PointAlchemy Blog
Point valuation updates, strategy insights, and credit card news.
A Data-Driven Framework for Annual Fee Decisions
Most people evaluate annual fees wrong — they either panic at the sticker price or blindly count theoretical credits. Here's the 4-step framework that gives you an actual answer.
Getting the Highest Earning Rate on Every Purchase: A Category-by-Category Guide
A full breakdown of the best credit card for every spending category in 2026 — dining, groceries, travel, gas, streaming, and the crucial "everything else" bucket — with exact rates, caps, and the math behind real annual value.
Earning Caps Explained: What Happens When Your Bonus Category Runs Out
Most credit card bonus categories have spending caps that drop your earning rate to 1x after a threshold. Here's the math on how caps affect the Amex Gold, Citi Custom Cash, Freedom Flex, and more — and why families should pay extra attention.
Credit Card Annual Fees: When to Pay and When to Cancel
Most people either keep cards they should cancel or cancel cards they should keep. Here's the four-step framework for making the right call every time.
How to Audit Your Credit Card Portfolio in 30 Minutes
A step-by-step process to evaluate your current credit cards: are you earning enough, paying too much in fees, or sitting on unused benefits? Thirty minutes, five steps, zero guesswork.
The Best 2-Card Credit Card Setups for Every Spending Style
You don't need five cards to earn serious rewards. These four 2-card combos cover the most common spending patterns at rates that rival much more complex setups.
The Complete Guide to Building a Credit Card Portfolio in 2026
A single credit card caps your earning potential. A thoughtful portfolio of 2-4 cards can cover every spending category at 3x or better — here's exactly how to build one.
How Credit Card Transfer Partners Work: The Complete Explainer
Transfer partners are the reason flexible points currencies are worth 2-3x more than cash back. Here's exactly how they work, when to use them, and why ratios matter more than you think.
Understanding Cents Per Point: The Single Most Important Metric
Cents per point (CPP) is the one number that tells you whether a redemption is brilliant or terrible. Here's how to calculate it, why it varies so wildly, and the three-tier framework that makes sense of it all.