Ugh managing alot of cards

[CreditCuriosity]

As my re-build continues there are cards that I don't really have a need for anymore...  It is a pain in the butt to take it out of the safe or what not and go and get a 6 pack of beer or gum or whatever with it..  I have a few store cards that I try to put something trival on it every three months or what not.. Just realizing what a PITA it is and I only have 8 visa/mc/amex's along with a few store cards... I think a few are about to go on the chopping block being Merrick and Credit one..  I know I know credit one, but my AF was only 25$ this year so figured I would keep it and paid it a few months ago.. Since getting approved for another 7500 the other day, I don't need either of these two for padding.. Chop away eh?  I never cary a single penny balance on them.. Tempted to axe the store cards as well, but that is easy enough to buy a pair of socks or boxers and then get CLI's every month or two from those cards .    Just realzing what a PITA it is to have cards like this.. The Barclay's RMC just made it to my safe today after getting my CSP.  Going to have to put a small reoccuring charge like netflix or something on that one as I don't see it getting much use in the next year until I get another Barclay's more worth while and move the limit, don't want to have it closed for non-use.

How people can manage 20-70 cards is beyond me, become a chore and a nightmare in my eyes!

[chalupaman]

I'd say if it's subprime or really underperforming, get rid of it as soon as you can. 

Pretend the other cards you have don't exist and remind yourself that you don't need to use them all for quite a while. I have no desire to have 20 cards either and I periodically look at how I can downsize my cards if I don't need them anymore. Consolidating CLs is also really helpful if you can do that too.

[bz386]

Just add all your cards as payment methods on Amazon, then buy a 50c Amazon e-gift card and apply it to your Amazon account. You never have to take out the cards out of the safe for that.

[kdm31091]

I am definitely not in agreement with the making a small purchase every so often just to keep a card active. I firmly believe if something is no longer useful to you, move on and close it.

Why would you want to maintain and manage an account that has no positive benefit for you? Yes, you only have to make a small purchase every so often, but why bother? What's your net gain? It's just something else to manage. A burden, really. Pretending they don't exist never worked for me, but YMMV. I'd rather have a streamlined profile of cards that I will actually use and benefit from. AAOA isn't affected by closing it. Trim the fat and move on. Use cards that suit you. You don't have to keep a card forever.

[Anonymous]

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@chalupaman wrote:

I'd say if it's subprime or really underperforming, get rid of it as soon as you can. 

Pretend the other cards you have don't exist and remind yourself that you don't need to use them all for quite a while. I have no desire to have 20 cards either and I periodically look at how I can downsize my cards if I don't need them anymore. Consolidating CLs is also really helpful if you can do that too.

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This.

[gdale6]

I use computer accounting to manage them all, its easy when you do it this way. I would get rid of Credit 1 as it has an AF, no sense paying it if its SD.

[chalupaman]

I think what's also helpful is only carrying the cards you use the most in your wallet and keeping all the others in a safe place at home so you're not too tempted. 

[Anonymous]

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@gdale6 wrote:

I use computer accounting to manage them all, its easy when you do it this way. I would get rid of Credit 1 as it has an AF, no sense paying it if its SD.

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I'd have gotten rid of CreditOne yesterday.

[CreditCuriosity]

Ya waiting for my Amex and CSP to report then Credit One and Merrick are getting the AXE....  No AF on the Merrick, but it gives me no benefit other then a small utilziation buffer which I really don't need.. The 25$ af for credit one is paid for the next 9 months or whatever, but still will chop it when the two above report.. Amex should report the 3rd or 4th of Jan.. No clue when the CSP will report..  Know the statement date, but that is about it..  My Freedom reported at the weirdest time when it first reported.

[CreditCuriosity]

Update - Credit one is closed!  Cutting it up now..

I was suprised they didn't put up a fight...  They only asked why I just stated I have cards with alot higher limits and managing this card is a nightmare and don't want a possible fraud charge on it since I won't be paying attention to it anymore.. Probably helped that I had 9 months left since I paid the AF already.. None the less it is closed.