As someone who lives with a sticky note in her wallet to remind myself which credit card to use at which store for the most points, I am obviously a credit card points novice. As we all know, Marc is the credit card guru of our relationship. If I’m being honest, half of the time he talks about credit cards, it sounds like Charlie Brown’s mom, “wah wah wah.” So while Marc is the expert, I’m the translator who tries to make things simple. And who doesn’t love a good Bridgerton analogy?
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Bridgerton is a Shonda Rhimes show on Netflix based on Julia Quinn’s novel series, and set in the competitive world of debutantes in regency era London. If you haven’t watched Bridgerton and prefer a good heist movie, check out Marc’s credit card team post instead.
To create the best credit card team or a rather pleasing debutante season, one needs certain key participants.
Lady Whistledown
Lady Whistledown is a popular, anonymous writer of a social pamphlet sharing all the gossip of “the ton.” Although the gossip of the ton would certainly still arise and be spread amongst the nosy mamas, what would Bridgerton be without Lady Whistledown? She elevates your Bridgerton experience and keeps the rest of the citizens of the ton on their toes. While she's not a necessary character, the Bridgerton experience is not quite the same without her.
As a credit card, typically only one “Lady Whistledown” is needed at a time to maximize the benefit of your team. These cards carry a large annual fee, between $450 and $700. While the offers of the credit card may not completely offset the annual fee for everyone, they do offer other benefits that can be worthwhile. “Lady Whistledown” cards include: the Platinum card from American Express, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and the highest annual fee card offered by each airline, such as the United Club Infinite card. These cards upgrade the frequent traveler to a much nicer experience and maximize the benefits of your team as a whole.
Remember, not every debutante season or even region is worthy of, or in need of, Lady Whistledown. Lady Whistledown can’t share scandal if it doesn’t exist though. She is waiting in the background, when something especially juicy needs to be shared with the ton. It’s important to know how your entire credit card team is laid out before adding this opinionated writer to the scheme.
Lady Danbury & Lady Bridgerton
The most important role of all in the competitive marriage market is an experienced woman of the ton. Unlike a nosy mama who simply wants to find a wealthy, titled man for her daughter, Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton guide the youth of the ton to make marriage decisions based on love, self-worth, and finding a supportive partner. Lady Danbury is unconcerned with the rules of society and sharp in her judgements. Lady Bridgerton guides her children with a sense of strong elegance, keeping them aligned even when they push against her judgments.
A successful marriage matching season can take place without Lady Whistledown, but not without at least one of these ladies of the ton.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
As credit cards, these women control the work of the rest of your team. They are going to be the high-earning cards with the most transactions on them day-to-day. While we love both of these leading ladies, on a credit card team not both are necessary. Depending on your team, you will have between one and three of these leading ladies directing the season. The annual fee range for these cards can be broad, ranging from $100 to $400. The best examples include the Citi Premier, American Express God, and Capital One Venture X cards. They provide high earnings on useful, everyday categories. These cards will likely be used for most of your transactions.
Mrs. Wilson, Rose Nolan, Genevieve Delacroix, and other servants
While these characters don't play a key front-facing role in Bridgerton, the debutante season cannot exist without them. With thousands of flowers to be meticulously placed around the property, last minute balls to prepare for, unique dresses to be made, and faint women with a need for someone to hold their fan, these characters specialize in different aspects of the season’s events.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
As credit cards, these characters are flexible benefit and flexible points cards, such as hotel or airline cards. They provide you with a collection of benefits that outweigh their cost. Much like Genevieve Delacroix, her dresses may be pricey (at least for the debt-ridden Featheringtons), but who could go to a ball without one of her unique designs? These cards will always carry an annual fee (good service requires a good wage!). It's important to remember to assemble these cards on your team based on what you need accomplished. Mrs. Wilson would be useless at creating a dress, while Genevieve Delacroix probably wouldn’t know anything about decorating a ball to Lady Bridgerton’s exquisite standards.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
On the higher fee end of these cards, a typical annual fee will be between $200 and $450. They will provide you with the most benefit by using them for 1-2 trips per year. You may also find your team benefits from more than one of these cards, and may include cards such as the Hilton Aspire, Bonvoy Brilliant, Delta Premium, or United Quest.
For lower fee cards, they typically have an annual fee (around $100) in exchange for one key benefit. If the benefit outweighs the annual fee, these cards can be worth it. A great example is a hotel card that offers one free night per year, such as the IHG Premier card. As long as you stay at a hotel that exceeds $99 for the night (which is most hotels) you will have saved on the annual fee.
Simon Bassett (the Duke) and Anthony Bridgerton
Also known as the muscle or the eye candy of the entire Bridgerton season, these men make every (or almost every) woman swoon during their debutante season. We can’t get the most out of Bridgerton without these men gracing our presence.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
As credit cards, these men are the safety nets that keep everyone wanting to binge the next episode. They have decent earning rates on all spending, and while they don’t specialize in certain areas like the servants, they do specialize in keeping us always watching and wanting more. This card can be used on non-specialized areas, such as buying an expensive purchase that doesn’t fall into a certain credit card benefits category like travel, groceries, or gas. They would be what you likely use for the purchase of a horse to give to your suitor or that engagement ring to pop the question, after knowing the person for only two promenades of course. These cards include Amex Blue Business Plus, a Chase Freedom Unlimited, or the Capital One Venture X .
Now that we have assembled our team ladies, let the matchmaking season begin!
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