Churning is the practice of repeatedly opening credit cards to earn signup bonuses, meeting the minimum spend requirement, then either downgrading or closing the card. Experienced churners can earn $5,000–10,000+ in annual travel value.

1. Open a card with a valuable signup bonus (e.g., 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months).
2. Meet the minimum spend through normal spending or pre-paying bills.
3. Earn the bonus.
4. Either keep the card (if the ongoing rewards justify the fee) or downgrade to a no-fee version.
5. Wait 3–6 months, repeat with a different card.

• Score impact. Multiple hard inquiries and new accounts lower your average age of credit.
• Issuer blacklists. Chase 5/24, Amex once-per-lifetime rules, and other restrictions limit churning potential.
• Overspending temptation. Meeting minimum spend requirements can lead to buying things you don't need.
• Complexity. Tracking multiple cards, payment dates, annual fees, and bonus deadlines requires serious organization.

Churning makes sense if you:

• Have excellent credit (740+) and can absorb score fluctuations.
• Are disciplined about spending and paying in full.
• Don't plan to apply for a mortgage or auto loan in the next 12–24 months.
• Enjoy the hobby aspect of tracking and optimizing.

If any of these don't apply, stick to a simple 2–3 card strategy instead.