Should you carry multiple credit cards?

[DI]

Members

I carry one card with me each month.  This month I'm carrying the Discover More card.  Is it safe to carry just one card with you?  I know some places don't take Discover.  I keep my other cards at home.

Message Edited by DI on 08-14-2009 06:53 AM

Message Edited by DI on 08-14-2009 10:48 AM

[Anonymous]

Funny you mention that.

I bought a pizza the other night in a new place I hadn't tried out.  Tried to pay with my Discover.  They don't accept Discover.  (The only place I have ever been in that didn't).

I actually had some cash in the car.  No other cards with me at that moment, I was in my swim trunks and a tee shirt at the time, and was going right back home.  Didn't bring a wallet, just the card.

So, my vote would be to carry two cards, minimum...

Great question! 

[Anonymous]

My wife and I have only 4 Credit cards. (3 Visa, 1 MC).  Three of the cards are JOINT CARDS and we each have a Visa card that is an INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT. (we each have different account numbers)

We have done this for one particular reason. Say we are on a trip and I lose my wallet or my wife loses her purse. We would have to cancel our three joint cards plus whichever of us lost our purse or wallet would have to cancel our Individual card.

Luckily, the other person will have 1 valid CC to meet our needs until replacements can arrive.  We have never had to use this scenario but if we do, it will be ready.

[Scamp]

I carry all 8 of my cards in various places in my purse (ones I actually can/should use are in one spot that's easily accessed, the others which are BT'd or whatever are tucked away).

There are good arguments for carrying or not carrying all cards, and I'd sure have a headache if I my purse ever got lost or stolen, but for me this is easiest for always knowing where my cards are .

I'm not the most organized soul around the house - I'm the type who, when I clean/organize things, then can't find stuff because it's now where it belongs instead of in the laundry basket, sitting out on a counter, etc., so if I ever 'organized' my cc's in a similar fashion somewhere in the house, I'd probably give myself a panic attack.

[pattycake]

Funny story - it reminds me of the cartoon with a naked guy trying to buy something but at the register remembers he forgot his wallet.

I usually carry at least four or five cards in my wallet.  I've been using my PenFed for almost everything so I can get the cash back, but to keep the other ones active I use them to make small purchases.   

[cobaltnv]

I carry only the 4 cards I regularly use.

Amex for costco purchases

REI Visa for REI purchases

Discover for purchases on the current 5% cash back promotion 

Fidelity Visa for all purchases (not covered above)

My BofA, Chase Amazon card, and sears card stay home.

My suggestion would be to always carry at least 2 cards to avoid problems. This is particularly true if the one card you want to carry is a Chase, Discover, or Amex. While Amex and discover are accepted many more places than they used to be, there are still places they are not accepted. Personally, I have never been someplace that accepted credit cards that did not take MC or Visa. 

[Itsmeagain]

Sam's Club does not accept Visa or Amex. However, they will accept M/C and Discover . . . go figger.

[DI]

For this month hopefully where I plan to make a purchase accepts my Discover card.  I will take one of my MC cards with me just incase. 

[FocusOnFICO]

DI-----excellent questions.  It is recommended to have your primary card + a backup card available.  I typically use my Amex Blue Cash + my PenFed Rewards Visa.

My other cards stay at home and are used once per month for specific purchases.

I think you're on the right track.

[Anonymous]

First since your credit cards as a convince you might max your rewards and you don't do that using discover for genral purchases( any purchase that doesn't recive a special rewards bonus) with discover you only $7.5 on  the ffirst 3K each year vs $30 with a standred 1% rewards, and actual you habe to spend more than 3K because there are many purchases that don't add to the 3k to get the 1%

I carried two my amazon visa that get me 3 points/$1 at amazon and 2 points/$1 on dinning which i do alot and for general purchases, and discover for special purchases and cash over at wal-mart