topic Re: How many cards do you carry? in Credit Cards

How many cards do you carry?

keith021 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:17:20 GMT

It just dawn upon me that I carry a lot of my cards in my wallet! I carry 6 debit/check cards, 4 store cards, and 3 credit cards; for a total of 13 cards. This isn't including my driver's license, student ID, insurance card, Subway card, CVS card, etc... Is this safe? How many cards do you carry and why? I'm considering pulling several of them out of my wallet.

I'm curious to see what everyone else's view on this…

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:26:31 GMT

1 ATM card

2 Credit Cards.......Chase Plus Rewards for 5% cashback on groceries, fuel, drugstores

Schwab 2% for everything else

I avoid any and all store cards.....

Message Edited by LustForTheMoment on 01-16-2010 11:26 AM

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:41:41 GMT

I agree with the store cards. Even though I have a Home Depot card I don't have no intention on using it anymore ever since I had to buy what I needed and paid it off.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:44:02 GMT

Chase freedom plus still in the market? Does the card still work the same? top 6 categories?

Re: How many cards do you carry?

keith021 — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:48:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I agree with the store cards. Even though I have a Home Depot card I don't have no intention on using it anymore ever since I had to buy what I needed and paid it off.

LustForTheMoment and pumbaablah, what is so bad about having store cards?

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:57:19 GMT

I had a Home Depot card. I got a $7500 kitchen makeover on it. I had one year to pay it off. I put nothing else on the card. I wrote a check for $7500 about 1 week before that year was up.

Nevertheless, I have 2 credit cards.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

daisyduke — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:11:50 GMT

i only carry a Debit Visa and another Visa with me. All other five cards, i don't have that many (1 other Visa,3 store cards, 1 AU BOFA Visa - they stay at home!) Try to keep it simple - don't need to carry more than 2 cards...reason is it keeps me out of the stores...and not spending money for things I don't really need....

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Jazzzy — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:18:56 GMT

@keith021 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I agree with the store cards. Even though I have a Home Depot card I don't have no intention on using it anymore ever since I had to buy what I needed and paid it off.
LustForTheMoment and pumbaablah, what is so bad about having store cards?

I don't know that it's necessarily bad to have store cards. We have seen, however, that when some people are turned down for credit with a major bank card or credit union, sometimes the reason has been that they have too much open unused credit. It therefore can come to a choice of having a lot of store cards but then a limited amount of major bank credit cards. That is not always the case, and I'm sure there are people who will come along and say that they have a lot of both...and that's true. What I'm saying is that we have seen denials happen...not for everyone...but for some.

Also, in the past there have been forum posters who were criticized by their auto insurance companies for having too many store cards. When trying to lower his auto insurance rates, one poster was told that too many store cards was seen by them as a sign of risk.

Don't get me wrong...there is a place for store cards. For many, they are good starter and rebuilder cards. They also can give good deals like no interest, store reward points, etc. We personally don't carry store cards and don't app for them. We had a Sears at one time, but at some point during the past 20 years it turned into a Sears Citi MC and can now be used everywhere...not just at Sears. We only keep it because it is our 2nd oldest card, next to a 22 y/o Discover. The last store card we had was an Old Navy card that was closed by them for nonuse. I refuse to buy something at a store just to keep their card alive. That just doesn't work for me....but, if you shop at any certain store a lot anyway, then it may be a good deal for you.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:32:25 GMT

I carry

1 Debit Card

3 Credit Cards

and have two store cards locked in the safe at home just so I dont have to carry them around since they arent used often.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:40:38 GMT

When I leave the house I always carry:

PenFed PCR Visa

Discover

Macy's Visa

Wachovia Check/Debit/ATM

I frequently carry (in a business card case):

Chase Debit/ATM

BofA Debit/ATM

PenFed Debit/ATM

EFFCU Debit/ATM

The rest of the CC's stay at home in the drawer and are only taken out of the house occasionally,

Re: How many cards do you carry?

okiesean — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:27:42 GMT

Hi Keith,

Personally I would take the time to photocopy the entire contents of my wallet. The front and back of each card and store that copy in a safe place so that should you loose you wallet you have the account numbers and phone number of each card to call and cancel it. That said,

I carry one atm/visa debit card, one visa card and one gas card ( although I get cheaper gas at walmart ) and a walmart gift card.

The walmart card is just for the 3 cent gas discount at walmart/murphy usa gas pumps. I keep the gas card in use because it is so old but Texaco gas is WAY higher so I just get a half tank or sometimes I just buy soda pop there.

You can probably leave your store cards at home. Most stores can look up your account number and issue you a temporary paper card in store to use for that days purchases with proper id.

I would recommend one debit card, two credit cards, your drivers license, student id and the loyalty cards you use most. I would think you could leave your insurance card at home unless your going to your doctor that day and need to show it. It will lighten your load and I bet you notice a huge difference right away. I used to carry lots of different cards but when I quit carrying them it was the difference of night and day in my pants pocket. Good luck.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

FocusOnFICO — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:08:14 GMT

Hi Keith,

I carry my cu ATM, PenFed Visa, and Amex Blue Cash.

I use the ATM once/month max, PenFed for all non-warranty goods, and Amex for warranty goods. My other credit cards are used for online purchases to keep them active.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

DI — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:23:10 GMT

I carry two different cards each month. This month, I've been using my Discover card to thank them for the recent CLI and my Citi card for a special project this month. My Kroger 123 card is a staple in my wallet so it remains regardless. My other 9 cards has to fight for a spot. But they do get used enough to keep them active.

Message Edited by DI on 01-16-2010 04:23 PM

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:09:05 GMT

i only carry my debit card which ever one im using or might use that day and two credit cards one is strictly used for gas. if i was traveling then i would carry more for back up protection but for everyday stuff u do not need to carry your life in your wallet.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

Jazzzy — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:00:30 GMT

We both carry...

Discover (x2...mine and his) for changeable 5% categories only

PenFed VISA for gas (5%) and groceries (2%)

AmEx Delta Skymiles for everything else

National City (now PNC) Travel Rewards VISA for places that don't take AmEx

No reason to carry:

Sears Citi MC (no meaningful rewards)

Chase (no rewards at all)

I think I have an ATM/Debit card for my checking account, but the only place I've used that is overseas.

What we don't carry: SS card

Re: How many cards do you carry?

DI — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:10:29 GMT

I have learned my reason to keep some cards at home. I left my wallet at work on Monday. It's still there locked in my office. The business been close ever since Monday due to a water crisis in the city. I wasn't about to make a trip just to get it. Had I not had cards at home, I would be SOL. I've limited my driving too since I have no license with me either.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

laz98 — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:26:37 GMT

credit cards that i actually carry on me all of the time? 5.

other cards that i have? 3.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

keith021 — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:27:45 GMT

I definitely will be clearing my wallet out this weekend. It’s not like I shop at Kay, Jared, Target, or Macy’s card every day. Those are at least four gone. I use my Suncoast FCU Visa Rewards CC the most. I guess I thought my wallet was the right place for them all. It does feel weird when I’m sitting and I have a lump under my behind! LOL

Re: How many cards do you carry?

DI — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:41:53 GMT

@keith021 wrote:
I definitely will be clearing my wallet out this weekend. It’s not like I shop at Kay, Jared, Target, or Macy’s card every day. Those are at least four gone. I use my Suncoast FCU Visa Rewards CC the most. I guess I thought my wallet was the right place for them all. It does feel weird when I’m sitting and I have a lump under my behind! LOL

I never carry my wallet on me. I keep mines in my laptop case. I carry my laptop with me everywhere. It's my mobile office. Keep all important papers like insurance and etc with me at all times.

Re: How many cards do you carry?

MattH — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:32:47 GMT

My wallet is thick enough that I have to carry it in a front pocket:

AMEX Gold Card (my oldest tradeline, "Member Since 82" )

AMEX Corporate Card (for work purposes only; it does not appear on my credit reports and my employers pay the bills electronically)

Chase Slate Visa (my wife is an AU on this account)

Citi Platinum Select (my wife has a Cit Diamond Preferred in her own name)

AT&T Phone Card (for when we visit relatives in a very rural area where our cellphones don't work)

Discover More Cashback Bonus

Bank of America debit card

CT Driver's License

Health Insurance Card

Prescription Insurance Card

Auto Insurance Card

CT Dept. of Corrections Volunteer ID Card

Card from work with magic numbers needed for our teleconferencing system

Varying amounts of cash

Plus discount cards from various merchants, membership cards in various organizations, business cards, random bits of paper, etc.

Message Edited by MattH on 01-16-2010 09:32 PM