Which rewards credit card do you personally use for which category?

Almost every day I am asked, “Which credit card should I have?” Others narrow it down to something like, “What’s the best credit card for grocery shopping?”

as we always say, Everyone has different budgets, travel goals, and travel needs.What works for you may not fit what your best friend does.

And that’s perfectly fine.

But when people ask me, “Which card you use? ‘ My answer is generally ‘Well, what exactly is it for? Grocery? Travel? Gas? Amazon stuff?

My wife and I typically add new credit cards to our wallets several times a year. Additionally, different credit card issuers have introduced different promotions (i.e. Amex offers, Pay Yourself Back, Chase offers, etc.). That’s why credit card slots in our wallets sometimes look different.

Here’s what you and I currently use for common purchases:

Earn points with one card

First of all, Mrs. Curley recently City Premier® Card Because that welcome offer is pretty tasty: Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou points After spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within 3 months of becoming a Cardmember.In addition, cards earn 3X and restaurant, supermarket, gas station, Hotel,and air travel(All other purchases earn 1X.) She added me as an approved user.

Use a combination of these bonus categories and refunded purchases to reach $4,000 relatively quickly. So this is the main card for now.

Airfare

This depends on the airline I’m flying with and whether I’m using certificates or points.

If I book:

• Reservations with points and milesI will pay some balance myself Chase Sapphire Reserve®Earn 3x more on travel (after your $300 annual travel credit is used up) When It also offers excellent protection against trip interruptions, delays and cancellations. Even if it’s part of a trip paid for by card. Amex cards cannot say the same.
• Buy a ticket and pay the full amount in cash (which is rare), I generally use American Express Platinum Card®This earns you five times more American Express® Membership Rewards® on flights booked directly with the airline or American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year on these purchases. Terms and conditions apply. Yes, because all fares are paid in platinum. Subject to card, travel delay, cancellation and interruption protection. (Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms and restrictions apply. See americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.)
• Delta Companion Certificate Reservationit continues American Express Platinum Card® to earn bonus points. No, you do not need to go to Delta Amex for the cash/payment portion of your Delta Companion Certificate Trip.

Amazon

my personal/consumer American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card It’s my current go-to for Amazon purchases.that card works 3% cashback upon US online retail purchase Purchases up to $6,000 per year (1% thereafter). plus, The card has an annual fee of 0 yen.(Fees and fees. Terms and conditions apply. Cashback is given as Reward Dollars and may be applied to statement credits.)

Business-related Amazon purchases are typically American Express Business Platinum Card®Well, hear me out on this one. Yes, ostensibly she only earns 1x. But don’t forget that this card gets a 35% rebate when you pay with points for some airfares purchased with Amex Travel. In addition, the returned points can be used again. and again. and again. And… (Conditions apply, registration required.)

“But you bastard,” you might say. Amazon Business American Express Card or Amazon Business Prime American Express Card Or one of Chase’s personal Amazon cards?!”

The answer is simple. My wife and I both have six Amex credit cards. Neither of us can get another Amex card without canceling one of our existing cards. As for the latter, Chase goes far beyond her 5/24 rule.

So it will be a while before either of us qualify for a new Amex or Chase card. (Hey, if they don’t want our business, that’s up to them. But what about Capital One and Citi? We’re doing pretty well, and we’re going to have socks by the fireplace this Christmas. are available.)

Other online purchases: PayPal for the Win!

Whenever possible, my wife and I use PayPal to pay for online purchases.

why?

No annual fee Chase Freedom Flex℠ (and legacy Chase Freedom cards can no longer be registered) offer 5% cash back/5x Ultimate Rewards points on PayPal-processed purchases through December 31, 2022. Up to $1500 (or 7500 Ultimate Rewards points) applies on combined spend. Applications are due by December 14th.

mobile phone bill

$10 on your monthly Verizon bill American Express Business Platinum Card®. it provides $120 annual statement credit ($10 monthly) for Wireless phone service purchased directly from a US wireless provider(Membership is required.)

balance to us Ink Business Cash® credit card. it earns 5% cash back (5X Chase Ultimate Rewards®) First $25,000 of total purchases on office supply store and Internet, cable, phone service Year of each account anniversary.Note that there is no annual fee Ink Business Cash® credit card We are currently offering the best welcome promotion ever. $900 cashback bonus (awarded as 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points) To new cardholders who have spent $6,000 on each card within 3 months of approval.

dining

I usually put my meal shopping on my phone american express gold card. it earns 4X Membership Rewards® Takeout and Delivery in the U.S. on top of points at restaurants Paying with points on the Amex Travel purchases I mentioned earlier is even more valuable.

I know another person Chase Sapphire Reserve® Because you get 3x the return on your meals. The Pay Yourself Back promotion gives you 1.5x his points when you redeem your points for statement credit.

but again we go City Premier® Card for those purchases until you have accumulated a minimum spending requirement of $4,000.

gas station

Pump some points while filling the car with gas. City Premier® Card Until the spending requirement is reached!

Considering we live in Southern California, gas prices are even more jarring than anywhere else, and a full tank or two of an SUV can probably hit $4,000.😉

Otherwise our Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi Our go-to gas. Earn 4% cash back on his first $7,000 of the year on qualifying gas (and EV charging) purchases. (1% thereafter)

Hotel

I usually use my hotel loyalty program credit card (if I have one).For example I have my IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card If you’re staying at a Holiday Inn, Kimpton, Intercontinental, etc.

I’m going on a business trip soon. My client puts me in an accommodation partnered with a credit card that I don’t have. (Also, I don’t think it’s really necessary. Tip: The initials M, G, M could be part of a rewards program.) Chase Sapphire Reserve® because you can earn 3X Traveling.

the internet

Here’s another example: Ink Business Cash® credit card It will come in handy. we, 5% cashback/5X Chase Ultimate Rewards® If you use your first $25,000 in total purchases at Internet, cable, phone service And at office supply stores.

streaming service

Here is another Spirualoo celebration.

There are Disney+ bundles (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu). I also see peacocks.it all goes on American Express Platinum Card® This is because it features monthly “Entertainment Credits”. Cardholders can use their Platinum Card to earn up to $240 in annual statement credits ($20/month) toward payment for purchases at selected merchants. Eligible providers include Audible. Disney+ bundles or individual components (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu); new york timesPeacock; and SiriuxXM. (There are terms of use and membership is required.)

Everything else (HBOMax, Netflix, etc.) American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card Because you can get 6% cashback on select US streaming subscriptions.

supermarket

Again, City Premier® Card You’ll be working on most of that spending for a month or so.

However, we usually make those purchases American Express Blue Cash Preferred® CardThis gives you 6% cashback on purchases up to $6,000 annually at US supermarkets (1% cashback is then awarded as Reward Dollars and applied to statement credits). there is).

spending without bonus

For most non-bonus spending, Capital One Venture X Rewards credit cardThis will give you at least double your earnings per dollar on qualifying purchases. (This is why the Cap One Venture X is worth considering.) Be it medical bills, doctor visits, wine/liquor purchases, and more.

final approach

So that’s what I’m working on now. What are you doing for your Travel Rewards goal?

To check rates and fees for Amazon Business American Express Card, visit this link. Terms apply.

To check rates and fees for Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, visit this link. Terms apply.

To check rates and fees for American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card, visit this link. Terms apply.
(fees and fees)

To check the rates and fees for American Express Business Platinum Card®, visit this link. Terms apply.

To check rates and fees for American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card, visit this link. Terms apply.

To check the rates and fees for American Express Platinum Card®, visit this link. Terms apply.

To check rates and fees for american express gold card, visit this link. Terms apply.

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