Guidance from ppl rocking multiple different point systems (and why?)

[Anonymous]

---

@elixerin wrote:

dang, who woulda thought it was just that simpL

---

It's pretty similar to any consumer thing.  You might ask "Why do people have such expensive cars/houses/private schools?"   Some percentage might be doing it for perceived status reasons, another set for well thought out reasons ("I need this large urban house for my meth lab.  Lots of space to store product and dealers close by, police wouldn't think of looking here"), and others simply because they can afford to and don't see any reason not to.

[elixerin]

i can see houses or cars for personal enjoyment but what "enjoyment" tbh comes from a plastic or "metal" squares nowadays. You can chalk up the cars and houses as an enjoyment expense but how does that genuinely apply to credit cards? lol

[Anonymous]

We get a lot of enjoyment here over plastic or metal squares if you haven't noticed 

[simplynoir]

---

@elixerin wrote:

i can see houses or cars for personal enjoyment but what "enjoyment" tbh comes from a plastic or "metal" squares nowadays. You can chalk up the cars and houses as an enjoyment expense but how does that genuinely apply to credit cards? lol

---

Because people with the income use credit cards to reap the benefits and enjoy the rewards. It would be a waste to put any spend on a debit card and get no rewards for it such as miles and points, not to mention not as many consumer protections. This goes beyond spending as well. Cards like the Delta Platinum/Reserve cards come with free companion certificates every anniversary, same for hotel cards like Marriott and Hyatt with free hotel stays, AMEX Platinum with perks to help with travel such as lounges, and CSR for travel insurance. The list goes on and on

[Nomad3]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@elixerin wrote:

dang, who woulda thought it was just that simpL

---

It's pretty similar to any consumer thing.  You might ask "Why do people have such expensive cars/houses/private schools?"   Some percentage might be doing it for perceived status reasons, another set for well thought out reasons ("I need this large urban house for my meth lab.  Lots of space to store product and dealers close by, police wouldn't think of looking here"), and others simply because they can afford to and don't see any reason not to.

---

And I thought the most generic reason would be space/backyard for your kid(s) to grow up in

[Anonymous]

---

@simplynoir wrote:

---

@elixerin wrote:

i can see houses or cars for personal enjoyment but what "enjoyment" tbh comes from a plastic or "metal" squares nowadays. You can chalk up the cars and houses as an enjoyment expense but how does that genuinely apply to credit cards? lol

---

Because people with the income use credit cards to reap the benefits and enjoy the rewards. It would be a waste to put any spend on a debit card and get no rewards for it such as miles and points, not to mention not as many consumer protections. This goes beyond spending as well. Cards like the Delta Platinum/Reserve cards come with free companion certificates every anniversary, same for hotel cards like Marriott and Hyatt with free hotel stays, AMEX Platinum with perks to help with travel such as lounges, and CSR for travel insurance. The list goes on and on

---

Right, it's not the piece of plastic/metal itself, it is what it enables.   For some this is going to be some extra cash to use, for others it's going to be aspirational travel, or simply more free travel.

That said, because of the self-selection of this forum, you do get posts that suggest an "over-interest" in the actual card itself  (where over-interest is anyone who cares more than I do), e.g. worrying if it is metal, or praising the appearance, so there is some aesthetic concern, just as there is with a car or house.

[elixerin]

we shifted to a more debit card vs credit card topic. My main thing was finding value AFTER the 1st or 2nd $400+ AF card

for example, i love the Platinum card and what it "enables" for me when im traveling indeed. Armed with that where would be my value in a Business Platinum card? as oppose to vanilla. Other then the small things what really is the remaining $595 going torward? idk just why i see it like that, also not to mention being able to utilize multiple ecosystems.. why do i use csr 3x or "4.5x" over 4x gold dining or 5x flights platinum? 

[Anonymous]

---

@Nomad3 wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@elixerin wrote:

dang, who woulda thought it was just that simpL

---

It's pretty similar to any consumer thing.  You might ask "Why do people have such expensive cars/houses/private schools?"   Some percentage might be doing it for perceived status reasons, another set for well thought out reasons ("I need this large urban house for my meth lab.  Lots of space to store product and dealers close by, police wouldn't think of looking here"), and others simply because they can afford to and don't see any reason not to.

---

And I thought the most generic reason would be space/backyard for your kid(s) to grow up in

---

Kids are expensive and you also need to teach them a useful trade.    Fads like biotech can come and go, but there will always be a market for schedule A substances

[simplynoir]

---

@elixerin wrote:

we shifted to a more debit card vs credit card topic. My main thing was finding value AFTER the 1st or 2nd $400+ AF card

for example, i love the Platinum card and what it "enables" for me when im traveling indeed. Armed with that where would be my value in a Business Platinum card? as oppose to vanilla. Other then the small things what really is the remaining $595 going torward? idk just why i see it like that, also not to mention being able to utilize multiple ecosystems.. why do i use csr 3x or "4.5x" over 4x gold dining or 5x flights platinum? 

---

Depends on the ecosystem the person is going for and what type of spend the person has as well. I'll use a few cards I have as an example for ones you brought up. AMEX Platinum ($550 AF) gets used for flights & sometimes hotels if I want to use their travel portal and the lounge access conincides with my biz travel which make it worth it to me, AMEX Gold ($250 AF) is for grocery spend which I can reach the cap on and restaurants when applicable, CSR ($450 AF) is for any non-AMEX dining and other travel related expenses and with travel credit easy to break even on even with as little use as it gets from me. There are other cards I have such as Altitude Reserve ($400 AF) that with the earnings are easy to break even on as well or just pay me to use their card like Marriott Bonvoy ($450 AF) because of credits and certificates

In the end it all boils down to spend whether it be personal or business related (such being reimbursed or owning one) that help someone have many fingers in a lot of AF cards

[elixerin]

wow, neat perspective. AMEX is generally not accepted most places so indeed the visa back up is nice. Thanks for your input and example Noir c: