Credit Cards — smobyday

All Credit Card Guides

Browse by topic

🔍

Pick one or more topics — mix and match

Is the Amex Platinum $895 Fee Actually Worth It?

If you use the perks, yes. If you don't, no. The math — plus a prompt to figure out if it makes sense for you specifically.

Amex Platinum: Unlocking $3,500+ in Annual Value

The $895 annual fee sounds terrifying. But there are 45 benefits — and when you actually use them, you come out $2,600 ahead. Here's exactly how.

15 min readComplete Guide

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve: Which Is Actually Worth It?

Two great cards, very different math. The breakdown to help decide which one belongs in your wallet.

9 min readComparison

Chase Freedom Unlimited: The Everyday Card That Adds Up Fast

No annual fee. Solid rewards. And when paired with a Sapphire, it becomes something way more powerful.

7 min readNo-Fee Card

How to Build a 2-Card Stack That Covers Almost Everything

One card for travel and dining, one for everything else — the combo that maximizes rewards without the complexity.

8 min readStrategy

What Actually Affects Your Credit Score (And What Doesn't)

Payment history, utilization, length of history — the five factors ranked by how much they actually matter.

7 min readCredit Score