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Is This Hobby For Me?

If you’ve been curious about opening credit cards to earn points and miles, you’re probably wondering: is this actually for me? The truth is, this little “travel points” hobby works best for people who already have certain money habits in place.

Here’s the quick gut check:

You always pay off your credit cards in full.

If you’re carrying balances month to month, the sky-high interest rates will wipe out any free travel you earn. Rule number one: points only make sense if you never pay interest.
You spend at least around $1,500 a month on things you could put on a card.

Think groceries, daycare, insurance, utilities, day-to-day expenses. If most of your life already goes on plastic, you’re in great shape.
Your credit score hangs out in the mid-700s.

That’s the sweet spot for getting approved for the top cards with the biggest bonuses.

Did you answer “no” to one of these? Don’t panic—it’s often fixable. A lot of recurring bills can easily be switched from ACH or debit to credit card (usually with no extra fee). And if your credit score isn’t quite there yet, you can bump it up fairly quickly by paying off existing balances (starting with the smallest ones) and never missing a due date. Timely payments are the fastest way to see your score climb.

Final Thoughts

If you’re disciplined about paying your bills and your spending already flows through cards, this hobby can open the door to free flights, hotel stays, and adventures you might not have thought possible.

My Credit Score- Will Opening Credit Cards Tank It?

Short answer? Nope — not if you play it smart.

My husband and I have been opening 3–4 new cards a year for the past five years, and guess what? Our credit scores are still hanging out in the 800s. 🎉 So yes, it’s totally possible to rack up those sweet points without wrecking your credit. Here’s how we keep things in the safe zone:

Give it some breathing room.
Don’t go wild and apply for five cards in one weekend. We try to wait at least 90 days between new applications. If we hit the minimum spend early and are ready for another bonus, the other spouse takes a turn. (Pro tip: referring each other back and forth is an easy way to snag extra points!)
Never carry a balance.
This one’s non-negotiable. Paying interest on a rewards card is like ordering dessert and then throwing it in the trash — totally defeats the purpose. Always pay in full, every month.
Mix personal and business cards.
If you qualify, business cards are awesome because most don’t even show up on your personal credit report. That means less impact on your score, and more points in your pocket. Don’t think you have a business? You might be surprised — I wrote a post about that here.

Final Thoughts

Think of it like cooking a great meal — follow the recipe, don’t rush it, and the end result is worth savoring.

Staying Organized & the 5/24 Rule—What You Need to Know

The “5/24 rule” is Chase’s not-so-secret way of gatekeeping their best credit cards. Here’s how it works: if you’ve opened 5 or more personal credit cards (from any bank!) in the past 24 months, Chase will usually deny you for a new card—personal or business.

What does count toward 5/24?

All personal cards — Yes, even those sneaky store cards from Old Navy, Target, or Kohl’s that promise you $10 off at checkout. Skip those. That $10 could end up costing you thousands in free travel opportunities.
Authorized user cards — If someone adds you as an AU on their account, it shows up on your report and counts against your 5/24. If you’ve already been added, don’t stress—it’s not the end of the world. But moving forward, avoid it if you can.

What doesn’t count?

Business cards! (Well, most of them.) This is why they’re such a game-changer in the points-and-miles world. Business cards let you keep earning rewards without adding to your 5/24 tally.
🚨 Exceptions: A few business cards do report, like those from Discover, TD Bank, and some Capital One cards.

One thing to note: even though Chase business cards don’t add to your count, you usually need to already be under 5/24 to get approved for them.

Pro tip ✈️

I use a free tool called Travel Freely to keep track of my 5/24 status, and I also rely on this simple spreadsheet I created to stay on top of my applications and other metrics related to them. Trust me, staying organized here pays off in free flights later!