32 Credit Cards in My Wallet 2026: A Veteran Entrepreneur’s Guide to Maximizing Card Benefits

As of June 2024 my wife and I have over 32 open credit and charge cards.

I was active duty military for nearly 12 years. Over that time, my wife and I opened and closed dozens of cards.

Some of the benefits we receive by having so many cards open are: airport lounge access to American Express Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass, $2,350 of airline fee credit annually, $1,420 Uber Cash annually, $600 travel credits, top hotel elite status, top rental car status, free travel insurance, and $800 of free Saks Fifth Avenue purchases annually.

Since 2015 we have opened over 46 cards. My credit score is currently 811-820 according to Credit Karma and Credit Sesame.

There's a common misconception that opening that many credit cards will damage your credit. It doesn't.

If anything, it might improve your credit score because of the way credit scores are calculated. I recommend both sites to check your credit score for free. I made a deep dive video on military credit scores.

The most popular cards for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and military spouses on my site since 2018 are:

1. American Express Platinum Card^®
2. American Express^® Gold Card
3. Chase Sapphire Reserve^® Card
4. Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

You can compare the:

• Amex Platinum Card vs the Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum
• Chase Sapphire Reserve vs the Chase Sapphire Preferred

I recorded episode 8 of the Military Money Manual Podcast where Jamie (podcast co-host and fellow active duty Air Force pilot) and I talked about what cards we have in our wallets. You can listen below:

Physically Managing Lots of Credit Cards

I keep my cards in a leather credit card binder I purchased on Amazon for less than $15. It keeps the cards I don't use daily organized.

For daily use, I have a Travelambo Front Pocket Minimalist Leather Slim Wallet RFID Blocking Medium Size. About 3 years ago I purchased the 5 top rated wallets on Amazon.

I returned the other 4 and kept the Travelambo. This is the best wallet for credit cards I have found after trying all the others.

Credit Cards I Carry Daily

Right now, I'm carrying my veterans ID, driver's license, some cash, a list of goals I want to accomplish, and some small photos. The credit cards I carry daily are:

• American Express Gold Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Freedom Unlimited
• USAA ATM Debit card – my USAA review

What I Look for in a New Credit Card

The 3 primary things I care about when evaluating a new credit card are:

1. The welcome bonus, like the massive points you can earn on the Amex Platinum
2. The ongoing benefits of holding the card, like travel credits or free hotel nights
3. The categories I can earn extra points in, like restaurants and groceries with the Amex Gold or travel and dining with Chase Sapphire Reserve

I update a list of the best credit card welcome bonuses each month. I also have an exact recommended order military servicemembers and spouses should open up cards to maximize their points earnings in my best credit cards for active duty military guide.

I have earned millions of points and miles just from welcome bonuses. I redeemed those points and miles for tens of thousands of free hotel and resort stays and airline tickets.

Learn how to maximize your military credit cards benefits in my free course, the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course. Over 22,000 graduates have learned how to maximize their cards since 2018.

I'll explain exactly how to check your military status, which card to get first, and how to maximize your points.

I have also received thousands of dollars in cash back welcome bonuses.

The ongoing benefits of a hotel card, for instance, can be higher automatic elite status and an annual free night. For instance the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card gives you automatic Diamond status. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card gives you automatic Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite Status.

The 32 Credit Cards I Have Right Now

American Express Cards

American Express extends special protections to you and your spouse.

• American Express Platinum Card® x8 – I have upgraded several Green and Gold cards to this card so now I get $1,600 of Uber Cash annually, $1,600 of airline fee credits, $4,800 of annual hotel credit, $2,400 of annual entertainment credits and $800 of Saks Fifth Avenue credit (enrollment required). 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or amextravel.com and travel insurance makes this my card of choice for airline purchases. (terms apply)
• American Express® Gold Card – a daily driver for me with 4x Amex Membership Reward points on US supermarkets and restaurants. (terms apply)
• American Express Green Card – good welcome bonus, can upgrade card (terms apply)
• Platinum Card for Charles Schwab from American Express – cash out Amex Membership Rewards points for 1.1 cents each (terms apply)
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card x3 – 2 for me and 1 for my wife. You can upgrade the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card to another Hilton Honors Aspire card. (terms apply)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card x2 – I upgraded an Amex SPG Luxury (no longer available) to my second Bonvoy Brilliant. Annual free night worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points on each card. Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees. (terms apply)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – annual companion pass lets you fly up to Delta One in the lower 48 states and you only pay for 1/2 tickets. If you have a Hawaii or Alaska address, you can use the companion pass for a flight back to the mainland. (terms apply)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express – great way to earn Amex Membership Reward points. (terms apply)
• American Express® Business Gold Card – Amex business cards can be a great way to earn extra Amex MR points (terms apply)

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Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site

Terms apply, See Rates and Fees.

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• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year- includes OCONUS Commissaries
• 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• No foreign transaction fees – great for the 4x on restaurants when traveling for fun, OCONUS TDY, or PCS!
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually! Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: You can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required.
• Go explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• Read my full review of the Amex Gold card for military, terms apply
• Enrollment is required for select benefits
• $325 Annual Fee* See more details about American Express protections for you and your spouse 

👁️ READ MORE >>>>> 32 Credit Cards in My Wallet 2026 | Current Credit Cards
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