Hey, points hackers! Welcome back to Credit Card Hacking 101: Maximizing Your Points. I'm your host Alex, and we're kicking off 2026 with a bang—let's turn those New Year's resolutions into free flights and dream vacations!
First up, the hottest news from this week: Capital One Venture X is dropping its blockbuster 100K-mile welcome offer on January 5th, but grab it now after $300 spend and score a $300 travel credit plus 10,000 anniversary miles yearly—perfect for wiping out taxes on award redemptions. Amex Platinum is crushing it at up to 175K points with killer perks like $300 Lululemon credits and $600 in Fine Hotels stays, while Chase Sapphire Reserve holds strong at 125K points with $300 travel credit and new StubHub perks. Watch out, though—SoFi's slapping a $10 monthly fee on some cards starting late February, so ditch if you're not maximizing theirs.
On the tech front, PointsAI just launched a free AI-powered app update that scans your spend patterns, predicts the best card combos, and even simulates redemptions—listeners are raving it shaved hours off their strategy sessions.
Real-world win: Listener Sarah from Chicago emailed us—she snagged that Venture X 100K, transferred to partners, and booked two business-class tickets to Europe for under $200 in fees. That's hacking in action!
Pro Tips This Week: Beginners, automate paydown of holiday balances with high-signup cards like Venture X before rates bite—aim for micro-payments on 20%+ APR debt. Seasoned folks, stack January's monthly credits: Amex Gold's $120 dining and Uber, Chase Sapphire's new $500 Edit perks. Check your credit report free at AnnualCreditReport.com to boost scores for approvals.
Listeners, subscribe, drop a review, and send your questions or hacks to
alex@credithacking101.com—we might feature you next!
Thanks for tuning in—happy hacking, and subscribe now! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
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