If you could only have 4 credit cards - which 4 would those be and why?

I have 7 credit cards right now and am trying to simplify my financial outlook. I just want 4 credit cards and curious what everyone thinks if they could only choose or have 4 in their wallet?

I eat out fairly moderately - not all the time.

Travel moderately as well.

EV - not gas.

Rent my apartment etc… just as a background.

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It’s funny, I happen to have done the same thing. I only really use four cards now.

C1 Venture X - 2x catchall/workhorse card

C1 Savor - 3% for entertainment/dining

Citi Custom Cash - 5% back on groceries

BILT - 1% on rent

This setup serves me pretty well. Covers all of the bases adequately, and I can convert my Savor cashback to VX miles later on when I want to plan a big trip.

@Zaden
How do you use your C1 points? It looks like they don’t have any domestic transfer partners.

Baer said:
@Zaden
How do you use your C1 points? It looks like they don’t have any domestic transfer partners.

There are ways (albeit they’re all annoying ways) of using points for domestic flights via some of the international airlines that have partnerships with domestic airlines. It’s not ideal, but it’s doable.

Truthfully, I’m just waiting for them to finally introduce domestic partners and banking up my miles while I wait.

Baer said:
@Zaden
How do you use your C1 points? It looks like they don’t have any domestic transfer partners.

Using partner miles to book domestic medal is often a better valuation than using the domestic airlines own point system.

Baer said:
@Zaden
How do you use your C1 points? It looks like they don’t have any domestic transfer partners.

United - all domestic flights are 10k points through Turkish.

Delta - has some availability through Virgin. Not amazing, but it’s an option.

American - no other credit card can transfer anyway : P

Alaska - can probably book through Avios

@Zaden
Is the BILT card solely for rent? Or can you pay utilities with it as well?

Brayden said:
@Zaden
Is the BILT card solely for rent? Or can you pay utilities with it as well?

1x on rent 2x on travel 3x on dining 1x on everything else including utilities. biggest advantage is that it covers a service fee on rent so where you’d normally get like a 3% surcharge and 1% back you get 0% surcharge and 1% back on a category you’d normally be in the negative on via card

@Vick
Yeah, I use mine for rent, but wasn’t sure if I could also add it for utilities and receive 1x as a ACH

Brayden said:
@Vick
Yeah, I use mine for rent, but wasn’t sure if I could also add it for utilities and receive 1x as a ACH

yes you can get 1x on utilities but there are definitely better options like a 2% card or as high as 5% with the us bank cash+

USBAR - 4.5% using mobile wallet

Venture X - 2x points catch-all

Amex Gold - 4x points on groceries + restaurants

Bilt - rent

Payne said:
USBAR - 4.5% using mobile wallet

Venture X - 2x points catch-all

Amex Gold - 4x points on groceries + restaurants

Bilt - rent

These are my core 4 cards as well. All the other cards I use are not critical to my setup, with the exception of maybe the Cash+ to get 5% on utilities.

Payne said:
USBAR - 4.5% using mobile wallet

Venture X - 2x points catch-all

Amex Gold - 4x points on groceries + restaurants

Bilt - rent

I use USBAR for groceries since all grocery stores take Apple Pay. And with 4x on restaurant and a high AF I just use the chase sapphire preferred for dining (considering c1 savor as well)

American Express Gold, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Wells Fargo BILT and Discover Cash Back.

Marlon said:
American Express Gold, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Wells Fargo BILT and Discover Cash Back.

Why bother with Discover when you can just do the Chase Freedom?

Venture X, Savor, Bilt, Amex Gold

Xan said:
Venture X, Savor, Bilt, Amex Gold

Why you need both AMEX Gold & Savor?

Wes said:

Xan said:
Venture X, Savor, Bilt, Amex Gold

Why you need both AMEX Gold & Savor?

Savor is better for dining at iffy spots (breweries, bars, clubs) and smaller markets. 3x is better than 1x. Mastercard and Visa are a little bit more open to interpretation.

but yeah, no AF makes it easy. I still have both but if i were to removeone, it likely would be gold if i don’t utilize the credits as much in the future.

@Thane
I understand Savor if you are abroad, but my buddy has Gold and is an avid drinker. He says he hasn’t gone to a single bar ever that hasn’t given him the 4x

Landry said:
@Thane
I understand Savor if you are abroad, but my buddy has Gold and is an avid drinker. He says he hasn’t gone to a single bar ever that hasn’t given him the 4x

I’ve not had bad luck with Amex, but i always do a small purchase to test small stores and non-regular dining out. I know for sure it hasn’t worked at clubs in Los Angeles where i get dining 3x with it (Visa, MC).