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10+ credit cards?

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thom02099
Valued Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

Another one here with 10+ cards.  It's all about management and long term planning.

 

If the card doesn't serve a purpose for you, why get it?  Each of my cards has/had a purpose (some are in the sock drawer, like Lumber Liquidators/GE).  It's really not hard to manage cards as long as you pay attention to what you're doing.  Just because I have them, doesn't mean I use all of them all the time.  I don't.  They get rotated, depending on my needs at the time and the card's purpose. 

 

And contrary to popular belief, it's not all about rewards and what I can get back from them.  It's also about long term planning, where you see yourself in 2-5-10 years.  It's also about having a contingency plan in place just in case there's an emergency where you need to use the credit you have.  For example, having some of the higher end cards give one exclusive benefits when travelling, particularly abroad, that one can't find with other cards.  There are intangible perks with certain cards, beyond the rewards that are there if you need them. 

 

Edit:  I'm moving toward retirement in the not too distant future and it's good to know that I'm in a good place now, creditwise and financially.  And when I retire, there's a likelihood that some of the cards will also be retired.  It just depends on what cards will serve my purposes at that time in my life.  CSP and AMEX are almost certainties to be with me for the rest of my life...however long that is.

Message 21 of 31
scarzy
Regular Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

I have 8 cards, but I don't use all at once. My collections are 4 majors and 4 stores. I will ONLY use 1-2 cards and always PIF.

The rest I sock drawer unless it's time to arise for the occasion! lol All cards will be used at least once a year but not at the same time. 

starting EQ FICO : 526 current EQ FICO : 640 starting TU FICO: 538 current TU FICO : 656

My wallet: Capital One cash rewards $1,300- ~ NFCU signature cash rewards $5,000- ~ NFCU nRewards $5,000- ~ NFCU LOC $1,000- ~ Target $200- ~ Kohl's $300- ~ Walmart $800- ~ Amazon $900- ~ Updated 6/2013

Discharged Ch7 Nov.16, 2012

Message 22 of 31
brookele
Established Member

Re: 10+ credit cards?

I have 10+ accounts only if counting store cards, which I *generally* don't since they get relatively infrequent use. Anyway, I have no issue managing them, because I manage my money as a whole so tightly - I spend as debit, and I input every penny spent into my money management program as I spend it. So I don't even need to log in to my accounts to know the balance at any given time (I still do log into everything about once a week, just to make sure everything's going smoothly). It's all in one place, which makes it really easy to keep track. On top of that, I have my calendar set up with due dates, statement cut dates, and reporting dates, so I always know with plenty of time when payment is due. 

 

Not going to lie, I'm a bit of an organization nut. Smiley Wink

American Express Blue Cash Everyday | American Express Green | Bank AmeriCard Travel Rewards | Barclaycard Ring | Capital One Rewards | Chase Amazon | Chase Freedom | Citi Simplicity | Discover IT | Fidelity Investment Rewards AmEx | Freedom First CU Visa | Hudson Valley FCU Visa | Paypal Extras MC | + several store cards

09/05/13

Message 23 of 31
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

+1 brookele, I have all of my pmt due dates and even statement cut dates memorized for all of my 15+ accts so I can minimize interest and max my score! Lol
Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 24 of 31
atarvuzdar
Established Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

I have 9 open CC's. I was surprised the last time I pulled my EQ Fico here. The #1 positive was "You have many accounts that are in good standing." The little blurb in the blue box on the side mentions my 9 accounts in good standing and then also says "FICO High Achievers have an average of 6 accounts currently being paid as agreed."

 

Maybe FICO is just surprised that someone like me can handle that many accounts given my past credit (I'm probably in a "You suck at credit" bucket lol), but it was still interesting to see.

 

Just food for thought. Smiley Happy

FICO 8: EQ 846 / TU 836 / EX 832
AMEX Platinum / BofA Cash Rewards Visa Sig $99,900 / Chase CSR $43,400 / Citi Double Cash $39,600 / AMEX EveryDay $30,000 / Discover It $26,000 / Gemini $25,000 / JetBlue $25,000 / Chase Freedom Unlimited $22,500
Message 25 of 31
scenery_guy
Established Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

12 cards, no store cards all prime. Some business and some personal. It's about the rewards so it's a churn I guess. Some will be with me for quite a while (CSP, Delta and AMEX Platinum Business) but the rest are here for a year or less then replaced for more miles, points etc. I'll keep it if I can get value from AF in free hotel nights or other bonuses or upgrade perks. If it's a strait churn (Ink Cash) I will cancel and reapply for another Ink card at some point just for the sign up bonus. I have two Ink cards so I will always have one active as it's actually a great business card. 

 

It's not hard to keep track of all the cards and due dates. Simple spreadsheet and several visits to web sites. What is hard is tracking annual spend for bonuses on cards like Delta AMEX where I get miles and MQM for certain spends. I tend to use just that card until I hit the spend then retire it and use other cards to hit those spends. I have to hit $25,000 and $50,000 on one Delta, $30,000 and $60,000 on another Delta then a spend of $30,000 on SPG Business and finally a $20,000 for Hilton. I'm not sure I am ready to add another hotel or airline card in the mix yet. 

 

Thankfully I have a spend heavy business so I will cover those spends easily by mid year even while using Ink cards to keep earning those points and keep Chase in the mix (and happy). 

 

Edit - Forgot to mention all the cards are PIF every month. That makes it simple. 

Message 26 of 31
FutureBillionaire
Established Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?


@distantarray wrote:

I honestly got to ask... what's the point of getting tons of credit cards? and for what?

 

I know it's good to have a good category cards to save you money on cash back, getting 5% on everything, getting points, and sign up bonuses etc.

 

but there are wayyyyyyyyyyy too many people who just get subprime cards with no real function or benefits that leaves me bewildered... is it just to see how many banks will approve you? Personally I don't see any point if there's no real benefits (credit card bonus, program rewards etc)

 

Personally I don't see any reason to get any cards other than these

 

Any airline, hotel, or cash back cards I can understand

 

but people are getting store cards to places they don't even shop, and with banks and credit unions that offers no rewards and subpar limits and higher interest rates.

 

 

 

 

 

 


I have 14 cards.  I will have 13 when I close the Amex PRG.

 

I have cards tomake sure that I make the most possible cash back on everything that I spend.  I also use them to manage cash flow.  Half of my cards have payments due at the end of the month, and half of them have payments due at the middle of the month.  I keep balances low and pay them in full unless I have a 0% intro purchase offer.  I'm sure that I will acquire at least 2 more that I will probably keep.

Gas: Discover It, Penfed Platinum Rewards x2, Chase freedom, Citi TYP
Plane tickets: CSP
Groceries: AMEX BCP, Penfed Platinum Rewards,Citi TYP
Clothes: Express, Amex BCP, Discover IT
Amazon: Citi Forward, Cash +
Restaurants: Citi Forward, Chase Freedom, Discover IT, CSP
Hotels and other travel: Discover Escape, CSP
Movies: BofA travel rewards visa signature(fandango), Discover IT, Citi Forward, Freedom
Bars, clubs, tomfoolery: CSP, Citi Forward, Discover IT, Freedom
Balance transfers: Kroger 123 rewards
Bill Pay: Chase Ink Plus, Citi Forward,
Everyday spending: Bofa Accelerated cash rewards amex, Discover Escape
Message 27 of 31
Open123
Super Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

Most of the cards I've gotten have been from sign up bonuses.  

 

Not even spending rewards, since no rewards is as great as a sign up bonus.  The Chase Ink's are great because they have both--sign up bonus and 5X accelerated rewards.

 

1.  Unless interest rates increase, I see no reason (aside from needing to finance something) to apply for a CC without a sign up bonus, or continue to use (post sign up) any credit card with less than 1% return on spending.

 

2.  When short term rates (discount rate) increases, sign up bonuses will go away.  Then, credit cards become valuable for the 30 day float because money market rates will return to 5%, the historical norm (there will always be a regression to the mean, 0 rates won't last).

 

In an environment with surpressed rates and inflation (artificially low rates causes inflation--too many dollars chasing fewer goods) where money becomes less valuable (especially for those living on a fixed rate), if an issuer didn't offer a sign up bonus enticement and/or rewards for spending, no one would have a reason to use the card.  

 

In other words, if there's no interest rate float (only appealing if rates are around 4% or higher) or rewards on spending in a 0% environment, I would opt to transfer the savings back to the merchant to curry some favor, since I receive *nothing* from the issuing CC company.  The only time I'd use it would be for the necessary convenience of hotels, car reservations, and dubious online merchants.

 

I'm here to enrich myself, not the CC companies.  This is why we've seen huge sign up bonuses and rewards spending.

 

 

Message 28 of 31
ramblin_wreck08
Regular Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

I would happily have only one card if I could. Unfortunately I would like to make that my Amex, and find it necessary to carry a Visa or MasterCard with me. I like to have both as a backup. They are Visa Sig and World MC, respectively. I also got a PenFed Platinum Rewards card last month. At 9.99% APR, I got it in "good times" in my financial life. It is sitting in a drawer right now as a backup to fall on in hard times one day. Low interest rate with a high limit. I would cancel my other Visa and get back to just 3 cards, but my other Visa is my oldest account and I need to keep it around for that reason. Also, I never know when I will benefit from the Visa Sig "perks."
Amex BCP $20k | PenFed Platinum Rewards VS $16.5k | Amex HHonors $10k
Message 29 of 31
p-
Valued Contributor

Re: 10+ credit cards?

distantarray wrote: I honestly got to ask... what's the point of getting tons of credit cards? and for what?

It doesn't make sense to me.  I'd rather have less cards with high limits.

 

I am an AU on two store cards, but literally never use them.  If they weren't so old they wouldn't be worth keeping in my opinion.  My other six cards are more than I need, and I seem to have to jockey them around in order to make sure they all see a bit of use. The limits are high enough that I really don't run into utilization problems.  

 

I plan to PC or upgrade if I need different features, and try to keep the accounts I have for as long as possible.  I look forward to changing my Orchard card into something better once Cap1 finishes the transition.

 

The only exception to that would be Chase.  On one hand, I would really like to app for Sapphire Preferred once my report is spotless, but know that I could PC it instead.  Applying would net me the bonus gain, but it would also hit my AAOA, and add a card.  Doing a Product Change would cost me the annual fee and the bonus points, but keep my number of cards low and maintain my AAOA.

 

What I've learned here points to new credit as a common cause of denial and higher rates, and too many low and medium limit cards can be a barrier to high limits.  So I lean toward the PC even if it costs me a few hundred bucks.  

Message 30 of 31
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