How Long Will the Program Take?
Depends on a few things: how many people in your household are playing, your normal monthly credit card spending, & how timely you submit applications.
Solo Path: ~18 Months to 400-500K Points
If you're flying solo:
Average $3K/month in credit card charges
Goal: earn 400-500K rewards points
Timeline: about 18 months
Total annual fees over the period: typically under $200
Couple's Path: ~24 Months to 800K-1M Points
If you & your spouse are both in:
Combined $3K/month in credit card charges (yes, the same $3K - you don't need to spend more)
Goal: earn 800K-1M rewards points
Timeline: about 24 months
Total annual fees over the period: typically under $400
What Drives the Timeline
No extra spending required. Everything is built on your normal monthly charges. It's about shifting your existing spending onto the right card at the right time, not asking you to spend more.
Welcome bonus cards do the heavy lifting. With an active welcome bonus card in your wallet, you're effectively earning 10x-20x points per dollar instead of just 1x. Without one, you're losing the leverage. The whole point of timely applications is minimizing your downtime between bonus cards.
Your job is small but real. Filling out the applications I send is the main thing. I handle the rest of the thinking - which card next, when to time it, when to set up autopay, when to cancel before an annual fee hits.
If goals or timeline change, lmk. Life shifts. We can speed up, slow down, or pause anytime.
Related Questions
Important Disclosures
Educational guidance only - not financial, credit, or tax advice. Individual results vary based on card approval, spending habits, redemption choices, & timing. Approval for any credit card is subject to issuer criteria. Point estimates above reflect typical outcomes for engaged participants & are not guaranteed.
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This is how this free program is funded. Compensation does not influence guidance. Opinions are the author's alone & have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any bank, card issuer, or other entity.
