My 7-Step Credit Card Spring Cleaning Strategy for 2026

Updated: March 18, 2026, 8:30am CDT

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Table of Contents

My Current Credit Card Portfolio
1. Check How Often I’m Actually Using the Card
2. Compare Each Card’s Benefits Against the Annual Fee
3. Confirm I’m Not Carrying a Balance
4. Check My Credit Score and Utilization
5. Reevaluate My Overall Points Strategy
6. Consider Downgrading or Upgrading Instead of Canceling
7. Decide Whether It’s Time To Apply for a New Card
Final Thoughts

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Every year around March or April, when spring arrives and the weather warms up, I feel the urge to deeply clean and refresh everything in my life — from my wardrobe and home to even my credit cards.

Rather than evaluating my credit card strategy during the busy holiday season at the end of the year, I prefer to review my cards each spring. This gives me time to decide whether to keep, cancel, upgrade, or downgrade each, and whether it’s time to apply for a new card.

I usually spread all my cards out in front of me and evaluate each one individually, considering several factors that guide my card strategy for the year ahead, and here’s how I do it.

My Current Credit Card Portfolio

Before diving into my process, it’s worth noting that I currently hold 11 credit cards. My lineup includes a mix of transferable rewards cards from various banks, as well as several airline- and hotel-branded cards. At this time, I don’t have any cash-back cards, because I find travel rewards more valuable than cash-back.

My 4 favorite cards in my wallet are my transferable rewards cards:

The information regarding the American Express Green Card^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Credit Card quad — My go-to credit cards. Image Credit: Lori Zaino

These 4 cards do most of the heavy lifting in my wallet.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

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Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
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Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

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The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

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Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening.
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UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $1,200

Annual Fee

$595

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.

Pros & Cons

Pros

12x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
6x points on airfare through Citi Travel
6x points on dining on Citi Nights (Friday and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and 3x points on dining at all other times

Cons

$595 annual fee
Boosted dining rewards are limited to 2 nights per week

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Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on cititravel.com
6x points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
1.5x points on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Up to $300 annual hotel benefit
Up to $200 annual Splurge credit
Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit
4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes every calendar year
Transfer Citi ThankYou Points to partners like American Airlines
Complimentary Priority Pass membership
No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

American Express Green Card^®

U.P. Rating

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

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This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

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UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $880

Annual Fee

$150

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express Green Card^® is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards^® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
Up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR^® Plus membership with the Card.
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$150 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express Green Card^® within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
$209 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express Green Card^®.
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Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
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Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
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UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

$395 annual fee
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
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Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
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Financial Snapshot

APR: Purchases: 19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Even though some transfer partners overlap, together they provide access to a vast network of airlines and hotels. Currently, I have access to 13 transfer partners with Chase, 20 with Amex, 22 with Capital One, and 20 with Citi.

These are the other cards I currently hold:

Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card
Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Platinum Select^® World Elite Mastercard^®
Hilton Honors American Express Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Tarjeta Icon Iberia (a Spain-based Iberia credit card — I live in Spain)
Amex Tarjeta Gold (the Spanish version of the Amex Gold card)

For the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on evaluating my 9 U.S.-based credit cards.

In addition to my existing cards, I’m also considering applying for a few new ones:

The Bilt Blue Card (rates & fees) or The Bilt Obsidian Card (rates & fees)
The Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite^® card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card

These cards could strengthen my current strategy, depending on how my spending and travel plans evolve. Here’s how I decide whether to keep, cancel, downgrade, or upgrade my cards each year.

1. Check How Often I’m Actually Using the Card

The first thing I do is review my statements to see how often I’m using each card. If I notice a card went unused for several months, I ask myself why. In some cases, the answer is simple: I was meeting a welcome offer spending requirement on another card.

For example, the only card that had multiple months without spending this year was my Qatar Airways Visa Signature card. However, I’m planning several large trips over the next few years (including potential travel to Kenya and the Maldives), so keeping the card active to earn Qatar Avios still makes sense, especially given its relatively low annual fee.

This also made me consider upgrading that card to the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Infinite Credit Card. Since the card offers free Qatar Privilege Club Gold status for the first year, I’d rather wait until I’m ready to book so I can make the most of the membership.

The current situation in the Middle East, if it continues, could affect my decision to upgrade, keep, or cancel the card. While I surely hope the conflict ends soon, I’ll pause on this card and reevaluate in a few months.

Another card that saw little spending was my Hilton Honors card. Still, given that the card has a $0 annual fee and I get free Hilton Silver status, it’s worth hanging onto (rates & fees). I’m not currently focused on Hilton stays, but I may be in the future. If I end up planning a long Hilton stay or a high-value redemption, I may consider upgrading the card.

2. Compare Each Card’s Benefits Against the Annual Fee

It may sound silly, but I look at each card, starting with its annual fee, and then run through the list of benefits. I’ve memorized many benefits, but this is a great reminder of what each card is still offering.

This has worked well with the IHG Premier card and the World of Hyatt card. Although I don’t spend a ton on either card each year, the free nights offered as perks easily outweigh the annual fee.

Reviewing benefits also helps ensure I don’t miss anything. For example, this year it reminded me that I still needed to use the $300 travel credit in the Capital One Travel portal that comes with my Capital One Venture X card before it expired.

Hot Tip:

I can easily offset the annual fee on some of my favorite hotel co-branded credit cards. I get 5x or more value from my IHG Premier card every year, and the World of Hyatt card has a permanent spot in my wallet thanks to its free night certificate.

3. Confirm I’m Not Carrying a Balance

I also take time to review each account to ensure there are no missed payments. While automatic payments can help, after experiencing some fraud issues, I prefer to review accounts myself each month.

Distribution of American's Credit Scores — Check your credit score, as it could affect your next steps. Image Credit: Upgraded Points

I never carry a balance on my credit cards. Doing so would quickly negate the value of any rewards I earn. If someone regularly carries a balance, it may be a good idea to focus on paying down those balances and potentially simplify their credit card setup.

4. Check My Credit Score and Utilization

My credit score is in the “excellent” range, mainly because it’s been a few months since I last applied for a card — and I pay my cards on time. I’ve had many of the same cards for years, and I always aim to keep my credit utilization rate under 30%. I plan to keep the cards I’ve held the longest (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card) to keep the average age of my accounts high.

Canceling cards can temporarily lower your credit score, so if your credit score is borderline, downgrading a card rather than canceling it outright can sometimes be the better move.

5. Reevaluate My Overall Points Strategy

My credit card strategy is ever-evolving based on my circumstances, such as my spending habits, devaluations or card changes, and the state of the world. For example, I was betting heavily on using Qatar Avios over the next few years to fly to Thailand, Africa, and the Maldives. Because of the situation in the Middle East, I may have to change my plans.

I’ve also decided to spend more on my World of Hyatt card. Given Hyatt’s recent award chart changes and devaluation, I plan to spend $15,000 on my card each year to receive a second annual Hyatt free night certificate valid at a Category 1-4 Hyatt.

Jacuzzi sunsets from suite 103 Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay — Hyatt’s free nights have given me memorable experiences. Image Credit: Lori Zaino

Even though the award charts fluctuate, these Category 1-4 free night certificates will work the same way they do now. I’ll be able to use them at any property in the category band, regardless of the rate the hotel charges on a given night.

I’d also like to earn as many American Airlines AAdvantage miles as possible for flights between Madrid (MAD) and Chicago (ORD) or Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). Partner redemptions through AAdvantage miles can be extremely valuable. That said, I may put more everyday spending on my Citi Strata Elite card instead. It earns higher category bonuses and 1.5x on general purchases, and Citi ThankYou Points can transfer to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

Flexible points are another priority. I regularly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards to Iberia for flights between the U.S. and Spain. The airline offers affordable award tickets and frequently runs Avios sales. Since Iberia also partners with Bilt, that’s another reason I’m considering adding a Bilt card to my wallet.

Given that I can transfer Capital One miles to British Airways and then use Avios.com to move them to Qatar Avios or Iberia Avios, my Capital One Venture X card remains a keeper.

6. Consider Downgrading or Upgrading Instead of Canceling

I don’t always go straight to cancel mode, since that can affect my credit score. Instead, I often consider a downgrade or an upgrade. For example, I mentioned earlier that I’m considering upgrading my Qatar Airways Visa Signature card. I’m also open to upgrading my Hilton Honors card in the future if my Hilton stays increase.

For now, I’m not planning to cancel or downgrade any cards this year. But if I were deciding between canceling and downgrading, I would almost always prioritize downgrading first to preserve my credit history.

7. Decide Whether It’s Time To Apply for a New Card

Finally, I look at whether there are any new cards worth adding to my wallet. Right now, my biggest limitation is the dreaded 5/24 rule, which means I’m not currently eligible to apply for any new Chase cards. That takes the Marriott Bountiful card off the table for now. Instead, I might review Amex’s suite of Marriott co-branded cards.

I’m still considering a Bilt credit card. The new Bilt 2.0 lineup of cards means I can now pay my mortgage with a credit card, which makes the program even more appealing.

And because I live abroad, I’m considering the Atmos Rewards Summit card. The ability to earn 3x points on foreign purchases could be incredibly useful for everyday spending in Europe — from groceries to school fees and more.

Final Thoughts

My annual credit card “spring cleaning” helps me decide which credit cards to keep, cancel, downgrade, or upgrade. It also helps me evaluate holes that could warrant a new credit card.

While I’m not making major changes right now, it gave me a clearer understanding of where I should focus my spending and which cards may be worth adding in the future. Even if you already conduct a year-end financial review, a second check-in in the spring can be incredibly helpful. Spring is all about fresh ideas, and this approach could help you grow in your credit card and travel strategy this year.

The information regarding the Tarjeta Icon Iberia and Amex Tarjeta Gold was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.