What is your monthly combo? and why?

[Anonymous]

Instead of Cap One QS 1.5%, why don't you go for the Fidelity Visa for 2%? I know you said you dont pursue every last rebate, but 2% would be nice, no?  or even Citi double cash?

Yeah, well, I thought about that.

I am aware that those 2% cards are out there.

I don't like Citi, period. I had a card arbitrarily canceled by them years back, with no good explanation, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. 

I guess I just don't want any more credit cards, and am willing to live with what I have.

I have had maybe 50-60 different credit cards in my lifetime, and I am tired of getting more.

But thanks for your suggestion.  

[credit_is_crack]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What is your monthly combo and why did you select it?

Mine:

@1. BCP ($400-$500/month on groceries @ 6% cash back per dollar spent) Estimateted $250 cash back per year AFTER annual fee

@2. PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards ($100-$150/month on gas @ 5X per dollar spent) Estimated $50 per year

@3. Fidelity Visa (Everything else @ 2% per dollar spent) Estimated $200 cash back per year

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Interesting Post! after i wrote mine down I felt like I have a significant case of OCD lol

My Core (used monthly)

@-BCP $600-$700/mo @ 6% groceries = $380ish/YR - $95 annual fee = $285

@-PenFed Plat Rewards $150/mo @5x (4.25%) gasoline = $76ish/YR

@-BoA Cash Rewards $125/mo @3% gas station buys = $45ish/YR

@-Limitless VS $550/mo @ 2.5% bills = $240/YR

@-Marvel $800/mo @3% dining/restaurants (use for personal and work) = $198

@-Discover Miles $800/mo @3% everything else = $288

------------$1,100-$1,200/YR Grand Total

Seasonal

@-Discover IT @5% Rotating

@-Amazon V @5% for amazon

@-Ritz @5x for Marriott stays

@-SPG @5x for SPG stays

@-Simplicity or FNBO @0% for new purchases 

I then have 9 other cards for random reasons lol 

[Kforce]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Interesting (in a good way).  You don't have a 5% or 5X on gas card?

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Retired and gas is not a large spend for me.
The category's of the BW card fits my needs well
I am a keep it simple type of card user.
Do not need 2 or 3 more cards.

[PointLager]

Largest monthly categories:
AT&T Access more: Rent via Plastiq for 3x TYP
Costco: United club card but once I hit $25k during the year I am using fidelity at Costco. (Will be using Penfed 2% going fwd. fido is hitting the shredder/sock drawer)

Wallet rotating cards
Freedom 5x dining this quarter. Else CSR 3x
Amex platinum. Just for decoration. I’ve spent less than $5k YTD On this card.
Citi prestige kept in wallet but only use it for flights due to insurance coverage.

Daily driver is Amex blue business preferred 2x. I transfer Amex and Citi points to Singapore air and use those miles to book united regularly getting over 2 cents per mile value.


I used to put anything of value and that may need extended warranty on Amex but no more. If it’s online then I use Citi ATT for 3x and prestige in person. Unlike Amex I get price protection AND 24 months extended warranty.

Sock drawer:
Ritz. Zero spend beyond $300 in airline spend to drain the credit. If Amex loses SPG auto gold then I’ll need to start spending $10k on this ritz card to maintain ritz/Marriott gold.

SPG also sock drawer unless I’m staying at their hotel.
SPG will always earn more than ritz
2 SPG per dollar > become 6 Marriott/ritz once converted. This is more than 5x on ritz.

Gas spend is under $100/m and I get it at Costco. I usually order Costco cash card online thus getting 3x via CITI Att


Once I finish up w Penfed minimum spend requirement I’ll dig up the BofA cash card to get the 3x.

Come Jan 1, I will add:
Amex everyday preferred for 4.5x groceries
United club 1.5x for non category

[Anonymous]

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@DeeBee78 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@DeeBee78 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

What is your monthly combo and why did you select it?

Mine:

@1. BCP ($400-$500/month on groceries @ 6% cash back per dollar spent) Estimateted $250 cash back per year AFTER annual fee

@2. PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards ($100-$150/month on gas @ 5X per dollar spent) Estimated $50 per year

@3. Fidelity Visa (Everything else @ 2% per dollar spent) Estimated $200 cash back per year

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In my quest to not have too many cards reporting a balance, I usually stick my charges on one or two cards. Unless I'm buying something from Amazon, in which case I'll use my Amazon Prime Visa for that sweet, sweet 5% cashback. In that case, I pay it as soon as the transaction posts. 

Right now, I'm just using one card, in an effort to cut back on my spread out rewards programs - my Cash Rewards card from BoA. I'm tired of keeping track of UR's and MR's, and the other cashback options I have. 

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You could use 2+ cards and not report a balance.  In my scenario, I'm only keeping track of cash (Fidelity, BCP). PenFed Visa Platinum will give me 9000 points/year which i then use to order $75 worth of Exxon Mobil cards for gas.

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I could, but I'm lazy. Right now its easier for me to throw my spend on a great all-around card, like my Cash Rewards card. 

After seeing the lousy MR redemption options (hardly anything gives 1 cent per point), I'm not inclined to keep Amex around. At least with cashback, I know that 1 cent equals 1 cent, not 3/5 of a cent, like most Amex options. 

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There you go lol...yeah, it can be tidious at times keeping track of it all.  Eventually, i know i'll get tired as well and will start using one card.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The four cards that are currently parked in my wallet are:

1. BCP - 6% at supermarkets, mainly for when I'm working

2. PRG - 2 MR points per dollar for fuel, will also cover restaurants starting 10/1

3. DiscoverIT - 10% on restaurants, will be solely used for 10% on Amazon starting 10/1

4. Limitless - 2.5% on whatever else

5. CitiAAdvantage - 0% APR on anything I want to carry a balance with

Assigning a fixed or even assumed spend on them would be useless to me as my spend varies greatly based on how many days I work in a particular month, where I'm at, any cards that have a particular bonus category that's applicable, etc. If I fly that month then I'll use whatever card is pertinent depending on which airline I fly for drinks/snacks. I don't drive much at all during the months of May-October, maybe 500 miles, but I'll put on about 12k on in the remainder. Likewise, when I'm not on shift I don't usually get my groceries anywhere other than Walmart or Costco when I'm not on shift because the cheaper initial cost usually outweighs a simple 6% savings. I just checked my YTD rewards with my Limitless and it shows that I've put a little over $13k on it so my rewards on it have basically been the equivalent of one of my car payments.

What is the value of Penfed reward points? I wouldn't mind a bit more return on fuel expenses and the TPG app seems to be valuing it higher than the PRG.

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The PenFed Visa Platinum gives me 5 points per dollar spent on gas and 3 points per dollar on groceries.  I don't use it for groceries, i use it only for gas.

I spent no more than $150/month on gas, so i average 750 points/months or 9000/year. I then use those 9000 points to get 3 $25 gas cards for Exxon Mobil.

[Anonymous]

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

What is your monthly combo and why did you select it?

Mine:

@1. BCP ($400-$500/month on groceries @ 6% cash back per dollar spent) Estimateted $250 cash back per year AFTER annual fee

@2. PenFed Visa Platinum Rewards ($100-$150/month on gas @ 5X per dollar spent) Estimated $50 per year

@3. Fidelity Visa (Everything else @ 2% per dollar spent) Estimated $200 cash back per year

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Mine:

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve for $10,000 per year of travel and dining.  4.5% back = $450.  After the $150 net annual fee, I get $300.

2. PenFed Power Cash Rewards for $20,000 per year of gas, groceries, and other.  2% back = $400

3. NFCU Cash Rewards for $1,344 per year of cell phone bills (for the free insurance).  1.5% back = $20

Overall rate of return is 2.3%.

Until a few months ago, I had the Amex Blue Cash Everyday to earn 3% for groceries.  The BCE's late posting of cash rewards combined with the $25 minimum redemption soured me on this card, so I closed it.  I spend $3,000 a year at supermarkets.  With my PenFed Power Cash, I earn $60 instead of the $90 I earned with BCE.  Avoiding the frustrations of the BCE is worth $30 to me.

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That is a lot of gas and groceries...do you have a gas killer v8?

Which free insurance?

I'm there with you, i hate to wait a whole statement to get my rewards and that it has to be $25.  Wish it was as the Cap1 QS where the cash posts right away

[Anonymous]

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@driftless wrote:

OK, I will play.  The cards that I have in card case are:

1. CSR - travel, dining and general use.

2. Platinum - travel and general use.

3. EDP - groceries & gas for MRs.

4 & 5.  One QS for our annual pledge and donations to our church.  ~ $25K/yr.  Second QS for reocurring household expenses and back-up when traveling abroad.  

Biz cards, for biz expenses and UR & MRs but not included here.

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Are you able to complete the 30 transactions on the EDP every month for the 50% extra points?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I carry one physical card and use the rest with Apple Pay. This means gas isn't optimized, but I'm able to bill most fuel cost and only spend $30-100 in gas a month. I'm mainly into benefits, then points, with cash bringing up the rear.

Everyday charges - Ritz Carlton 

I'm seeking the 75k M/SPG/RC Platinum status. I'll be there before the end of December this year and back again by July of next. I'm hoping my local banker can help me recon an Altitude Reserve application for the holiday season and the time of year I'm not working towards 75k RC. 3x points for mobile wallet at 1.5cpp? I'll take that as a daily driver and move the CSP back to the wallet for dining during this time period.

Grocery - BCP (Apple Pay)

Finally moved on from the BCE to BCP. We spend about 12k in groceries a year, so I'll pick up an EDP after I finish the BCP spend.

Business - SPG, BRG OR Platinum (Apple Pay or online)

Depends on the total cost; Platinum can be more rewarding in certain situations. BRG for certain categories. SPG fits everything the others don't.

Flights - Platinum or Business Platinum

High rewards and frequent first class travel for personal and business makes both of these a no brainer. I have a short hop trip (45 minutes in the air) in October with my wife, so we'll book coach with the RC Visa Infinite discount.

Arrival+, Venture, and TYP are all in the sock drawer post bonus and will get downgraded when appropriate. Ink Plus (need to pc to Ink Cash,) CFU, Discover it, and BCE are largely not worth the time to optimize anymore. I'll probably also pare down the premium cards in the coming year after I find out which benefits are easiest to use through different vendors.

I could probably optimize all of this (and might at some point) but the returns just aren't worth the amount of time it takes to chase them. The fewer rules I have to follow in any given day, the better.

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That is a lot ot keep track of...but I'm sure it is easy for you by now.

Yeah, BCP caps at $6k for 6% return.  We spent right about $6k to $6.5k per year.

With the EDP, you'll be able to get 50% extra points if you can do 30 swipes per month.

[driftless]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@driftless wrote:

OK, I will play.  The cards that I have in card case are:

1. CSR - travel, dining and general use.

2. Platinum - travel and general use.

3. EDP - groceries & gas for MRs.

4 & 5.  One QS for our annual pledge and donations to our church.  ~ $25K/yr.  Second QS for reocurring household expenses and back-up when traveling abroad.  

Biz cards, for biz expenses and UR & MRs but not included here.

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Are you able to complete the 30 transactions on the EDP every month for the 50% extra points?

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The EDP is a new card for me.  This will be the first, and last month, that I try to 30 swipes though.