Q1 2019 planning for spending categories

[xenon3030]

I was thinking to set this plan for my spending categories in 2019-Q1 (no frequent traveler, no gas, using uber/lyft):

• Uber: USB Cash+ (10%, if buying Uber credit in advance).
• Groceries: AMEX BCE (6%) --> Discover is only 5%.
• Dining: USB cash+ (5%)?, Uber visa (4%), AMEX PRG (dining credit, 4X MR).
• Drugstore: Chase Freedom (5%).
• Amazon: Chase AMZ (5%).
• Walmart: Walmart Sync (3%).
• Online shopping: BOA Cash Rewards (3% --> gold tier:3.7%, pt tier: 4.5%, pt honor:5.2%)
• Travel (not frequently): BOA PR (2% --> gold tier:2.5%, pt tier: 3%, pt honor:3.5%, covers travel insurance)
• Bills (internet, etc): BOA PR (1.5% --> gold tier:1.9%,pt tier: 2.2%, pt honor:2.6%)
• Mobile: Uber visa card (1%, phone protection/insurance).

Is there any card that can cover Samsung/Chase pay in 3-5% categories?

For dining, it might be better to use Uber (4%) and use 5% of USB cash+ in other categories. Suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Grocery: discover 10%, I'm in 1st year
Travel dining: wells propel+Visa sig 4.5%
Gas: Visa sig 7.5%, I'm in first 6mo
Amzn: amzn visa 5%
Others: Citi DC 2%

[mongstradamus]

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@xenon3030 wrote:

I was thinking to set this plan for my spending categories in 2019-Q1 (no frequent traveler, no gas, using uber/lyft):

• Uber: USB Cash+ (10%, if buying Uber credit in advance).
• Groceries: AMEX BCE (6%) --> Discover is only 5%.
• Dining: USB cash+ (5%)?, Uber visa (4%), AMEX PRG (dining credit, 4X MR).
• Drugstore: Chase Freedom (5%).
• Amazon: Chase AMZ (5%).
• Walmart: Walmart Sync (3%).
• Online shopping: BOA Cash Rewards (3% --> gold tier:3.7%, pt tier: 4.5%, pt honor:5.2%)
• Travel (not frequently): BOA PR (2% --> gold tier:2.5%, pt tier: 3%, pt honor:3.5%, covers travel insurance)
• Bills (internet, etc): BOA PR (1.5% --> gold tier:1.9%,pt tier: 2.2%, pt honor:2.6%)
• Mobile: Uber visa card (1%, phone protection/insurance).

Is there any card that can cover Samsung/Chase pay in 3-5% categories?

For dining, it might be better to use Uber (4%) and use 5% of USB cash+ in other categories. Suggestions?

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The one question I would have is why are you mixed and matching cash back and rewards points namely with Gold and BCE. If you really want to maximize your MR you should do at least groceries and restaurants at 4x. IMO 4x MR > 6% cash back. Same thing with restaurants 4x MR> 4 or 5% cash back. Also you should be at least comparing prices on Amex travel and airline website for 3x travel compared to boa card. To me if you are paying 250 AF for a card you should be using it to its max ability. If i were in your situation I would first decide do i want MR at all , if answer is no i would think about closing the gold card you have no use for it right now and are paying 250 AF on top of that. If the answer is yes to that question you should rotate some of your spending to take full advantage of MR accumulation. 

[xenon3030]

PRG 250$ AF looks to be covered almost by 120$ dining credit and 100$ airline credit. So, even if I don't plan to use it frequently and not a frequent traveler, I prefer to keep it.

For the moment, I prefer to count on cashback instead of MR.

[NRB525]

I have to second the suggestion to look to the Gold first. That easily covers most of your dining and groceries. You could run Discover as groceries in Q1, for the easy 5%. The BCE Grocery capacity should be held for later in the year, especially if you might exceed the $6k. But then we get into cash vs points.

The Cash+ will only get 5% for Fast Food, not General dining. Use the Cash+ for cellphone and utilities categories unless you want to set it up for department stores or sporting goods. Use the Gold for dining

That’s fine if you cover the Gold AF by using the credits. The main reason for emphasis on using the Gold if you have the Gold is, when it is time to get an airline ticket, you need to have a bunch of MR points saved up. If you focus on a Cash back strategy you can get there too, but MR will be light.

I would suggest really thinking whether the Gold is something that will help you, or you are like me and you just like the way it looks.

[Anonymous]

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@xenon3030 wrote:

PRG 250$ AF looks to be covered almost by 120$ dining credit and 100$ airline credit. So, even if I don't plan to use it frequently and not a frequent traveler, I prefer to keep it.

For the moment, I prefer to count on cashback instead of MR.

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Covering the AF is not a great deal for a credit card, you are looking for large net positives.   This means having a plan on how to use the MRs in a valuable enough way, or deciding that cashback is what you really need, and not bother to get MR cards with large fees that are just offset.   Sure, the SUB may be enough the first year if that is the goal.

[Anonymous]

Restaurants/Groceries - Amex Gold

Gas/Travel - Citi Premier

Non category spend - Citi DC

 Bills - Fidelity Visa 

This is essentially my plan going into next year. Since I’m paying 250 for the gold mine as well maximize MR accumulation. I use my grandfathered Savor as backup when Amex isn’t accepted which is rare.

Regarding OP,  you definitely should use the Gold at least for restaurants and groceries even if the credits almost offset the fee. I mean you are basically paying 30$ net fee for a card you rarely use. If you prefer cashback, you should drop MR earning cards imo unless you can successfully maximize Mr and cashback earnings. Personally, I like both. I don’t like putting all of my eggs in one basket as points can be devalued fast. All of my bonus spend consist of MRs and TY points while my non category spend is cash back.

[Namaste7]

Grocery / Dining - AMEX Gold

Air / Hotel - AMEX Gold or Hilton

Car rental / Ride share / Bills - AMEX Hilton (spending bonus)

Non-cat - BBP

My AMEX backup is Disco (0% for 2019) and a 2% Visa.

[HeavenOhio]

OP, do you have the BCE or the BCP? Assuming the BCP and 6%, consider the card's annual grocery cap. If you're pretty certain to hit it, using Discover's 5% category could be useful. It'd beat falling back on 2% or whatever later in the year.

[Anonymous]

5% groceries= Discover
5% Utilities= U.S. Bank Cash +
5% Cell Phone= U.S.Bank Cash +
4% fuel= PNC Cash Rewards
3% Restaurants = PNC Cash Rewards
2% = Citi Double Cash for about everything else