cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Are your spending categories covered?

tag
LesWH
Established Contributor

Are your spending categories covered?

I have tried, successfully I think, to cover my spending categories with the appropriate reward cards. The only thing I lack is the US Bank Cash + for 5% back on bills. Have you covered the majority of your categories with reward cards? If so, which ones for which categories?


NFCU Signature Visa Cash Rewards, NavChek, Citi AA AMEX, Cap1 Cash Rewards, Discover IT, Home Depot, Sears, Walmart, Chase Freedom, AMEX Green, Lowe's, AMEX BCE, Chase Sapphire Preferred, AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass, PayPal Extras MC, PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards, AMEX Platinum

GC Challenge: App Free since 1/8/13. No more apps til 2014






Message 1 of 11
10 REPLIES 10
SnackTrader
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

I'm also missing cell phone, cable, electricity, etc. That all adds up to over $500 a month, so it would be a really helpful to have a card that gets more than 1.5% for that. Oh well, not in U.S. Bank's region. 

 

I wonder if I just drove to a branch on my way cross country if they would issue me a card to an out of state address...


In My Wallet: Amex BCP (12/12) $50,000, Chase Freedom (12/12) $16,500, Cap1 Quicksilver (6/12) $14,000, Barclaycard Rewards (5/13) $10,500, Citi Prestige (4/16) $30,000

Last App: June 27, 2015
Message 2 of 11
bs6054
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

Get a 2% card, or a Barclays Reward MC, which gives 2% on utilities (obviously the 2% cards are a better choice)

Message 3 of 11
bs6054
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?


@LesWH wrote:

I have tried, successfully I think, to cover my spending categories with the appropriate reward cards. The only thing I lack is the US Bank Cash + for 5% back on bills. Have you covered the majority of your categories with reward cards? If so, which ones for which categories?


Citi Forward 5% for restaurants+ entertainment (including all from Amazon)  (Using for restaurants for now to get initial spend for bonus)

US Bank Cash + 5% (6.25) for restaurants + bill pay

Penfed for 5% gas

BCP for 6% groceries (after cap, Penfed for 3%)

Fidelity for 2% elsewhere

Cap One 1.5% elsewhere where Amex isn't accepted.

 

Only thing I miss currently is better reward on drug stores, using US Bank Cash Plus for 2% (=2.5%)

 

Message 4 of 11
FutureBillionaire
Established Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

Citi Forward for restaurants and movies

Cash + for bill pay and department stores

2 penfed cards for gas

BCP for groceries

IT for rotating categories, restaurants and movies right now

 

I pretty much have everything covered...

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 5 of 11
slippy84
Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?


@SnackTrader wrote:

I'm also missing cell phone, cable, electricity, etc. That all adds up to over $500 a month, so it would be a really helpful to have a card that gets more than 1.5% for that. Oh well, not in U.S. Bank's region. 

 

I wonder if I just drove to a branch on my way cross country if they would issue me a card to an out of state address...


I just got the card in the mail a few days ago. I live outside their service area but applied while on vacation in a branch. I didn't have any issues with getting it because of living outside their area. As always, YMMV as there have been reports the whole time the card has been offered of people being turned down for living outside their footprint. It might have helped me that I've been a US Bank customer for a couple years already.

US Bank Cash+ -- Chase Freedom -- Citi Dividend -- Citi Double Cash -- AMEX BCE -- Discover It
Message 6 of 11
emptypockets
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

Did they change the Cash + requirements? When they introduced it, you did not have to live in their service area to get the card (none in my state). I still got the card.

 

For my spending categories, I currently use: 

 

Cash+ for Bill Pay, and Restaurants

Freedom for gas (until March)

Amex PRG for gas/plane tickets (if I don't need to check a bag)

Amex Delta for plane tickets with free checked bag

Amex BCP for groceries

Amex HH for cell phone, cable (6x HH points)

CSP for restaurants, and travel if deal is better through UR Mall

Discover and Dividend (and Freedom) for rotating categories

 


CC's: AMEX (4), Alliant Visa, PenFed AMEX, Pen Fed Promise, Citi (3), Chase (5), US Bank Cash+, Huntington Voice, Nasa Plat Cash Visa, Barclay's Visa, Discover IT, Cap One QS, BOA (2), BMW Visa, 5/3 Real Life Rewards MC; FNBO Amex; Comenity Visa/MC (3), Ebates Visa Siggy, Nordstrom Visa, Walmart MC, Sam's Club MC; A few assorted store cards.

Current Scores (09/2017): EQ My Fico: 786; TU MyFico: 799; EX (My Fico): 797
Message 7 of 11
bs6054
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?


@emptypockets wrote:

Did they change the Cash + requirements? When they introduced it, you did not have to live in their service area to get the card (none in my state). 


There's not that requirement, but they don't accept applications online now, and say you have to apply in a branch (so if you don't live near the service area, a pain!)

However, some have been successful applying by phone, so it's just online that has gone.

Message 8 of 11
emptypockets
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

Ah, ok.


CC's: AMEX (4), Alliant Visa, PenFed AMEX, Pen Fed Promise, Citi (3), Chase (5), US Bank Cash+, Huntington Voice, Nasa Plat Cash Visa, Barclay's Visa, Discover IT, Cap One QS, BOA (2), BMW Visa, 5/3 Real Life Rewards MC; FNBO Amex; Comenity Visa/MC (3), Ebates Visa Siggy, Nordstrom Visa, Walmart MC, Sam's Club MC; A few assorted store cards.

Current Scores (09/2017): EQ My Fico: 786; TU MyFico: 799; EX (My Fico): 797
Message 9 of 11
nicholasyud
Valued Contributor

Re: Are your spending categories covered?

Walmart , BCE : Gas card

BCE : 3% grocery 

Discover: 5% Restaurant + Movies.

Capital One + USAA : 1% else where.

 

Next Target APP

Target : US+ Bank for Bill Paid and Travel.

Penfed for better 5% gas.

DCU +

Waiting for some great bonus sign up but garden remain until June or after my 1st morgate closed. 

Starting Score: 560
Current Score: ?
Goal Score: 800
Message 10 of 11
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.