Austin Christensen

house-style

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Should You Beat the Oct 1 Hyatt Deadline?

Sep 22, 2026

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2 min read

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Should You Beat the Oct 1 Hyatt Deadline?

A deadline is not a reason to transfer speculatively.

Austin Christensen

points-mafia-field-guide

A 30% Transfer Bonus Can Still Be a Bad Deal

Aug 25, 2026

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3 min read

A 30% Transfer Bonus Can Still Be a Bad Deal

The bonus helps only when a real award seat already exists.

Austin Christensen

points-mafia-field-guide

The Travel Protections You Are Already Paying For

Aug 25, 2026

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2 min read

The Travel Protections You Are Already Paying For

The boring benefits can matter more than another 1x point.

Austin Christensen

points-mafia-field-guide

The Award Search Habit That Saves Real Money

Aug 21, 2026

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3 min read

The Award Search Habit That Saves Real Money

Search partners before you pay cash, book the portal, or transfer points.

Austin Christensen

house-style

The Household Points Strategy Most Couples Skip

Aug 21, 2026

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3 min read

The Household Points Strategy Most Couples Skip

Two players, two sets of bonuses, one coordinated plan.

Austin Christensen

points-mafia-field-guide

Aug 14, 2026

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2 min read

Big Expenses Should Trigger Signup Bonus Mode

A planned $5,000 bill can be dead weight, or it can become the next trip.

Austin Christensen

timely

Aug 12, 2026

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2 min read

The Marriott NLL Offers Are a Math Test

Amex has Marriott Bevy and Brilliant no-lifetime-language offers. Big numbers, but not automatic wins.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

The 3-Card Starter Stack I Would Build First

Jul 31, 2026

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1 min read

The 3-Card Starter Stack I Would Build First

Simple beats clever when you are getting started.

Austin Christensen

points-mafia-field-guide

Start With Chase or Amex? Pick the First Trip First

Jul 14, 2026

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2 min read

Start With Chase or Amex? Pick the First Trip First

The right ecosystem depends on the trip you are trying to book.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

Hyatt Is Still Valuable. The Chase Math Just Got Messier.

Jul 3, 2026

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1 min read

Hyatt Is Still Valuable. The Chase Math Just Got Messier.

The sweet spot survives, but the lazy 1:1 talking point does not.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

Having Too Many Points Is a Real Problem

Jun 30, 2026

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1 min read

Having Too Many Points Is a Real Problem

Points are not trophies. They are inventory with inflation risk.

Austin Christensen

doc queue jump

Rakuten Is the Easiest Extra Amex Points Most People Ignore

Jun 26, 2026

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1 min read

Rakuten Is the Easiest Extra Amex Points Most People Ignore

A shopping portal can turn normal online purchases into extra Membership Rewards points.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

The Southwest Companion Pass Is a Timing Game

Jun 26, 2026

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1 min read

The Southwest Companion Pass Is a Timing Game

Same pass. Very different value depending on when you earn it.

Austin Christensen

doc queue jump

Amex No-Lifetime-Language Offers Are the Exception, Not the Rule

Jun 23, 2026

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1 min read

Amex No-Lifetime-Language Offers Are the Exception, Not the Rule

NLL can reopen a bonus door, but only when the offer language actually says it.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

You Probably Qualify for Business Credit Cards Right Now

Jun 23, 2026

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2 min read

You Probably Qualify for Business Credit Cards Right Now

The side-hustle door most people never open.

Austin Christensen

travel rewards

Annual Fees Are Not the Enemy. Unused Benefits Are.

Jun 18, 2026

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2 min read

Annual Fees Are Not the Enemy. Unused Benefits Are.

A better way to judge premium cards before the fee scares you off.

Austin Christensen

doc queue jump

+10

Three Big Card Offers Worth Checking This Week

Jun 18, 2026

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2 min read

Three Big Card Offers Worth Checking This Week

CSP, Marriott Boundless, and a targeted Amex NLL offer all deserve a look.

Austin Christensen

The Big Bonus Roundup: Sapphire, IHG, Marriott, and Amex

May 7, 2026

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5 min read

The Big Bonus Roundup: Sapphire, IHG, Marriott, and Amex

5 big card bonuses to check this week

Austin Christensen

Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which One First?

May 5, 2026

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2 min read

Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which One First?

🥊 Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred — the right answer isn't what you think

Austin Christensen

Bilt Palladium Card Review: The Premium Card for Renters and Homeowners Who Travel

Apr 30, 2026

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3 min read

Bilt Palladium Card Review: The Premium Card for Renters and Homeowners Who Travel

🏆 $495/year. 2x everything. Priority Pass. Rent AND mortgage points. Up to $600 in credits. Bilt's flagship.

Austin Christensen

Bilt Obsidian Card Review: The Mid-Tier Card for Renters Who Eat

Apr 28, 2026

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2 min read

Bilt Obsidian Card Review: The Mid-Tier Card for Renters Who Eat

🍽️ $95/year. 3x dining OR groceries. Rent AND mortgage points. Hotel credits. The Bilt sweet spot.

Austin Christensen

Bilt Blue Card Review: Rent Points Meet Simple Cash Back

Apr 24, 2026

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2 min read

Bilt Blue Card Review: Rent Points Meet Simple Cash Back

🏠 $0 fee. Points on rent AND mortgage. 4% cash back on everything else. Bilt 2.0 is here.

Austin Christensen

You Probably Qualify for Business Credit Cards Right Now (Most People Don't Know This)

Apr 22, 2026

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4 min read

You Probably Qualify for Business Credit Cards Right Now (Most People Don't Know This)

🏢 You don't need a real business to get business cards — here's why

Austin Christensen

The Points Mafia Earning Stack: Which Card to Use on Every Purchase

Apr 20, 2026

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3 min read

The Points Mafia Earning Stack: Which Card to Use on Every Purchase

💳 The exact card to swipe at the grocery store, gas station, restaurant, and everywhere else

Austin Christensen

Premium Cards That Can Outweigh the Annual Fee

Apr 17, 2026

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5 min read

Premium Cards That Can Outweigh the Annual Fee

💳 Premium cards whose perks can outweigh the fee

Austin Christensen