Need a credit card for misc spends

[gopalkaul]

I currently hold the following cards

• Millenia LTF 3L limit(hdfc imperia with father, salary 1LPM, corporate tie up with HDFC. Could get regalia gold but didn't take as I don't travel)
• Tata Neu Infinity, FYF, shared Limit. Use it for UPI spends, will cancel it this year end if they don't make it ltf
• SBI BPCL Octane(1.3 L limit) paid first year, already spent 3 Lakh on it this FY, sent a mail to make it LTF, hope it works out(less than 1 year old). Have 4 vehicles at home. Use it for all petrol spends
• AU Lit, LTF, 1L Limit. Taken just for discounts
• Idfc millenia 1L Limit LTF, taken for RSA
• OneCard, 20k Limit, no FD, LTF. Use it for all nearby transactions , Use the 10% everytime and milk it out

Spends -

• 7k utilities, like mobile bills and electricity bill(using Millenia with Amazon pay vouchers for this)
• Shopping of around 8 to 10k groceries(OneCard is used for this)
• Fuel around 7k for 3 vehicles
• Swiggy vouchers -1k approx(millenia)
• LIC payment- 3k every 3 months

What I need a card for-
I sometimes get random misc payments, like last month I had to pay for family insurance, spent 1.5 Lakh. Used hdfc millenia to get the milestone benefits, but didn't even get the whole 1%, not that great.
I have 50k payment coming up for my LIC, thrn I want to buy a cult pass(might use Tata Neu Infinity), I have to buy an action camera from the US, so 40000 would go there
Not sure which card to use for such transactions
I don't travel, like not at all maybe once in 5 to 6 years, would prefer hard cashback over this.
I have an offer for MRCC, but I don't see the appeal for it.
Willing to switch saving account to get a good CC too, I would retain imperia status because of family TRV

Looking for suggestions from you folks! What card to add for such expenses?

 

[gopalkaul]

OP has overrall 5L spends (at max.) and in that 1-1.5L+ spends on 10% using Onecard. Not sure will complete milestone because unless card should accept wherever OP trying to transact without any issues and it should be literally everywhere.

Fuel (again this occupies atleast 1L+ spends, so travel card needs extra 2L+ spends every year to achieve milestone if we ignore both), 6% directly getting through Octane, and ok with existing BPCL fuel station with redemption (hoping since spent 3L on this card), can get as statement credit if we want. And if used MRCC then have to spend extra on travel card to achieve milestone. And it should be accepted in that fuel station and have to deal with 20K every month (but OP has only 7k real spend requirement without any strech).

IMO, can be ok to use millennia for online vouchers to get 6% (if plan well to accumulate vouchers to pay for insurance, utility bills, etc.) but yes, these spends can divert to MRCC but as mentioned it needs 20k spends every month to get 5% otherwise returns low (not recommended for one-time payments).

Yeah, MRCC seems worthless to me

I just got the SBI CB card with a 20k limit 😀
I'll have to ask customer care to transfer some limit from the BPCL Octane to this
I'll use the SBI CB with Park+ vouchers everywhere I can, paired with BPCL Octane for fuel and OneCard for groceries

When should I try to make BPCL Octane LTF? I had spoken to them a few days ago but they said this year fee waiver is hit, so no offer for you this year, can't make it LTF

 

[helloworld]

Yeah, MRCC seems worthless to me

I just got the SBI CB card with a 20k limit 😀
I'll have to ask customer care to transfer some limit from the BPCL Octane to this
I'll use the SBI CB with Park+ vouchers everywhere I can, paired with BPCL Octane for fuel and OneCard for groceries

When should I try to make BPCL Octane LTF? I had spoken to them a few days ago but they said this year fee waiver is hit, so no offer for you this year, can't make it LTF

for me, first you have to improve relationship with banks that find useful.

- help you get better cards
- more limit
- better options

chasing each and every card doesn't make any benefit to you. You don't need to have LTF card.

You already spent required for next year on Octane, so continue and if that card no longer useful switch to another one.. keeping it as LTF and not spending on it, doesn't make sense.

In anycase, try after 3 months and after 3 months till renewal. They definitely atleast waive the annual fee for that year, so you can try 4 more times again, if still you want that card by that time.

 

[gopalkaul]

for me, first you have to improve relationship with banks that find useful.

- help you get better cards
- more limit
- better options

chasing each and every card doesn't make any benefit to you. You don't need to have LTF card.

You already spent required for next year on Octane, so continue and if that card no longer useful switch to another one.. keeping it as LTF and not spending on it, doesn't make sense.

In anycase, try after 3 months and after 3 months till renewal. They definitely atleast waive the annual fee for that year, so you can try 4 more times again, if still you want that card by that time.

I already have Imperia with HDFC, but the best I get is a Millenia card
Is there any better bank with which I can make relations that would help?

Octane is worth since gross family petrol spends are above 7,000. Easily justifies annual fees IMO
Having LTF will just ease the mind, since fee waiver fee is too high(2L)

Even if I can get a single card with flat rewards of around 5%, I would be more than happy to just use that single card.
AmEx would fit well, but the sad part is I do not travel at all

 

[helloworld]

I already have Imperia with HDFC, but the best I get is a Millenia card
Is there any better bank with which I can make relations that would help?

You have imperia with your father. Your father has upper edge here compared to your account. Account level you may not eligible for the upgrade yet. You can utilize Regalia gold if needed and upgrade to next card. Millennia -> Gold you already got, which card are you looking?

Infinia, DCB are not that useful to you because you don't travel. You just need cashback cards which doesn't need much than just apply. Because premium and above cards in any bank beneficial mainly if you travel, else current set is good and continue like that. Use Millennia for Misc spends.

Octane is worth since gross family petrol spends are above 7,000. Easily justifies annual fees IMO
Having LTF will just ease the mind, since fee waiver fee is too high(2L)

As mentioned, try now then after 3 months until you get.. there are chances either you'll get fee waiver or LTF. And, personal experience the moment you got LTF, you'll find better cards then eventually either you have to upgrade or stop spending on it. In upgrades, that card no longer LTF. So, unless you want to stick that card forever, no use to waste time for LTF. Only super premium cards worth fight for LTF. Basic or mid-premium always have tough competition.

Even if I can get a single card with flat rewards of around 5%, I would be more than happy to just use that single card.
AmEx would fit well, but the sad part is I do not travel at all

AU Lit gives more than 6%, just have to utilize well and get the benefits (6% after recovering your fee, so if included its even more). Check AU section.

You have required cards and you don't need anything else. This is my opinion, rest upto you.

 

[gopalkaul]

You have imperia with your father. Your father has upper edge here compared to your account. Account level you may not eligible for the upgrade yet. You can utilize Regalia gold if needed and upgrade to next card. Millennia -> Gold you already got, which card are you looking?

Infinia, DCB are not that useful to you because you don't travel. You just need cashback cards which doesn't need much than just apply. Because premium and above cards in any bank beneficial mainly if you travel, else current set is good and continue like that. Use Millennia for Misc spends.

As mentioned, try now then after 3 months until you get.. there are chances either you'll get fee waiver or LTF. And, personal experience the moment you got LTF, you'll find better cards then eventually either you have to upgrade or stop spending on it. In upgrades, that card no longer LTF. So, unless you want to stick that card forever, no use to waste time for LTF. Only super premium cards worth fight for LTF. Basic or mid-premium always have tough competition.



AU Lit gives more than 6%, just have to utilize well and get the benefits (6% after recovering your fee, so if included its even more). Check AU section.

You have required cards and you don't need anything else. This is my opinion, rest upto you.

My account has imperia status too, and this is my primary salary account
I can take Regalia gold maybe now, since I got SBI CB, but I don't see it's use as of now.

I'll try to make CB LTF

 

[gopalkaul]

Folks, another query
Tomorrow, a friend is buying a bike worth 2.85 Lakh Rs, and he's asking me to pay, and he'll pay me back. There's no doubt he will, but, I'm thinking if I should swipe a CC rather than giving a cheque.
I have the MRCC laying at home unactivated with 4.2L limit, and the Millenia with 3L limit. Does it make sense to activate the MRCC to pay? The card would become FYF then. (No, I didn't take this card via referral, stupid me, and now I realise I don't need this card, so this card wasn't FYF and next year the fee is 4500)

 

[helloworld]

Folks, another query
Tomorrow, a friend is buying a bike worth 2.85 Lakh Rs, and he's asking me to pay, and he'll pay me back. There's no doubt he will, but, I'm thinking if I should swipe a CC rather than giving a cheque.
I have the MRCC laying at home unactivated with 4.2L limit, and the Millenia with 3L limit. Does it make sense to activate the MRCC to pay? The card would become FYF then. (No, I didn't take this card via referral, stupid me, and now I realise I don't need this card, so this card wasn't FYF and next year the fee is 4500)

It depends on MDR and acceptance, calculate value given then use the required card.

If AMEX accepted and MDR is 1% (its not possible, they definitely will ask more but for assumption) then

MRCC gives 0.7%* and you're paying extra (0.3%)

*value depends on redemption, this is for amzn vouchers.

Millennia gives 1% (if mcc eligible) and additional 1% (for 1L milestone) and you're effectively getting 1%.

Its upto you.. again it depends on acceptance, MDR they charged, redemption options, milestone benefits.

If AMEX accepted, your best card is Plat Travel for this purchase.. more rewards.