Taking Stock: The 29 Credit Cards I Currently Have – and Why
Time for a credit card inventory. Over the years, my collection of credit cards has grown. I now have 29 credit cards to my name.
(I did have 30, but closed my Citi ThankYou Premier last week. Because the Chase Sapphire Reserve is better for the same 3X categories. And Citi is changing the Prestige and AT&T Access More cards next month – which is causing me to significantly rethink my relationship with them.)
Ah, but a small sample of the 29 cards I currently hold
And, I’m paying annual fees on many of my cards. So I thought I’d put the complete list together to take stock of what I have – and what I’m getting in return. I’ll write a little snippet for each card, but will try to keep it brief. 29 cards is a lot!
Let’s jump right in.
Amex
I’m pretty much tapped on out this bank. I’ve earned most of the sign-up bonuses at least once. There may be a couple here and there I haven’t had. But for the most part, I am done with Amex.
1. Blue Business Plus – $0 – 1 year – Keep
My newest card. I got it last week. This is the one I think I’ll transition to using for Airbnb rent, mortgage, and HOA dues. 2X Amex Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 each calendar year? Yes, please! AND no annual fee. I also got no hard pull for opening this card.
I love seeing this screen!
But, I’m going to make sure my AT&T Access More card is indeed getting 1X on Plastiq after July 22nd, 2017 – just to be 100% sure. 2X Membership Rewards points isn’t ideal. But I think it’ll still be worth it.
2. No annual fee Hilton – $0 – 1 year – Keep
I love this little card. Not only does it get my access to Amex Offers, but it’s free to keep and helps age my overall credit lines – as do all of my no annual fee cards. That’s the biggest reason why I think everyone should have at least one card without any annual fees. I got it for the sign-up bonus, but will keep it long-term.
3. Hilton Surpass – $75 – 1 year – Cancel
Link: Amex Hilton Surpass
This one’s newish, too. I got it last month for the 100,000 point sign-up bonus. And just completed the minimum spending.
I’m d-d-dying to stay at the Conrad Tokyo. Oh em gee
It comes with a free weekend night certificate on the 1st cardmember anniversary. After I get the cert, I’ll likely cancel this one.
4. Mercedes-Benz Platinum Card – $475 – 2 years – Keep
I just renewed this card, because I was locked into the previous annual fee (it’s currently $550 per year for all personal Platinum Card versions). After that, if the Ameriprise version of the card is still around with a $0 annual fee the first year, I’ll dump this one and get that one instead.
I can’t wait to get some more free crap from the M-B store
I keep this one for Amex Offers, and access to the fantastic Centurion Lounges. My very favorite lounge is the one at DFW – my home airport! So I plan on keeping at least one version of this card at all times.
Oh, and I just got my cert to get $100 in Mercedes-Benz gear. #weekendtrip
5. Starwood personal – $95 – 2 years – Keep
Link: Starwood Amex
Got it for the 35,000 point sign-up bonus. But currently keeping it because I’m getting more than $95 back from Amex Offers. I tend to get really good offers on this card for some reason.
6. Starwood business – $95 – 2 years – Keep
Link: Starwood biz Amex
Ditto here. But I’ll keep it because it gets me access to Sheraton lounges. Saved my whole life in Prague. I still need to write about that, crap. #alwaysbehind
The Out and Out crystal ball predicts a post about the Sheraton lounge in Prague
Bank of America
They’ve tightened lately, but you can still get 30,000 Alaska miles every 45 days. Just be sure to close your old ones or at least reduce your credit lines before you get a new one.
7, 8. Alaska Airlines Visa personal – $75 – 1 year – Cancel
Got them all for the miles. Don’t need them, will cancel.
9. Alaska Airlines Visa business – $75 – 1 year – Cancel
Ditto.
Barclaycard
I’m semi-interested in getting another American Airlines Aviator card (I had it before but canceled it). And I may get a Miles & More or Wyndham card in the future. I try not to mess with them too much, because at their core, they’re a very conservative bank.
10. Arrival – $0 – 2 years – Keep
Downgraded from the “Plus” version of the same card. Keeping primarily to keep $13,000 credit line intact, help age my accounts, and keep a relationship with Barclaycard in case I ever want more of their cards.
Chase
By far my most difficult relationship with any card issuer. I would love to get my hands on a Freedom Unlimited card. But I’ll never slide under 5/24 because… I just won’t. So barring some sort of freak pre-approval, I’ll likely never have it. *wipes tear*
Chase Bank: my lagan love
I could always pick up another Hyatt or IHG or British Airways card… maybe I will. Hmmz.
11. Freedom – $0 – 15 years – Keep
No annual fee. Keeping forever for quarterly 5X categories. Can’t beat that with a stick.
It’s also my oldest card. So it helps tremendously with aging my accounts.
12. Hyatt – $75 – 3 years – Keep
Keeping forever. $75 for a free night at a Category 4 hotel each year is a no-brainer.
I LOVED staying for free at the Hyatt Bellevue in Philly, Penn
13. IHG – $49 – 3 years – Keep
Also a forever keeper. $49 for a free night at ANY IHG hotel in the world? Yes, please.
14. Ink Plus – $95 – 3 years – Keep
Keeping as long as I can to get that sweet 5X at office supply stores. And on my internet and phone bills. I generate thousands of Ultimate Rewards points from this card. As long as it stays as-is, I will keep it.
15. Sapphire Reserve – $450 – 1 year – Keep
Bae
I will totally keep this card thanks to the 3X categories of travel and dining. And the $300 annual travel credit. The Priority Pass Select membership is nice, too. Just a solid card all around.
16. United Explorer – $95 – 1 year – Keep
Link: Chase United Explorer
I like how this card gives me an extra 25% bonus through the MileagePlus X app (which I still use quite a lot).
United finally shows it in black and white
Plus, United finally confirmed in writing what we all knew: Chase United cardholders get more award space. Sometimes the difference is hugely dramatic. I personally love this benefit. The extra miles and award seats justify the annual fee for me.
Citi
17. American Airlines Amex – $75 – 5 years – Keep
I love that this card no longer exists. I use it a lot to sync Amex Offers via Twitter. I also keep it to get 10% of my redeemed miles back (up to 10,000 miles per year). 10,000 American Airlines miles is worth $200 to me, so that along with the Amex Offers makes it a keeper.
18. American Airlines MasterCard – $95 – 1 year – Cancel
Got this one for the sign-up bonus. Redundant card bennies. Will cancel.
19. AT&T Access More – $95 – 2 years – Keep
Current relationship status: TBD
The fate of this one remains to be seen. But, I shop online enough that the 3X for online purchases may be its saving grace. Very much a “wait and see” situation. But on thin ice!
20. Diamond Preferred – $0 – 1 year – Keep
I just got this one to alleviate my student loan debt. But if it’s free to keep, why the heck not?
21. No annual fee Hilton – $0 – 1 year – Keep
I got this one for the 75,000 point bonus. But the card is no longer open for new signups. And might be discontinued later this year. If it were up to me, though, I’d keep it forever.
22. Prestige – $450 – 2 years – Keep
Super super on the fence about this one. I heard a rumor Citi will be adding new benefits to this card next month. And even with the upcoming devaluations, the 4th night free perk is worth its weight in gold – if you use it. I saved over $3,000 with this card the first year.
Prolly gonna keep it
And with the $250 airline credit considered, have already recouped the annual fee this year, too. So I might as well keep it if it’s going to be worth more than its fee. Wait, I think I just convinced myself. Well that’s settled.
Discover
23, 24. Discover It – $0 – 1 year – Keep, Cancel
Link: Discover It
I love these cards because of The Dublin. I got $1,100 the first year as a lump-sum match. And already have ~$800 coming back to me this year – that’s just so far.
Already planning for another good Dublin
For a card with no annual fee, that’s insane! I might cancel the first one and open a new one after I get my second Dublin. And rinse/repeat for as long as the deal is good.
The 5% categories are really 10% categories the first year, with the matched cashback considered. I highly, highly recommend this card.
The only downside is you will get a 1099 for the cashback – so consider that before you jump in.
US Bank
25. Altitude Reserve – $450 – 1 year – Cancel
Another newish card. US Bank is an extremely conservative bank.
I like the $325 travel credit and the 12 Gogo in-flight passes (which I value at $240 alone). So why cancel this card? Simply because I don’t think I’ll make the most of the 3X categories. You can’t buy gift cards – period – and for travel, I’d rather spend on the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
I haven’t used the mobile pay once since I got the card…
I’m a bit on the fence. We’ll see how much I actually use the mobile pay. But my inclination at this moment is that I’ll cancel it next year.
26. Club Carlson Visa – $0 – 4 years – Keep
I used to love Club Carlson. But now they suck. I have a nice $16,000 credit line on this card, so I’ll keep it around to help my debt ratio. And who knows, maybe I’ll want another US Bank card in the future. I haven’t really messed with FlexPerks yet…
Others
27. Fidelity Visa – $0 – 4 years – Keep
I used to love love love this card. But lately, I’ve preferred Starwood points to cashback. Still, there have been a couple of promos lately. And it’s free to have, so why not keep it?
Plus, who knows what will happen with Starwood next year. I might want to rack up a little cashback and sock it away into my IRA.
28. Icelandair MasterCard – $0 – 10 years – Keep
I only keep this one because it’s old as the hills. I charge $5 on it every 6 months or so just to keep it active. This was my first miles card, back when I was a newbie. Awwww.
29. Kohl’s card – $0 – 3 years – Keep
I had some shame about getting this card. But let’s be honest, I freaking love Kohl’s. My limit on this card is only $700. But it gets me some nice discounts and lots of free shipping. I use it to by things for my Airbnbs. So for now, it’s a total keeper.
Bottom line
Link: Apply for Card Offers
Of my current 29 (!) cards:
23 are keepers
6 will be canceled
Of the 23 I plan to keep, I’ll pay $2,124 in annual fees. But I’ll get $750 back in the form of statement credits ($200 from Amex Platinum Card, $300 from Chase Sapphire Reserve, and $250 from Citi Prestige). That brings my net cost to $1,374. I’ll also get:
A free night at ANY IHG hotel (Chase IHG)
A free night at a Hyatt Category 4 hotel (Chase Hyatt)
10,000 American Airlines miles back (Citi AA Amex)
10,000 Citi ThankYou points (Citi AT&T Access More)
10,000 Hilton points (Citi Hilton Visa)
Sheraton lounge access (Starwood biz Amex)
Centurion Lounge access (Amex Platinum Card)
Priority Pass Select (Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige)
A free weekend night at nearly any Hilton hotel (Amex Hilton Surpass)
5X Chase Ultimate Rewards points at office supply stores (Chase Ink Plus)
25% more miles through MileagePlus X and more United award space (Chase United Explorer)
4th night free on all my paid hotel stays (Citi Prestige)
Many, many Amex Offers
Not to mention so many bonus categories for nearly every dollar of my spending.
When I add up all I get, it’s definitely worth way more than $1,400 – probably many times more. I love to travel, so I consider these annual fees an upfront cost for all the cash I save by using points & miles. And it seems, to me, a small price of admission.
In writing this, I discovered I’ve actually been pretty judicious about what I keep and cancel throughout the years. And if I cancel 6 of my current 29 cards, that’s a ~20% reduction, which seems about right. Having 23 cards is still a lot. Plus, I’ll likely pick up a couple more to replace them. That’s how the game goes. Cycle in, cycle out.
Now I’m curious – how many cards do you have? Do you think it’s worth paying ~$1,400 in annual fees for all those travel perks? Or is it too much to keep track of?
And if you do decide to get a new card, thanks as always for using my links!
