How many store cards are too many?

[clumsymoon]

Just got a steady, good paying job a few months ago and plan to completely pay down my debt (except for some students loans that I'll be paying on until I'm 90) in the next two years. I have way too many cards open for my personal taste, and I want to cut some of them out. I wondered what was the ideal number of store cards to have and if they were worth the perks. Here's what I have:

Want to keep:

*Care Credit - Got in an emergency dental need. Would like to keep because it's a nice to have a backup if something medically costly comes up.

*CarCareOne - Just got this card; I had awful experiences with Firestone (service, not the card) and I wanted a back up car care card with options other than Firestone. Wondered if it hurt me to have both this and carecredit?

Not Sure about:

*JCPenney - this is my oldest account on my credit report other than my student loans. The interest rate is terrible but I have a decent credit limit and could be helpful once I have a family.

*Old Navy Visa - I get lots of rewards on this card and shop at Old Navy pretty regularly.

*Victoria's Secret - couldn't get approved for this when i worked there (!) but got it later with a 1k CL. made one late payment in 2007 and they dropped it to $100. Now it's at $770 which it has been since 2009. I mostly use it for the free coupons and birthday coupon, and at B&BW around Christmas time. I really only shop at VIC Sec when they have a sale. I do notice the associates are nicer to me when they see I have one.

Definitely Closing:

*Firestone - Plan to close this one (bad experiences at the store and limited options with card)

*Rooms To Go - closing after I pay off a mattress

Is five too many? I have 3 other bank CC, of which I plan to close 1 that has no rewards and crappy interest. One of the ones I'm keeping is a joint card with DH. So that would leave me with 7 cards if I kept the ones I'm not sure about. Too much?

[Anonymous]

In my opinion:

It starts to become too many if you get them just to get them but don't ever use them (or even shop at the store they're for).  Since you use the ones you have, I don't consider it too many.

It becomes too many when you go crazy with the SCT and go to websites for stores you've never heard of just for the off chance of a green light.

[TRC_WA]

I think you are fine with your choices.

Close the 2 and keep the others.

Store cards are a matter of preference...  I have 3 (Care Credit, Best Buy, Nordstrom) all with great limits and all useful.

I have no use for a wallet full of $200 Target and $500 Pep Boys cards... having a bunch of toy limit cards is what will bite you in the long run.

[Anonymous]

For me now, at my age, one would be too many. I so rarely do any shopping outside of necessities, a store card would never get used. Unless Goodwill or St Vincent Depaul decided to offer them.

On the other hand, when I was a young buck back in the late 1970's, I had every store card available and spent like a drunken sailor.

[chalupaman]

Keep the ones you still have use for and close the other ones you don't want anymore. Simple.

[Anonymous]

I have care credit and Walmart. I'll drop Walmart at some point and just keep the CareCredit around for medical expenses and such.

[chwebb1]

I personally don't have any (and have never had any), but if you find them useful, I'd keep them. I don't see a downside to having CareCareOne and Firestone, unless there's something I'm not seeing? That seems like having a (for example) Bank of America and a Citi card: They'll both (basically) do the same thing (let you buy things), but one might offer better rewards (Citi) or better customer service (Bank of America).

If you think you might use JCP and Old Navy in the future, I'd keep them. It sounds like you don't really use the Victoria's Secret card, so I'd get rid of that one.

As far as having 3 bank cards, I might look at getting more (and cancelling the one with the crappy rewards/APR) Who are your bank cards with? Is it possible to change the crappy one into something more useful and ask for APR reductions (i.e. is it a BoA or Citi card)? Have you gotten in with AMEX and Discover yet? If not, I'd look and see if any of those cards might interest you and get those when your scores come up a bit more.

[Closingracer99]

I have two myself . Amazon store card which is my 2nd oldest account and bestbuy . I don't have much use firm he Amazon store card since it offers no rewards and a poor APR of course but it's my 2nd oldest so I'll keep it. Best buy is decent So I'll keep it and do shop there frequently 

[TURNERHOOVER]

One store card for me is too many. (Personal Opinion) 

[Anonymous]

well old navy visa, i'd consider that as a credit card since you can use it places besides gap inc.

JC penney... are you getting married and have kids soon? if not, I'd say close it.

Victoria's secret, if there's no annual fee, but you are still getting coupons that are actually useful, might as well keep it, if not, close it.