topic Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?o in Credit Cards

Which credit cards do you use the most?

tengtengvn — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:55:14 GMT

American Express Blue Cash Preferred
* 6% cash back at grocery stores
* 3% cash back at gas stations + department stores
* 1% cash back on all other purchases

=> Amazon is categorized as Department Stores in AmEx system. Free shipping for order >$25, no tax to CA, 3% cash back.

For restaurants, I use Discover Open Road (2% cash back/$250 CB limit). Also use ShopDiscover for some online purchases (%5 cash back).
For places that don't take AmEx, I use my U.S. Bank FlexPerks Visa (1% cash back/no limit).

My expenses reimbursement for work is ~$4000 this year so far. My parents are authorized users on some of my cards. They use the cards for personal and business expenses.

Cash Back, Cash Back, Cash Back credit cards FTW.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

tntexans72 — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:04:30 GMT

Currently my Chase Freedom Visa is getting all the attention. I am waiting for my Amex spg to arrive (June 18th). I will be looking to spend $15k in 6 months through my spg card to get that 15k points bonus, so my Chase Freedom will be SD.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

Smerri1029 — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:24:24 GMT

I use my American Express Premier Rewards Gold for 99.9% of my purchases. If I go to a place where AmEx isn't accepted (which is extrememly rare) I use my Chase British Airways Visa.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

RockinRay — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:43:26 GMT

PenFed Visa - Gas

Target Red Card - Groceries

Costco Amex - Dining out and Costco

Discover - everything else I can run on it

Ray

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:13:21 GMT

Chase Freedom - Whatever is 5%, Bills that don't take Amex

Amex Blue Cash Everyday - Gas and Groceries (when they aren't 5% on Chase), Bills that take Amex

Combination of Chase/Amex for everything else to keep % Util. as low as possible.

I used to use Discover as my primary, but it has been replaced by Chase Freedom (they have a lot higher limits on their 5%).

Another thing I'd be curious to learn, how often do you use your cards that aren't regulars but you want to make sure aren't closed?

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

RockinRay — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:23:53 GMT

In my case, once every 60 days or so - and those are small amounts just to show activity.

Then - PIF the following Sunday.

Ray

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

UFGuy2006 — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:42:49 GMT

Costco Amex - Restaurants (3%)

Blue Cash Everyday - Groceries (3%)

Penfed Rewards Visa -Gas (5%)

FIA Rewards (old Schwab Invest First card) - Everything else (2%)

I do rotate my Discover more, Chase Freedom, BOA Cash Rewards and Citi Dividend in when the 5% categories are appealing. I also make charges every few months on my SPG Amex, Citi Diamond and USAA MC to keep them active.

I go with the card that gets me the greatest return for that purchase, and of course PIF!

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

tengtengvn — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:20:24 GMT

@RockinRay wrote:
PenFed Visa - Gas
Target Red Card - Groceries
Costco Amex - Dining out and Costco
Discover - everything else I can run on it

Ray

You know that you only earn 0.25% CB for the first $3000 on Discover right? If you use other cards that give you 1% CB (no restriction) on everything, you can earn a lot more.

You will earn 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on purchases after your total annual purchases exceed $3000; purchases that are part of your first $3000 earn .25%. 

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

castlefox — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:40:04 GMT

1) Use my Alliant CC sparinly so I can keep my utilization down. Only 1,000 CL

2) Shell Gas card for gas. Keep charges under 80 bucks a month. 400CL

3) use my Alliant CC or cash later in the month so I can keep my unitization very low so I have a better change when apply for a CLI & when I apply for a new card.

I really want a rewards card but Im gonna do all I can to wait till the winter to apply for one.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

RockinRay — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:40:59 GMT

That is a very good point! Thank you!

Time to rethink some things....

Ray

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

tengtengvn — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:58:00 GMT

@castlefox wrote:
1)    Use my Alliant CC sparinly so I can keep my utilization down. Only 1,000 CL
2)    Shell Gas card for gas. Keep charges under 80 bucks a month.    400CL

3) use my Alliant CC or cash later in the month so I can keep my unitization very low so I have a better change when apply for a CLI & when I apply for a new card.

I really want a rewards card but Im gonna do all I can to wait till the winter to apply for one.

It's safer to use credit cards for all your purchases. Try to make multiple payments to the card weekly if you want to keep the balance low.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:21:58 GMT

@tengtengvn wrote:
@RockinRay wrote:
PenFed Visa - Gas
Target Red Card - Groceries
Costco Amex - Dining out and Costco
Discover - everything else I can run on it

Ray
You know that you only earn 0.25% CB for the first $3000 on Discover right? If you use other cards that give you 1% CB (no restriction) on everything, you can earn a lot more.

You will earn 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on purchases after your total annual purchases exceed $3000; purchases that are part of your first $3000 earn .25%. 

That's why I just got my Chase Freedom and Amex Blue Cash Everyday cards (sugestion for those who use Discover for everything and don't make that $3,000 mark very quickly).

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?o

tengtengvn — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:37:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That's why I just got my Chase Freedom and Amex Blue Cash Everyday cards (sugestion for those who use Discover for everything and don't make that $3,000 mark very quickly).

Good choice, I'm planning to PC my Open Road card to Discover More. I get 3% cash back on gas purchases with my Chase Perfect Card too so I'm keeping it as a backup gas card but I really want to PC it to Chase Freesom.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:15:38 GMT

I use the United Visa for restaurants, gasoline, and groceries. For the next 8 months, I'm using the AA Amex for everything else to get 1.2 miles per dollar but alternate it with the Amex Blue Sky for 1.3 points per dollar. Since I have several more airline cards and an SPG card to use in between, it's only twice a year that I use 2 cards that offer only 1 mile for every $2 spent. I also rarely use my Priority Club Visa for hotel stays because my husband works for Hilton.

Re: Which credit cards do you use the most?

slarano — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:18:14 GMT

I put most of my everyday expenses on my AMEX Zync. As I continue to pay down other cards and get my Util% to single digits, I like the restriction of having to pay off my Zync in full on a monthly basis.