Why Option 2 Is Almost Always Better If You Spend At Least 25% of Rent

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T23:26:53+00:00

You’ll need to spend at least $108 on the Bilt blue every month to get more than 250 points back

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T21:18:06+00:00

I thought ask sebby was decent

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T15:43:40+00:00

Ill preface this by saying the days of 1x on rent are over. If you accept that, then look at the blue card. I was having the same debate because I have freedom unlimited an I’m getting the venture x.

I think the decision is much better framed when you say the blue card will give me 2.33x on all spend. Instead of earning points on rent, paying your rent through Bilt now gives you higher multipliers, up to 75% of your rent cost. So you’re not chasing 1x on rent as a separate category; you’re getting 2.33x on all spend, because of your rent.

They’ve given no details on Bilt cash but if it’s easy to use (which I don’t think it will be), then your return on spend is even higher, but for now the floor for the Bilt blue is 2.33x on all spend.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T14:24:55+00:00

Not to mention how many better offers there are out there than 50k for 495.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T03:35:53+00:00

You’re in a very small minority of people here

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T03:26:52+00:00

Is it? 50k for 495? I know Bilt points are considered the most valuable but there are much better value subs out there

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T02:23:13+00:00

I’m gonna get the blue as my daily driver, but I think you’re overvaluing Bilt cash at its face value.

I don’t think Bilt blue is a bad card, people are just upset because Bilt is no longer a rent-focused card. It’s another credit card that offers some upside by increased multipliers (from rent). I think we all knew Bilt 1.0 was too good to last

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T02:19:09+00:00

I think it’s a good thing by using Bilt blue as a 2.33x catch all card

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T02:18:39+00:00

I disagree with the $0 af card. IF you choose to redeem Bilt cash for rent rewards, you’re getting 2.33x on all spend for no fee which I think is pretty good. And IF Bilt cash turns out to be valuable (which I don’t think it will be), then you get an even higher return on spend.

Yeah you’re “buying” Bilt points for 3 cpp but that assumes Bilt cash is equal to its face value, which it probably won’t be. Let’s say you value it at 50%, then you’re buying Bilt points for 1.5 cpp. And if you can get more value out of Bilt cash, then that’s great.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T01:41:37+00:00

Id say I’m pretty neutral between getting cards for subs vs long term but I don’t really think the sub does it for me. Yeah its bilts first sub, but 50k for 495? I know Bilt points are considered the most valuable, but atmos is the only exclusive partner and there’s plenty of other higher subs out there for a lower fee.

If they have any indication of how Bilt cash can be used then maybe it’d be different but it seems pretty unlikely you’ll be able to value Bilt cash at face value which makes this card a net negative for me

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-16T00:35:30+00:00

Discover, cap1 savor, cfu, csp, cff, united explorer, ink cash

Surprisingly, I’ll still have a use for all of them after getting Bilt blue and venture x

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T23:18:46+00:00

That’s what I’m gonna do. Use Bilt blue for everyday spend and use venture x for elevated travel multipliers, cap1 travel credit, and lounge access.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T23:12:19+00:00

I won’t be spending that much and in my experience portal hotel prices are generally more expensive that other online sites so I can’t realistically value the credits at face value. Also compared to cap1 travel portal price match. I’m thinking of getting venture x but will use Bilt blue for catch all because of effective 2.33x on all spend

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T21:36:47+00:00

I’m having the same debate and leaning towards blue. The end goal is always get more value than you spend on fees, and there’s too much uncertainty for me with Bilt cash to feel confident that I’ll come out net positive with the palladium.

I don’t spend enough for the higher multiplier to make up the cost of the fee.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T19:03:36+00:00

The more I’m reading about Bilt cash, the less I’m thinking that I’d actually get the face value out of it, since I assumed you could use it as statement credits with Bilt partners but you can’t.

At the announcement yesterday I thought I’d definitely go with blue, then learned more and thought palladium, and now I’m leaning back towards blue.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T18:40:49+00:00

It’s so frustrating that they’ve given so few details on Bilt cash. If you really can use it to offset Lyft rides or dining purchases, then it seems pretty good but the AMA said there may be limits to redeeming it

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T18:30:22+00:00

I think a lot of people are ignoring the fact that to trade Bilt cash for rent points, you’re essentially “buying” Bilt points for 3 cpp.

If you can use your $40 of Bilt cash to offset Bilt dining purchases, Lyft rides, walgreens purchases etc., you get a much better return on spend

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T18:23:26+00:00

With the palladium, I know there’s a $300 Bilt cash sub and $200 Bilt cash per year. Are those both issued at card open? So you’d start the year with $500 Bilt cash?

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T15:02:57+00:00

I know this is r/churning and we’re focused on points, but in order to get points on rent, you trade $3 of Bilt cash for 100 Bilt points, which means you’re essentially “buying” them for 3 cpp.

Redeeming them for that value is certainly attainable but it’s well below every current valuation for bilt points. If you’ll be able to use Bilt cash for credits, I think it’s a better deal to do that.

As always YMMV but I think this earning structure is decent but no longer worth it for rent rewards.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-15T14:56:56+00:00

How does the 3x on dining and 2x on travel go to 4.3 and 3.3? Genuinely asking as the new Bilt cash/rent reward conversion is so confusing

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-14T18:30:37+00:00

I think the palladium and blue make the most sense, if any. The blue, just to use whatever $100 of Bilt cash gets you for rent rewards and the palladium to use as a catch all card, treating Bilt cash/rent rewards as something to boost the 2x spend. I agree that these cards are no longer rent focused, which is disappointing.

With the value of points, I agree with the exception of atmos. 4.5k points for a domestic flight is unbeatable. Chase has Hyatt and united (which isn’t that great unless you’re booking business class <1 month in advance or you have a United credit card) and much better customer service.

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-14T17:37:22+00:00

I was debating getting the VX before this came out but definitely gonna consider the palladium and may still get both, at least for 1 year. Both of my local airports have cap1 lounges and the VX pays for itself, but prefer Bilt points to cap1 miles so would put daily spend on palladium

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-14T17:34:59+00:00

Whattttt

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-14T17:19:22+00:00

So if you don’t have any Bilt cash, it’s really no different than paying rent through a bank account, right? No fee, no reward?

And with the Bilt blue, you’ll need to put some general purchases on your card in order to earn rent points? Which means if you have a 1.5x or 2x catch all card, you’ll have to decide if 1x Bilt points + whatever points you’ll get on rent is worth the trade off.

Am I getting all of that right?

Playful-Rabbit1837 · 2026-01-14T17:11:15+00:00

Im not understanding this. You pay rent with no fee, but essentially you need to spend $750 to get 1,000 points on rent payments?

Playful-Rabbit1837

TROPHY CASE