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I had a client (on my real job) ask me the other day where on the blog I show what credit card to use for what to get the maximum value. I sheepishly said, uhhh, I don’t have one. Time to fix that right now.
I not only churn a ton of cards but I also use a ton of cards. I rotate what I keep in my wallet. I always have my Delta AMEX Reserve card, also my Sapphire and Freedom card and then one I am fulfilling some kind of spend from my latest churn. Some cards, like my INK BOLD, I use mostly for specific things that are set for autopay. So let me show some ideas for you.
“wireless/telecommunications services (excluding equipment such as phones and fax machines), cable and satellite television and radio services, office supply stores and wholesale distributors of office supplies.”
So what I do is set my cell phone and cable bills to autobill to my INK BOLD card. Simple and max rewards. When I do order office supplies I also use this puppy.
- Chase Sapphire. It is my card when in Sweden as there is no international transaction fee. I also use this when dining out as it pays 2x points in restaurants!
- Chase Freedom. This card rotates what it pays 5x UR points for every 3 months. There is a cap of $1500 each period but if you and spouse both have the card you are talking $3000 and a net win of 15,000 points! Another tip that is a YMMV but works for me is this. My local grocery store sells gas. They also sell their brand of gift cards. So, I buy $1500 in gift cards and then use them to pay for food and gas even after the 3 months from Chase is up!
- Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express. Earn triple points on airfare, double points on gasoline at U.S. stand-alone gas stations, double points at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets, and single points on other purchases. So food and gas on this card but ONLY when Chase Freedom does not have specials going on.
- ANY Delta AMEX card. When it comes to buying things on a Delta flight:
“Card members will receive a 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, movies, television shows, video games and audio headsets on Delta Air Lines®-operated flights”
This is not instant credit but shows up as a credit back on your account a few weeks later. But still, 20% is not bad! I then use this for most other purchases to meet the spend to get MQM’s each year on my Reserve card.
- Hilton Honors card. When paying for a room at Hilton they pay you 6x points. This card is also an option for supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations as they pay 3 points per dollar on these places. For this card it depends on what Hilton points are worth to YOU or what you have on the way regarding a vacation at a Hilton property.
- SPG AMEX card personal and SPG OPEN Business cards. Like most hotel programs you get big bonus points for paying for your room etc. with the hotel’s card. The SPG card is the same way.
- Chase PC card. You can get 5x points for spend at hotels. You can get 2x points for gas, grocery and restaurants but I value PC points much less that UR points so I would stick with Sapphire other than paying for hotel stuff.
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So there you have it. This is my basic list for maximizing points. Are there other things you do to eeek out a few more points on purchases with cards? Let your fellow DeltaPoints readers know. – Rene
▲Delta▲ SkyMiles® Credit Card
American Express – RESERVE/PLATINUM/GOLD
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Good Analysis. I just throw in teh Venture card and/or the Citi Thank You Premier card for 2% ‘cashback’
@Asen – yes. Not a huge Premier fan but the Venture card I still like and use now and then. It is a good program. Txs! – Rene
Doesn’t having a ton of credit cards hurt your credit score and end up causing issues for you?
@hugh – no! As you can see from this post the other day (CLICK HERE) my credit score, even with dozens and dozens of cards over the years, is well of the 740 GREAT credit number! The funny part was they day AFTER this latest churn, my score went UP, as a few old inquiries fell off my report and the new ones had not hit yet. My score will go down a few points but in another 3-4 months it will be even higher and ready for my next churn!
A higher available credit, makes debt look smaller (lower debt to credit ratio), those increases your credit score. That said, I would not keep any debt on cards as the interest rate would kill value from your rewards.
Also, keep at least 3-4 cards for the long term (in my case AmEx Platinum, AmEx PR Gold, C1 Venture, Delta AmEx R). Their value and benefits are completely worth way more than the annual fees and they credit a healthy long term credit history (another key thing when churning cards).
Actually Hilton card pays 3 pats for ALL purchases and 6 for gas grocery and utilities like cable cell and Internet payments.
@Tiffiany – according to the LINK i have they only pay 6x hotel, 3x gas restaurants, 2x all else. But I have the card on the way after my last churn and will update if the printed info is different than my links – Rene
Rene – Ink Bold also pays 2X on Hotels and Gas.
I use the Ink Bold for Gas when the Freedom doesn’t have it’s 5X going instead of the Amex just because I value UR over MR.
I have branded CC’s for Hotels but because I’m always value hunting instead of “status” hunting, thus not always staying at Hotels that I have CC’s at, I’ll just use the Bold or Sapphire for 2X there also.
As a result I find myself racking up the UR points. Over the last 3 months I’ve gotten over 250K just through bonus categories + sign-ups for Sapphire/Freedom/Bold
If I could close on my refinance I might be able to go get myself some more cards, I only have one from your list. But that does keep things less confusing
I like The penfed travel AMEX. 5x points on airfare purchases. When redeeming point through penfed travel mall 20,000 is worth $250. Making it a 6.25% card on airfare purchases when redeemed for airfare.
The US Bank FlexPerks card gives 3x points for charitable donations. So I keep the card open for that alone. For me it means about one-and-a-half low-level domestic tickets, so for me it is worth the annual fee.
Recently SPG started giving out 4x points for super platinum members, those with 75 nights instead of 50 in the previous year. This makes the earning with the SPG AMEX 5x or 6x.