topic Re: Best method to keep cards active? in Credit Cards

Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:42:00 GMT

So lets admit it some of us have some cards we don't typically use or go out of our way to use unless special occasions happen. In my case this would be Total Rewards Visa (would use in vegas) and Virgin America Visa(obviously use for virgin America stuff) and another one or two that don't see as much use as my normal ones that yield better benefits but you still want them due to whatever reason aka high CL's or oldest trade line, whatever. I keep my cards in the safe when I don't use them and getting kinda tired of going to the store and buying a 6 pack of beer once every month or two with a few of them.. So what is the best method to put a bit of use on them with the least amount of effort?

I think I found a thing that will work for me. This being reloading my Amazon balance of a few dollars a month or every other month on said cards. This way cards get used, I use Amazon on a monthly basis anyways way beyond what I load onto them by SM. Is this the best method? Does it appear to make sense? Just put a few charges into my amazon balance of $2 on a few cards and just shows as Amazon purchases and don't even have to go out in the cold weather.

Thoughts? Other than close them if you don't use them that someone is bound to say...

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

pizza1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:48:19 GMT

oh CC...

You know the answer to this!

Best way to keep CC active is to use for a small purchase ever 2-3 months...

Coffee, socks, undies, ( I actually went thru Chick Fila and bought a $1.79 drink), buy a GC for $5....

You know the drill..

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

kdm31091 — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:48:21 GMT

Seems just as good as anything else. People often do small transactions like that online and it will keep the cards active. Not sure if its "best" since as long as the cards are staying active, the goal is achieved whether you make an in person purchase or not. So if the method works for you, then thats what matters!

Ill spare you the closing speech, but if going out and using the cards occasionally/keeping on top of them is a hassle (which I agree), you might consider paring down the lineup to a lesser total number of cards. (Not necessarily now, but eventually). If its causing annoyance, its something thats easy to get rid of and live life how you want.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Open123 — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:55:41 GMT

Once per quarter, I'll just buy a 29 cents bottle of water at Trader Joe's.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:58:03 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
Seems just as good as anything else. People often do small transactions like that online and it will keep the cards active. Not sure if its "best" since as long as the cards are staying active, the goal is achieved whether you make an in person purchase or not. So if the method works for you, then thats what matters!

Ill spare you the closing speech, but if going out and using the cards occasionally/keeping on top of them is a hassle (which I agree), you might consider paring down the lineup to a lesser total number of cards. (Not necessarily now, but eventually). If its causing annoyance, its somethingthats easy to get rid of and live life how you want.

Will be pairing down as got rid of two yesterday and will likely get rid of one more this coming month being US Bank as moving checking/savings to PenFed and another place I already use for smaller amounts. Also will be getting rid of a non backdated amex come January. In time when all old baddies are gone a few years will pair the rest of the ones I really don't use much other then special occasions. It will be a slow process as want my scores in the 800's along with CL's in the 30k+ range on each of say 6 cards then I will be complete other then the occasion bonus.

Thanks for the advise as it backed up my thought pattern as it is as good or easier than any other method. Just a few clicks and it has seen usage.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:56:54 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
Once per quarter, I'll just buy a 29 cents bottle of water at Trader Joe's.

Its starting to get COLD out here! Thus the amazon method for me, plus I am just lazy .. Just seeing if anyone else has done this and I am sure they have.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:58:56 GMT

@pizza1 wrote:
oh CC...

You know the answer to this!

Best way to keep CC active is to use for a small purchase ever 2-3 months...

Coffee, socks, undies, ( I actually went thru Chick Fila and bought a $1.79 drink), buy a GC for $5....

You know the drill..

Chick-Fil-A sounds good, but prefer home cooked food.. When you cooking me food with that fancy cookware?

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Open123 — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 23:59:11 GMT

@CreditCuriousity wrote:
@Open123 wrote:
Once per quarter, I'll just buy a 29 cents bottle of water at Trader Joe's.
Its starting to get COLD out here! Thus the amazon method for me, plus I am just lazy .. Just seeing if anyone else has done this and I am sure they have.

LOL...sometimes, I forget not everyone is on Northern CA weather!

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:00:32 GMT

so i do have a question based on your first line. all i read was the first line and all i wanna ask is if you know you have all these cards you don't use then why do you keep apping for other cards? you will just create MORE unused cards and then come back to the basic question (that has a common sense answer nonetheless) of how do you keep cards active.. your thought process baffles me sometimes

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:03:48 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
so i do have a question based on your first line. all i read was the first line and all i wanna ask is if you know you have all these cards you don't use then why do you keepapping for other cards? you will just create MORE unused cards and then come back to the basic question (that has a common sense answer nonetheless) of how do you keep cards active.. your thought process baffles me sometimes

As my credit keeps improving I get better terms and better limits and eventually plan to prune off the older less desirable cards with worse terms or blah cl's, just part of the rebuild process. It is very long if done "correctly in my eyes", not everyone. Plus of course the bonuses.. So there is a method to my madness and it works for me and probably alot of other people pretty much do the same thing as me during rebuilding some to a greater extent some to a lesser extent. Make sense?

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:04:55 GMT

yeah it makes sense but i guess my style is far more conservative. good luck in your new cards though.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:06:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
yeah it makes sense but i guess my style is far more conservative. good luck in your new cards though.

Thank you and glad my explanation worked. Time for another drink!

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:07:04 GMT

about to start that myself. it makes reading some of these posts from people easier lol

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

pizza1 — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:08:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
about to start that myself. it makes reading some of these posts from people easier lol

yes X...including your Kays Jewelers posts, that you only keep the card around for the "occasional" gift for your GF! lol

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:10:14 GMT

what was wrong with the kay jeweler's post? i didn't ask anyone what to do with the card. i already know what to do with it.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:11:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
about to start that myself. it makes reading some of these posts from people easier lol

Time we all get smashed together.. Who is game? No drapping though kids! About to open another bear and break out the patron.

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:13:00 GMT

i am sure you won't have time to open patron if you are planning on opening a bear but do tell us how that goes.

additionally, i have drapped enough this year. DONE!

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

CreditCuriosity — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:16:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
i am sure you won't have time to open patron if you are planning on opening a bear but do tell us how that goes.

additionally, i have drapped enough this year. DONE!

Hmmm just did a shot of Patron while in the kitchen and got myself a beer.. Worked out quite well

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

pizza1 — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:17:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
i am sure you won't have time to open patron if you are planning on opening a bear but do tell us how that goes.

additionally, i have drapped enough this year. DONE!

LMAO!!!!!! hahahahah....

CC...you mean Beer?? lol!!!

Re: Best method to keep cards active?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 00:22:07 GMT

My Citi Simplicity card has a $3.59 charge on it. Has a $4,800 credit limit. I think some of these banks hate me when I barely spend on their cards. I use Ebates to login to Overstock then buy a cheap pair of cuff links and get cash back on my EBates checks. I recently closed Brylane Home and will close HSN soon simply because I bought every utensil they sell just trying to keep the cards open. If it is co-branded with a major credit card then use EBates to shop for some small item, get cash back and keep the card alive.