Introducing Our Free Credit Card Recommendation Tool: Stop Guessing, Start Optimizing
Lisa BaumanShare
Finally - a tool that tells you which credit cards to use based on YOUR spending.
I'm excited to announce the launch of something I've been working on for months: the Credit Card Recommendation Tool. It's free, it requires no signup, and it takes about 5 minutes to use.
Here's why I built it.
The Problem: Most People Are Using the Wrong Cards
I talk to people every day who are leaving thousands—sometimes tens of thousands—of dollars on the table.
Not because they're bad with money. Not because they're not trying.
But because they're using the wrong credit cards for their spending patterns.
Example:
You spend $800/month on groceries. You use a card that gives you 1% cashback.
That's $96/year in rewards.
But the right card—one that earns 6x points on groceries—would give you 57,600 points per year.
Redeemed strategically, that's worth $480 to $1,440 per year in travel value.
Over 15 years? That's the difference between $1,440 and $21,600.
Same groceries. Different card. Life-changing difference.
And that's just one spending category.
The Solution: Know What Cards Match Your Life
Most credit card advice is generic.
"Get this card—it's the best!"
Best for who? Best for what?
A card that's perfect for someone who travels constantly is terrible for someone who spends heavily on dining and groceries. A card that earns big bonuses on gas doesn't help if you take public transportation.
Your spending is unique. Your card strategy should be too.
That's what this tool does. It analyzes YOUR spending patterns and recommends the cards that will maximize YOUR points earnings.
How It Works
The tool asks you 5 simple questions:
- What's your highest spending category? (Groceries, dining, gas, travel, etc.)
- How much do you spend monthly in that category?
- What's your second-highest spending category?
- Are you willing to pay an annual fee for higher rewards?
- What do you want to use your points for? (Travel, cashback, flexibility)
Based on your answers, the tool recommends:
- The best cards for your top spending categories
- How many points you could earn annually
- The estimated value of those points
- Whether annual fees are worth it for your situation
No guessing. No generic advice. Just personalized recommendations based on real math.
Why This Matters for Retirement
Here's the part most people miss:
Credit card points aren't just for vacations. They're a retirement asset.
The average household spends $50,000–$80,000 per year on everyday expenses. Over 15-20 years, strategic card use on that spending can accumulate $500,000–$800,000 in travel and lifestyle value.
That's not a typo.
You're spending that money anyway. Rent, groceries, insurance, utilities, gas, dining, subscriptions—it all adds up.
The question is: Are you capturing the value, or are you leaving it on the table?
Most people think retirement planning is just about cash savings and 401(k)s. But there's a third bucket most people ignore: points-powered wealth.
This tool helps you build that bucket—starting today.
What Makes This Tool Different
1. It's actually free.
No email capture. No signup wall. No "free trial" that becomes a paid subscription. Just instant results.
2. It's personalized.
Generic card recommendations don't work. This tool analyzes YOUR spending and gives YOU recommendations.
3. It does the math for you.
You don't need to calculate points per dollar or compare redemption values. The tool shows you exactly what you could be earning.
4. It's built for real people.
Not travel hackers. Not points obsessives. Just regular people who want to make their everyday spending work harder for them.
Who This Tool Is For
✅ You're spending money on everyday expenses (groceries, gas, dining, bills)
✅ You want to maximize the value of that spending without changing your lifestyle
✅ You're not sure which credit cards are best for your situation
✅ You're building a retirement strategy and want to add a third asset bucket
✅ You're tired of generic advice that doesn't fit your life
If that sounds like you, this tool will help.
Real Example: Sarah's Results
Sarah is 48, works in marketing, and spends about $4,500/month on everyday expenses.
Her breakdown:
- $900/month on groceries
- $600/month on dining
- $400/month on gas
- $2,600/month on everything else
She was using a flat 1.5% cashback card for everything.
Her annual rewards: $810.
After using the tool, she switched to:
- A 6x grocery card
- A 4x dining card
- A 3x gas card
- Her existing card for everything else
Her new annual rewards: $2,340 in points value.
That's an extra $1,530 per year—without spending an extra dollar.
Over 15 years? An extra $22,950 in retirement travel value.
Same spending. Different strategy. Massive difference.
Try It Now
Ready to see what you've been missing?
Try the Credit Card Recommendation Tool →
It takes 5 minutes. It's completely free. And it might change how you think about your everyday spending.
Because here's the truth: You're going to spend that money anyway.
The only question is whether you're capturing the value—or leaving it on the table for someone else.
What's Next
This tool is just the beginning.
Over the next few months, I'll be adding more free resources to help you build a points-powered retirement strategy:
- Points Value Calculator – See what your existing points are worth
- Spending Category Optimizer – Upload your spending and get card recommendations for every category
- 15-Year Points Projection – Model your points accumulation over time
My goal is simple: Help you turn everyday spending into retirement wealth.
No extra budget needed. No lifestyle changes required. Just strategic optimization of money you're already spending.
If you want to stay updated, follow me on Instagram @unchainedplans or check back here for new tools and guides.
Your Turn
Have you tried the tool yet? What was your biggest surprise?
Drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram—I'd love to hear what you discover.
And if you found this helpful, share it with someone who's still using the wrong cards for their spending. They'll thank you later.
Lisa
Unchained Plans
Helping Gen X build retirement wealth through strategic points optimization