All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life
Upgrade your life, money and travel.
Chris Hutchins
Show overview
All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 279 episodes, alongside 2 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 280 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 53 min and 1h 9m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed yesterday, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Chris Hutchins.
From the publisher
Never leave money on the table. This is your shortcut to upgrading your life, money and travel—all while spending less and saving more. Get tactical moves and deep dives into designing a life you’re excited about. Host Chris Hutchins is a life hacker who has saved millions by breaking down every aspect of life and looking to maximize happiness at the lowest cost. Chris and guests like Tim Ferriss, Tony Hawk, Codie Sanchez and Gary Vaynerchuk are here to deliver smart strategies you can plug into your own life—from a money hack that increases your net worth, to a routine change that boosts your productivity.
Latest Episodes
View all 279 episodesThe AI Tools I'm Building to Replace My Spreadsheets with Anish Acharya
The Japan ER Visit That Changed How We Travel (& Tokyo Disney) with Amy Fox
Saving $30K+ on the Perfect Spring Break Japan Trip with Amy Fox
The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose
The Surprising History of Points and Miles
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers
Ep 272My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals vs. transfers, plus the mindset shifts that make the whole process work. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/booking-travel-with-points-and-miles-2026 Partner Deals Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free Green Chef: 50% off your first month + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Award Search Tools AwardTool ($20 off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS) point.me (20% off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS20) PointsYeah Seats.Aero Points Path Browser Extension FlightConnections Credit Cards Best Cards Page CardTool App Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ATH Podcast Ep 166: Best Award Search Tools for Booking Flights with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler Ep 227: The Path to Becoming an Expert in Points & Miles with Devon Gimbel Ep 238: 18 Tactics for Booking Travel with Points & Miles Ep 244: How I Saved $10,000+ on Luxury Hotels Ep 258: My Top 5 Mistakes with Points & Miles Membership AMA: Submit A Question Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:10) Two Ways to Use Points for Travel (06:30) Define Your Flexibility Before You Search (11:42) Clarify What You Actually Want From A Trip (15:00) When to Start Planning (and Why Earlier Is Almost Always Better) (18:48) How To Find Award Availability (19:55) The Best Award Search Tools & How to Use Them (21:17) How Award Tools Work (23:30) Using Alerts To Find Better Flights (26:15) What To Do When You Can’t Find Availability (28:31) How to Book for a Group When Availability Is Tight (31:32) Why You Should Book One-Way Flights (32:27) How To Use Points For Domestic Flights (34:38) The Best Tool For Domestic Award Searches (35:05) Why Diversifying Your Points Unlocks More Domestic Options (36:36) Should You Ever Use Points to Upgrade Seats? (39:00) Are Travel Portals Worth It? (39:36) The Case Against Using Travel Portals (42:09) The Case For Using Travel Portals (45:17) How To Think About Chase Points Boost (48:26) When Using Points For Hotels Makes Sense (50:50) The Best Ways to Earn Hotel Points (53:54) The Award Booking Index Card Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 271How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partner, and why systems beat motivation every time. Sahil Bloom is a writer, entrepreneur, and investor. He wrote The 5 Types of Wealth, publishes the newsletter The Curiosity Chronicle to nearly a million readers, and is the Founder of the men's skincare line Wild Roman. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/sahil-bloom-stop-over-optimizing-life Partner Deals Quince: Affordable luxury essentials with free shipping + 365 day returns Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your money LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Sahil: Website | Newsletter | X Wild Roman: 10% off with code CHUTCHINS10 Books & Articles The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom A Reflection On The Little Things The Doorman Fallacy The Real AI Risk Nobody Told You About The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis Rule for Life: Don't Complain AI Tools Deep Personality Lemon Wispr Flow Phone Lock Box: Mindsight Timed Lock Box Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:58) Why Sahil Moved His Entire Family from New York to Boston (03:09) Why Big Life Changes Should Happen Fast (04:47) The Real ROI of Small Moments (06:27) The Doorman Fallacy: What You Lose When You Optimize the Surface (10:32) Designing Your Life vs Letting It Happen (15:15) The Tradeoffs of Living Near Opportunity (22:17) Why Now Is the Best Time in History to Be Curious (30:05) How Sahil Actually Uses AI Day-to-Day (36:23) Solomon's Paradox: Why We Can't Take Our Own Advice (38:45) Using Voice Agents to Think Better (40:03) Balancing Work, Family, and Time (45:47) Why Motivation Is Overrated and Choice Architecture Wins (49:11) Making Workouts Non-Negotiable Without Sacrificing Work (52:54) How Often to Audit Your Routines (Before They Start Owning You) (53:42) Why Sahil Invested $1M of His Own Money in a Skincare Company Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 270Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/ski-trips-ai-home-design-health-finances-amy Partner Deals NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Upwork: Free job posting to find, hire, and pay top freelance talent For all deals, discounts, and promo codes from our partners, visit:chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Ski & Travel Epic Pass Woodward Vrbo Kirkwood Etekcity Luggage Scale AI Tools Gemini Claude ChatGPT Nano Banana Google Sites Bee Limitless Pendant Wispr Flow Deep Personality Home Gadgets Skylight Aura Frames Paprika Ratio Eight Series 2 Baratza Forté™ BG Health & Wearables Oura Ring WHOOP (← 1 month free) One Medical Blueberry Pediatrics (← $100) Money & Finance Mercury Copilot Money (free 2 months access with code HACKS2) ATH Podcast Ask Chris Anything! Newsletter #237: How to Design a Rich Life at Any Income with Ramit Sethi #268: Stop Planning, Start Experimenting: A Science-Backed Approach to a Better Life with Anne-Laure Le Cunff Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:55) The Lost Clothes Disaster and A Surprisingly Good Outcome (14:30) What Ski Trips Are Really Like With Kids (15:06) This Ski Season vs. Last Ski Season (18:14) Smarter Ways To Book Houses for Ski Travel (19:03) How To Save Money on Checked Bags for Ski Trips (19:37) A Shoutout to the New Delta Sky Club in Terminal 2 (20:07) When It’s Better To Drive Instead of Fly (21:42) How Amy Has Been Redesigning Rooms in the House (23:22) Why AI Is Such a Powerful Tool for Home Design (23:54) Amy’s Step-by-Step Process for Redesigning a Room With AI (25:02) The AI Tools Amy Used and What Each One Did Best (29:51) Using AI To Find Better Furniture Ideas (32:38) How Much Money AI Saved vs. Hiring a Designer (34:18) New House Gadget: The Skylight Calendar (36:25) Why We Love the Ratio Coffee Machine Gen 2 and the Baratza Grinder (39:50) Oura Ring vs. WHOOP Band (42:53) Bee, Wearable AI, and the Future of Personal Memory (50:30) What It Looks Like To Integrate AI Deeply Into Daily Life (54:22) What We Learned Switching to a High-Deductible Health Plan (01:03:11) Best Practices for Combining Finances as a Couple Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 269Navigating Transfer Bonuses, Hyatt Devaluation, New Card Offers and More
#269: Chris breaks down why he transferred >200k points for a transfer bonus and how to know when they're actually worth it. He also covers Hyatt's new award chart changes, the latest elevated welcome offers, and how he's using multiple AI agents to optimize his work and life. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/transfer-bonuses-hyatt-devaluation-ai Partner Deals Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your money Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned AI Models & Assistants ChatGPT OpenClaw Gemini Claude | Claude Cowork Oura Ring OpenSnow Gridfinity JAL USA CARD Rove Miles Transfer Bonuses in March 2026 Citi → Wyndham: 25% bonus (ends 3/21) Amex → Avianca LifeMiles: 15% bonus (ends 3/28) Rove Miles → Japan Airlines: 50% bonus (ends 3/31) Capital One → Preferred Hotels: 30% bonus (ends 3/31) Massive Hyatt Points Devaluation Credit Cards Best Cards Page Robinhood Gold Card U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here) Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Hilton Honors American Express Card Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card The Platinum Card® from American Express American Express® Business Gold Card The Business Platinum Card® from American Express WHOOP (1 month free here) Function Health ATH Podcast Ask Chris Anything! Newsletter Ep #265: I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep Ep #264: Deep Dive on Bilt Rewards and New Bilt 2.0 Cards Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:55) Chris's New AI Agent (04:00) How To Leverage Claude Cowork (06:14) How Chris Used AI to Build a New CardTool (08:52) The Future of The Internet (17:21) 3D Printing (18:39) Taking Advantage of Transfer Bonuses (21:56) Bilt Rent Day Transfer Bonuses (27:09) Rove Transfer Bonus to JAL & Other Bonuses (33:22) Hyatt's Massive Devaluation (38:54) How to Get More Points with Potential Devaluations (41:15) Welcome Offers on Delta Cards (45:12) Welcome Offers on United Cards (48:28) Welcome Offers on Hilton Cards (51:13) Welcome Offers on Southwest Cards (53:30) Cards with Big-Point Offers (54:13) Find the Latest Deals on the ATH Newsletter (54:45) Card-Linked Deals for Whoop and Function Health Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 268Stop Planning, Start Experimenting: A Science-Backed Approach to a Better Life with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
#268: Learn why setting big goals might actually be holding you back and what to do instead. Chris and Anne-Laure explore how to replace goal-setting with tiny, low-risk experiments that lead to more growth, more joy, and less burnout. Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, writer, and founder of Ness Labs, a learning community at the intersection of science and self-development. She is the author of Tiny Experiments and publishes a weekly newsletter on mindful productivity, creativity, and growth. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/tiny-experiments-anne-laure-le-cunff/ Partner Deals Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-commerce platform DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Anne-Laure: Website | Newsletter | Instagram Tiny Experiments Ness Labs ATH Podcast Ep #256: The Easy Way to Build and Maintain Meaningful Relationships with Nick Gray Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:01) The Problem with Setting Big Goals (02:42) When Goal Setting Becomes Counterproductive (03:41) Why Tiny Experiments Beat Goals (06:07) The Missing Ingredients That Make Experiments Actually Work (08:29) How an Experimental Mindset Rewires Your Brain (10:11) How Anne-Laure Adopted an Experimental Mindset (13:38) What Happened When Anne-Laure Redefined Success (16:29) How to Run a Tiny Experiment (18:22) Real-World Examples You Can Try Immediately (20:10) Why Smaller Is Always Better When Starting Out (22:28) How to Experiment Without Burning Out (25:05) Tracking Both External Results and Internal Signals (30:10) The Simple Weekly Review That Keeps Experiments on Track (32:18) Balancing Experimentation With Actually Living Your Life (35:45) Applying Experimentation to Financial Security (39:33) The Real Reason We Over-Optimize (42:15) When Optimizing Is Actually the Right Move (46:09) Balancing Excitement With Long-Term Priorities (50:12) Measuring Time Differently (52:20) Simple Rituals for Getting Present (53:25) Why Experimenting Publicly Accelerates Growth (57:26) How to Run Your Very First Experiment (59:26) Where to Find Anne-Laure and Her Work Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 267Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he uses to stay on top of it all. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/whats-in-my-wallet-2026/ Link to Cards Mentioned: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/whats-in-my-wallet-for-2026/ Partner Deals MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your money Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned CardTool App (Free access here) Credit Card Holder Wallet 1Password Blog Posts Premium Card Worksheet How to maximize your Hilton cards 6 reasons to avoid booking through an online travel agency Existing Bank of America relationship customers to keep status longer Credit Card Trackers CardPointers Pro (30% off here and 50% off here) CardRight Travel Freely ATH Podcast Best Cards Page CardTool App Membership Chris’s Card Optimization Spreadsheet AMA: Submit A Question Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:42) 3 Key Reasons to Get A Credit Card (05:23) Chris' Credit Card Goals for 2026 (08:31) Evaluating The Net Annual Fee of A Card (12:56) The Amex Card Stack (23:19) Co-Branded Marriott Cards (25:32) Co-Branded Hilton Cards (27:00) Co-Branded Delta Cards (28:12) The Amex Blue Card (30:34) A Popular Bank's Cards (33:10) World of Hyatt Business Card (33:30) Co-Branded Southwest & United Cards (40:41) More Cards From The Popular Bank (42:11) Capital One Venture Cards (45:17) Bank of America Card Stack (51:09) Alaska Atmos Cards (53:24) US Bank Cards (55:22) Citi Bank Cards (56:56) Wells Fargo Autograph Card (57:43) The Bilt Palladium Card (59:25) Assessing The Major Spending Categories (01:06:32) Cards for Amazon & Costco (01:07:13) The Best "Everything Else" Card (01:08:47) Chris's Takeaway on Credit Card Spending Categories (01:09:26) The Best Card Combos (01:13:00) Credit Card Trackers Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 266Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty. Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White House Behavioral Science Team. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/navigating-change-maya-shankar Partner Deals Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Maya: Website | Instagram Book: The Other Side of Change Podcast: A Slight Change of Plans Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away by Annie Duke Deep Personality Assessment ATH Podcast Ep #81: Making Smarter Decisions and Knowing When to Walk Away with Annie Duke Ep #265: I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:38) What People Get Wrong About Change (05:14) The Antidote That Makes Change Easier (12:11) Past Change vs. Intentional Change (16:02) Maximisers vs. Satisficers (19:10) Anchor Your Identity to Your Why (23:15) How to Discover Your Why (25:03) Navigating Change With a Very Different Partner (29:17) Breaking the Rumination Cycle (29:58) Mental Time Travel (31:55) Affect Labeling (32:39) Tools for Better Self-Understanding (36:01) AI as a Conversational Partner (39:43) Tactics For Thinking Through Big Changes (42:01) Moral Elevation (43:36) Why Reading Fiction Matters (44:29) Repurposing Your Experience (45:34) The First Step When Everything Changes (47:31) Where to Find More From Maya Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 265I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep
#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than ever before, and how he built a personal AI assistant that's already started to run his life behind the scenes. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/how-to-build-with-ai-tools Partner Deals Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned AI Models & Assistants ChatGPT OpenClaw Gemini Claude AI Coding & Building Tools Replit Lovable Cursor Codex Productivity & Automation Tools Wispr Flow Zapier Nimble Links Tampermonkey Developer Infrastructure Clerk Supabase GitHub FinTech: Plaid How to Run OpenClaw as your Virtual EA Blogs Doctor of Credit Frequent Miler The Points Guy Deep Personality Credit Cards American Express® Gold Card Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Bilt 2.0 ATH Podcast Ep #263: How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A Chris’ Card Optimizer Tool Ask Chris Anything! Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:41) Why This Is the Best Time Ever to Build Software (04:14) How to Build Almost Anything with AI (13:53) Why Context Is the Real Superpower (15:58) Using Planning Mode Instead of Guessing (16:41) Which AI Tool Should You Start With? (17:53) Building a Real Credit Card Optimizer from Scratch (28:48) What It Actually Costs to Build with AI (32:38) The Real AI Learning Curve (33:38) Moving from Cursor to Claude Code (36:17) Why You Should Try Building Something (Even If You're Not a Coder) (37:00) How OpenClaw Changes the Game (38:57) Why Security Still Matters (42:25) A Conversation with Ted, Chris' AI Assistant (44:07) Letting AI Work While You Sleep (49:41) Learning to Be Clear, Specific, and Intentional (50:03) Start with a Real Problem (50:39) Breaking Projects into Small, Winnable Pieces (50:58) What Would You Build If Building Were Easy? (51:59) Keeping Track of Cost and Budget Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 264Deep Dive on Bilt Rewards and New Bilt 2.0 Cards
#264: Learn how the Bilt ecosystem works, from earning Bilt Rewards to the new cards, transfer partners, perks, and where the real value is. Whether you’re new or already earning, this is a practical guide to using Bilt strategically and avoiding common mistakes. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/bilt-ecosystem-explained Partner Deals DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-commerce platform Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Bilt 2.0 Bilt Blue Card (Rates and fees here) Bilt Obsidian Card (Rates and fees here) Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here) Bilt Cash Bilt Travel Portal Bilt Dining Bilt Home Design Collection Complimentary BLADE airport flight Mastercard World Elite Benefits Guide Award Search Tools Award Wallet point.me (20% off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS20) Gopuff BevMo! Rakuten ($50 bonus here) Robinhood Gold Card Frequent Miler Article: Bilt Housing Payments ATH Podcast Luxury Hotel Upgrade Program Ask Chris Anything! Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (02:28) What Makes Bilt Rewards Different (07:03) How to Earn Bilt Points Without a Credit Card (13:52) Referral Bonuses and Earning Limits (14:17) How Rent and Mortgage Payments Work (16:06) Earning Through the Bilt Neighborhood Network (17:16) Earning Without a Card: The Real Tradeoffs (17:46) How Bilt Point Redemptions Actually Work (21:39) Transfer Partners and When Bonuses Matter (24:18) How Bilt Status and Elite Tiers Work (25:32) What Each Bilt Status Level Unlocks (31:49) A Major Caveat With the New Bilt Cards (34:36) Breaking Down the Current Bilt Card Lineup (35:33) Bilt Blue Card (37:34) Bilt Obsidian Card (41:19) Bilt Palladium Card (48:59) Housing Payments and What Changed (50:16) Earning Based on Billing-Cycle Spend (55:18) The Original Fee-Free Model (59:26) Cash-Out and Statement Credit Options (01:08:44) Simplifying the New Bilt Choices (01:14:21) The Bilt Silver Lining Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 263How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A
#263: Chris breaks down exactly how he’s earned millions of points and miles, and why simplicity matters more than optimization. He covers signup bonuses, spending strategies, credit score impacts, business cards, cash-back alternatives, and how to decide when a card (or perk) is actually worth it. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/points-and-miles-simplified-credit-cards Partner Deals Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software Notion: Try Notion Agent free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Credit Cards: Best Cards Page Alaska Airlines Visa® American Express® Green Card American Express Platinum Card for Schwab Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here) Capital One Venture X Business Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Coinbase One Card Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Robinhood Gold Card The Business Platinum Card® from American Express U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Venmo Credit Card Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Rakuten: Free $50 here Business Payment Platforms: Plastiq | Melio IRS Authorized Payment Providers Pay1040 ACI Payments Reddit: Credit Card Spend Needed to Achieve Each Airline Status Tier ATH Podcast Chris' Credit Card Optimizer Tool Ask Chris Anything! Membership Gift Card Site Ep #164: Earn Points Paying Taxes with a Credit Card (+ Latest Deals/News) Ep #200: Debunking Tax Myths, Avoiding Audits and Maximizing Savings with Jasmine DiLucci Ep #221: Deep Dive on Credit Reports, Scores, and Their Real-World Impact Ep #247: Deep Dive on Bank of America Credit Cards (Up to 5.25% Cash Back) Ep #248: How to Stop Over-Optimizing and Focus on What Matters with Tim Ferriss Ep #258: My Top 5 Mistakes with Points & Miles Ep #261: Goals, Tools, and Mindset Shifts for a Better 2026 with Kevin Rose Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction(01:26) How Chris Has Earned 15+ Million Points(03:46) Why Signup Bonuses Still Matter More than Everything Else(05:04) The Role Everyday Spending Actually Plays(08:42) When Transfer Bonuses Are Worth It(12:24) How Chris Leverages Referral Bonuses(13:24) What Having "Too Many" Credit Cards Really Does to Your Credit Score(16:13) How Many Signup Bonuses per Year Is Reasonable?(16:44) Why Spend Requirements Are the Real Bottleneck(18:23) Approval Odds and Timing Applications(22:04) Getting Approved for Business Cards (Without A Business)(27:23) Maximizing Rewards without Overcomplicating It(30:18) When Cash Back Is the Better Option(32:48) Best Cards for Big, One-Time Expenses like Weddings(37:24) Making Sense of Card Rules and Restrictions (38:13) Annual Fees: How to Decide if They're Worth Paying(41:12) Paying Taxes with a Credit Card(46:28) How to Think about Points if You Mostly Care about Hotels(49:10) Is CLEAR Worth It?(51:48) How DoorDash Credits Work(53:25) Is There a Shortcut to Airline Loyalty Status?(57:04) The Best Credit Card for Costco Spending(59:19) Are the New Bilt Cards Actually Bad? Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 262Points & Miles in 2026: What's New, What's Dying & What's Next with Brian M
#262: Learn how to navigate major changes in points and miles while maximizing travel rewards in 2026. Chris and Brian M cover Bilt 2.0, the Mesa card shutdown, how to evaluate annual fees, find award availability, and what’s likely (and unlikely) to change this year. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/latest-on-points-miles-january-2026 Partner Deals Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (Rates and fees here) Bilt 2.0 Bilt Blue Card (Rates and fees here) Bilt Obsidian Card (Rates and fees here) Bilt Palladium Card (Rates and fees here) Rove Miles Silo Markets Rakuten ($50 bonus here) Kalshi Prediction Market Alila Ventana Big Sur The Big A## Calendar Award Search Tools Award Wallet Points Path Chrome Extension Google Flights AwardTool ($20 off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS) Expert Flyer ATH Podcast Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:27) Reactions to Bilt’s New Card Lineup (04:08) Breakdown of the 3 New Bilt Cards (05:14) Should You Convert, Apply Fresh, Or Keep the Wells Fargo Card? (08:16) Questions Around Bilt Cash (09:50) The Bilt Card Chris Is Leaning Towards (15:03) Why Bilt's New Earnings Might Be Better Than It Looks (20:03) Mesa's Overnight Shutdown (24:25) Silo Markets Brokerage Bonus (29:54) What’s Coming Up in 2026 For Points, Loyalty, And Cards (32:25) Thoughts on the Southwest Companion Pass (35:26) Implications of the Proposed 10% Interest Rate Cap on Credit Cards (38:19) Will Points Tools Get Better in 2026? (40:02) Why 2026 Might Be Quiet on Major Credit Card Changes (43:18) How Brian Decides Whether an Annual Fee Card is Worth Keeping (46:50) Chris’ Order of Operations For Analyzing Cards (51:42) Ways to Plan A Trip Using Points (57:49) How Brian Leverages Flexibility for Travel (01:00:04) Strategies for Booking Flights (01:03:23) The Best Award Flight Search Tools (01:04:58) Booking Hotels With Points (01:09:38) Timeshares: When They Make Sense (and When They Don’t) (01:11:51) Using Alerts to Monitor Award Availability (01:13:12) Changing the Connecting City After Booking a Flight (01:15:14) Business Cards for Personal Spend (and Vice Versa) (01:17:09) What to Do When You Stop Getting Approved for Cards Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 261Goals, Tools, and Mindset Shifts for a Better 2026 with Kevin Rose
#261: Chris and Kevin reflect on 2025’s biggest wins and lessons, then dive into how they're planning 2026. They share their goals, the tools they're using, and why they're designing a year that’s easier, not just more optimized. Kevin Rose is the host of Diggnation and a partner at True Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested over $4 billion in a portfolio of over 400+ founders. Kevin previously founded Zero and Oak, and was a partner at Google Ventures. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/reflecting-and-planning-2026 Partner Deals Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Kevin Rose: Diggnation | Newsletter Books The Wealth Ladder by Nick Maggiulli Rework by Jason Fried Fizzy Jesse Itzler: Plan An Incredible 2026 In 12 Minutes Podcasts The Daily Churn New Modern Mom: Do you need a house manager? Duolingo Games Magazine Subscription Bram Cohen Puzzles The Big A## Calendar ATH Podcast Newsletter Chris’ Card Optimizer Tool Ep #99: 7 Questions to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet Ep #213: The 5 Types of Wealth with Sahil Bloom Ep #259: Choosing the Problems Worth Struggling For with Mark Manson Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:45) Kevin's 2025 Goals & How They Came to Fruition (04:34) Chris's Challenging End to 2025 (06:53) How Chris is Approaching Optimization in 2026 (09:33) Stepping Up Your Ability to Spend Money (15:55) What Chris and Kevin Changed Their Minds About in 2025 (20:11) The Many Different Uses of AI (29:16) Chris's Energy Generators and Drainers (33:40) Kevin's Energy Generators and Drainers (36:56) Decluttering for A Peace of Mind (41:09) How To Identify The Boat Anchors in Your Life (49:18) Chris's Hits and Misses in 2025 (52:10) Kevin's Hits and Misses for 2025 (54:19) How Kevin Plans His Year Ahead (57:53) Outsourcing to Make Things Easier (01:05:12) Focus on Making Lasting Memories (01:06:34) Ways to Pick Up New Skills (01:09:36) The Life Blender Concept Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 260Top 10 Takeaways from 2025
#260: Chris distills the most powerful lessons from over 50 episodes in 2025 into 10 actionable takeaways that changed how he thinks about money, time, health, relationships, purpose, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/top-takeaways-2025-optimize-money-travel-life Partner Deals Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software Notion: Try Notion Agent free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life ATH Podcast Ep #91: Die With Zero: Net Fulfillment Over Net Worth with Bill Perkins Ep #213: The 5 Types of Wealth with Sahil Bloom Ep #215: Medical Travel: Better Care and Lower Costs for Surgery, IVF, Dental, Advanced Screenings and More with Josef Woodman Ep #217: Top AI Tools, Insurance Planning for Fires and More Listener Q&A with Kevin Rose Ep #230: The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies for Every Step of Your Financial Life with Nick Maggiulli Ep #233: Money: What Each Generation Gets Right (& Wrong) with Ben Carlson Ep #239: Mini Retirements: How to Take a Break Sooner That Could Also Boost Your Career and Income with Jillian Johnsrud Ep #248: How to Stop Over-Optimizing and Focus on What Matters with Tim Ferriss Ep #249: Earn More Points in Multiplayer Mode with Kai Ep #251: How to Focus on What Matters and Let Go of the Rest with Ryan Holiday Ep #252: Family Travel on Points: Tips, Tricks and Tactics with Nick Reyes Ep #254: The Cost of Always Optimizing with Chris and Amy Ep #256: The Easy Way to Build and Maintain Meaningful Relationships with Nick Gray Ep #259: Choosing the Problems Worth Struggling For with Mark Manson Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected] Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:24) #1: True Wealth Is Multidimensional (03:13) #2: Focus on What Moves the Needle (10:24) #3: Build a Portfolio That Can Weather Any Storm (13:40) #4: Scale Horizontally, Not Vertically (17:04) #5: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time (22:38) #6: Scale Yourself With Technology (25:36) #7: You Need to Be the CEO of Your Own Health (29:54) #8: Prioritize Friendship Like You Prioritize Your Health (33:25) #9: Your Purpose Is Already Here, You’re Just Too Close to See It (36:13) #10: The Ultimate Optimization Is Knowing When to Stop (38:44) Bonus: Optimize for What Matters Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ep 259Choosing the Problems Worth Struggling For with Mark Manson
#259: Learn how to pick the challenges in life that actually matter. We break down how to stop optimizing for the wrong things, why values trump goals in decision-making, practical strategies for building real friendships, and more. Mark Manson is the bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (20M+ copies sold). He hosts the Solved podcast, writes the newsletter Your Next Breakthrough, and co-founded Purpose, an AI tool for exploring purpose and values. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/mark-manson-purpose-and-meaning Partner Deals Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Copilot Money: Get 26% off my favorite personal finance app Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Mark: Website | Newsletter | X The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck Solved Podcast Making Friends as an Adult, Solved Your Values, Solved Purpose App Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (00:47) What Most People Get Wrong About Living a Good Life (01:13) Why Struggle Is Inevitable and Necessary (02:18) Why Purpose Is Revealed, Not Found (04:34) Choosing the Right Metric To Optimize Your Life (06:26) The Three Ingredients of Meaningful Purpose (08:32) Why Purpose Doesn’t Require Changing the World (12:33) Radical Honesty as the Starting Point for Meaning (14:32) What Happens After You Achieve Everything You Wanted (17:48) Why Other People Can See Your Purpose Before You Do (21:06) Why Honest Conversations Are So Hard (and So Necessary) (28:41) Why Adult Friendship Is Uniquely Difficult (32:29) How Work, Kids, and Technology Changed Friendship (33:27) Why “Shared Stakes” Matter More Than Shared Spaces in Adult Friendships (37:02) When Life Feels Hard and Why That’s Normal (42:21) Making Better Decisions by Clarifying Your Values (43:57) How To Check In on Your Life Without Obsessing Over Goals (46:57) When Quitting a Goal Is the Right Decision (50:48) Why We Rarely Talk About Meaning With Friends (53:30) Building an AI To Ask Better Life Questions (55:04) How AI and Therapy Can Work Together (57:52) Is It Okay If Your Job Is Not Your Purpose? (01:00:07) The First Step Toward a More Meaningful Life (01:01:06) How To Define Value Beyond Status (01:02:08) Where To Find More From Mark Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices