Happy New Year! As we wrap up this year and look ahead to the next, many of us are determined to do better in the new year.
What could be better than being rewarded for keeping those resolutions? With the right credit card, you can save money and earn valuable rewards as you follow through on your resolutions—no matter what they are.
Here are our favorite ways that credit cards can help you stick to your 2026 resolutions.
Exercise more
Whether you’re checking out a new fitness studio in town or investing in home gym equipment and a fitness subscription, you can earn extra rewards on your fitness purchases.
With a card like this World of Hyatt Credit Card (See Rates & Fees) or the US Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, you’ll get extra rewards when you purchase a gym membership.
US Bank Cash+ information is 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 planning on working out at home, you might want to take advantage of the up to $300 in Equinox membership points you earn each calendar year American Express Platinum Card®. (Registration required; Terms apply.)
Or, if you’re shopping for new fitness equipment, you can use Chase Sapphire Reserve® (See Rates & Fees) Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Peloton equipment purchases of $150 or more (up to 50,000 points through December 2027).
this Bilt MasterCard® It’s more than just letting you pay your rent without paying transaction fees. With it, you can use points to book qualifying fitness classes or get extra rewards when you book with the card.
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TPG founder Brian Kelly is an advisor and investor in Bilt.
Bilt Mastercard information is 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 Your 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 your purchases.
Most credit cards offer merchant-specific discounts that function like coupons. Simply log into your account and add any offers you may be using to your card.
Then, as long as you spend money at that merchant before the offer expiration date, you’ll automatically earn statement points or, in some cases, get an extra bonus on your purchase.
To save (or earn) more, go through a shopping portal when shopping online. Start your online shopping journey from the portal. Then, you’ll automatically receive rewards for your purchases, in addition to the credit card rewards and merchant offers you’re already taking advantage of.
We like Rakuten because you can choose to earn rewards like cash back, American Express Membership Rewards points, or Bilt Rewards points. Additionally, there are many other shopping portals to choose from, including those from major airlines.
If you’re more focused on saving money than traveling this year, consider a cash back credit card. You’ll earn a percentage back on all your purchases, and you can redeem your rewards for bill points to pay for your purchases.
Related: Beginner’s Guide to Online Shopping Portals
Read more
If you buy books or use subscriptions to encourage yourself to read more, a credit card can help you save money while building that habit.
First, keep an eye out for reading-related merchant offers. For example, I often see Audible and Kindle Unlimited subscription offers on my Chase card.
If you prefer audiobooks and e-books to hard copies, you will want to use American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card For your subscription to read. Earn 6% cash back on eligible U.S. streaming purchases, including reading subscriptions like Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and Spotify.
Cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be used as statement points and redeemed at checkout on Amazon.com.
Of course, if you’re buying a physical book or a new e-reader from Amazon, you’ll want to use your Premium visa (See Rates & Fees) Also earn 5% back on these purchases.
Related: The best credit cards for book lovers
Cook more
If you’re looking to eat healthier in the new year, you’ll likely spend less on eating out and more on groceries. Make sure you have a credit card that allows you to earn bonus points on these groceries.
If you want to earn travel rewards, look no further than American Express® Gold Card. Earn 4 Membership Rewards points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (1 point for every $1).
If you value cash back rewards, we like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card . It earns unlimited 3% back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), and there’s no annual fee.
Plus, Amex Gold and Capital One Savor earn extra rewards on meals, so they’re also great cards for when your cooking plans get stuck and you need to order pizza.
Please note that Amex Gold has a spending limit on dining categories; card members will earn 4 points for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), and 1 point for every $1 spent thereafter.
Related: The best credit cards for groceries
Travel more
If you’re ready to dust off your suitcase this year and finally take that trip of your dreams, a credit card can definitely help you make that happen.
The easiest way to build a strong points balance is to earn a welcome bonus with a new credit card. We’ve compiled a list of the best welcome deals this month, so if you don’t want a card yet, start here.
Beyond that, we can help you use credit card rewards for any trip on your list. Whether you’re heading to the Maldives, Disney World or the National Parks, points and miles can help make your trip a reality.
Related: The 10 Best Places to Travel in January 2026
bottom line
Whatever your resolutions are this year, we have your back. As long as you follow best credit card practices, like paying off your balance in full and on time every month, credit cards can make sticking to your resolutions more rewarding.
RELATED: Everything you need to know about visiting America’s national parks in 2026
