I currently have the Citi Rewards card and I’m eligible to switch to either the Citi Custom Cash or the Citi Double Cash. I know I should keep my credit usage below 30%, but I’m still feeling a bit confused about which card to pick. Any advice on how to maximize my rewards and use my cards effectively?
Here’s what I have:
Don’t cancel the Rewards+. You can apply for the Double Cash or Custom Cash separately, and then combine your rewards with the Rewards+ for a nice boost on redemption.
Gia said:
Don’t cancel the Rewards+. You can apply for the Double Cash or Custom Cash separately, and then combine your rewards with the Rewards+ for a nice boost on redemption.
Definitely keep the Rewards+. It makes your other Citi cards about 10% better. If you’ve got a regular spending category that’s about $500/month, the Custom Cash is great because of the 5% back on that. I use it for groceries myself. The Double Cash is good for everything else, so you don’t have to think about categories and can just enjoy the 2% back.
Gia said:
Don’t cancel the Rewards+. You can apply for the Double Cash or Custom Cash separately, and then combine your rewards with the Rewards+ for a nice boost on redemption.
Credit Card Basics:
Make sure to check out the Credit Card Basics guide for important tips. In short:
Feel free to call me with !basics for more info.
Forget the 30% rule unless you’re about to apply for a loan. For regular use, you can use your full credit limit as long as you’re paying it off in full by the due date each month.
Using the Rewards+ with the Custom Cash will get you 5.5% back. Combining it with the Double Cash will give you 2.2%.
Utilization myth busting:
You can ignore the old “30% rule.” It only matters if you’re about to apply for new credit soon. Feel free to use your entire credit limit each month, just pay off the balance before your due date. More info here: Credit Card Utilization Myth
The Rewards+ card works best when you’re pairing it with other Citi cards. Since you already have the Rewards+, I’d go for the Citi Premier, then the Double Cash, then the Custom Cash in that order. But since you have the Capital One Savor, you might benefit more from their Venture card due to how long it could take to build up Citi rewards.
@Jonny
Citi Premier and Venture cards are great if you can hit the spend requirement for the signup bonuses. I got both when I had big expenses planned. But for everyday use, I think OP might not be looking for big bonuses.
@Marlo
Agreed. I just like the Citi Premier for its 3x rewards on groceries, gas, and dining. It worked well for me, better than the Custom Cash or Double Cash, but it depends on your spending habits.
What do you usually spend money on? And how much do you spend in each category?
Vicky said:
What do you usually spend money on? And how much do you spend in each category?
Mostly Fast Food, Gas, Groceries, and Clothes.
Vicky said:
What do you usually spend money on? And how much do you spend in each category?
Mostly Fast Food, Gas, Groceries, and Clothes.
Great. Now just estimate how much you spend on those categories each month to help narrow down the best card options for you.
I might be confused, but I don’t get the big advantage of the Rewards+ card? You get 1% back on most purchases and 2% on specific categories, right? The Double Cash gives you 2% on everything, and the Custom Cash lets you earn 5% on one category each month. Am I missing something here? Maybe the points have more value or better redemption options?
@Dustin
Rewards+ rounds up your purchases to the nearest 10 points, so it’s great for small buys. It also gives back 10% of the points you redeem, up to 100,000 points per year. So if you have both the Rewards+ and another Citi card like the Double Cash, you get 2% back on the Double Cash plus an extra .2% when you redeem points. The Custom Cash would give you 5.5% instead of just 5%. It’s not huge, but it adds up over time.