MikeG62 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:41 am
Update to my earlier post on this thread with some details on our 2018 relative spend by card:
~47% Fidelity VISA
~28% CSR
~9% Airline-branded Cards
~4% AMEX Blue Preferred
~4% Discover/Chase Freedom 5% category spend
~3% Pen Fed (gas)
~3% Store-branded Cards
~2% Amazon
Relative % spend was very similar to 2017.
Total cash back and/or point value (as applicable) for 2018 >$4,500 (net of all CC annual fees). No bonus cash back or points included in this amount.
Lastly, ~80% of our total spend went on our credit cards with the remainder coming directly from our checkbook. Primary non-credit card spend is for real estate taxes, auto leases, cash withdrawals or largely other one-off stuff.
Very nice. I know people who optimize their spend as well and get great value....you're spending that money anyway, why not set up a strategy that can reap some easy discounts/cashback on the way?
I'm currently a mild player (compared to some of the heavy duty people on the various forums and blogs )FlyerTalk, r/churning on reddit, etc. etc.)
Have a CSR, a CFU (downgraded from CSP). Opened and closed some Barclays cards (Arrivals+, AAdvantage Aviator, Frontier, Hawaiian). Really bummed chase has the 48-month rule with the sapphire cards. They are catching on to us!
Now getting into the chase business card game. Just got my 2nd Chase Ink Preferred and getting another Chase Ink Unlimited to get those bonuses. I should still be at 3/24 after these two.
So gonna look at potentially some more chase cards to work with (World of Hyatt, SW Companion Pass...but gonna have to wait until I can maximize the CP so that I essentially get it for 2 years...ie, having the bonus/eligiblity hit right around January or so).
I might go for Amex cards in a couple years....we'll see.
And then probably settle for a strategy of just min-maxing pure category spends with % cash back and no AF cards....maybe keep 1 higher AF card like the CSR purely for the travel bonus and the $300 travel credit annually.
I know Alliant has a 3% cashback card 1st year then 2.5% on everything after that, but looks like you have to be their CU member (hate to keep track of so many diff bank accounts).
I'm looking to get the Fidelity VISA for the straight 2%, any other straight cashback that's better than 2%?