The Reality of Opening 8 Credit Cards in 6 Months

[WAITLIST] 1:1 Points Travel Strategy Session - get on the waitlist here!Travel Freely App - How we keep track of all our cards! And make sure to follow us on Instagram! @travelpartyof5 Contrary to popular belief, opening multiple credit cards doesn't automatically tank your credit score. I'm living proof – with eight new cards in just six months and an "excellent" credit score of 808 to show for it.The credit card journey has been quite the ride. Growing up with warnings about the dangers of plastic and experiencing credit card debt twice in my younger years made me initially hesitant. Fast forward to today, and I've completely transformed my relationship with credit cards, using them strategically to fund incredible family adventures through points and miles.My husband and I break down the eight cards I've opened since January – spanning Chase, American Express, and Citi – and reveal how diversifying across different banks has been crucial to approval success. We share the surprising factors affecting credit scores (like why my husband's 763 score gets fewer approvals than my 808) and how credit history length significantly outweighs the impact of new accounts.The most pressing challenge we're facing? Meeting a massive $20,000 minimum spend requirement on the Amex Business Platinum. We discuss our strategy, including prepaying bills, planned expenses, and the somewhat controversial world of buying groups. And no, despite my husband's suggestions, we won't be purchasing jet skis to meet the requirement!These strategic credit card moves have yielded nearly 700,000 points across various programs, funding upcoming adventures to Thailand, Japan, Yosemite, and European Christmas markets. We also tackle the counterintuitive decision to sometimes pay cash for flights rather than using points when the value proposition doesn't make sense.Want to learn how to leverage points and miles for your own family travel? Join my waitlist for personalized one-on-one consulting sessions where I'll help you maximize your redemptions and plan your dream trips.**Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you use them. I only recommend products I truly use and love.**