Credit Cards & Bank Accounts Suggestions April 2025 Onwards
Over the past 2-3 years, the journey of using different credit cards and banking services has been a great learning experience. Exploring various types of cards has been interesting, but it is always an ongoing process. Every year, it is good to review past choices to see if they are still relevant and beneficial. Some banks or cards may need to be reconsidered, upgraded, or even discontinued. Regular reviews and changes help in optimizing the benefits and ensuring that the financial strategy remains effective.
To analyze spending patterns better, it helps to break down expenses into different sections. This gives a clear idea of where the major expenses lie and which cards are being used for those purchases. Understanding this spending distribution makes it easier to check if the current cards are the best fit. After going through this breakdown, it is also possible to identify areas for improvement, such as using different cards for certain categories to maximize rewards and benefits.
Monthly Expenses
Monthly expenses are not always the same every month. Some months, certain expenses are higher, while in others, they might be lower. Some purchases happen once a year, some every quarter, and some more frequently. The numbers provided are an approximate average, considering upper limits for most expenses. This method gives a more realistic picture of household spending rather than relying on fixed numbers. On average, total household expenses can range between ₹60,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month. This variation depends on various factors like seasonal purchases, travel, or large one-time payments. By understanding these patterns, it becomes easier to manage finances efficiently. It also helps in choosing the right credit cards and banking options to ensure that spending is optimized for maximum rewards, cashback, and benefits.
| Item | Monthly Average Expense | Mode of Purchase | Mode of Payment | Returns |
| Hotel Stays | 5000 | Amazon Pay | ICICI Apay card | 5% cb |
| Movies | 2000 | BMS | ICICI Sapphiro | BOGO upto 500 (x2) |
| Medicines | 2000 | Offline Apollo Pharmacy, Medplus, Local medical shops | Neu Infinity UPI | 1.5% Neu coin
Apollo HC 5-10% |
| Clothes | 3000 | Myntra, Local shops, Zudio | Neu Infinity UPI, ICICI Apay,
Neu card swipe | 1-1.5% |
| Mobile recharge | 1500 | MyJio app | Twid + Apay ICICI | 1% |
| Google One, YT Premium | 1000 | Play Wallet Balance | Play voucher using Apay ICICI or Neu Infinity | 1-2% |
| Amazon Prime & Misc | 500 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 1-2% |
| Flight ticket | 8000 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 5% |
| Train Ticket | 3000 | IRCTC | Apay ICICI | 1% |
| Amazon shopping | 10000 | Amazon | Apay ICICI | 5% |
| Grocery | 8000 | BB, Instamart | Neu Infinity, Swiggy cards | 5 - 10% |
| Additional Grocery | 4000 | Local shops | Cash, GPay, UPI | 1% |
| Online food | 1000 | Swiggy | Swiggy card | 10% |
| Hotel food | 1000 | Local hotels | Neu Infinity UPI, Dineout | 1.5% |
| Ola/Uber | 3000 | Ola/Uber app | Swiggy card, Ola coins | 5% |
| Electricity Bill | 2000 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 2% |
| Water Bill | 1000 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 2% |
| Gas Cylinder | 1000 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 2% |
| Petrol | 10000 | Jio, Indian Oil | Neu UPI | - |
| LIC | 4000 | Amazon Pay | Apay ICICI | 2% |
| Vehicle, Health Insurance | 4000 | Offline | Neu Infinity card swipe | 1.5% |
| Offline Oil, Vegetables, Milk, Rice etc. | 10000 | Local shops | Cash, Neu Infinity card swipe | 1.5% |
| UPI payments: | 10000 | Local shops | Neu Infinity | 1.5% |
| Swiggy Genie | 5000 | Swiggy | HDFC Swiggy | 10% |
| Offline miscellaneous: | 4000 | Local shops | Cash | 0 |
| Total | 104000 | Approx 1 L per month | | |
Active Credit Cards: (All are LTF)
| Card | Limit | Purpose |
| HDFC Tata Neu Infinity | 7.63 L | Primary Card, Used for almost everything + UPI scans
Base rate 1.5%, Neu Spends 5% + 5%
Occasional Milestone offers |
| HDFC Swiggy | 7.63 L | Swiggy Spends 10%, Online 5% and Base rate 1%
1500+1000+500 capped cashback
Useful because of straight statement credit |
| ICICI Amazon Pay | 10.3 L | All Amazon Spends, Flights and Hotel Bookings (5%) |
| ICICI Sapphiro | 10.3 L | BOGO BMS Offer |
| Federal Celesta | 5 L | Lounge access without spend criteria |
| Indusind Tiger | 2 L | Not used yet. |
Bank Accounts:
- SBI Regular Savings Account
- ICICI Family 360 Savings Account
- HDFC Preferred Salary Account
Learnings:
Not all expenses can be optimized, and it’s not always possible to use the best payment method every time. Choosing the most rewarding option for every transaction is not practical due to habits, convenience, mental blocks, or the effort required versus the actual return. Personal preferences and behavior also play a big role in how payments are made. Having the best credit card does not automatically guarantee maximum rewards. It’s better to use a card that feels right at the moment rather than stressing over every possible reward or cashback. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance between effort and benefit. This is where premium cards make life easier. A card with a flat 3% base reward rate across all spending categories can be more useful than juggling ten different cards with varying reward structures. Fewer choices often lead to a better quality of life and less decision fatigue. Optimizing card usage is a personal choice, and what works best will vary for everyone. The key is to find a system that is simple yet rewarding based on individual spending habits.
Plan Ahead:
On average, monthly spending falls between ₹60,000 and ₹1,00,000. For simplicity, I often use Amazon Pay ICICI, HDFC Swiggy, or HDFC Tata Neu Infinity for most transactions. Cashback cards remain my top choice, while I have yet to explore reward point-based or milestone-based credit cards. Since I started using credit cards only 2-3 years ago, I am still learning and refining my approach to maximizing benefits. Among different banking ecosystems, HDFC is my top preference, followed by ICICI. Axis Bank offers excellent rewards, but I haven’t been drawn to it yet. American Express is ruled out due to limited acceptance. While smaller banks provide good benefits, I currently keep some of their cards only for specific offers. If I find a card with a better base reward rate, I may consolidate my spending on just one or two cards. For now, HDFC Tata Neu Infinity seems to be the best fit, but I remain open to exploring better options.
