What is your set up card ?

[juniornj23]

I seen people using one card for one thing and other for another things like discovery for dining out and amex for supermarkets.

So what is your set up card to optimizer your benefits m

[K-in-Boston]

For me, it changes a lot.  I've been spending Marriott points like a madman for the past year and a half, so I always tried to maximize how many I'd earn.  For now, my priority is hitting the $75,000 spend requirement on SPG Luxury to keep my Marriott Platinum Elite status through January 2020.  However, I will soon be taking a closer look at what I want to earn in 2019.

Right now I use SPG for everything except Chase Freedom for 5% categories, Amex Platinum for 5x on airfare and Amex Offers, and Chase Sapphire Reserve for places that don't take Amex.  Exceptions would be Amazon (5% off), Target (5% off), and Kohl's (up to 30% off), or if I'm taking advantage of a 0% APR offer.

[Anonymous]

Amex PRG for grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants (if they take it) and offers

Citi TYPremier- Travel and restaurants(if they don't take AMEX)

Amazon Prime by Chase- Amazon/Whole Foods 

USB Cash+-  Utilities 

Other non bonus either Citi DC or PRG

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@K-in-Boston

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Points strategy shifts depending on what I need during the year. Right now I am trying to accrue as many membership rewards to take international trip next year.

[Anonymous]

I feel like I just settled in to my "strategy" for cashback; if you could call it that.

- Uber Card

4% dining and takeout

3% travel

I put my cell phone bill and Amazon Prime subscription for the card perks

- Citi DC(newest add)

2% everything else

- Discover IT for category of the quarter(5% CB)

- Amazon Store card because I'm a frequent enough shopper and financing larger purchases is nice(also 5% CB)

[shoegal]

My spending has change a lot since I got my cards last year so I adjusted my setup to this:

-PayPal - 2% on everything, catch-all card, plus 3% when use with business debit

-Amex BBP - 2x on everything

-Barclay Uber - 4% on restaurants/bars + 3% travel

-Amex BCP AU - 6% on groceries + 3% gas/dept. stores

-Discover It - 5% rotating categories

-Amex Plat - 5x on flights 

-Amazon Chase AU - 5% Amazon/WholeFoods

[Anonymous]

Well currently I’m meeting the SUB for the TY premier for 60k points so that’s the only card I’m currently using now. If I’m not meeting a SUB this is my strategy:

Capital One Savor - 4% on Dining/Entertainment  and 2% on groceries with No AF

Citi TY Premiere - 3x ty points on Gas and Travel ( I don’t use there transfer partners so this is valued at 1.25 cents a point so technically 3.75% back)

Chase Amazon - 5% (or 3% when I deactivate prime) on Amazon

Discover - 5% on categories

Venture - 10x miles or 10% back on hotels.com purchases

Fidelity Visa - 2% on all other expenses

Only cards I will carry daily after meeting SUB for TY premiere will be Fidelity, Citi TY premiere and Savor. Discover will be carried if I benefit from its current category. I like simplicity.

[TheVig]

My daily driver cards are as follows. Besides personal spend, I'm lucky to have reimbursable business expenses with my job because I travel a lot.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select 2x gas and dining

Citi AAdvantage MileUp 2x grocery

Citi DC non catagory spend

I book a lot my hotels for work thru the AA website. Typical stay is 5 nights. Been earning 2000 to 8000 AA miles a clip. Nice addition to the credit card spend. 

Amex and Delta get action too.

AMEX PRG

AMEX Delta Blue

I have about 25 cards all toghether, but the above see most of the spend.

[UpperNwGuy]

75% of my annual spending goes on the PenFed Power Cash Rewards card for 2% back on everything.  The other 25% is travel and dining, and I put those charges on my Chase Sapphire Reserve for 4.5% back.  

I'm still hoping that some lender will issue a decent 3% grocery card.  I tried Amex Blue Cash and hated it.  I tried NFCU More Rewards and hated it, too.  Both cards have set up their redemption process to delay the payout of the rewards and to encourage "breakage."

[redpat]

Sure spend and choosing a credit card for dining, travel, gas and grocery is only one aspect of getting points.  We have been using the other aspects of getting additional points for dollars spent through dining programs, shopping portals, Amex Offers and now Rocketmiles hotel portal.

We have waited to make some purchase at Macy’s because the AA shopping portal changes from 3x to 7x or 10x.  So why go to the mall and get 1 - 1.50 points w/ a swipe.

[FireMedic1]

Discover-(new card double cash back) 2% everything/dining 10%

Savor-4% entertainment/movies, will go back to dining once Discover ends the quarter

BB&T-3% gas 2% groceries/utilities (BB&T/SunTrust cash back to savings they add 10%)

SunTrust-alternate 2% groceries

Venture-2% rent for miles

QS-1.5% for MyFico Premiere for now. Back after Discover yr is up and 1% kicks in

Discover Chrome-just a charge a month to keep active