Thanks to all for the thoughtful replies.
My goal is to maximize cashback. I may spend $500-$1000 in a given year at HD or Lowes, absent appliance purchases (rare). Target is much less. And I typically pay in full before a statement cuts or, at the outside, before the balance on a given monthly statement is due.
So the incentive for the store cards is the 5% back. I currently use my PenFed or Citi DC, which gives me 2%.
If there are other (non-retail) cards that'll give me 3% or more, I'd welcome knowing about them.
@expatCanuck, Here was the main reason I applied,
as well as the normal 5% back.
I needed a new washer and dryer for the lake house, figured I'd save $100 bux.
I think a few are failing to consider this.
I also enjoy the $35K Utilization padding
@M_Smart007 wrote:@expatCanuck, Here was the main reason I applied,
as well as the normal 5% back.
I needed a new washer and dryer for the lake house, figured I'd save $100 bux.
I think a few are failing to consider this.
They are not failing in any consideration 
. Such store cards have some occational perks like this while it might not worth to apply for a specific store CC for various reasons. Otherwise, I need to have 20+ separate store cards such as HD, Lowes, Kroger, Macy's, express, Target and so on, on top of my 20+ personal cards. It is simply not worth here, unless I expect e.g. a major home renovation...
With my general cards, I am getting ~5% at each of these stores. For home development, BOA CC might be the best card giving 3-5.25% with 2.5k/quarter cap (depending on the premium rewards tier).
Fico8: EX~EQ~TU~840 (12 month goal~850).
@expatCanuck wrote:Thanks to all for the thoughtful replies.
My goal is to maximize cashback. I may spend $500-$1000 in a given year at HD or Lowes, absent appliance purchases (rare). Target is much less. And I typically pay in full before a statement cuts or, at the outside, before the balance on a given monthly statement is due.
So the incentive for the store cards is the 5% back. I currently use my PenFed or Citi DC, which gives me 2%.
If there are other (non-retail) cards that'll give me 3% or more, I'd welcome knowing about them.
I have them all. The Home Depot card remember is Citi so their guidelines some what come into play. But it does not give you 5% off as you said. Only the Lowe's and Target do that.
The Citi Custom Cash has home improvement as one of its 5% categories too. It is only on $500 per month of purchases, but it sounds like you don't have a very high spend so it might work well for you. You can get multiples through product change too.
@expatCanuck wrote:Thanks to all for the thoughtful replies.
My goal is to maximize cashback. I may spend $500-$1000 in a given year at HD or Lowes, absent appliance purchases (rare). Target is much less. And I typically pay in full before a statement cuts or, at the outside, before the balance on a given monthly statement is due.
So the incentive for the store cards is the 5% back. I currently use my PenFed or Citi DC, which gives me 2%.
If there are other (non-retail) cards that'll give me 3% or more, I'd welcome knowing about them.
Thanks for the clarification, @expatCanuck. Similar to @wasCB14 pointed out above, your specific savings on $500 to $1K annual spend would be 3% of $500 ($15) or $1000 ($30). As I've discussed in previous posts about >the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule)< and the Law of Diminishing Returns, we all can set our rewards threshold where it best balances the rewards payback versus the time and complexity of managing additional accounts. Personally, I set my incremental returns threshold much higher for additional cards. I've had some situations where I had the potential to earn even $100 or so annually with additional cards but elected not to add or maintain them. For one thing, when I think about saving that amount of money, I consider how many ways I waste that amount of money (or more) by my other choices in life. However, that's a whole other topic and more related to personal finance.
A couple of us have pointed out the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card, which you already possess. What are you currently using it for in special category and does it get less than $1K annual spend? This could be the most simple answer to your problem and would give you 3% (or up to 5.25%) at both Lowe's and Home Depot, while having those two cards would only give you 5% at Lowe's (but nothing at Home Depot except special financing, to my understanding.)
For Target, you say you spend even less than $500 annually there, so again I would question whether that spend merits an additional card when you already get 2% back on other cards. I like the Target Debit card idea suggested above unless you want the credit to report. That gives you the 5% return while not affecting your credit report.
The Lowe's $100 SUB pointed out by @M_Smart007 could be a valuable piece of the puzzle, but it requires spending money to gain the (up to) $100. It doesn't sound like you have a large purchase pending.
You have a CITI Custom Cash already also, and that one was mentioned as an option. It could even be used exclusively for that home improvement spending in selected months for the 5% back, depending on your needs. @Anonymous's mention of the US Bank Shopper's Card might also be a simple one-card option since it would give you 6% rewards at any two of those three retailers, plus 3% back on gas, ev-charging, warehouse clubs, and home utilities albeit subject to an annual fee beginning in year two.
Overall, I think if you want to pursue the discounts strategy, there are several ways to proceed besides those three separate accounts. Hope you've found the answers you were seeking.
@expatCanuck wrote:Hi folks.
I'm inclined to add Lowes, Home Depot and Target cards in 2023.
Any thoughts as to order of acquisition (I seem to recall reading that the Lowes underwriter is INQ-sensitive) or, alternately, reasons why I might *not* want to add them?
<heads off to Lowes for lump charcoal>
Get that Lowe's Card so you can purchase a Snow Blower as you may need one! Of course a chainsaw would be useful to cut down the Cherry Blossum Trees 
