@calisig wrote:no limit per se, but all the cards I add must serve some purpose. So I won't add a card just to add it. There has to be some specific reason, other than a SUB, that I add it. Currently I have five new cards in my sights, and plan to cancel one of my existing cards ....
I'm in the same boat with this response. I do extensive research on YouTube, online, and here on the forums. I don't just apply for a card just for the SUB, I make sure it will suit my needs in the long run. I am happy to report I am almost at my complete deck of cards. I only wish to get three more, but with all the issues Discover has been causing on user accounts, I'm only focused on two for early next year. If approved for both at that point, I will be more than content with all the credit cards I'll possess. As for CLs, I wouldn't want a single card to be higher than $20K if I use it often (which is where my Freedom Unlimited is headed, currently at $14K). Other cards I don't use as often, I would be fine with their CLs at $6-8K each.
I'm curious, @AyaMai. Is this just a general discussion topic you're curious about or something you're trying to determine the answer for in your own circumstances?
If you're looking for advice, the answer is very dependent on your own spending patterns, lifestyle, and credit objectives. And when it comes to credit objectives, it depends on where you choose to fall in the continuum between high rewards and lender diversity versus simplicity. That's a tricky choice and one that many of us card enthusiasts have to decide for ourselves. Unless you're going for a very high level of rewards optimization or you're collecting cards or limits just for the thrill/hobby of it, I suggest you set goals for credit limits based on your overall spending needs and income. As income, setting a number based on multiples of annual income is one way to look at it and lenders often consider that as well. Some lenders will get uncomfortable once you accrue many multiples of annual income in credit limits, as it is potential debt/risk. And honestly, unless you have high business spend or some other reason, having total limits in the 1x to 2x range of annual income is probably more than sufficient for most of us, including any utilization padding. I imagine many average consumers have well less than 1x annual income in limits and get along just fine.
For myself, I've added cards since I started remaking my credit profile a few years ago and at one point was up to 21 cards. I realized that was more than I care to manage over the long-haul. Like a couple of other posts, I'm in the process of slimming my profile back down. I'd prefer to have somewhere between about 8 and 12 cards, mostly with different lenders (for diversity protection), all with rewards and/or perks, a mixture of travel rewards and cash back for rewards diversity, and high limits on each card and overall for flexibility and utilization padding. While getting down to just a few cards sounds appealing, I value the diversity with various cards and lenders so I imagine eight would be about my absolute baseline at this point.
@Anonymous wrote:10 cards are my min and max. My lowest CL is 10k, largest 38k. I am 5.2k away from a TCL of 200k so my 10 cards will average 20k. After that I am done. No more cli.
I'm very close to this boat.....
I have 10 cards and I would only push to 12 Max if the cards specifically filled a gap I needed in my spending patterns. I have a couple of cards (2) I still want to apply for, but once I have those I will be allowing 2 SD cards to self-close, to get back to 10. All of my cards have been meticulously chosen for specific spend categories.
My goal has been to have:
1) 10-12 cards Max (only actually carry 5 in my wallet, the rest stay home for bills, online spend, etc)
2) Only 1 card per lender to avoid any mass closures with a single lender......just in case. (*cough*SyncB*cough*)
3) Cover all major issuers (Visa, MC, Discover, Amex)
4) The majority (or all) of my cards offering at least 5% cashback on their intended categories
5) A 2% or 3% General Spend card for non-category, with no FTF (for Travel/Vacation usage)
6) At least $15,000 limit per card (for a minimum of $150,000 TL)
a) This allows approx. $1500 per card/per month to maintain an individual UTI% under 10% at all times
b) My bills each month total about $1600. (Higher now with inflation) If I put everything I have on my cards and for whatever reason was forced to allow it all to carry to statement, (which I would likely never do) my total utilization would still only be approx. 1%......And even with additional spending, I would still never reach beyond a modest 2% UTI.....that's worst case scenario.
On Deck: Possibly Aven 3% Visa
I have only a few more that are currently on my radar. They will improve cash back in a few areas, typically from 3% to 5%. Then, some of my existing cards become sock drawered.
Overall I would like 4. The perfect mix for me of what my score needs (three) and a store card too. That's my current limit.
Too many accounts to keep up with is stressful for me. Credit cards can (and do) help me with this. They can catch multiple accounts, streaming and more, and help me make fewer payments / keep me sane. So far I'm at 3. In the future (once my score is back) hope for a great 4th card. Got my fourth! 
