Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. I opened my first credit card, the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card, shortly after graduating from college. At the time, I had no idea that one decision would eventually lead to me qualifying for some of my favorite travel rewards cards and taking trips I never thought I'd be able to afford.
When I was younger, my personal finance education was quite minimal. Credit cards were treated like some kind of financial boogeyman, capable of sending me deep into irrecoverable debt.
If you were taught to view credit cards in the same way, or if they're just something you haven't thought much about, I get it.
My perspective changed when I learned that everyday spending on a credit card could eventually earn me free flights and hotel stays.
Of course, to get there, you first need to build your credit history — and right after college is one of the best times to start.
The information for the Petal 2 credit card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Back before I knew about travel rewards, I didn't expect to be able to take trips too frequently. Between flights, hotel stays, food and activities, I knew I'd run up thousands in charges — not something I could easily afford as an entry-level professional in media.
But travel rewards completely changed that.
Thanks to the points and miles I've earned through my nine (yes, nine) credit cards, I've been able to do things like travel to Germany for 10 days, make meaningful progress toward my goal of visiting all 50 states and spend Christmas in Canada.
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I'm about to head out on my next trip down to Mexico, another vacation that wouldn't have happened without points.
None of this happened overnight. It took several years of responsibly using that first credit card before I qualified for the travel rewards cards that now make trips like these possible.
By doing the boring work of getting your first credit card and establishing your credit score now, you'll set yourself up to have a high enough credit score in your mid-to-late 20s to get approved for some of our favorite travel rewards cards.
To give you an idea of how much money points can save you, I didn't pay a dollar out of pocket for any of the 10 nights I booked during my Germany trip. Without points, those hotel stays would’ve cost thousands of dollars.
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