S3E11: Bilt's New Credit Cards: Earning Points on Rent & Mortgage Explained

1/23/26 Click MORE to see Ad disclosures If you've heard the buzz about Bilt's new system for earning points on your rent or mortgage, you're not alone! A lot of people got really excited about the idea of earning rewards on their biggest monthly expense. But after Bilt rolled out their new options, many people have been confused, overwhelmed by the structure, and underwhelmed by the value. In this episode, I’m breaking down the convoluted new Bilt structure step-by-step to help you decide if it makes sense for your points strategy. I’ll explain the difference between their new "Bilt Cash" currency and the tiered spending system, and show you the exact math you need to know. We’re also taking a look at the three new credit cards launching on February 7th: the Bilt Blue, Obsidian, and Palladium cards. I’ll give you my honest take on the pros and cons of each. While this new program isn't the game-changer many hoped for, there is a narrow group of people this might work for. Whether you want to go all-in or completely ignore Bilt, this episode will give you the tools and free calculators you need to make the right choice for your family. ACTION STEPS: Make a Decision: Use my free resources to decide if you want to open a Bilt card, shelve the idea for later, or forget it entirely. Keep Working on Your Plan: If Bilt isn't for you, keep working on your three-year plan or opening cards at your own pace for your personal goals. Use the Calculators: If you are considering Bilt, use this Bilt Card Guide to run the calculators for your specific spending scenario: katiestraveltricks.com/bilt-guide-to-cards-earning-on-mortgage-and-rent-payments Gather Your Numbers: Before using the calculators, figure out your monthly housing payment, your monthly grocery/dining spend, and your overall monthly credit card spend. Act Before February 7th: If you decide to apply, you have until February 7th to sign up for a card with the current launch offers. Listen to Previous Episodes: Go back and listen to last week's episode on earning Bilt rewards without a credit card here: https://youtu.be/0OkDkjBI7v0 Also, if you are new, listen to Season 1, Episode 1 of the podcast sequentially to understand the framework of travel points. Start here: New Here? Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year. Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too. More from Katie’s Travel Tricks 🔗 Website Instagram 💻 Free Course 💳 Best Current Card Offers 🎒 Favorite Travel Gear Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the autho...