Stilettos or Savings

Every time I tell someone I don’t care about credit card rewards, they look at me like I just turned down free money. But here’s the thing: it’s never free, not really. I’ve watched people open card after card chasing signup bonuses and justifying extra purchases for the sake of a few points. Meanwhile, I swipe one card, pay it off in full, and sleep like a baby—no points, no stress, no games. The truth? Credit card rewards are a clever marketing tool, not a wealth-building strategy. And I’m not playing.

The Illusion of Free

Rewards programs are designed to make you spend more—plain and simple. Whether it’s airline miles, or luxury hotel stays, the goal is to get you to swipe your card more often and carry a balance longer. That’s where the banks make their money. Sure, some people play the game, but many end up paying interest, late fees, or even annual fees that outweigh any of the perks.

Even if you’re “winning” at the rewards game, you’re likely spending more than you would if the incentives didn’t exist. It’s not a deal if you’re buying something you didn’t need just to get 5% back. That’s not strategy—that’s spending dressed up as saving.

Simplicity Is My Reward

I use one no-fee credit card. I never carry a balance, never worry about optimizing categories, and never feel pressure to meet a minimum spend amount. That simplicity has saved me more than any rewards program could.

Instead of chasing points, I focus on building real wealth: saving aggressively, investing automatically, and keeping my spending aligned with my values. A $500 sign-up bonus doesn’t tempt me when I’m watching my investments grow or seeing my mortgage balance shrink.

You Can Still Travel

Here’s a myth I want to bust: you don’t need credit card points to afford nice trips. I’ve enjoyed life without ever needing a rewards card. I just…budget for it.

That said, I do believe in loyalty programs where they make sense. I’m a member of a few hotel, airline, and car rental programs—free to join, no strings attached. We even scored a free hotel room just last weekend thanks to points we earned from actual travel, not from chasing plastic perks. That’s the difference: I let the rewards come to me as a side benefit of planned spending, not the other way around.

When you earn and save with intention, you don’t have to hack the system. You are the system.

Final Thoughts

If rewards cards work for you and you never pay a dime in interest, great. But for me, the stress and complexity aren’t worth it. I’d rather skip the bait and stick to what I know builds lasting security: living below my means, investing the rest, and ignoring the hype.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about chasing rewards—but building freedom.