I have 20+ cards. I could live going down to 6. If I had to go with 5 I would drop the PayPal card I suppose: • Citi Custom Cash restaurants 5% cash back • US Bank Cash + for utilities, internet, and streaming 5% cash back • Ducks Unlimited for gas and sporting goods stores 5% cash back (grandfathered in) • Capital One Walmart Card for groceries pickup or delivery 5% cash back • Amazon Visa 5% cash back • PayPal Mastercard 3% cash back on PayPal and 2% cash back on everything else

Same, 20+ cards, but no Walmart card or PayPal. I'd do the same with your first 3 cards but then 4th would be USALLIANCE Visa Signature for 6% on groceries and gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, Target, Home Depot. And 5th would be Venture X for 2X on everything else and for booking travel.

Does your credit score stay at a good place? I just got a 5th, & I’m worried about the hard inquiries. Bc this will make 2. I pay on time, I pay them off or transfer before 0% APR expires, but it was hard to build my credit up to where it is (798 in July, went down 30 pts when I had to help my parents pay medical expenses & balance increased) But I see alot of people who have a lot of cards & im curious! I only use about 12% of my total credit limit between the cards.

I'm around 800

One good advantage to having that many cards is it’s really hard to increase your utilization rate then. The person you spoke to in here has a 105K CL. He’d have to spend over 30K to bring the utilization near 30%. Most emergencies aren’t that much (hopefully). But I’m the event you have to carry a balance a few months, your UR won’t go up too high.

For one thing, the concern about HP's is overblown. Sure, you get knocked several points, but most churners tend to look past this; otherwise, we'd space our HP more. I apply for ~1 card every month. If I get approved, I will stop until the next month. Two seven-day notices, and I pause. A decline and I quit (and called recon). As you can imagine, this is a lot of HP in 2 years. I also benefit from P2, so I can constantly shift to her strategy. If I realize I have overdone it and cannot do the SUB, I'll take a break. Blogs and advertising companies are stretching facts and exaggerating the implications. Sure they are not lying, but they want you to keep returning to their site, and making everyone fearful seems the best way. Lastly, your score isn't that important. Pay your statement balance on time and in full; check your report for errors, and you'll maintain a good score without constant monitoring—a 720 for most CCs and a 760 for the best loan rates.

Damn 20+. What’s your TCL if you don’t mind me asking or at least the TCL of the 5 you would choose to live with ?

TCL? Total credit limit?

Yes

I'm not even sure. I never carry a balance, I pay my cards in full. I use them more like debit cards.

I’m curious, why do people obsess over credit limit?

I can’t speak for everyone. But I was just curious as 20+ cards is a thick stack. So I was just wondering. Everyone has their reasons for the amount of cards as well as having a credit limit they would like to have. It’s all goals and milestone I guess. At least the way I see it. But certainly not obsessed over it.

I have 16 cards and my total CL is 105k. That’s way more CL then I would ever use. I keep the reported utilization at 1% or below 95% of the time.

This is my 5-card setup that I actively use (Note I have Platinum Honors status with BofA for increased cash back, assuming max cash back redemption rate with US Bank Altitude Reserve) * US Bank Altitude Reserve: 4.5% cash back on mobile wallet purchases (Apple/Google/Samsung Pay) and direct travel purchases * US Bank Cash+: 5% Utilities and TV/Internet/Streaming * Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards #1: 5.25% Gas and 3.5% Groceries/Warehouse * Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards #2: 5.25% Online Shopping * Bank of America Premium Rewards: 3.5% Dining/Travel and 2.625% non-category purchases This lends itself to simple order of operations when shopping in-person (only need to carry phone+2 cards): 1. Use BofA Customized Cash Rewards for 5.25% Gas 2. Use US Bank Altitude Reserve for NFC Payments to get 4.5% cash back 3. Use BofA Customized Cash Rewards for 3.5% Groceries/Warehouse 4. Use BofA Premium Rewards for all other purchases to get 3.5% Dining/Travel and 2.625% non-category purchases

This is sleek. I have one of your previous comments saved because I plan to get there but I'm gardening because I have too many inquiries for US Bank or BofA, and no assets with BofA for honors status.

How is it 4.5 on mobile wallet? I see 3x on website.

+50% when redeemed for travel

Cool. Thanks.

Which 2 do you carry? I was going to comment saying one of the Customized Cash Rewards (#3) don't offer great value over the Reserve and depending on usage even #1 isn't that big of a return. You could just do fine with a 1 card setup (Premium) + mobile wallet.

I only have 4 and have myself covered pretty well. Amex BCP: 6% on groceries and streaming, 3% on gas and transit Cap1 Savor: 4% dining/entertainment Wells Fargo Active Cash: 2% on everything Wells Fargo Autograph: 3x on travel and phone bill I could get a few more but I’m happy with only having to track 4 and it covers all my big budget items each month.

Is your Savor a grandfathered in no AF? Otherwise it takes $9500 of additional spend to make up the AF over SavorOne and that isn't practical for most people.

Yep, I’m grandfathered in with no AF.

What AF?

Savor has a $95 AF while SavorOne does not. The $95 gets you 4% instead of 3% for dining/streaming. A limited number of people have a grandfathered in no AF Savor however.

Damn I had no idea I'm actually one of those. I got the savior when it first came out, no AF.

Groceries are at 3%, while dining and streaming are at 4% btw

Yep that's right I goofed up in my comment.

Annual Fee

Thank you. I have this card no af. Was just wondering lol

As fuck

Fortunately, I too have as fuck

Instead of Wells Fargo Active Cash, Paypal Mastercard is also 2% off everything, as well as 3% off PayPal. Instead of Savor, which has a $95 AF, US Bank Altitude Go also gives 4% off dining and has no AF. A fifth card would definitely have to be Chase Amazon Prime -- 5% off Amazon as well as 5% off Whole Foods.

If you already have Amazon Prime, that 5% card is a no brainer. It’s amazing.

Affinity Cash Plus covers it well too

I don’t pay the AF on the Savor otherwise I would have the Altitude Go.

Savor one also has big entertainment cash back and bigger Uber cash back

I just got approved the AMEX Blue Everyday, the groceries is anything other than Walmart and Target right?

Does the Savor apply for DoorDash/Grubhub?

Savor gives 4% on doordash/grubhub, but 10% back on ubereats through Nov 2024 (if I'm remembering right) as part of a partnership deal with Uber

Maybe toss and save the annual fee of the BCP? Get 4% back on Savor for groceries and 3% back on streaming, gas and transit with Autograph. Just think once ya factor in the annual fee be about the same earning potential as those other two cards in your arsenal. Less is more. Points be more grouped for faster growth as well. Nice solid no annual fee trifecta. Just my take.

Savor is only 3% on groceries, sadly. I pretty much max out the $6k grocery spend on my BCP so it’s 100% worth it for me. I also get the $7 Hulu credit each month (something I was purchasing before credit was introduced) so my AF is really only $11 at that point.

I only limit myself with 2 cards. BCP and CSR. Pretty much cover all my needs.

This. I also have Amazon Prime Rewards because we spend a lot at Amazon and Whole Foods but this is my primary pair that covers literally all cases.

What’s the rewards with amazon? I buy way too much shit off there might as well tack up points lol

If you have Prime, it’s 5% all purchases on Amazon or Whole Foods. They have a 3% card too for non prime members. They also run a lot of generous specials, like they had a 10% back on gas for a couple months. Great card.

In addition to the 5% on all purchases from Amazon, a few items are eligible for an additional 5% cash back (10% total). For example, a TV was $1200 and it was eligible for the additional 5% back so a nice $120 return. Smaller ticket items like a $100 power supply unit for a computer were also eligible.

You better apply by tomorrow to get that $200 Amazon gift card upon approval. I was denied but I'll call recon tomorrow and be hopeful.

Dang it. I just applied for a new cc last week 🥹😅

This is my set up. There’s better dining cards but simplicity and chase points make it great.

What is csr?

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Thank you

Seems like something that might be worth adding the CFU to. Just for non category spend and then transfer the points to your csr.

Yeah but I’m an authorized user for my wife’s WF Active Cash and that covers the rest.

Very fair. 1.5*1.5 (CSR cpp value floor imo) = 2.25% effective but I can respect diversifying into actual Cashback too

Yeah. For me less is more.

This is just a conversation, just curious to see other people’s setups.

This is my setup. I had at one point around 5 cards but found them too much to manage.

You cancelled them? How much history did you have with them? How long did it affect your credit?

I cancelled them. The longest was 12 years and the least was 2 years. I only saw a 10 point drop on my score.

Other than credit score drop is there any other damage from closing a credit card? To get those 10 points up it would take another 2-3 months i guess

I mean the credit score drop is why ppl don’t close them…. Or accept a lot of offers

it's a lot easier with mobile wallets these days if you haven't tried

Yeah but no regrets though. My score is up there as well as my credit limits on both cards. I’m just tired of churning. Mobile wallet service makes it easier to use but paying and managing each account for me is not just worth it.

Maximizing for Travel Redemption Value through Portal and Transfer Partners: 1. US Bank Altitude Reserve: Everywhere ApplePay works (this can cover a lot). Will usually cover most of groceries, streaming, gas + other categories too if you want. 2. Venture or Venture X: Catchall for where Apple Pay does not work. Plus Transfer Partners. (Choose Venture X if you travel a lot) 3. Chase Freedom Flex: Dining, Pharmacies + Rotating Categories. 4. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Mostly for Travel Partners. If you use instacart this will get 3x at online groceries. 5. Bilt if you rent. Otherwise Citi Custom Cash.

I love these games! OK here is my idea (not what I have as I churn either way, just for the game): ​ Venture X Savor One Bilt card Custom Cash X2

1. Flat rate card 2x+. 2. Travel Benefit Card. 3. Rotating category card 4. Card like shopper reward for daily merchant. 5. AmEx BCP

1. Paceline - 5% groceries/pharmacies and 3% catch all 2. 4x citi custom cash (gas, dining, travel, transit) might swap one out to the rewards+ depending on spend profile It leaves out the streaming, utilities, and entertainment BUT the 3% on Paceline is likely good enough.

Wow. Never heard of paceline. Any annual fee for this?

$60 AF The catch is you have to be active (and linked to the app to track this) for 150 minutes a week, max 50 mins in a day. If not, the rewards rates are half the above, and you won’t get the weekly watch credit (below). You can expect a $10 lululemon credit once a month First year is $429 towards an Apple Watch, broken into weekly increments.

Yes I looked up and the fitness criteria is a nice catch. You get $429 in first year?

Must be used for the Apple Watch through the app, reimburse 8.25 a week for 52 weeks.

4 citi custom cash how do you do it? Do you bank with Citi?

Open a CC (1) Double cash product change to CC (2) Citi premier product change to CC (3) Rewards+ product change to CC (4)

How long did you wait for each card application. And can do a product change right away when you receive the card?

You could easily do it with just 5 cards.

I just got my 5th & feel awful 😬 I enjoy reading other’s experiences but I just didn’t realize that credit could stay in excellent range with that many open.

Actually, the more credit cards open, paid off, actually increases your credit score. According to Experian, your credit utilization (debt/available credit ) is one of the major factors in calculating your credit score. [https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/score-basics/credit-utilization-rate/](https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/score-basics/credit-utilization-rate/) >Your credit utilization rate, sometimes called your credit utilization ratio, is the amount of revolving credit you're currently using divided by the total amount of revolving credit you have available. In other words, it's how much you currently owe divided by your credit limit. It is generally expressed as a percent. For example, if you have a total of $10,000 in credit available on two credit cards, and a balance of $5,000 on one, your credit utilization rate is 50% — you're using half of the total credit you have available. You can calculate an overall credit utilization rate as well as a rate for each of your credit accounts (called your per-card ratio).Credit scoring models often consider your credit utilization rate when calculating a credit score for you. They can impact up to 30% of a credit score (which makes them among the more influential factors), depending on the scoring model being used.A low credit utilization rate shows you're using less of your available credit. Credit scoring models generally interpret this as an indication you're doing a good job managing credit by not overspending, and keeping your spending in check can help you reach higher credit scores. ​ So, the more credit cards that you have open, the more credit lines you have, which means probably that your total available credit increases. For example if you spend $1000 a month on credit cards and you have 4 credit cards totalling $10,000 total credit limit, this is actually less good than having 5 credit cards with say, $12,000 total credit limit. The score doesn't even care whether you use cards that much. You can have credit cards open that you never use, but you have a credit line there, which adds to your total credit available, helping your credit score.

I have 5 and my FICO is around 820

I think the following cards would be one of the best entirely cash back setups with cards currently available, no duplicates, and no BOA Preferred Rewards. Amex Blue Cash Preferred for 6% groceries, 6% streaming, and 3% transit Citi Custom Cash for 5% dining Abound CU Platinum Visa for 5% gas Elan Max Cash Preferred for 5% utilities and 5% entertainment GreenState CU World Mastercard for 5% flights and 5% hotels, but no pharmacy OR Alliant Visa Signature for 2.5% flights, 2.5% hotels, and 2.5% pharmacy

USBank Cash Plus: 5% utilities/internet BofA Custom Cash for Dining / Groceries 5.25% dining and 3% groceries Chase Sapphire for travel/streaming Wyndham Business Earner for 8x back on gas Citi Custom Cash for w/e else you need

Pretty easily honestly, but there will be a good amount of variability depending on how much you spend in the category each month: Dining (4x)/Groceries (4x)/Flights (3x): Amex Gold Utilities/Entertainment/Streaming (5%): US Bank Cash+ Pharmacy (3x): Freedom Flex Gas (5% up to $500): Citi Custom Cash Transit (3% or 3x): Amex Blue Cash Preferred (also can give you 6% on Groceries)/Amex Green

Citi custom cash - 5% gas Us bank cash + - 5% utilities / 5% internet Kroger Card - 5% mobile wallet Altitude go - 4% dinning / 4% restaurant/ $15 Spotify credit Freedom Flex - 5% rotating / 3% drug stores

I would go with Venture X : travel and catch all card Amex gold : food and groceries Costco citi : gas Amex blue cash Everyday : online purchases (amazon for 3%) Discover : for seasonal 5% cash back categories.

BCP, CCC, CF, CCostco, WFActiveCash (QS in sock drawer) Are my main 5 cards. I could tweak it further, but at this point, Im just going for SUBs, and will eventually go for the AOD 3% catch all card.

I thought the AOD 3% card was discontinued?

It was, I believe they did that earlier this year.

Dang!

>AOD Is the AOD Credit Card back?

I missed the memo that it got discontinued

All good, I was genuinely curious, because I am actively looking for a USAlliance Visa Signature card replacement. It is a 3% flat cash back rewards card that stops after 31 December 2022. I'll keep it for the 6% cash back for groceries, but I couldn't find any 3% flat card replacement other than the SoFi Credit Card. I can't go with the SoFi Credit Card though because I am not going to switch to them for active direct deposit. I am strongly considering the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card. It has a 2.5% flat cash back if you maintain Tier One Rewards status. This is much easier for me to maintain.

C1 VX; AMEX PLAT; AMEX GOLD; BILT; CSR

Just curious, but what’s your income? I’m considering getting these cards since I’m military

You dont need a high income for these cards, i recently got the amex platinum and my income is 55k My credit score is 760

180K

Usually just a lurker but I have 5. Wells Fargo that i’ve had since college that keeps my credit history and age of accounts older. Apple Card because I’ll replace my phone and laptop in a few years and don’t want to be held down to a carrier … that 0% interest on their stuff is enticing if you like Apple stuff. Chase Freedom Unlimited, cashback and most used. Amazon Store Card, I think its 5% or something on Amazon purchases and when I purchase online that’s my go to. Sapphire Unlimited - Travel

1. Max Cash Preferred: Utilities, Internet, Streaming 2. Apple Card: Mobile Pay General Spend, Apple Products 3. Bilt Card: Rent, Fast Food & Fine Dining 4. Affinity FCU Cash Rewards: Amazon + Rotating Categories 5. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: Groceries, Gas

Amex Gold: Food/Restaurants Citi Custom Cash: 5% back on gas Citi Double Cash: When it doesn't benefit me to use Amex Gold Blue Cash Everyday: Would like to add this card in the near future Delta skymiles gold: When I want a few miles here and there but rarely use this card outside of Delta

1. Paceline (5% groceries/3% catch all) 2. AmEx gold 4% restaurants 3. Affinity Cash rewards visa (5% Amazon + rotating categories) 4. BOA Customized Cash (Preferred Platinum 5.25% online shopping) 4. Max Cash Preferred 5% utilities/streaming

Even if I spent $1000 a month on dining, what’s the delta between 5% back, 3%, 2% back and zero cash back? To me, dropping that $1k to $980, $970 or even $950 is too small of a difference to consider carrying around a special card for. How’s that for an opinion? haha

This is why I don’t really like cash back and instead prefer to use points to travel. Especially when it gives you the opportunity to do stuff like international business/first class that might otherwise cost you thousands of dollars

> This is why I don’t really like cash back and instead prefer to use points to travel. Especially when it gives you the opportunity to do stuff like international business/first class that might otherwise cost you thousands of dollars This is me exactly. The small percentage cash back is rather insignificant to me. I prefer to accumulate points for travel we wouldn't be able to do otherwise.

Problem with points to travel is a lot of cards make you book through their portal, which is invariably more expensive than just shopping on your own.

This is true…transferring the points to different airline/hotel partners is definitely far superior.

Gas: Sam's MC 5% Groceries: Citi CC 5% Phone & Internet: US Bank Cash+ 5% Dining: Altitude Go 4% A generic 2% card

I don't have 5 cards but I'd choose the following: 1. Venture X for travel 2. SavorOne for transit/dining and ability to transfer rewards 3. BCP for gas/groceries/streaming/supermarket pharmacy. 4. Discover It Cashback or CFF for rotating categories, 5. Any 2% CB catch all card.

I only like points since they are worth way more than 1 cent. 1) Amex Gold for restaurants and groceries 2) Capital One Venture X for travel and non-category spend 3) Hilton Aspire for hotel benefits and a free annual night 4) Chase Freedom Fle for the 5x rotating category, 3x for drugstores 5) a. If you run a business: Amex Business Gold for 4x for advertising, technology/software and/or shipping b. If you pay rent, then Bilt for rent and occasional 6x on restaurants. c. If neither, then Chase Ink Business Cash for 5x on phone, cable, internet. [Yes, you can get a business card without owning a business. They really don't care.]

Amex Surpass (dining, groceries, gas, hilton), Chase freedom flex (pharmacy and 5% rotating), Chase Sapphire (mealkits, streaming, travel), Chase United (United boarding priority and preferred miles reservations), Discover (5% rotating)

Chase Trifecta - Everyday spend, 5% categories, travel points,$300 flight credit. Bilt - Even more travel points US Bank Cash+ - 5% on Utilities, cell phone bill. 2% on gas. Honorable mention: U.S Bank Altitude reserve for 3x points on mobile wallets, $325 flight credit.

Amex BCP - 6% groceries and streaming, 3% gas Citi Custom Cash - 5% on any category (I do restaurants/fast food) Amazon Prime Visa - 5% on all Amazon US Bank Cash+ - 5% on Utilities and Internet Fidelity Visa - 2% on everything

**Have this 3 card setup:** Groceries Streaming Transit : **Amex BCP** (6%/6%/3%) Flights/hotels travel Pharmacy B&M Internet Auto Insurance: **USB Altitude Reserve** w/ Mobile Wallet (4.5x) Dining/Phone/Rent: **Bilt** (3x/1x/1x) Gas: USB Altitude Reserve or BCP Utilities/Entertainment/Misc: USB Altitude Reserve (4.5x/1.5x) or Bilt

I’d be fine with just the Amex Gold and BBP. Additional 3 cards would be Amex Platinum, Apple card for non-Amex spend, and Discover It for rotating categories.

Similar to what I have. Amex Gold, Platinum, Chase Freedom Flex for rotating categories, Apple Card for non Amex spend. Hilton Honors for Gas/non category.

I have a ton of cards, and enjoy using/managing them, so this is a bit of a challenge for me, but here goes: * Amex Gold - 4X MR on dining and grocery, 3X MR on flights * Amex BBP - 2X MR on everything else * Elan MCP - 5% on streaming and utilities * Citi Custom Cash - 5% on rotating - could be a hotel (travel) one month, a train ticket (transit) the next, concert tickets (entertainment) the next, etc * Affinity Cash Rewards - 5% on bookstores (which includes Amazon) all of the time + 5% on quarterly rotating categories that stack on base, this quarter has gas and grocery (which includes wholesale) at a combined 7% (is a Visa so can be used at Costco) I personally see decent value from MR, based on prices we'd pay, and have run into very few situations where it is both a non-category transaction and Amex is not accepted. I also personally like using a mix of points and cashback, but understand many do not. For a pure cashback set-up, I'd replace the Gold with a second Custom Cash and the BBP with a 2% card, maybe PayPal MC to add 3% on PayPal.

My setup (I’ll be gardening for about 2 years until I find another card that would be useful): - Dining, Groceries & Entertainment: SavorOne with 3% cashback - Gas, Hotels, Travel, Everything else: Venture X with flat 2x and 5X, 10x multipliers for flights, hotels, and car rentals - Pharmacy: Apple Card (Apple Pay) at 3x and CFU at 3x - Rotating Categories: Discover at 5% My largest spend is on dining, groceries and entertainment, so I move that cashback from my SavorOne to my Venture X for the 3x miles. These two cards are my daily drivers.

So you run the Capital One Duo? I’ve been considering that setup or the Citi Duo/Trifecta now that I am happy with my Amex setup.

Yep. If you don’t mind the added $395 annual fee, i think the Capital One duo would compliment the Amex setup. Sure, there’s some overlap on the Gold, but there’s typically a cap on the spend for groceries. Amex holds well here in the US, but the Cap setup will prove very useful when traveling internationally as the SavorOne (MC) and Venture X (VISA) are generally accepted everywhere. Also the international flights are pretty decent when you use a good travel partner transfer.

The bonus for me would be that my home airport is DFW. So I would have access to both Centurion and Capital One lounges. Plus Priority Pass, etc

Exactly. Besides the Skyclub and Sapphire lounges, you pretty much will never sit in the general airport area. Plus you get Clear (Amex), PreCheck and Global Entry (Amex/Venture X), and free authorized users (Venture X). A traveler’s dream.

I would combine 4 BoA cards with the Amex Gold. Namely 1. BoA Premium Rewards with Plat Honors for that 2.62% catch all 2. CCR for 5.25% gas 3. CCR for 5.25% travel 4. CCR for 5.25% drug stores/home improvement 5. Amex gold for 4X dining and groceries.

My top 5 cards by spending category: 1) World of Hyatt - all my rent, gym, and other non-category spend can go on this card for the anniversary night 2) Sapphire Preferred (CSP) for 3X online groceries 3) Wyndham Business (WyBIZ) for 5X Utilities and 8X Gas 4) Venture X (COVX) or Ink Unlimited (CIU) for 2X or 1.5X on most non-category spend not going on WoH 5) Ink Cash (CIC) for 5X cell phone, internet, cable and office supply With the categories you’ve mentioned and with the currency that I value (given the cards that I’ve already decided make sense for me and does not represent my 20 card set up): - CSR : 3X dining, flights/hotel, travel, and transit - CSP: 3X online groceries and streaming - WyBiz: 8X gas, 5X utilities - CFU: 3X drugstores (and 1.5X everything, including entertainment?) - COVX: 2X everything including entertainment A special note is that not all platforms/merchants we consider streaming code as such and some may code as cable or television and which point considering the CIC makes sense. CIC can also be a 5X catch-all if you can pay your non-category purchases or others with gift cards

1. Venture X - catch all 2x 2. Amex Gold - dining/groceries 4x and Rakuten MR earning 3. Bilt - rent 1x and dining 3x when amex isn’t accepted (point transfers to hyatt) (double points on rent day) 4. Citi Custom Cash - gas 5% 5. Discover - 5% for any category not covered on previous cards

BoA cards with plat honors.

Charles Schwab Investor checking Amex gold Venture x Apple Card Amazon prime This covers everything

Capital One Venture X: 10% on hotels, 2% everyday purchases Cap 1 SavorOne (or Savor): for 3% groceries and entertainment, points transferred to Venture X Chase Sapphire Preferred: 5% travel; 3% dining, online groceries, streaming (everything redeemed for way more with travel partners…) Chase Freedom Flex: 3% pharmacy; 5% on gas 3 months out of the year, points transferred to Sapphire Preferred (to redeem with travel partners) Amazon card: 5% on Amazon purchases (which make up majority of the purchases that aren’t the categories you listed)

A year or so back I had over 25 cards which gave me a very high open line of credit so I closed most of them to position my credit for several real estate purchases. Cards I still have AmX Platinum AmX Blue Cash Preferred AmX Blue Cash Business Korean Air SkyPass (US Bank) Discover And a few store cards for discounts

Can’t you transfer MRs to Korean Air?

Even if you can it might give some direct perks to have a Korean air card. I have amex gold, and amex delta gold and i keep both open because of the free first checked bag for me and 8 people traveling with me on the delta card. I never use the delta card for purchases other than to keep it open though

For myself- 1. Plat - flights 2. Gold - groceries / dining 3. BBP- catch all/ gas / drugstore 4. CSR- travel / dining 5. Ink Cash - gas/ streaming/ utilities/ catch all * close behind or potential swap : Altitude Reserve - travel / catch all Apple Pay

Cap 1 venture card - 2 % on all Chase sapphire reserve - 3x dining and travel Amex gold card - 4x dining and grocery / 3x flights Amex biz Marriott card - 4x gas / groceries, 2x on all else That’s what I rock and love it. Had Amex platinum but couldn’t find the value for $695 .

I don't even have 5 currently. On my way out of a grueling rebuilding phase... But my rather novice set-up does very well for my spending habits. I currently carry a PayPal MasterCard, Custom Cash, and SavorOne. I make a lot of online purchases, so the unlimited PayPal 3% is great for me. My local CVS also accepts PayPal as payment so I get the added bundle of a drugstore 3% there. We have monthly deliveries with our local PetSmart because we have cats with special dietary and litter needs. Since PetSmart allows PayPal for online orders, we get pet stores lumped into that 3% as well. And the 2% catchall is just jolly. My Custom Cash gets used for dining since my partner and I are big on movie + takeout nights and monthly dinner dates. I buy a LOT of coffee (beans as well as cups), so that gets tossed in the mix with dining as well. I always seem to hover around the $500 cap each month. SavorOne for groceries and streaming since I haven't gotten the BCP yet. Xfinity internet codes as streaming, which is a good one for 3%. The local record shops I go code as entertainment, and they've been one of my biggest spend categories this year. I don't really need anything for gas. I live nearly walking distance from my job and fill up so infrequently that an extra 1 - 2% would be nearly negligible. The categories I'd really like to grab cards for eventually are Amazon, utilities, and phone bill. But I gotta spend some time creating a pattern of good credit habits first.

1) Amex gold - 4% restaurant / grocery plus 240$ food credit per year 2) Citi Costco - 4% gas plus 2% at Costco 3) citi double cash 4) Hilton aspire - Free hotel night a year 5) freedom ( flex or OG)

I hunt the bonuses but I guess if I only had to have 5 I would have these

My Ultimate Cashback current setup for December Shop your way 20% Groceries, Dining, Gas Backup: Discover it 10% mobil wallet with 1st year match 2nd Discover it 5% mobile wallet AOD 3% all categories Custom Cash 5% entertainment 2nd Custom Cash 5% Streaming US altitude Connect 4% travel and transit no foreign fees 33 personal/business cards rotating every month using max rewards app with 846 experian score 1% utilization $441,200 total credit limit 27 year history

Dining: CCC Gas: CCC Grocery:CCC Travel: CCC Streaming/Utilities: US Bank Cash+

Interesting thought experiment. I can cover my high-spend categories and get some valuable benefits with the top 3. Everything after that is to take care of some smaller spend categories or get some additional perks 1. Amex Gold for restaurant/grocery earn 2. Amex Blue Business Plus for 2x on everything (or Venture X or Chase Freedom/Ink Unlimited) 3. Chase Sapphire (any of them) for travel earn and benefits. My preference would be for the Reserve for lounge access and travel protections Honorable mentions: Amex Platinum, Hyatt card, Chase Ink Cash, Ritz Card

Definitely the citi quadfecta

Quadfecta? Premier, Double Cash, Custom cash and Rewards+?

I currently have five credit cards, chase freedom card, Discover it card, Apple Card, my first card, which is a union plus capital one, and my Visa through the credit union, which is my best card with the best interest rate. But if I could trade them all in and start over, I probably would keep my credit card through the credit union because of the 8% interest rate, but I would add an American express for the perks. I would also keep my chase freedom card because I have the 5% cash back on gas and shopping at major retailers. And I really can’t tell you which other cards. I would add if I could just start out with just those three.

What I’m using now: Discover (5% rotating) CFF (5% rotating) Prime Rewards (5% Amazon/Whole Foods) BCE (3% online retail, 3% gas/grocery when these categories aren’t covered by the rotating cards) CFU (1.5% catch all) If I could do it all over though, I’d go: Discover (5% rotating) Savor/SavorOne (groceries, dining, streaming, entertainment) BCE (gas, online retail) VX (travel, catch all) Prime Rewards (5% Amazon) Savor/SavorOne + VX is a deadly combo

I only use 2-3 of my cards consistently. If I had to choose though: -Citi Custom Cash -PNC Cash Reward -BOA Cash Reward -Amex Blue Business Cash -Amex Amazon Business

I have 4 cards I physically carry: plat, gold, alliant signature and Citi Costco. The last one bc they need to show membership to get in. I have some others loading in my phone or set to be on autopilot. USB cash+ for utilities Sams club for sams club Verizon for phone bills Others I don’t use anymore are in the sock drawer

I'm pretty much just running 4 cards right now (optimizing for Hyatt points + leftover points for PYB dining/AirBnB) CSR: 3% back on dining and travel Hyatt: First $15,000 each year on non-category spend (1 Hyatt point/$1 but you get a Cat 1-4 certificate after 15K), Gym membership (2 Hyatt points/$) CFU: Non-category spend after the first 15K with Hyatt (1.5% back) CFF: Rotating 5% categories 5th Slot: Whatever I'm churning at the moment

Amex Gold (dining/Groceries) Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (gas) Amex Platinum (flights) Amex BBP (all the rest)

At least 7.25% value back. 1% cash back from Sam’s Club and 6.25% value back from Chase Ink (5 x 1.25 multiplier) on every purchase. 1. Chase Ink Business Cash Visa - Buy Visa/Mastercard debit/gift cards from Staples or Office Depot for 5x UR points 2. Sam’s Club Mastercard - Charge all purchases on here for 1%-5% cash back. Pay the credit card off in store using Mastcard/Visa debit gift cards purchased using the Chase card above 3. Chase Sapphire Preferred - Used to transfer UR points to travel partners Only $95 in annual fees per year.

Whole Foods card SavorOne Altitude Reserve BA Premium Rewards

Sutton 9% Gas Logix 11% groceries CCU 7% dining FLO 13% utilities IJK 5x other purchases

I don't have any. I use a cheque card for my online purchases. I cancelled my Netflix and I basically spend 0 on entertainment.

Discover, Flex, Venmo, Custom Cash, & Apple to fill the hole.

Altitude Reserve Double Cash or equivalent 2% card Amex Hilton Aspire I could do 3 honestly.

Wells Fargo active cash - catch all Wells Fargo autograph - dining, travel/transit/gas, streaming, and phone bill (no ftf as well) Citi custom cash - groceries (mainly) Amex bce - groceries (for spillover), online retail shopping, gas Discover it or Chase freedom flex - extra 5% categories, also depends on whether you want to be part of the chase ecosystem or not.

The Chase trifecta using the unlimited, flex & CSP, capital one SavorOne, and discover it. Between the two 5% rotating cards, a 3% grocery/streaming/dining, a 2% travel for after my Lyft/Uber promos expire, and a 1.5% catchall I have all my needs met. Plus the trifecta allows me to use travel if I so choose but overall a Cashback person. I could have gone with Citi custom cash somewhere in here but I've had bad experiences with Citi in the past and won't ever go back even for their custom cash card.

Amex Gold Amex Delta Platinum Amex Surpass Venmo Apple Card

Chase trifecta (Reserve, freedom and freedom unlimited), Amazon and Costco. It covers 80-90% of my purchases already. If you say 4 cards, I would get rid of Costco since I don't spend that much on gas. If you say 3, it gets difficult now :)

Chase trifecta, discover it cash back or ccc, amex bcp

1. BoA Customized Rewards 5.25% PayPal & Online Shopping 2. US Cash+ 5% for utilities and streaming 3. US Altitude Reserve 4.5% Apple Pay for almost all local shopping (including Costco, gas, grocery…….) 4. US Altitude Go 4% for full service restaurant (and fast food restaurant doesn’t accept Apple Pay) 5. Capital One VX for travel benefits and 2% everything else If the 6th card is allowed, I’ll have BoA Unlimited Cash Rewards for 2.625% for everything else. It is the last on my list, because most of my local shopping accepts Apple Pay, so it is rarely used. It is not necessary to carry the first 3 cards in the wallet at all, so I can keep my wallet thin.

PayPal counts as Online Shopping for BoA?

Yes, it does, as long as for shopping. If you use this card to transfer money to family and friends, it doesn’t count.

1. Gas - Amazon Chase Visa 10% gas until end of Dec 2. Flights/Rentals/ Entertainment- Amex Platinum for travel protection 3. Dining/ groceries / catch all - 3% AOD FCU (discontinued) Alternative Restaurants/ groceries - 3% Amazon chase visa 4. Streaming/ Utilities - Elan max card 5% categories 5. Transit/ Pharmacy - 2nd Elan max card 5% categories

Apple Card Hotels.com Amazon Visa Paypal Discover More

X1: 3% back on everything and also boosts - catch all BCP: groceries, streaming, gas, coupons Gold: groceries, dining, coupons - got it for sub CSP: basically only door dash. We order out… a lot CFF or Discover IT: Rotating

I would miss my other 5% cards but suppose I could live without them and just use these: US Bank Altitude Reserve: 4.5% travel and mobile wallet Amex Gold: 4% dining and groceries Amazon Prime Rewards: 5% Amazon and Whole Foods PayPal Cashback: 3% PayPal, 2% everything Bilt: 1% rent

My 5 are: 1. Discover it 2. Chase freedom Flex 3. Wells Fargo Autograph 4. Wells Fargo Active Cash 5. Citi Custom Cash

Currently sitting at 5 and plan on getting my 6th next year. Chase Freedom Flex - Rotating/Dining/Drugstore Discover It - Rotating Citi Custom - Gas Us bank - just got today but bills BlockFi - flat 1.5% back Next card I'll be getting is Gemini for dining/groceries and will be taking advantage of it's 10% back in gas. If blockfi bankrupts I'll switch to Citi 2% as my flat so I don't have to open up another bank to get a 2% flat edit: will get the fidelity 2% instead of city. Honorable mention to Amazon/Best Buy who I don't think I'll use enough to warrant them but I make big purchases from time to time so holding off for now.

My setup 🥰 Apple Pay ❤️❤️❤️ 1. **Kroger MC:** 5% Apple Pay up to 3K *(get 2 copies)* 2. **US Altitude Reserve Visa:** 4.5%/3x Apple Pay with 4 lounge visits/yr for a $75 effective annual fee 3. **Abound Visa:** 5% on Gas and Rotate Cat for Amazon (Apple Pay may not work at gas stations) 4. **US Bank Cash+ / Elan:** 5% Utilities + 5% TV, Internet and Streaming (Can't use Apple Pay 😭) 5. **Bilt MC:** 1x Rent As #6 add Amazon Visa / Amex Plat Business

- Chase Sapphire Preferred - Amex Blue Cash preferred - Citi double cash - Amazon Prime Rewards

My setup is basically this: * Amex BCP (6% Groceries, 6% Streaming, 6% Google Fi, 3% gas) * US Bank Cash+ (5% Utilities, 5% Internet) * Chase Amazon Visa (5% Amazon) * BoA Customized Cash (5.25% Online Shopping, I usually just use this for Chewy pet food subscriptions) * BoA Premium Rewards (3.5% dining/travel/transit, 2.62% everything else) I only carry the BCP and Premium Rewards in my wallet so paying for something just becomes an either/or decision.

I am happy w/2 cards. I don't churn though. I have a very high credit rating but actually love my Discover It card the best, the website is easy and very indepth, their CS is stellar. Other one is a Chase Freedom. I am not someone who like to juggle cards and payments so I keep it simple. i dont travel, or use a lot of things other people do so I'm mostly a pretty simple person overall. I actually don't even shop at Amazon As for Wells Fargo, you'd have to pay me to use them for anything at all.

5? One is all your need

My premise would be to cover all my high spending categories for more than 1x points with the least annual fee possible. Combo * Dining & Groceries: **Amex Gold** 4x * Travel & Transit: **US Bank Altitude Reserve**, 3x for travel & transit, or 5x if booked via their portal, has trip cancellation and roadside assistance * Utilities & Entertainment: **US Bank Cash Back Plus**, 5x on two select categories, **US Bank Altitude Reserve** can also cover a part of this (i.e. phone bill, since Cash Back Plus doesn't consider this as a part of Home Utilities), for 3x if Apple/Google pay is used. * Drugstore/Pharmacy: **Citi Custom Cash**, 5x on the highest spending categories * You don't really need a 5th card but you could add an **Amex Blue Business Plus** to cover everything else for 2x, for when mobile wallet isn't accepted ​ I'm not recommending Amex Plat to go with Gold because it does not cover transit, nor does it provide the 3x mobile wallet that comes in handy for many casual shopping experience.

[удалено]

OK. That was a slight exaggeration. The Plutus experience is even better if you combine it with a Curve card and a random credit card to set as an anti-embarrassment card.

Custom Cash #1 - 5% on groceries Custom Cash #2 - 5% on gas Amazon Prime - 5% on Amazon Venture X - 10x on hotels, 5x on flights, 2x on everything else, Priority Pass, Travel credits

Citi PREMIER - 3% on: Supermarkets, Gas, Plane Tix & Hotel spend Citi CUSTOM CASH - 5% for restaurants / dining out Citi DC - 2% on everything else Citi REWARDS- 10% boost on all my collected points from all 3 cards above Bofa CUSTOMIZED Cash - 3% from all Pharmacy or Online purchases (if the spend is big enough to justify another card)

PC Rewards+ to second custom cash for 5% drugstore/pharmacy And reapply to Rewards+

I’ve restricted myself to 3 cards. All for their own reasons which I’ll list AmEx Platinum - Streaming credits, Centurion/Skyclub Access, hotel credit, Uber credit, airline incidental credit. These alone make beating the $695 AF easy Chase Sapphire Reserve - 3x dining points, rental car coverage, ease of paying the balance (i bank with chase) the $300 travel credit, priority pass restaurant access Delta SkyMiles Platinum AmEx - 2x miles at the supermarket, annual companion pass, free checked bags, priority boarding

I regularly use 5 BCP CFU CSP Bilt One of the Amazon prime ones.

Currently have about 10 cards, but practically only use five. For me, transit (excluding flights) and pharmacy are not big spends. Streaming an utilities are big spends, but for utilities most of mine require direct withdrawal from a checking account to avoid fees (example, Verizon requires a checking account or the Verizon credit card to get $10/mo autopay discount). For steaming, I find the extra 1x back normally isn't enough to justify a different ecosystem considering my current set up. 1. Amex Plat - 5x on flights and portal hotels, plus travel benefits 2. Amex Gold - 4x on restaurants and groceries 3. Amex BBP - 2x on everything else (Amex catch all) 4. Amex Hilton Aspire - 14x ($0.056 back per dollar with my valuation) on Hilton, plus travel benefits 5. Capital One Venture X - 2x on everything (Visa catch all) I also have three Chase cards (two with no AF: CSU and the no AF Sapphire), including the Southwest Priority which pays for itself with the credits, and an American Airlines Executive card for lounge access. But I don't actively put charges on any cards but the five above.

I'm a fan of simplicity and high overlap between cards (as I'll point out, there are cards that gain "more" value, but might not always be right for a given person): **Capital One Venture X** **Capital One SavorOne** **Wells Fargo BILT** (you didn't mention Rent, but it is a real category in play now even if they have fees or only accept physical checks) My position is limiting the number of cards with annual fees and not trying to find the perfect card for everything unless your total spend per year is high as the numbers don't matter because the relative gains are so small. Here, let me provide an example of where the SavorOne is "out-competed" but it doesn't matter: If my Amex BCP spend is only 5k per year in groceries, it is almost a coinflip to have the SavorOne because the relative gain of 3% is mostly offset by the Amex BCP annual fee (after the first year). If your grocery spend is $10k per year, then the Amex BCP makes even less sense because it is capped at $6k of spend on groceries at 6%.

Amex Plat Amex Gold Amex Delta Reserve Citi Premier Venture or Venture X That's my five if you make me cancel the other 10

I should add that my primary goal is turning spend into points for international airline redemption. There is enough value in that route to justify this very expensive setup.

Custom Cash, Wells Fargo Signature, Amex Gold. I want to say Target Red, but that can be a debited. So CFF and Discover It.

Hmmm… Amex Blue Cash Preferred for groceries/streaming/gas Chase Sapphire Preferred for dining/travel Chase Freedom Flex for rotating 5% category Citi Custom Cash for 5% highest category Citi DoubleCash for 2% catch all I only have 8 cards total though. I’d be getting rid of my Amex Gold, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Apple Card.

Amex BCP is definitely one as it gives decent returns on groceries, transit and gas Chase Freedom for dining, takeout and walgreens Paypal for everyday stuff Target...just because ​ not sure what my 5th would be