Utilizing CC rewards to work for me

[pizza1]

OK  in previous times, I would just use my cards with no rhyme or reason, and not really take advantage of them,  by making them work for me. Well, I decided that any money back, how little it was, was still a plus! 

I sat down with my majors, and figured who rewards for what category and how much etc...So, I think I have it figured out mostly on what cards to use for what now. 

5% category:

US Bank Cash+ - Utilities & Cell Phone

Penfed Plat rewards- Gas

Sam's MC- Gas (I hate to wait a year to get rewards, but using this at a Sam's Club for gas is the cheapest)

Discover it- Rotating categories if applicable (Dining is comin up)

Target- Groceries (instant savings at the register, plus they accept coupons, and frequently give $5-$15 gc for spends)

3% category:

Sam's MC- Dining & Travel

Penfed PR- Back up supermarkets

BOFA- Dining

Those are the big ones covered.  I also have  Cap1 Venture,  USAA,   Navy Flagship  amoungst a few others, that offer higher points as well.  I'm a single person that rarely travels, so my monthly spend isn't crazy. 

How does it all look? 

[Anonymous]

You should add the BBVA Compass ClearPoints if you can. 3% on a category of your choice and those categories are incredibly broad. Very flexible category spend card and if I can get a second one, I totally will. 

[pinkandgrey]

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@Anonymous wrote:

You should add the BBVA Compass ClearPoints if you can. 3% on a category of your choice and those categories are incredibly broad. Very flexible category spend card and if I can get a second one, I totally will. 

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Yeah, join the club! Lol it’s a good card

[pizza1]

@pinkandgrey @Anonymous , I'm somewhat limited on cards I can get with my BK on record (its almost 6 yrs old though), and my tons of inq/new accts. Also, Im not in a geo for BBVA

[JaseT]

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@pizza1 wrote:

@pinkandgrey @Anonymous , I'm somewhat limited on cards I can get with my BK on record (its almost 6 yrs old though), and my tons of inq/new accts. Also, Im not in a geo for BBVA

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FYI, BBVA is BK friendly!

[RonM21]

Looks good to me Pizza. Really, I am bad at doing this and kind of still do it the way you originally expained....no rhyme or reason. I'd like to believe I'll do this soon and be better.....but.....😉

[Anonymous]

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@pizza1 wrote:

@pinkandgrey @Anonymous , I'm somewhat limited on cards I can get with my BK on record (its almost 6 yrs old though), and my tons of inq/new accts. Also, Im not in a geo for BBVA

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Keep an eye out for mailers, BBVA sends them out all the time to people out of area. You’re not georestricted if you get a mailer. 

They’re BK friendly as well. I got $2K with my CH7 which still had 20 months left before it falls at the time. 

[pizza1]

@Anonymous , Im opted out LOL..Im on noone's radar!  Im not sure how I could ever get a pre-approval from them??

[wasCB14]

I get a lot of BBVA Clearpoints mailers. I shred them all.

I have a few good off-category cards. You have Venture for 2% (towards travel) and maybe some other 2%+ card.

If you find some appealing 3% category (I think the points are worth 1 cent each?) not covered by another card, ask yourself how much you'll spend in that category. If it's $5k a year, then the card gives you a $100 bonus + $50 (3%-2%) per year.

So unless you'll keep the card for several years and use it often, you might consider just going for a $200-$300 bonus.

[Anonymous]

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@pizza1 wrote:

@Anonymous , Im opted out LOL..Im on noone's radar!  Im not sure how I could ever get a pre-approval from them??

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Yeah if you’re opted out then no go. 

You have a rather nice setup, I just think a flexible card like ClearPoints would round it out. 

I am looking to add the Cash+ which would then make my current BBVA utilities category pointless (BBVA covers both Comcast and my Xfinity Mobile under utilities - like I said their categories are crazy broad - so I would use cell phone and TV, internet, streaming on the Cash+) so I would switch it to 3% retail/2% dining so I had a dining backup to my More Rewards because Amex vs VISA acceptance.