More Sense Than Dollars

You know how airport lounges work. Now which one is right for you? In part two of Airport Lounges, Harry and Nick go network by network (Capital One, Chase, Amex, Delta, United, American, and more) and help you decide based on the four things that matter: how many lounges there are and where, whether you can bring your partner or guests, how nice they actually are, and what it costs to get in once card credits are factored in. By the end, you'll know which card or pass fits how you travel so you can raise your travel experience.

Airport lounges can seem like a members-only club for the ultra-rich or international first-class flyers, but that's not the full story. In this episode, Harry and Nick demystify the whole world of airport lounges: what you actually get inside (free food, free drinks, quiet seating, fast Wi-Fi, even showers), the two big families of lounge networks (airline clubs versus credit card and independent lounges), and the different ways to get inside.

Next episode, we help you decide which network is right for how you travel. Whether you fly twice a year or every week, you'll walk away knowing exactly how this world works.

The credit card bracket comes down to this. The six category winners from Episodes 1 and 2 go head-to-head in the championship round, and the Chase dominance throughout the bracket can't be ignored. We crown a winner in each category, then break down which card is actually best for you based on how you spend and travel. No single card wins for everyone, but by the end of this episode you'll know exactly which ones belong in your wallet.

Episode 3 Matchups:

• Premium Cards: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Everyday Cash Back: Citi Double Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Flexible Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold
• Hotel Cards: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. World of Hyatt
• Airline Cards: United Explorer Card vs. JetBlue Plus Card
• Business Cards: Chase Ink Business Preferred vs. Ink Business Cash

Spoiler Warning — Episode 3 Winners Below

• Premium Cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Everyday Cash Back: Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Flexible Travel: Amex Gold
• Hotel Cards: World of Hyatt Card
• Airline Cards: United Explorer Card
• Business Cards: Chase Ink Business Preferred

The credit card bracket continues. In Episode 2, we're debating cards we actually own against each other. We have the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but Nick also has the Capital One Venture X, so who really wins the premium card debate? Six more head-to-head matchups, six more winners advancing to the championship.

Episode 2 Matchups:

• Premium Cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Capital One Venture X
• Everyday Cash Back: Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Discover It Cash Back
• Flexible Travel: Capital One Venture vs. Amex Gold
• Hotel Cards: World of Hyatt vs. Hilton Honors Aspire
• Airline Cards: JetBlue Plus vs. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select
• Business Cards: Ink Business Cash vs. Capital One Spark Cash Plus

Spoiler Warning — Episode 2 Winners Below

• Premium Cards: Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Everyday Cash Back: Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Flexible Travel: Amex Gold
• Hotel Cards: World of Hyatt Card
• Airline Cards: JetBlue Plus Card
• Business Cards: Ink Business Cash

It's March Madness season, and we're settling some long-standing credit card debates bracket-style. In the first round, we put cards head-to-head across six categories: premium cards, everyday cash back, flexible travel, hotel cards, airline cards, and business cards to pick which cards deserve to advance to the championship. No visual bracket required, just strong opinions and real experience from cards we actually carry in our wallets.

Episode 1 Matchups:

• Premium Cards: Amex Platinum vs. Citi Strata Elite
• Everyday Cash Back: Citi Double Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Everyday
• Flexible Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Bilt Mastercard
• Hotel Cards: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs. IHG One Rewards Premier
• Airline Cards: Delta Amex Gold vs. United Explorer Card
• Business Cards: Amex Blue Business Cash vs. Chase Ink Business Preferred

Spoiler Warning - Episode 1 Winners Below

• Premium Cards: Amex Platinum
• Everyday Cash Back: Citi Double Cash
• Flexible Travel: Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Hotel Cards: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
• Airline Cards: United Explorer Card
• Business Cards: Chase Ink Business Preferred

Agree with our picks? Disagree? Let us know in the comments or find us on Instagram. See you in round two!

Confused about filing your taxes? You’re not alone. In this episode we break down who needs to file, how deductions work, and whether DIY tax software is worth it so you can file confidently and avoid overpaying.

Once you have your budget in order and disposable income to spend, how should you spend it? In this episode we discuss how to separate short term from long term wants and tactics on how to get the most out of the fun money leftover in your bank account.

2025 was a year of tariffs, stock market volatility, and interest rate changes. In this episode we recap the top stories of 2025 and how they'll impact your personal finances going into 2026.

In this episode we answer the top 5 questions from this credit card focused season. Thank you for listening, see you next season!

Are you trying to get more credit card sign up bonuses but can't charge enough to hit the minimum spend? In this episode we explain manufactured spending, a way to get more on your credit card statement without hurting your budget. This is an advanced churning strategy, but when done right can really speed up the number of points and rewards you earn.