What is your set up card ?

[TheVig]

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@redpat wrote:

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.

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Yep. Shopping portals are the way to go. Many times if the DW and I are not sure about something, we will go to the store and look at the item, then go home to purchase thru a portal. For those that work in retail, I guess it sucks to be them. lol.

[kerplunk]

I'm primarily using my Chase Sapphire Reserve to hit the signup bonus right now, then after that I will proceed as follows:

Wallet

• Chase Sapphire Reserve - Restaurants and travel purchases. (4.5% with UR bonus)
• Chase Freedom - Only for 5% rotating categories. (7.5% with UR bonus)
• Chase Freedom Unlimited - Everything else. (2.25% with UR bonus)

Drawer

• Citi DoubleCash - Unfortunately, this has been made redundant by the CFU+UR bonus. (2.00% vs 2.25%). I will keep it incase I ever get rid of my CSR.
• Discover it - This too, has more or less been made redudant by the Chase Trifecta.
• U.S. Bank Cash+ - Even without the Chase cards, I don't have many good uses for this card. I keep it because it's my oldest account and U.S. Bank gave me my start into the credit world.

[K-in-Boston]

@kerplunk I love the simplicity of the Chase trifecta + Chase portal redemptions.  It may even play a bigger role in my own strategy next year. 

Have you considered doing a PC from Double Cash to Dividend?  That would give you four 5% category cards, and you could always take the cash back from those to just wipe out 5% of the charges.  Certainly there would be some overlap with CSR 3% and Freedom 5% categories, but it's a way to keep them active and save a little in the short-term if you're not going to get better than 5% on travel redemptions.

[kerplunk]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

@kerplunk I love the simplicity of the Chase trifecta + Chase portal redemptions.  It may even play a bigger role in my own strategy next year. 

Have you considered doing a PC from Double Cash to Dividend?  That would give you four 5% category cards, and you could always take the cash back from those to just wipe out 5% of the charges.  Certainly there would be some overlap with CSR 3% and Freedom 5% categories, but it's a way to keep them active and save a little in the short-term if you're not going to get better than 5% on travel redemptions.

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EXCELLENT suggestion -- thank you. I had not even thought of that. I didn't know you could PC to that card since it's not open to new applicants. I recently acquired the Double Cash card, so I'll keep your suggestion in mind when I am elligible to PC.

[K-in-Boston]

No problem.  That was originally my plan with Discover it/Cash+/Diamond Preferred to Dividend PC, but those nice days of earning Starpoints and spending Marriott points threw a monkey wrench into the whole thing.  Now I feel that a PC to Citi Prestige for 4th night free will actually be an even better deal for me as my travel priorities have changed a bit.  Citi is certainly one of (if not THE) best lender for product changes, and historically there have been no issues with doing a PC to a discontinued (but still serviced) product.  (Citi Simplicity seems to be the one exception for easy PCs.)

[Anonymous]

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

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."

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There are some CUs, such as the Illinois Consumers Credit Union.  Their card gives 3% on groceries up to $6K, and gives an automatic statement credit at statement close.   I'm sure that  there are others.

[juniornj23]

Amex has 6% groceries but i need something to eat out and gas

[Anonymous]

Altitude Reserve 3% (4-1/2% travel redemption) with Samsung Pay on groceries, walmart, Costco, travel and just about all my spend.

Discover cash back Match (10%)  restraunts, 

Cash+ Visa 5% fast-food and cell phones

Pen fed Power Cash 2% for all others

[MrDFinance]

<b> Uber Card for 4% Dining &amp; 2% for all Online Purchases &amp; for Phone insurance perk (Brought phone outright and before this card I had no insurance)

Freedom and Discover (Was Discover Secured) for 5% categories

Navy Fed (1.5% for all purchases) and Penfed to build relationships with the credit unions to get large limits to fuels the rest of my setup ( Larger limits on these card will give other lenders confidence to give me higher limits) Plus they are just awesome credit unions for general use...

AMEX PRG (3x back on flights, 2x back on Gas,Dining &amp; Supermarkets) Originally to get foot in the door with amex, Now it has a Pay over time limit of $25,000 which if need be allows me to hold a balance and it doesn't reflect my utilization and hurt my score Plus a decent MR Point earner

QuickSilver (1.5% on all purchases) was a Platinum secured card that was product changed ... Oldest account since rebuild not going anywhere .. Low spend on it

QuickSilver One (1.5% For all Purchases) was the first unsecured credit card I was approved for post my rebuild and it helping my history...Signed up for 50% off Spotify membership for first year ...... Actively trying to product change to a no annual fee card</b>

[UpperNwGuy]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@UpperNwGuy wrote:

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."

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There are some CUs, such as the Illinois Consumers Credit Union.  Their card gives 3% on groceries up to $6K, and gives an automatic statement credit at statement close.   I'm sure that  there are others.

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Yep, I've seen all those cards.  Most of them are not available to me because of their geographic footprint (Bank of the West, Golden 1, Huntington Voice).  I can't tell whether or not I am eligible for the Consumers Credit Union, but apart from that issue, I'm also worried that CCU recently changed its 3% grocery card from "cash rebate" to "points."  Points can be easily devalued or be restricted in how they can be redeemed.