So, coming up in August, I actually have tickets booked to go and visit some family. I don't necessarily consider this a vacation because it's always more frustrating than relaxing, and I'm only going for a long weekend this time. If anybody has any travel tips on coping with stress when you have to go visit your family, please share.

Recently, I signed up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. To be honest, I waited years before applying because the annual fee always seemed too high. In fact, it recently increased again and is now $795 per year. The main reason I finally decided to get it was because my Chase points balance was running low, and I wanted to take advantage of the welcome bonus. But before I apply for any credit card, I do something that has saved me from making a lot of bad decisions. I take two cards I'm considering and put them side by side. Then I write down every benefit, perk, credit, and feature each card offers. Next, I put a checkmark next to the benefits I know I'll actually use. Not the benefits that sound nice. Not the benefits that look impressive in marketing materials. The benefits I will realistically use based on my lifestyle. For me, one of the biggest perks of the Sapphire Reserve is the $300 annual travel credit. It's incredibly flexible. Flights, hotels, trains, parking, rideshares—if it codes as travel, Chase automatically applies the credit. Since opening the card, I've already used: ✅ $300 Travel Credit ✅ $80 TSA PreCheck Credit ✅ $150 StubHub Credit ✅ $359 Fitness Tracker Credit ✅ $120 DoorDash Membership Benefit ✅ Over $40 in DoorDash discounts and credits So even though the annual fee is $795, I've already received over $1,049 in value from benefits I've actually used. The lesson here isn't that everyone should get this card. The lesson is that many people sign up for products, memberships, subscriptions, and even communities without fully utilizing what they're paying for. Whether it's a credit card, a travel program, or a Skool community, take the time to understand the benefits available to you and make a plan to use them. You might be surprised how much value you're leaving on the table. Question: What's one membership, subscription, or credit card benefit you're paying for right now but probably not maximizing?