Rewards: Is it best to spread it out or keep it to a few?

[Anonymous]

What really prompted me to post this was my current situation: AMEX FIdelity (2% on everything) vs. CapOne Quicksilver (1.5% on everything.

I also have the following I'm using...

-Barclaycard Rewards (utilities and everything it gets 2X/2%)

-Chase Freedom (gas)

-Discover It (restaurants)

-Sallie Mae (groceries, walmart, Target, Amazon.com)

I would of course go with just the Fidelity if I could but there are lots of places that just don't take AMEX. Right now I'm using my Quicksilver on everything but I'm contemplating busting out the Fidelity anyway but I'm worried that may spread me out too much considering I already have five cards in play as it is. What do you guys in this situation do?

[gdale6]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

What really prompted me to post this was my current situation: AMEX FIdelity (2% on everything) vs. CapOne Quicksilver (1.5% on everything.

I also have the following I'm using...

-Barclaycard Rewards (utilities and everything it gets 2X/2%)

-Chase Freedom (gas)

-Discover It (restaurants)

-Sallie Mae (groceries, walmart, Target, Amazon.com)

I would of course go with just the Fidelity if I could but there are lots of places that just don't take AMEX. Right now I'm using my Quicksilver on everything but I'm contemplating busting out the Fidelity anyway but I'm worried that may spread me out too much considering I already have five cards in play as it is. What do you guys in this situation do?

---

Whatever gives me the most cash in my pocket with a charge here and there on the rest to keep them open.

[370Z]

Use the Fidelity since you've already apped for it. Just don't increase the number of cash back cards from now on to further dilute your earnings.

[Anonymous]

---

@gdale6 wrote:

---

Whatever gives me the most cash in my pocket with a charge here and there on the rest to keep them open.

---

Right.  With most (untiered ones) cash back cards it is easy, just use whichever gives the best return in that situation (I tend not to care about keeping them open with small charges, but many do.)    

It's a much harder decision if you are using travel cards (not disguised cashback ones like Arrival/Venture), as then you have things like  I can get 5% cash back here using this card, or 2 AA points with this one or  3 Hilton points or 2 UR points etc etc.    There my suggestion is to focus on one (or maybe two ) programs to make sure you get enough points in any  program to be useful.   But cash back all combines nicely into one pot, so the simple approach works there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys!

I just discovered the Wallaby app and so far it seems incredible and just what I need. Any of you guys use that? So far it seems pretty darn exact.

[Creditaddict]

Fidelity gets our daily, quicksilver when Amex not taken.

bcp for grocery

and a slew of cards for here and there and some 5% with discover and freedom but for most part the 2 at top without categories!

[takeshi74]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

What do you guys in this situation do?

---

Best is subjective.  Can't speak to your situation.  For mine it comes down to multiple cards.  For others it comes to a single card like the Quicksilver or Fidelity.  You know what your spend is like and can do the math to determine which outcome offers you better rewards.  You also know your preferences and whether you'd rather keep it simple with as few cards as possible or if you're willing to manage multiple cards.

[Anonymous]

---

@takeshi74 wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

What do you guys in this situation do?

---

Best is subjective.  Can't speak to your situation.  For mine it comes down to multiple cards.  For others it comes to a single card like the Quicksilver or Fidelity.  You know what your spend is like and can do the math to determine which outcome offers you better rewards.  You also know your preferences and whether you'd rather keep it simple with as few cards as possible or if you're willing to manage multiple cards.

---

+1

If you want to focus of travel rewards, it may be best to keep all spending on one travel rewards card.

However, if cash back is your focus, spreading among multiple cards will increase your overall cash back earnings if you maximize each card's highest % cash back categories. So you may end up using different cards for fuel, groceries, online shopping, etc.(that earn 5%) but would be getting more cash back in the end vs. if you put everything on one (say 2%) card. Cash back is cash back and counts toward the bottom line regardless of whether it is spread across multiple accounts, redeemable only as statement credit, or deposited in a checking account.

[Anonymous]

IMO, flexible rewards programs like UR are the best balance. You can have different cards with different bonus categories to maximize your rewards earnings, but all your points are in the same "currency."