Optimizing Credit Card Usage and Recommendations for CC

[macx]

Hello TF Community,
Long time lurker and first time poster.
Current Financial Status:
Takehome : 120k
Cibil Score: 790
Credit History: 8-9 Years

CIBIL History Note:
I had an education loan default (10 Missed Payment's) in CIBIL which was settled and closed in Dec 2017.

Existing Credit Cards:

LTF:
ICICI Platinum/Corel (Limit: 420K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.
APAY (Limit: 420K) - For Amazon transactions.
HDFC Millenia (Limit: 112K) - Primary card.
RBL Shoprite (Limit: 142K) - LTF card acting as a replacement for RBL LoanPass.
Bob Easy (Limit: 20K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.

Paid Cards:
SBI Octane (Limit: 142K) - Exclusively for BPCL Petrol and Gas, and dining.
AXIS Airtel (Limit: 210K) - Used for Airtel bills, Swiggy, and Utility bills.
SC Smart (Limit: 500K) - Testing the waters for SC Cards.

Note: Axis Airtel and SC Smart are new additions.

Main Monthly Expenses:
Rent and Maintenance GPay (~20K)
Monthly Petrol expenses averaging (6K+)
4 Train or Bus journeys per month, covering around 700KM each. (4K for the Trian or 10K for by Bus)
Online Groceries from Swiggy Instamart, Fresh to Home (5K-6K)
Offline Shopping at Dmart, Lulu Hypermart, Reliance Fresh.(~10K)
Daily UPI Transactions, approx. 50 /Day. (~1.5K)
Weekly Offline Dining Out close to 3K. (~10K)
Weekly offline Expenses averaging 2K. (9K)


Planned extra Expenses from Jan:
Health Insurance for Parent (~40K/ Year)
Term Insurance for myself (40K/ Year)
NPS Contribution of 50K/ Year.

Credit Card Expenditure for the Year:
(Note: The figures provided are approximations with random digits added/subtracted for no special reasons.)


Seeking Advice:
I'm seeking suggestions for an offline card.
I have shortlisted Axis Ace, SC Ultimate, MRCC/ Gold Charge( Not sure if I will get approval due to CIBIL Default's).

P.S. I have a pre-approved offer for SC Ultimate. (Not available currently)

Thank you for your valuable insights!

 

[kundan]

Hello TF Community,
Long time lurker and first time poster.
Current Financial Status:
Takehome : 120k
Cibil Score: 790
Credit History: 8-9 Years

CIBIL History Note:
I had an education loan default (10 Missed Payment's) in CIBIL which was settled and closed in Dec 2017.

Existing Credit Cards:

LTF:
ICICI Platinum/Corel (Limit: 420K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.
APAY (Limit: 420K) - For Amazon transactions.
HDFC Millenia (Limit: 112K) - Primary card.
RBL Shoprite (Limit: 142K) - LTF card acting as a replacement for RBL LoanPass.
Bob Easy (Limit: 20K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.

Paid Cards:
SBI Octane (Limit: 142K) - Exclusively for BPCL Petrol and Gas, and dining.
AXIS Airtel (Limit: 210K) - Used for Airtel bills, Swiggy, and Utility bills.
SC Smart (Limit: 500K) - Testing the waters for SC Cards.

Note: Axis Airtel and SC Smart are new additions.

Main Expenses:
Rent and Maintenance GPay (~20K)
Monthly Petrol expenses averaging (6K+)
4 Train or Bus journeys per month, covering around 700KM each. (4K for the Trian or 10K for by Bus)
Online Groceries from Swiggy Instamart, Fresh to Home (5K-6K)
Offline Shopping at Dmart, Lulu Hypermart, Reliance Fresh.(~10K)
Daily UPI Transactions for Cigarettes and Tea, approx. 50 /Day. (~1.5K)
Weekly Offline Dining Out close to 3K. (~10K)
Weekly Liquor Store Expenses averaging 2K. (9K)


Planned extra Expenses from Jan:
Health Insurance for Parent (~40K/ Year)
Term Insurance for myself (40K/ Year)
NPS Contribution of 50K/ Year.

Credit Card Expenditure for the Year:
(Note: The figures provided are approximations with random digits added/subtracted for no special reasons.)
View attachment 31675

Seeking Advice:
I'm seeking suggestions for an offline card for groceries and for purchasing liquor from MRP shops.
I have shortlisted Axis Ace, SC Ultimate, MRCC/ Gold Charge.

P.S. I have a pre-approved offer for SC Ultimate.

Thank you for your valuable insights!

MRCC using referral and Axis Atlas. Both will give points on offline purchases.

MRCC with zero joining fee and 1500 + taxes is better than GOLD charges which even after a referral joining fee is 1000 + taxes and 4500 + taxes annual fee. Plus on spend of 1.5lakh in a year annual fee is waived off on MRCC.
Additionally, you get 2000 bonus points on MRCC on spend of 20k in a calendar month.

All extra planned expenses can be done using both these cards.

And anything above 20k I will recommend Atlas which is a milestone card.

here is the Amex referral link if you want to apply

You have been referred for an American Express Card by your friend

Step into a world of rewards with the American Express® Platinum Travel Credit Card. Apply now with my referral link. T&C Apply.

americanexpress.com

 

[macx]

@kundan
Thanks for replying, I will do some research on Axis Atlas and the eligibility.
Any experience in the acceptance of Amex cards in and around Karnataka Bangalore City. Once I saw MRCC not working in Decathlon Store In Electronic City, not sure if the machine was causing issue's or they are not accepting.

 

[divykk]

In similar situation and looking for a new card mainly for insurance payments of ~80K.
Atlas is not useful for insurance payments > 5K otherwise its good option.

 

[kundan]

@kundan
Thanks for replying, I will do some research on Axis Atlas and the eligibility.
Any experience in the acceptance of Amex cards in and around Karnataka Bangalore City. Once I saw MRCC not working in Decathlon Store In Electronic City, not sure if the machine was causing issue's or they are not accepting.

Yes, acceptance is an issue with Amex but all the new machines with accept Amex. Mostly the merchants are not sure if Amex is supported. So, sometimes you have to ask them to try. But I live in Hyderabad and I never faced any issues same should be for Bangalore I believe.

 

[kundan]

In similar situation and looking for a new card mainly for insurance payments of ~80K.
Atlas is not useful for insurance payments > 5K otherwise its good option.

1. If your insurance company is in Amazon then the best is to buy Amazon Pay GV and pay it from there.
2. if your policy is from Policybazaar then you can ask them to send you a link with Amazon Pay wallet😉 (I recently did this with my HDFC ergo Health plan)

Many cards are there that give good rewards when you buy Amazon Pay GV. But I use Amex Gold for a 5x reward.

 

[divykk]

Thanks @kundan
This would be the first payment on insurer website for one of the insurance(not opting for policybazar).
Also, I would be able to get HDFC Diners Priviledge (Institute Alumni), would that be a good choice as it will fetch 4 RPs/150 (Capping of 2000 RPs/day)?

PS I have SBI Cashback, ICICI Rubyx, ICICI APAY, SBI Simply Click, HDFC Neu Infinity, One Card

 

[kundan]

Thanks @kundan
This would be the first payment on insurer website for one of the insurance(not opting for policybazar).
Also, I would be able to get HDFC Diners Priviledge (Institute Alumni), would that be a good choice as it will fetch 4 RPs/150 (Capping of 2000 RPs/day)?

PS I have SBI Cashback, ICICI Rubyx, ICICI APAY, SBI Simply Click, HDFC Neu Infinity, One Card

So you are buying the insurance then. Of all the cards you have Hdfc Neu Infinity with UPI transaction will fetch you 1.5% reward.

Also, HDFC Diners Privilege is a good choice.

 

[jk51]

Hello TF Community,
Long time lurker and first time poster.
Current Financial Status:
Takehome : 120k
Cibil Score: 790
Credit History: 8-9 Years

CIBIL History Note:
I had an education loan default (10 Missed Payment's) in CIBIL which was settled and closed in Dec 2017.

Existing Credit Cards:

LTF:
ICICI Platinum/Corel (Limit: 420K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.
APAY (Limit: 420K) - For Amazon transactions.
HDFC Millenia (Limit: 112K) - Primary card.
RBL Shoprite (Limit: 142K) - LTF card acting as a replacement for RBL LoanPass.
Bob Easy (Limit: 20K) - Utilized for bank offers and UPI.

Paid Cards:
SBI Octane (Limit: 142K) - Exclusively for BPCL Petrol and Gas, and dining.
AXIS Airtel (Limit: 210K) - Used for Airtel bills, Swiggy, and Utility bills.
SC Smart (Limit: 500K) - Testing the waters for SC Cards.

Note: Axis Airtel and SC Smart are new additions.

Main Monthly Expenses:
Rent and Maintenance GPay (~20K)
Monthly Petrol expenses averaging (6K+)
4 Train or Bus journeys per month, covering around 700KM each. (4K for the Trian or 10K for by Bus)
Online Groceries from Swiggy Instamart, Fresh to Home (5K-6K)
Offline Shopping at Dmart, Lulu Hypermart, Reliance Fresh.(~10K)
Daily UPI Transactions, approx. 50 /Day. (~1.5K)
Weekly Offline Dining Out close to 3K. (~10K)
Weekly offline Expenses averaging 2K. (9K)


Planned extra Expenses from Jan:
Health Insurance for Parent (~40K/ Year)
Term Insurance for myself (40K/ Year)
NPS Contribution of 50K/ Year.

Credit Card Expenditure for the Year:
(Note: The figures provided are approximations with random digits added/subtracted for no special reasons.)
View attachment 31675

Seeking Advice:
I'm seeking suggestions for an offline card.
I have shortlisted Axis Ace, SC Ultimate, MRCC/ Gold Charge( Not sure if I will get approval due to CIBIL Default's).

P.S. I have a pre-approved offer for SC Ultimate. (Not available currently)

Thank you for your valuable insights!

Have one Amex preferably MRCC through referral so that you get FYF and renewal fees is low at 1,500/- plus tax. I would recommend SC Ultimate if your offline spends are going to be more than 50,000/- in future (it also acts as backup where Amex might not be accepted both online and offline). Since you already hold SC smart approval shouldn’t be an issue.