How are you making the best use of your existing credit cards?

[DrHits]

1. HDFC- DCB METAL as primary for all spends / offline spends. Got twice Quarterly milestone 10K bonus points for 4L spends in dec / March cycle.
2. Swiggy - IKYK
3. TATA neu Infinity -BB - Tata Neu app + UPI
4. AMEX PLAT Travel - 4L spend already - kept in cupboard till dec now. ( I got 1900 RP For gold / Silver purchase last month from this card on spend of almost 98K )
5. IndusInd Easydiner - Movies, Dining discount / PVR INOX popcorn 🍿
6. IDFC Mayura - International spends / Zero forex- used for last trip to Malaysia , now will shift to Scapia hereafter , as I won’t renew Mayura. Also for BMS offers
6. Sapphiro - BMS - as I watch 2-3 movies every month.
7. SBI OCTANE - FYF - FUEL

Have 10 other cards 💳 mostly LTF for offer bases / KOTAK Myntra / ICICI AMAZON for specific website based cards!

 

[S U D O]

5-10k every month on clothes via cashkaro for 80% or higher cashback through triple dipping

80% 😵 how ?

 

[Adith]

80% 😵 how ?

Made a recent post on reddit regarding this.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CreditCardsIndia/s/lSoACZFGl7

Fyi, currently waiting on cashback to credit cause I redid the same for even higher savings. But there was an issue from cashkaro side so I'm waiting for it to be fixed. If it's fixed , I got around 11 clothes for 80 rs each . Which includes skirts for wifey that easily sell for 1000 each on myntra.

 

[maheshspanicker]

I use the co-branded cards on Amazon, Flipkart and Tata Neu. Also use HDFC Millenia some times, depending on other general spends on that card, in case I can meet the milestone target. Use RBL Monthly Treats on Uber, Zomato and Myntra. Use AU zenith on dining out unless booking through Eazydiner, where I use the co-branded IndusInd card. Use the latter for movie bookings too. Use Tata Neu Innfinity for usual offline spends, and use AU Zenith on other grocery spends offline and online. Go through Grabdeals when using Flipkart Axis. Use SCB Titanium for fuel spends, and in case if it exceeds the cashback limit, use Amex MRCC or RBL Monthly Treats in case it needs target meeting for the month. Use other cards for upfront discounts, mostly handy are PNB Rupay Select and Federal Imperio. Amex is useless offline more often than not, and in case using it for Amazon vouchers, try using it on Uber to get another 5 % back.

 

[maheshspanicker]

I haven't quite got the hang of HDFC Smartbuy with Millenia. How exactly does the extra cashback work on the card? Is it only for vouchers?

 

[jk51]

Hello all,
Not everyone can get the best cards like EPM, Infinia, M4B and the likes. Also, not everyone know how to make the best use of their cards.
Even those with the bestest of the best cards may be using them in the least effective way such that rewards are not the best.
Like for example, even after having an Infinia, there are people who don't know about SmartBuy. (non-ccgeeks)

Another scenario is majority of the people who do not get the best cards, but have to be satisfied with their mid-tier cards.
Even in such cases, there are ways to juice out maximum benefits from such cards, and get a higher returns.
Sometimes, these could be straightforward use of the cards on some apps or platforms, or in other cases, it would be double-dip or triple-dip hacks.

I am writing this thread to collate the experiences of your best case usage of your existing cards. (Mainly aimed at mid-tier cards, not the top premium or luxury ones.)
Even with mid-tier semi-premium cards, we can get some awesome benefits on daily purchases, which is almost as good as what we get from those premium cards.
Inviting you to share your experiences on what were some unforgettable uses of your cards.

I echo the sentiment of being into Mid-tier cards as in my case I dont travel the way these cards can help me utilize it to the fullest extent and secondly (owing to the first reason itself) I am fairly new to the miles game (which I was not till recent times) apart from the usual reason of not being eligible for any invite only cards. Initially thought to pursue Infinia actively but left it 4-5 years back since the journey itself warranted losing out on potential rewards with no guarantee on upgrade simply made my decision easier to stick with other options more suitable for my case.

Hence till now I have largely been a cashback/voucher person

Following is my list where most of the spends are concentrated hence not mentioning other cards meant for offer only use:

Paid:

- Two set of Trifectas
- Axis Atlas (recent addition)
- SC Ultimate
- Airtel Axis

LTF:

- Tata Neu Infinity
- Kotak Pvr Inox
- Indusind EazyDiner Signature
- SBI Cashback
- RBL Play
- One Card

Most recent memorable experience has been Amex acceptance on direct swipe for school fees without any charges. Another experience has been using one year’s worth of Amex points to book a two wheeler online through Flipkart.

 

[Virtual King]

My Credit Cards and Spends
I have three credit cards and their combined spends cover approx. 60-70% of my annual spends. This is their general usage pattern....

1. Infinia (+ 2 Add-ons) - being used for almost everything, everywhere - online and offline, including tickets and vouchers on Smartbuy (@5x or 10x reward rate as the case may be) and using those vouchers for payment of utility bills like electricity, mobile, etc, lounges, ITC buffets once in a while, etc. Covers almost 60-65% of my credit card spends. Hit the annual milestone of Rs 10 L spends and so the annual fee is waived off.

2. Octane - obviously, primarily for fuel (@6.25% reward rate); plus, grocery, movies (offers), departmental stores & dining *@2.5% reward rate), and then some minimum miscellaneous spends (@1% reward rate). Hit the annual milestone of Rs 2 L so that the annual fee is waived off. Covers almost 10-15% of my credit card spends.

3. Amex Plat Travel - using it primarily for payment of income tax (after TDS) up to Rs 4L, basically to earn milestone rewards. Offline usage is also restricted due to low acceptability - well, it being an Amex, after all. Covers almost 20-25% of my credit cards spends.

And thus, these credit cards and their numerous short stories form a small part of my short life's overall experiences. 🙂

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

After getting Axis Atlas, a lot have changed in the way I look at card spends. Now Atlas has become my go to card for most of the spends. I will list down mostly how I use the cards. In total I have 10 cards, but only 3-4 are active and the rest are drawer cards.

1. Axis Atlas - I use this mainly for all offline swipes in local shops where I purchase day-to-day things. There are always some or the other unexpected non-regular spends on shops. Another use case is HP Pay fuel voucher. I use atlas to buy that from HP Pay app and use. Another use case is Indigo flight ticket booking on direct Indigo website. Then for hotel bookings if I am swiping the card on hotel POS or directly on hotel website, I use Atlas. This card is my entry to Accor and other travel partner ecosystems.

2. HDFC Tata Neu Infinity - This used to be my daily driver card till I got Atlas, but a lot of spends have moved out. Now, I use it only for spends done on Tata brands in Neu app. Also for some of the utilities, insurance, gas, water, mobile recharge etc. All of this gives 5% neu coins + some additional coins based on their offers. Then I mainly use it for bigbasket groceries. Another place is Air India express flights. Since it is a part of Tata ecosystem, I get some neu coins. Then if I am booking Tata branded hotels, (mainly Ginger, and will see Taj/Vivanta etc as a part of upcoming vcacation plan) I use this card. Being integrated in Tata ecosystem is a big positive fore this card. Then I also use it for UPI spends through neu app.

3. HDFC Swiggy - This card I use only for Swiggy spends - Swiggy food order, Instamart, and Dineout. Nothing much to think, direct 10% cashback.

4. HDFC Mariott Bonvoy - Almost a drawer card, but I use this to meet some offers - like the one currently running - Spend 2L by Aug 31 and get 3000 MB points. Mainly using it for lounge access and this is my entry to Mariott ecosystem.

6. HDFC Freedom - Another drawer card. I just keep it so that I get upgraded to Regalia Gold or higher, to follow up later this year.

6. ICICI Amazon Pay - This has become a drawer card for me now. I started my journey with this card in 2022 end. Still getting 5% back on Amazon is great. But my purchases on Amazon has reduced a lot. Still it is used specifically only for Amazon purchases.

7. ICICI Sapphiro - Another drawer card. Using it only for BMS BOGO offer. Nothing much here.

8. Indusind Tiger - Another drawer card. Using it only for BMS BOGO offer and lounge access. I haven't yet got the Priority Pass for this card. Not spending more time here.

9. IDFC First Wealth - Almost a drawer card, used 5000 and got 500 Amazon pay voucher welcome benefit. Other than that, not using this card much.

10. Federal Celesta - Pure drawer card after they removed the lounge access. It used to be my go to card for lounge. I may close this early next year if I don't find any value.

 

[hender]

After getting Axis Atlas, a lot have changed in the way I look at card spends. Now Atlas has become my go to card for most of the spends. I will list down mostly how I use the cards. In total I have 10 cards, but only 3-4 are active and the rest are drawer cards.

1. Axis Atlas - I use this mainly for all offline swipes in local shops where I purchase day-to-day things. There are always some or the other unexpected non-regular spends on shops. Another use case is HP Pay fuel voucher. I use atlas to buy that from HP Pay app and use. Another use case is Indigo flight ticket booking on direct Indigo website. Then for hotel bookings if I am swiping the card on hotel POS or directly on hotel website, I use Atlas. This card is my entry to Accor and other travel partner ecosystems.

2. HDFC Tata Neu Infinity - This used to be my daily driver card till I got Atlas, but a lot of spends have moved out. Now, I use it only for spends done on Tata brands in Neu app. Also for some of the utilities, insurance, gas, water, mobile recharge etc. All of this gives 5% neu coins + some additional coins based on their offers. Then I mainly use it for bigbasket groceries. Another place is Air India express flights. Since it is a part of Tata ecosystem, I get some neu coins. Then if I am booking Tata branded hotels, (mainly Ginger, and will see Taj/Vivanta etc as a part of upcoming vcacation plan) I use this card. Being integrated in Tata ecosystem is a big positive fore this card. Then I also use it for UPI spends through neu app.

3. HDFC Swiggy - This card I use only for Swiggy spends - Swiggy food order, Instamart, and Dineout. Nothing much to think, direct 10% cashback.

4. HDFC Mariott Bonvoy - Almost a drawer card, but I use this to meet some offers - like the one currently running - Spend 2L by Aug 31 and get 3000 MB points. Mainly using it for lounge access and this is my entry to Mariott ecosystem.

6. HDFC Freedom - Another drawer card. I just keep it so that I get upgraded to Regalia Gold or higher, to follow up later this year.

6. ICICI Amazon Pay - This has become a drawer card for me now. I started my journey with this card in 2022 end. Still getting 5% back on Amazon is great. But my purchases on Amazon has reduced a lot. Still it is used specifically only for Amazon purchases.

7. ICICI Sapphiro - Another drawer card. Using it only for BMS BOGO offer. Nothing much here.

8. Indusind Tiger - Another drawer card. Using it only for BMS BOGO offer and lounge access. I haven't yet got the Priority Pass for this card. Not spending more time here.

9. IDFC First Wealth - Almost a drawer card, used 5000 and got 500 Amazon pay voucher welcome benefit. Other than that, not using this card much.

10. Federal Celesta - Pure drawer card after they removed the lounge access. It used to be my go to card for lounge. I may close this early next year if I don't find any value.

Very nice as always, ☝️ don't say, you'll distribute the non usage cards as give away (as RSDC benefits) 😬