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HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Premium Credit Cards: Are They Actually Worth the Fee? With Your Rich BFF Vivian Tu

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Jean Chatzky Her Money

Investing, Business

4.71.5K Ratings

🗓️ 6 February 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How many credit cards is too many? Are premium travel cards actually worth those eye-popping annual fees? And what should you do when a card in your wallet stops pulling its weight? This week, Jean Chatzky is joined once again by money expert Vivian Tu for a listener mailbag all about credit cards, points, and smart strategies for getting real value, without paying unnecessary fees or interest. Together, they break down: How to decide if high-end travel cards like Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve are actually worth the cost The smartest way to evaluate card perks — from lounge access to travel protections — in real dollar terms When it makes sense to downgrade a credit card How to use points efficiently without spending hours comparison shopping What to say if you call your credit card company to ask for a lower interest rate How to switch cards while protecting your credit score and account history 📈 Join our InvestingFixx club, your first month is free!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

It's all about if you are absolutely exploiting the benefits.

0:07.8

I would actually go through the intro document or even just the website if you don't have the

0:12.4

paperwork that you got when you got those cards anymore.

0:15.4

Go through the website and see what all the benefits are and ask yourself, do I get

0:19.8

XYZ dollar amount?

0:21.4

I think it's like $795, $695, $395 for some of those cards that you listed of value every year.

0:30.3

Hey, everyone.

0:31.4

Welcome to Hermione.

0:32.2

I'm Gene Chatsky.

0:33.1

We are so excited to have Vivian 2 back to take us through all of your questions on credit cards

0:40.3

and points hacking. All right, this was a little me search. I got to say, Vivian, because

0:45.6

I hit that point. And I'm really good with my points. Like, I do not pay to fly when I'm not

0:51.7

flying for business. I always use points pretty much. But I hit the

0:55.8

point where I was like, how did I get so many credit cards in my wallet? It is time to pare down.

1:02.1

We've also got listener questions on everything from maximizing travel rewards to upgrading

1:07.9

your cards without hurting your credit score.

1:13.8

And I do want to mention, I never pay interest, by the way.

1:15.8

It's just, you know, too many fees.

1:20.3

Anyway, so let's start with this question.

1:22.9

And this one, again, is from me.

1:29.1

I have been wondering about the high-tier travel cards, the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve,

1:39.1

City Prestige, Capital One Venture X. Are they worth the cost and are multiples worth the cost?

...

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