3 Credit Cards That Earn a Place in My Everyday Wallet

When I share stories with my friends about the flights and hotel stays I’ve taken thanks to points and miles, their first question is always “which card should I get?”

My answer isn’t what they expect. I tell them they shouldn’t get one card — they should get at least three.

The reality is that no single credit card is the best at everything. One card might earn bonus rewards on travel, while another shines on groceries, dining, or everyday purchases. Fortunately, you don’t need a wallet full of credit cards to maximize your rewards — just a small lineup with complementary bonus categories to cover your spending.

Here’s the three-card setup that I myself use everyday and recommend to others, too.

Why Three Cards Instead of One?

Many people try to find one credit card that can do everything. The problem is that it just doesn’t exist.

Instead, I think of my credit cards as a team where each one has a specific job. One is my everyday card that handles purchases outside bonus categories. Another earns the bulk of my grocery and dining rewards. And the third fills in whatever gaps remain based on my spending habits and travel goals.

Between these cards, there’s very little spending left that isn’t earning a strong return.

Card One: My Everyday Card

If I had to pick just one card out of the options mentioned in this article, it would be the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. It’s the card I reach for whenever a purchase doesn’t fit into one of my other bonus categories. That’s because it earns 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.

Just as importantly, those miles can be transferred to one of Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.

Beyond earning rewards, it also includes several useful travel benefits, including:

I don’t use the Capital One Venture X for everything, though. That’s because my next card earns way more on one of my biggest spending categories: food.

Card Two: Maximize Food Spending

The second card in my wallet — the American Express^® Gold Card — has one job: earning as many points as possible on food. Between groceries and restaurants, this is one of my largest spending categories every month. I use the Amex Gold to maximize these purchases. The card earns:

• 4X Membership Rewards^® points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
• 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
• 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
• 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
• 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com
• 2X Membership Rewards^® points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com
• 1X on other eligible purchases

The card’s dining and grocery earning rates are excellent on their own, but the monthly statement credits are what make the annual fee much easier to justify. Since I already order takeout, use Uber, and occasionally eat at Resy restaurants, I’m using benefits I’m already paying for anyway.

Together with the Capital One Venture X, these two cards cover the vast majority of my everyday spending.

And compared to other competing products, it’s easily the best card to use when spending on food and drinks.

The Third Spot in My Wallet Is the Most Flexible

The first two cards in my wallet have stayed relatively consistent over the years. Spot number three, however, is the one I’m constantly revisiting.

Right now, these are my two favorite options.

Option one: Bilt Palladium Card

For renters who can maximize its benefits, I think the Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees) deserves some consideration.

The biggest draw is the ability to earn transferable Bilt Points on eligible rent and mortgage payments while also earning strong rewards on everyday purchases. Since housing is one of the largest monthly expenses for many people, being able to earn transferable points on those payments can add up quickly.

I also like Bilt because of its transfer partners. I frequently redeem points with programs like Alaska Airlines and World of Hyatt, both of which offer excellent value and play a huge role in my award travel strategy.

The biggest drawback is the $495 annual fee (Rates & Fees). However, if you’re maximizing the card’s travel credits, earning and burning Bilt Cash, and participating in the Bilt Rewards program at large, the math can work surprisingly well.

Option two: Wells Fargo Autograph^® Card

If paying another annual fee doesn’t appeal to you, I’d look at the Wells Fargo Autograph^® Card (Rates & Fees) instead.

This card fills in several spending categories that neither Capital One Venture X nor covers particularly well, including:

• Gas
• Transit
• Phone plans
• Streaming services

It’s also exciting to see Wells Fargo continue expanding its transfer partner program, making the points significantly more valuable than they were just a few years ago.

For someone looking to keep costs low while still rounding out a three-card wallet, I think this is one of the strongest no-annual-fee options available.

Are Multiple Annual Fees Worth It?

This is the second most popular question I get asked. And yes, paying annual fees on multiple credit cards can be expensive. But I’ve found it’s more helpful to think about the value each card provides instead of the number printed on the statement.

The Capital One Venture X‘s travel credit and anniversary bonus miles offset much of its annual fee for me. Likewise, I naturally use enough of the card’s monthly credits that the effective cost is much lower than the advertised annual fee.

Of course, every person’s spending habits are different. If you won’t use the benefits or statement credits a card offers, there’s no reason to pay for them. But if your lifestyle already aligns with those perks, paying multiple annual fees can actually result in greater overall value while helping you earn substantially more rewards.

Bottom Line

My wallet has changed over the years as new cards have launched and benefits have evolved. One thing, however, has remained the same: I’ve never found a single credit card that does everything well. Instead, I’ve had the most success by pairing a few complementary cards that each serve a specific purpose.

Right now, that’s my Capital One Venture X, Amex , and either the Palladium Card or Wells Fargo Autograph, depending on what I’m trying to optimize.

You don’t need to build the exact same wallet I have. But if you start thinking about your credit cards as a team rather than individual products, you’ll earn far more rewards from the purchases you’re already making — without carrying a wallet full of cards.