topic Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why? in Credit Cards

What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:25:14 GMT

I’m new so forgive me if there have already been topics like this before. But I would like to know out of all the credit cards you have which ones are you actually using, how often do you use them, and why or how does it benefit you? I look forward to the replies!

For me I’m just now starting out. So right now I’m only using my capital one quicksilver for the 1.5% rewards for any of my purchase that takes a credit card and just pay immediately or as soon as I can. I just make sure I show 1% utilization by the statement close date and zero balance by the due date. All my other store cards I don’t plan on using. Just have them for my total available credit.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

SBR249 — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:31:43 GMT

Be sure that all your credit cards get token spending every few months or so to avoid them being closed by lender for inactivity.

As for which cards I use the most often:

- Chase Amazon Visa: 5% CB on Amazon purchases and also gift card purchases to stores that I frequent

- The Paypal Business Debit/CB MC combo for ~3% cashback on most things

- Discover for the rotating categories. Really hit that restaurant spending pretty hard last quarter. Costco gift cards this quarter will take up some spend.

- Uber Visa/Costco Visa for general restaurant, travel, gas

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

CreditInspired — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:33:52 GMT

Welcome OP,

It really depends. DiscoverIT gives 5% cashback from Oct-Dec for Amazon and warehouse purchases, plus I asked for 12-month 0% in September, which was granted, so I've been wearing Discover out! Purchased a iPAD Pro, pen, and keyboard from Costco Online. And, I will be doing all my holiday shopping for Xmas from Amazon.

I use my AmX for more expensive purchases because I have 15-month 0% interest.

I rarely use my CitiDC, even though it offers 2% cashback because I had to get to $25 before I could even cash out and then because I don't have a relationship with them, they mailed a check. Yuck, really! They wouldn't do direct deposit in this day and time.

GL2U

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Physh1 — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:35:12 GMT

Chase Amazon for 5% back...

Amex EDP for everyday & 50% bonus after 30 transations...

Discover IT for rotating 5% categories...

Target Red MC for 5% at Target

Uber Visa for rent & eating out

Amex Plat & PRG (now gold) for travel, travel credits, & when I give my Uber card a break...

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 02:00:51 GMT

Cards I use most often:

Amex Gold Card: 4x Supermarket, 4x Restaurant, 4x Gas (using supermarket gift cards), 3x Flight

Uber Visa: 4% Restaurant that doesn't accept Amex, 4% Bars and Cafe

NFCU Flagship: 3% Travel, 2% on everything else

Sock drawered: Cap One QS, Cap One QS1, NFCU Cash Rewards

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:43:09 GMT

I pretty much only carry my Amex Cash Magnet and my Chase FU. So I use my Amex for everything and my Chase for things I can't use amex for (mainly Costco purchases). I will also, periodically, use my Discover It when there is a 5% category that is of use to me. All other cards are in my SD. I'm pretty boring LOL!

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

mongstradamus — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:05:34 GMT

As of right now I only use my CSP and EDP as my main cards. EDP covers groceries gas and everyday spending. CSP covers dining. Since I can hit 30 swipes easily with EDP i get 1.5x for everyday spending stuff.

I have other specialty cards like ink cash/CIP for Cellphone, internet , cable tv, staples etc.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:08:38 GMT

I use CapOne Savor for 4% dining and entertainment, and right now I’m using it for most things to hit the SUB. I’m in my first year match on Discover IT Miles, so I’ll be using that for 3% on everything else once I hit the SUB. I have Amex BCE for 3% on grocery for when the match on IT Miles expires.

I’m at least a year away from having all the other cards I want to be mainstays in my wallet (Discover IT, PayPal 2%, Uber, maybe Amazon).

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:20:39 GMT

Discover it - 5% categories

PNC Visa - 4% on gas, 3% on dining (restaurants, cafes, bars, etc.), 2% on groceries

Amazon Prime Visa - 5% on amazon and whole foods, also use for traveling and occasional dining

Chase FU - 1.5% on everything, i use it for shopping and other random purchases that dont fit a category

Discover it 2% Food/Gas - i put all of my revolving bills on this card (going to PC to discover miles for the 1.5x rate)

my next card will most likely be the Uber Visa and i'll use that for dining and traveling

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:16:05 GMT

While I use many cards for balance transfers or specific 5% off and/or long promotional financing offers, most of my spend has been going on the Amex SPG card for the past 18 months. That’s because of the massive value I’ve been able to get out of the rewards. Now that I’ve locked in status through spend for next year, that’s being replaced with the Delta Reserve which I will be using for non-category spend to help out with elite status and to rack up miles. I do use Chase Freedom for its 5% categories where possible (recent things like gas and Walgreen’s were absolute duds for me), and either CSR or Citi Premier when I run into the rare “no Amex” situation.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

mongstradamus — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:27:02 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
While I use many cards for balance transfers or specific 5% off and/or long promotional financing offers, most of my spend has been going on the Amex SPG card for the past 18 months. That’s because of the massive value I’ve been able to get out of the rewards. Now that I’ve locked in status through spend for next year, that’s being replaced with the Delta Reserve which I will be using for non-category spend to help out with elite status and to rack up miles. I do use Chase Freedom for its 5% categories where possible (recent things like gas and Walgreen’s were absolute duds for me), and either CSR or Citi Premier when I run into the rare “no Amex” situation.

I am quite curious how do you see the value of SPG now that its kind of merged with Marriott , i was thinking of getting the 100k SPG biz card offer thats been floating around, but I don’t exactly know how the value is now with the merger.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:47:47 GMT

Amex Gold Card: $250 AF - $100 air credit (which I would already use) - $120 food credit (which I would already use) - Premium Roadside Assistance (would spend $56 otherwise on AAA basic, but Amex's PRA provides more benefits and effectively is costing me the $30 difference in AF annually) = $0 Effective AF. Now add in the 4x restaurants/grocery, 3x airfare, Amex's great interface (for AU's too) and customer service (mainly siding with you on fraud), and it's a steal.

Chase Sapphire Preferred --> Reserve: All international spend. Still in the 1st year with no AF. Up to 80k UR which I'll soon cash out for my trip to Europe next Summer. Planning on PC'ing to the CSR for Rental Car Insurance / Lounge Access / Travel Insurance, since I would regardless spend $100 on CDW (now covered by primary insurance) , $100 on food at airports next year (now can grab food at lounges), and save $100-$200 on the same travel insurances by booking seperately with another insurer. So the $450 - $300 - $100 - $100 - $100-$200 = $0 AF for me.

Amex Cash Magnet (sockdrawered): Amex offers (save $50 at MGM properties when spending $250, I use this every year).

Capital One Quicksilver (sockdrawered): Was my first card, planning on using it as a backup for international travel since it has no AF or FTF and is a Visa.

DISCOVER It (sockdrawered): Enjoyed the effective 10%/2% back on spend during the first year. This CC was just a credit building card for me when my profile was extra-thin!

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Viva-LV — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 02:24:48 GMT

AE BCP: cash back 6% supermarkets, 3% gas. I have +$600/month in gas purchases, this is my go-to card. I have the Costco Visa, but have better things to do than wait in line.

Chase Marriott and/or AE HH Aspire. Can't remember the last time I paid for a hotel stay.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

kilroy8 — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 03:03:31 GMT

I have been getting lots of special offers that I have been using. For instance, my 1st $200 this month went to Citi Simplicity for $20 statement credit. Simplicity is also getting any PayPal purchases through 12/12 as they have a 5% back special.

Normally I do:

BCP: 6% Groceries and I can get gas one place that codes as grocery, too

Disco IT: 2% misc spend after cashback match, 10% after cashback match quarterly cats

Chase Freedom: Quarterly cats, this quarter getting 5% on Walmart by using Chase Pay attached to Walmart Pay

BCE : use after BCP $6K max reached + a couple days when BCP statement is cutting (AZEO, ya know)

NFCU GoRewards - Restaurants

NFCU MoreRewards - regular gas stations/swap some with BCE during BCP blackout periods

Quicksilver - 3 tap pays for $10 bonus Oct/Nov/Dec

The rest I just by small things every couple months to keep active.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:37:38 GMT

Cap 1 Savor for 4% on restaurants and entertainment

Discover for 5% rotating categories

Chase Amazon for 5% amazon purchases

Citi TY Premiere for 3x points on gas and travel

Fidelity Visa or Citi DC for 2% on all other purchases

Only cards I currently carry are Savor, Citi TY Premiere and Fidelity Visa

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

shiftomnimega — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 05:48:44 GMT

Due to some problems in 2015 I would simply use AMEX SPG for everything and Chase Freedom for rotating categories or when AMEX wasn't accepted. The last couple years I decided to re-complicate my life and start carrying multiple credit cards.

In the wallet

1) AMEX Gold - 4 MR dining/grocery and need to get the minimum spend for the SUB

2) SPG Amex - For hotel travel and worth keeping for the free night

3) Cap1 Savor (grandfathered) - backup if AMEX not accepted; 4% cashback dining; 4% movies and sporting events

4) NFCU Flagship Visa - Just for the big SUB then I can SD; considering using for my 2% everything card

5) Citi Costco - Cheapest gas and good shopping

Online/Mobile Spend

1) Chase Amazon - 5% Amazon

2) Barclays Uber - for Lyft... and cell phone insurance

Situational

1) Sync Walmart - For cash back when I need cash and I need something at walmart anyway

2) Discover - BT deals

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

jdbkiang — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 06:07:47 GMT

Groceries/Dining: Amex Gold

Travel/International Dining: CSR

Hotels: HH Ascend/WoH/IHG Premier

Utilities/Department Stores: 5% with Cash +

Amazon: Chase Amazon

Internet/Phone/Shipping: CIP

Miscellaneous: Either BBP or CFU

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 06:50:51 GMT

Regarding store CCs close them unless you use them frequently. Anyway my cards have no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.

General purchase: Cap1 QS 1.5% CB (planning to move on to PenFed Power Cash Rewards for 2%)

Food (or airlines/hotels): Barclays Uber Visa 4% CB (3% on travel categories)

Gas: USAA Rewards Plus AMEX 5%

Once I get the PenFed CC, I will PC my Cap1 card again to Savor to get the 3% on entertainment.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

UpperNwGuy — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:04:33 GMT

CSR for travel and dining. PenFed Power Cash for everything else. Why? To get the best rewards with redemptions I can actually use.

Re: What credit cards do you actually use and why?

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:56:12 GMT

I am a cash back only guy, so I use:

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred for 6% groceries (By far my biggest category) and 3% gas (no pateince to wait for Costco gas)

Capital One Savor for 4% dining and entertainment (i.e., movies)

Citi Double Cash for 2% everything else ( I used Quicksilver for 2 years at 1.5% but finally caved in and went to DC)

Target REDCARD for 5% at Target (only take when going to Target, otherwise stays in sd)

Chase Freedom for 5% Costco when warehouses are the category, otherwise in SD)

Wife has Costco Visa for 2% in warehouse and 4% gas (she gets it, I don't)