Wiki
Plain-language guides to points, cards, credit, banking, eSIM and travel
Short, sourced explainers you can read in a few minutes. Each one names where its facts come from and when we last checked them.
98 guides across 8 topics
Browse by topic
- Rewards basicsHow rewards, interest and statements actually work.6 guides
- Credit cardsSign-up bonuses, annual fees, issuer rules and the fine print.39 guides
- Points & milesAirline, hotel and bank points: how they are earned, valued and kept.8 guides
- Credit & your rightsScores, reports, freezes, disputes and the laws behind them.12 guides
- Banking & paymentsAccounts, IBANs, cross-border transfers and virtual cards.10 guides
- eSIM & connectivityStaying online abroad without surprise bills.7 guides
- TravelPaying, insuring and moving across borders.10 guides
- SecurityDisputes, scams and keeping your accounts safe.6 guides
Guides labeled “membership rewards”
- Credit cardsAmerican Express Gold Card in 2026: 4x on food, a 325-dollar fee, and credits you must actually useWhat the Amex Gold lists in October 2026: 4x points at restaurants and US supermarkets, 5x on prepaid hotels, a 325-dollar fee and four credits worth 424 dollars if you use every one. A worked example, the rules that can cost you the bonus, and who should skip it.5 min readIntermediate
- Credit cardsAmerican Express Platinum in 2026: an 895-dollar fee, 2,994 dollars of credits, and who actually profitsThe Platinum's fee is 895 dollars and Amex lists credits worth 2,994 dollars a year, plus lounges and hotel status. How to count the credits you would really use, what changed in 2026, the lifetime and family rules, and when the Gold is the better choice.5 min readAdvanced
- Credit cardsAmex Platinum in Japan 2026: a ¥165,000 fee, a ¥100,000 airline credit and the ¥5 million line that keeps itWhat American Express Japan lists for the Platinum Card in October 2026: a ¥165,000 annual fee, an airline credit and an extra hotel night tied to ¥5 million of yearly spending, Centurion Lounges, dining cashback and hotel status. How to count what you would actually use.5 min readIntermediate
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