You have a good array of categories already at 3%. Jumping up to a 5% card is a 2% increase. So for groceries with the AAA, that could net you about $11 additional each month, but now you have an extra card. Is that worth it to you? How do you define your limit of balancing extra card(s) versus the cash back received?
@algata wrote:Yes I'd be okay doing that because then I'd basically retire the other ones by closing them or sock drawer. I guess I meant I don't want to have to juggle more than 2 or 3 actively in use cards.
I am also in the process of closing my USBAR card (I've already closed my two other US Bank cards). P2 has a grandfathered Amex "old" Blue Cash, so we can use that for 5% on gas/grocery/drugstore. I like your option to change Blue Cash Everyday to Preferred if you can get a good upgrade offer. If you spend a lot on streaming (especially one of the Disney related channels), BCP can easily offset its $95 fee.
I also like your option to use a Citi Custom Cash card for dining, which will allow you to leave the Autograph card at home most of the time. Just pull it out when you have travel expenses.
If you're looking for something for Amazon purchases without being the Prime membership holder, I recently got a Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card. It is offering a 1st year promo with 6% rewards on one category. I chose "online shopping" which is giving me the 6% on all sorts of store websites including Amazon. The card will revert to 3% rewards for year 2, but that's still 1% more than the 2% catch-all with Active Cash. Plus, you wouldn't have to carry this card in your wallet. Just leave the physical card at home.
@algata wrote:I’m looking to see if I can improve and simplify my cash back setup. Right now I’m hitting ~3% in most categories, with the PayPal Cashback MC at 1.5% as my catch-all. I’d love to get this down to 2 cards if possible, but I’m open to keeping 3 if the rewards are worth it.
I just closed my USBAR (which was ~90% of my spend for the past 3 years), so I’m looking for a refresh.
Current Primary Cards:
PayPal Cash Back Mastercard - 1.5% catch all + 3% on purchases through paypalWells Fargo Autograph - 3% on dining, travel, gas, phone bill
Amex Blue Cash Everyday - 3% on groceries
Authorized Cards: None, but wife has Wells Fargo Active Cash and Target Card
FICO score is 810 and our combined income is $200k if that matters.
Average monthly spend and categories:
Groceries: $550
Dining: $300
Gas: $110
- Baby stuff: $400
Travel: ~$5000/year
Other: $400
Cards I've been considering:
AAA Daily Advantage for groceries
- Using the swap trick for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred if I get a good enough offer - 6% groceries
- Citi Custom Cash for restaurants
Robinhood Gold for catch all if I can get approval and get the EAF close to zero with minimal hoops to jump through.
We just had our first child, so I think more of a cash back approach would be great, but I am open to travel cards if they operate similarly to the USBAR. The specific stores we spend the most at are Target, Amazon (through a shared account that's not mine, so no Prime Visa), and occasionally Costco. Thanks for the help!
Congratulations on your first child!!!
Yes on Custom Cash, the more the better, nice SUB, get a Double Cash for another SUB, then PC to another Custom Cash, immediately.
With Costco/Walmart or any groceries, get the Paypal debit card, for 5% groceries category, can use a second or third Custom Cash for other groceries.
Might consider a BofA setup for the future with Platinum Honors for the 5.25% setup, meanwhile get the BofA CCR for the SUB and 6%, category of choice first year, online for Amazon, etc?.
No need to wait for Robinhood Gold, get the little brother, same bank, with a 100$ SUB with referral and 3% on your first 10k per year, no annual fee, 2% unlimited after the 10k. Aven Rewards Gold, no HP if not approved, no risk to apply. They do Heloc cards also, so claim no home ownership in application (your choice) if you don't want to be inundated with Heloc ads. Go to this thread for more info Aven Rewards Visa 3% cash back ongoing review - myFICO® Forums - 6834259
Aven Rewards Visa 3% cash back ongoing review - myFICO® Forums - 6834259
Aven:
Welcome to the forum. 
As others have pointed out, there are many, many opinions.
Some want to chase rewards and don't mind quite a few cards.
Others would love just a few card's and willing to give up some $ for ease of management.
Wanting it simple means losing some rewards.
As a minority here I was comfortable with all my spend on a 3% non catagory card, however over the years I have gone thru four 3% cards because they seem to not last but a couple or three years before being nerfed.
The 3% Aven and the 3% AOD would more than cover all your spend with a 2 card set. (How long they are around is a quess) .
Robinhood is by invite and not avaliable in many states, have been on a list for a long time and "nothing", might consider it not a real card.
You have exceptionally low spend for your income, thus the gain from the reward's game is very small.
1%-2% of your spend in extra rewards for managing and playing with 2-3 more cards might not be worth playing with.
If you are at ~3% at end of the day, I would maybe get one 5% for your grocery, or get another 3% or so and close or sock drawer a couple.
I would not be chasing cards with your spend. The money is better with other games than cash back rewards.
Don't sign the petition to have me removed from the forum. 