Maximizing credit cards is one of the best ways to elevate your travel. This can include getting the credit cards with the best welcome bonuses, using the right credit cards for your everyday spending, maximizing credit card bonus categories, and taking advantage of other credit card perks.
Continue reading: The 24 Credit Cards In My Wallet Right Now
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Do you find you go a bit “numb down there”sitting on a wallet with all those cards?
Lucky have you ever thought about doing wallet reviews or sharing which wallet you use? That would be really relevant to me
Can you say what you actually use each card for? There are so many overlapping bonus categories that it would be interesting to see what is for what?
Is it a physical wallet or digital?! I just carry one physical card while everything else is in my digital wallet including an ATM card.
Which cards did you cancel since the last version of this post? And which cards are you thinking about picking up next?
I bet a lot of the overlap is for when Lucky is low on a certain currency he just swaps over to that one
Aren’t the ink unlimited and freedom unlimited completely duplicative? Any benefits of having both?
Surprised you don’t have Chase Hyatt Business card as well given the more powerful elite night earning.
I thought you were just approved for the Flying Blue Credit card from Bank of America to help you reach Flying Blue Platinum Status? Did you not get approved or did you close that card already? Also, based on other posts recently I thought you had a Hyatt Business Card and an Alaska Airlines business card. Did you close both of those. If you did, can you let us know your thought process as I am on the fence about both of those cards.
my question - I'm thinking of dropping Business Platinum later in Sept as I will be cruising for several months where AMEX probably won't be taken. I have gotten Blue Business Plus to protect my points balance. and Blue Cash for the 0% interest for the year. I doubt I'll have use for airline credit or other perks for a year.
If I drop the Plat Bus, will I have a problem getting it again in 1.5-2 yrs if i want it then?
Should I be aware of any 'gotcha' conditions? the finer print?
I keep reading about canceling + reapplying and 1x lifetime but you keep getting the same cards it seems.
@Ben -- This is what I don't understand: you tout your Amex Everyday Preferred card for (among other things) 3x MR points at supermarkets. Fine, but the Amex [personal] Gold card gets 4x at supermarkets.
Meanwhile, Amex [personal} Platinum *does* return 5x on air travel and 5x on hotels (but only if you prepay through Amex travel). In terms of bonus spend, that's it. All of the credits are nice, earning zero points, and -- yes -- if you can take advantage of them, you essentially can get the card for free. But your Citi Prestige also gets 5x on air travel and 10x -- TEN -- on hotels booked through Citi's travel portal.
In an earlier article, you wrote that you were going to keep the Prestige card. Now you're thinking of downgrading. Could you explain why?
If I may jump in, I recently canceled my Citi Prestige because while the 5x on air travel is great, there is also no travel insurance. I'd much rather take the mere 3x points on the Chase Sapphire - but be covered for luggage delay and flight cancelations.
Ben, 24 credit cards is madness. However, I appreciate that it works for you! 😉
I think this is mostly a paid promotion. There are many great cards from other providers that are rarely, if ever discussed. It is also unrealistic for most people to juggle that many cards. I think most people have a few in their wallet. An example is the Amazon Prime card, if you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods often or if you often use one of the rotating categories to earn 5% cash back. The only catch is that while the card is free you need to pay for the Prime membership.