The give-and-take (how premium cards actually work) Premium cards are a trade: issuers “give” perks (lounges, credits, partners), and you “give back” via the annual fee and your spending. When the cost of giving perks rises—lounge contracts, new platforms, richer...
The short answer Premium perks got expensive (lounges, partner reimbursements, richer credits), the “perk arms race” escalated, inflation raised every input cost, and enough cardholders happily pay for status and convenience to make higher annual fees stick. Result: headline prices...
I. The $900 Question Let’s be honest: most middle-class Americans can’t wrap their heads around paying $795 to $895 a year just to own a credit card. That’s a car payment—or at least two weeks of groceries. Yet tens of...
The simple framework Middle-class households win by maximizing certainty—low fees, clear cash-back, and guardrails that protect your budget. You don’t need status perks you’ll barely use. You need clarity, low friction, and consistency. What actually matters (and why) 1) No-fee...