the dumb rich credit card guide

a brutally honest face-off between chase, amex, and my poor self-control in paris!!!!

Hey fam and welcome back to dumb rich. *Insert another reason I was unavail to grace you with a blog post* but actuallyyyyyyy I was on a trip for my wedding anniversary to France and Italy. It was sublime. I pretty much erased all of no buy july but that’s cool.

So here’s what’s up — I’ve been obsessed in an unhealthy way with mgk’s new album and I also started watching GIRLS for the first time. Aside from that, I successfully survived no buy july (NBJ) and honestly, it wasn’t that hard? I shopped my closet more than normal and took inventory of things I would really want. Will I stop shopping altogether? Absolutely not. I will absolutely still be shopping, just with *~intention~*. None of these new ideals stopped me from buying this Prada bag in Paris because it was obviously absolutely necessary. Sold out in the US. Future vintage. My hypothetical daughter’s inheritance. If I only have sons, it’s not going to the daughter-in-law. I already fucking hate her.

And technically, thanks to the VAT refund, I made money on that purse. Right?? I will say, the best deals in Paris were at Cartier, but I was not in the market for a watch or any jewelry. Just a hot tip if you’re planning to go. The sales assoc was saying numerous people were flying in just for the day. I’ll do a full breakout of my vacation browsing and purchasing in another post so I don’t derail the people that are here for educational purposes.

The purse was the main event, but the credit card had a looooooooot of swipes while abroad *sweating* ooooops. Anyway. I feel like credit cards are low key a status symbol? There are two dumb rich approved credit cards in my opinion: the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum.

The New Kid - The Atlas Card
Before we pit the classics against each other, meet the Atlas Card — an invite-only card a handful of my clients have started using. It’s very “dumb rich”: think impossible dinner reservations, event tickets, private jet charters, etc. I have spoken to their customer service a few times (for clients) and find it to be a seamless process. The benefits below are included in their $1,000 annual fee and are a bit niche, but spot on for the clientele. I love it:

• 5x points on all Blade Helicopter services

• Remedy Place - $250 on your first treatment and a discount on their Residency of $4,000 per year

• PS LAX - private security/customs (only at LAX and ATL)

• Erewhon Cafe membership

Points-wise, it’s 3x on your top category and 1x on everything else, meh. But if you live and breathe concierge perks, it might be worth watching.

Now, let’s get to the real main event: Chase vs. Amex.

Chase Sapphire Reserve - Annual Fee $795
Okay, obviously the annual fee sucks when you have to pay it. Below are their most enticing perks (IMO):

• Airport Lounges (non-monetary): Their new lounges are a viiiiiiiiiiiiiibe. Swag bags, waiter service, massages, curated menus. I almost left my husband over his insistence on the Delta Lounge (it was closer to the gate) — where the “perk” was a Nathan’s hot dog cart.

• Annual Travel Credit $300: Auto-applied to flights, hotels, Ubers, whatever. Easy win.

• Stubhub Credit $300: This is new. You can get $150 for each half of the year, so annoying you can’t use it at once. You also have to remember to activate it, so this is work on your end.

• Lyft $120: $10/month automatically to use on Lyfts. I am an Uber girl but still sharing with the class.

• Hotel Credit $500: Also a half year credit so you can get $250 twice a year if you book through the Chase Edit.

• Doordash: Annual subscription of $120/year and up to $25/month in promos

• Dining Credit $300: Another half year credit ($150 2x per year) and needs to be used at Chase’s Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. I though this would totally suck but some of my favorites in NYC on the list are: Frenchette, Don Angie, Nami Nori, and Little Ruby’s (idc if it’s basic).

• Shop Credit $250: The Shops at Chase is their newer marketplace where you can shop brands directly. I had never seen this before so I looked into it on my portal. Some of the brands include Aesop, Boll & Branch, Coach, Dyson, SMEG, Therabody and Vitamix. Obviously a limited list but not terrible. I was planning on getting this red light mask anyway. I will look into this for strictly research purposes, obviously.

• Apple TV/Apple Music: Apple TV = yes. Apple Music = unsubscribe immediately. Spotify supremacy forever.

Other smaller perks: $120 TSA/Global Entry credit (every 4ish years, so meh), $120 Peloton credit (are we still doing this?), and extra perks if you spend over $75k annually.

SUPER quick points rundown because this is getting lengthy:

• 8x points on all travel booked on Chase portal

• 5x points on Lyft

• 4x points on flights/hotels outside of Chase portal

• 3x points on dining

• 1x point on everything else

In summary, the benefits bulleted above are in excess of $2,000, which exceeds the annual fee — plus you can use the points you’re earning toward travel, cash back, you name it. This seems like a no brainer. Also, a hot tip if you are in Chase Private Banking - they have a special silver card that I personally find more aesthetically pleasing! I feel like it carries some serious weight (literally) and people always ask me about it. It’s called the JP Morgan Reserve in case you want to ask your bankers. It has all of the same benefits above (and same fee!) but they also have concierge services for dining, travel, etc.

she cute

Amex Platinum - Annual Fee $695
The OG status flex. Here’s what you get:

• Airport lounges - they do have the Centurion lounge which IMO is nowhere near as nice as the Chase Sapphire Reserve lounges, but there are a lot more of them, so quantity > quality.

• Airlines: $200/year on incidentals (WiFi, checked baggage, fees). Useless. Give me a credit for the actual flight pls.

• Hotel Credit: $200/year on the Amex Fine Hotels. Great options here. They also often have free nights available.

• Equinox $300: Annual credit on gym membership. I don’t really exercise (not a flex) but I imagine this is a popular benefit so I’ll include it for the readers.

• Uber $200: $15 monthly plus a $20 bonus in December. I’ll take it!!

• Streaming services: $240/year. We have every service under the sun so this is great. And no Apple Music hate necessary with this one.

• Clear Plus $199: Typically, I don’t think the travel service credits are worth it (as mentioned earlier for TSA Pre/Global Entry) but THIS deserves a bullet point. LOOOVE Clear Plus.

• Saks $100 gift card: $50 2x/year. Buy makeup. Buy a candle. Buy something totally overpriced and have this cover the tax. Just use it. Everyone always forgets.

Their other benefits that aren’t exactly notable but I’ll include for completeness include a $300 toward the Soul Cycle at home bike (does this still exist?) and a Walmart+ membership (seems incredibly off brand???).

Breakout of Points:

• 5x on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel

• 1x on everything else

We’re a two-card household (thanks to combining finances). I brought Chase, my husband brought Amex. And listen… I’m not just saying this because Chase was mine, but the Sapphire Reserve is… FAR SUPERIOR????? I didn’t realize everything it offered until I wrote this out. The only items I use from the Amex offerings are Saks, Hotel credit, Uber and Clear. I’m basically breaking even (aside from points obv).

The Platinum is iconic for status, but Chase is the actual workhorse. Choose based on your priorities.

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After the length of this post, I’m going to have to do a separate post to recap my vacation. A list of everything I looked at and the prices differences will be coming your way. And yes, I packed an empty duffle bag to check on the way back for new purchases.

A few quick MVPs —

• This candle was over 50% off in Paris. THE most superior candle in all the land. Well worth it. My apartment smells like actual heaven.

• I am obsessed with my Touchland hand sanitizer as part of my plane routine. I desperately need someone to buy this cover for me. Pleaseeeee.

• Nothing screams euro summer more than this bathing suit. I received SO many compliments.

Overall, a great anniversary. Mr. Dumb Rich gets a lot of shout outs on the blog, so I’ll keep it short. Marrying him was the single best decision of my life (financial and otherwise). I think choosing a partner is arguably the most important financial decision one can make. Make sure you choose someone with the same values as you and someone that supports your financial growth. I lucked out <3 *puuuuke*

Chat next week (for real this time!!!) xoxoxoxoxoxo