines Visa®

American Express® Green Card

American Express Platinum Card for Schwab

Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards


Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here)

Capital One Venture X Business

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

Coinbase One Card

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Robinhood Gold Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Venmo Credit Card

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Rakuten: Free $50 here

Business Payment Platforms: Plastiq | Melio

IRS Authorized Payment Providers

Pay1040

ACI Payments

Reddit: Credit Card Spend Needed to Achieve Each Airline Status Tier

ATH Podcast

Chris' Credit Card Optimizer Tool

Ask Chris Anything!

Membership

Gift Card Site

Ep #164: Earn Points Paying Taxes with a Credit Card (+ Latest Deals/News)

Ep #200: Debunking Tax Myths, Avoiding Audits and Maximizing Savings with Jasmine DiLucci

Ep #221: Deep Dive on Credit Reports, Scores, and Their Real-World Impact

Ep #247: Deep Dive on Bank of America Credit Cards (Up to 5.25% Cash Back)

Ep #248: How to Stop Over-Optimizing and Focus on What Matters with Tim Ferriss

Ep #258: My Top 5 Mistakes with Points & Miles

Ep #261: Goals, Tools, and Mindset Shifts for a Better 2026 with Kevin Rose

Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction(01:26) How Chris Has Earned 15+ Million Points(03:46) Why Signup Bonuses Still Matter More than Everything Else(05:04) The Role Everyday Spending Actually Plays(08:42) When Transfer Bonuses Are Worth It(12:24) How Chris Leverages Referral Bonuses(13:24) What Having "Too Many" Credit Cards Really Does to Your Credit Score(16:13) How Many Signup Bonuses per Year Is Reasonable?(16:44) Why Spend Requirements Are the Real Bottleneck(18:23) Approval Odds and Timing Applications(22:04) Getting Approved for Business Cards (Without A Business)(27:23) Maximizing Rewards without Overcomplicating It(30:18) When Cash Back Is the Better Option(32:48) Best Cards for Big, One-Time Expenses like Weddings(37:24) Making Sense of Card Rules and Restrictions (38:13) Annual Fees: How to Decide if They're Worth Paying(41:12) Paying Taxes with a Credit Card(46:28) How to Think about Points if You Mostly Care about Hotels(49:10) Is CLEAR Worth It?(51:48) How DoorDash Credits Work(53:25) Is There a Shortcut to Airline Loyalty Status?(57:04) The Best Credit Card for Costco Spending(59:19) Are the New Bilt Cards Actually Bad?

Connect with Chris

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