In the world of points and miles, credit cards have become increasingly complex – and many hobbyists are feeling burnt out. Over the past few years, banks have rolled out premium cards with ever-higher annual fees and a web of perks, credits, and conditions. On paper, the value can be fantastic (who wouldn’t want lots of credits that exceed the fee?).
But the reality is these benefits often require jumping through hoops. We’re seeing perks that are split into monthly or quarterly use, credits tied to specific brands or spending categories, and promotional offers you need to activate constantly. Keeping track of it all has started to feel like a part-time job for avid points collectors.
Enthusiasts find ourselves maintaining spreadsheets or reminders just to not miss out on value we’ve paid for. For example, you might have a card with a $25 monthly dining credit, another with a $10 rideshare credit, and one with semi-annual travel credits – all of which expire if unused.
Forgetting even one of these means losing value. In fact, we recently highlighted how easy it is to overlook a $25 restaurant credit for months, just by losing track. With dozens of perks across multiple cards, it’s bound to happen. And that creates credit card fatigue — instead of enjoying the hobby, many are feeling overwhelmed by the upkeep.
When Maximizing Rewards Starts to Feel Like a Full-Time Job
Another factor of the credit card fatigue is the sheer number of cards hardcore hobbyists hold. It’s not uncommon for a points enthusiast to have 10, 20, or more active credit cards, each with its own earning structures and benefits. While that maximizes rewards, managing that many accounts (tracking statement dates, minimum spends for new bonuses, annual fee hits, etc.) adds stress.
There’s also pressure to redeem perks before they expire: free night certificates, airline credits, lounge passes – the list goes on. The mounting to-do list of “use X benefit by end of month” can start to feel less like fun and more like a chore.
It doesn’t help that issuers keep tweaking things, often in ways that complicate matters further. We’ve seen annual fees jump (e.g., a $450 card increasing to $695), and to justify that, banks add a slew of credits for specific services – think digital entertainment credits, Uber credits, hotel credits split by semester, and so on. While these can indeed outweigh the fee if all used, the fragmentation means more to track.
It’s breakage by design – issuers know some folks won’t use everything, which is how they can offer “$500 in credits” on a $500 fee card and still profit. The onus is on us, the cardholders, to remember and utilize each benefit fully to realize the value. Frankly, it can be exhausting.
Back to Basics: Simpler Card Strategies Gaining Appeal
Given this credit card fatigue, many points enthusiasts are wondering if a simpler approach might actually be more rewarding (or at least more sane). The idea is to streamline your credit card setup – perhaps down to just a few key cards – rather than trying to juggle every card under the sun for every niche benefit. This could mean favoring cards with straightforward value (like flat cash back or flexible points) and fewer complicated perks.
For example, using a 2% cash back card for most spending is a no-brainer strategy that requires no maintenance: every purchase, 2% back, done. Compare that to rotating 5X category cards or multi-tiered points systems where you have to transfer points to airlines, etc. The simplicity is certainly appealing when you’re burnt out from micro-managing credits.
Some hobbyists are moving toward a “base + bonus” card strategy: one solid go-to card for general spending, and maybe one or two cards for specific use cases (like a dining card or a travel card that they actually maximize easily). This contrasts with the prior approach of having a different card for every category or every hotel chain.
The mindset shift is, “I may earn slightly fewer points in theory, but I also save myself a lot of hassle.” It’s about recognizing the opportunity cost of your time and mental energy. If keeping track of 15 cards is stressing you out, you might be better off with 3-5 cards that cover most of your needs in a simple way. The net difference in rewards might not be huge, and you’ll feel less like a slave to your benefits.
Why Simpler Credit Card Setups Are Gaining Ground
There’s also an emerging appreciation for cards that have easy-to-use perks over those with the highest potential value. For instance, a card that gives an automatic annual free hotel night or a simple travel credit might be preferred to one that offers a larger credit split into monthly increments that you often forget to use.
We’ve noticed a shift in how cardholders think about value. If a card’s perks feel too marginal or require too much effort to track and redeem, it might not be worth keeping. We’re not saying to give up on points entirely, but we do believe it’s smart to trim the fat and focus on the cards that actually work for your lifestyle.
Why carry five hotel cards with various free night certificates if you can’t realistically use them all? Maybe stick to one or two favorite hotel programs. Why keep a premium card just for lounge access if you rarely fly when lounges are open?
At TheMilesAcademy, we’ve been hearing more stories from readers who’ve downsized their card portfolios and felt better for it. Many say that cutting back from 15 or 20 cards to just a few brought relief. With fewer moving parts, there’s less stress about missing credits or forgetting to activate offers.
We’ve even seen a growing interest in the idea of a simple two-card setup—something like a no-fee 2% cash back card paired with a $95 travel card that covers core perks. It’s a big shift from the days of juggling a stack of premium metal cards, and for a lot of people, it just makes more sense now.
The Bottom Line
Credit card fatigue is a real phenomenon in the points and miles community. As issuers have piled on more perks and higher fees, they’ve also increased the complexity required to fully capitalize on these cards. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the myriad credits to use, categories to remember, and new offers to activate.
While the savvy, dedicated hobbyist can still come out ahead (often by a wide margin) by meticulously managing these cards, many are questioning the trade-off. Is chasing every last benefit worth the time and mental bandwidth? For some, it may be – especially if you genuinely enjoy the game. But for others, simplifying one’s credit card lineup is looking more attractive for the sake of sanity.
The encouraging news is that you don’t have to burn out to enjoy rewards. It’s okay to take a step back and adopt a strategy that’s “good enough” without being maximized to the nth degree. You might earn a bit less in rewards by not optimizing absolutely everything, but if it makes the hobby fun again, that’s a net win. Focus on the cards and programs that bring you the most joy and value, and don’t be afraid to let go of the ones that feel like a burden. As we at The Miles Academy often remind readers: the goal of points and miles is to enhance your life (through travel experiences or savings), not to become a source of stress.
The points game should feel rewarding, not draining. It might be time for some of us to Marie Kondo our wallets – keep the cards that spark joy (and genuine value), and let go of the rest. Happy traveling, and may your approach to credit cards – whether complex or simple – ultimately serve your travel dreams without burning you out.
