Happy New Year! As we close out the year and look to the next, many of us are making resolutions to be better in the new year.
And what’s better than being rewarded for keeping those resolutions? With the right credit card, you can save money and earn valuable rewards as you practice your resolutions — no matter what they are.
Here are our favorite ways credit cards can help you stick to your 2026 resolutions.
Exercise more
Whether you’re checking out the new fitness studio in town or investing in home workout equipment and a fitness subscription, you can earn bonus rewards on your fitness purchases.
With a card like the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) or the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you’ll earn bonus rewards on your gym membership purchases.
The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+ has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re going the home gym route, you may want to take advantage of the up to $300 Equinox membership credit you’ll get each calendar year with the American Express Platinum Card®. (Enrollment is required; terms apply.)
Or, if you’re purchasing new fitness equipment, you can use the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) to earn 10 points per dollar on a Peloton equipment purchase of $150 or more (up to 50,000 points through Dec. 2027).
The Bilt Mastercard® also does more than let you pay rent without a transaction fee. With it, you can book eligible fitness classes with your points or earn bonus rewards when you book them using your card.
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TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor.
The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best credit cards to maximize fitness spending
Save more
It may sound counterintuitive that credit cards can help you save money, but you can take advantage of merchant offers and shopping portals to save money on the purchases you’re making anyway.
Most credit cards offer merchant-specific discounts that function like coupons. Just log in to your account and add any offers you might use to your card.
Then, as long as you spend at that merchant by the date the offer expires, you’ll automatically get a statement credit or, in some cases, earn additional rewards on the purchase.
To save (or earn) even more, go through a shopping portal when you’re shopping online. Begin your online shopping trip from the portal. Then, you’ll automatically earn rewards on your purchase — on top of the credit card rewards and merchant offers you’re already taking advantage of.
We love Rakuten because you can choose to earn rewards as cash back, American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt Rewards points. Plus, there are many other shopping portals to choose from, including those from major airlines.
And if you’re focused on pinching pennies more than traveling this year, consider using a cash-back credit card. You’ll earn a percentage back on everything you purchase, and you can redeem your rewards for a statement credit to cover your purchases.
Related: The beginners guide to online shopping portals
Read more
If you’re buying books or using a subscription to encourage yourself to read more, credit cards can help you save money on this habit.
First, be on the lookout for reading-related merchant offers. For instance, I regularly see offers on my Chase cards for Audible and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.
And if you prefer audiobooks and ebooks to hard copies, you’ll want to use the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express for your reading subscriptions. It earns 6% cash-back on eligible U.S. streaming purchases, including reading subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited, Audible and Spotify.
Cash back is earned as Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Of course, if you’re buying physical books or a new e-reader from Amazon, you’ll want to use your Prime Visa (see rates and fees) to earn 5% back on these purchases as well.
Related: The best credit cards for book lovers
Cook more
If you’re looking to eat healthier in the new year, chances are you’ll be spending less on dining out and more on groceries. Ensure you have a credit card that earns bonus points on these grocery purchases.
If you want to earn travel rewards, you can’t beat the American Express® Gold Card. It earns 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on U.S. supermarket purchases, on up to $25,000 in spending each calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).
And if you’re focused on cash-back rewards, we love the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. It earns unlimited 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and doesn’t have an annual fee.
Plus, both the Amex Gold and the Capital One Savor also earn bonus rewards on dining purchases, so they’re also great cards to reach for when your cooking plans go up in smoke and you need to order pizza.
Note that the Amex Gold’s dining category is subject to a spending cap; cardmembers will earn 4 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in restaurant purchases worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar.
Related: The best credit cards for grocery spending
Travel more
If this is the year you’re ready to dust off your suitcase and finally take your dream trip, credit cards can certainly help with that.
The easiest way to build a strong points balance is to earn the welcome bonus on a new credit card. We’ve compiled a list of the best welcome offers this month, so start there if you don’t already have a card in mind.
Beyond that, we’re here to help you use credit card rewards for whatever travels you have on your list. Whether you’re headed to the Maldives, Disney World or a national park, points and miles can help make your trip a reality.
Related: The 10 best places to travel in January 2026
Bottom line
No matter your resolutions this year, we’re rooting for you. And as long as you’re following best credit card practices, like paying off your balance on time and in full every month, credit cards can make sticking to your resolutions even more rewarding.
Related: Everything you need to know about visiting US national parks in 2026
