Hi! I analyzed my 2025 cc spend and my spend going forward will likely be similar. I get a lot of business spend reimbursed, plus booking fests, concerts, random items for friend group and getting venmoed so it adds up…
Also trying to lower annual fees. Planning on downgrading Reserve to Preferred. With that:
1) VentureX for 2x points Other spend.
2) Downgrade VentureX to $0 card as well. Use Citi Double Cash for Other spend.
3) Do number 2, but also get Amex Green card for Clear, 3x other travel and hotels. I had Green but upgraded to gold this year due to a SUB. Without green I can use Bilt, Preferred or any 2x for other travel.
Thoughts? Feedback? I used to value Chase points a lot and hyatt transfer but not as much anymore. I've basically decided to switch to Citi/Amex for the most part, and wondering if VentureX is worth keeping at all then.
2025 Annual spend:
Rent: 18000
Dining: 10000
Food delivery: 4200
Airfare: 6000
Hyatt: 3500
Other Hotels: 3000
Car Rental: 2000
Other travel: 2000
Rideshare: 2000
Groceries: 7500
Streaming: 1200
Entertainment: 16000
Misc: 30000
Current Cards:
Bilt – 0
hyatt – 95
Sapphire (will be downgrading to Preferred) – 795
Marriott Boundless – 95
Alaska (canceling in 6 months) – 95
Strata Elite (just got) – 595
VentureX (considering cancelling) – 395
Amex Gold – 325
Freedom Unlimited – 0
DoubleCash – 0
Debating between a few options to maximize points gain in 2026 – thoughts?
byu/travelingkay inCreditCards
Posted by travelingkay
1 Comment
nah. i did the same thing; basically dropped cap1 all together and with chase i just use the freedom/flex/ink cash for 5x categories.
ppl will hate my opinion; but unless you have a cap1 lounge at your primary airport cap1 ecosystem in general is very basic and not good compared to citi/wells/amex.
you should work to get 2-4 citi custom cashes; the double cash and the strata premier/elite. then you get basically 5x all the time on your big categories.
-just downgrade venture to the savor for concerts/entertainment
-citi i get 2-5x on everything; and you can take it as cash easily like chase.
-wells fargo has the best no annual fee trifecta in the game right now
-amex… i only actually like the platinum card; i hate the gold card because of the credits are dumb IMO. i get 5x on groceries and dining with my 3 citi custom cashes.