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Time to consolidate and actually move to just one card (with backup) with a focus on my lifestyle needs

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kaykayporty

TF Select
My regular expenses are the following - amount to about 40K CC monthly expenses in a tier-1 city.

  1. Uber - 3-4K per month
  2. Bigbasket - 4K per month
  3. Swiggy - 3000 per month
  4. Amazon (very minimal and have APay CC)
  5. Offline dining twice a month - Total 5K
  6. All bill payments - Electricity, Internet - Total on average 5500
  7. Once/Twice a month - a movie - 1000 per month
  8. Yearly subscriptions (Spotify, Google One)
  9. Once a year insurance spend - 20K
  10. Other miscellaneous expenses mostly offline.
I take a trip once or twice a year. Total of that would be 1.5 lakhs. And of course, other big purchases once a year of 60-100K

Total yearly expenses - close to 8 lakhs.

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Cards I currently have:
  1. Regalia (LTF) -
    1. I don't use it anymore and only kept it for Priority Pass.
  2. Tata Neu Infinity (FYF) -
    1. Bill payments - electricity and internet
    2. Groceries from BigBasket
    3. I don't understand how 1.5% works for each transaction. That's not clear in the statement. I think it's cumulative.
    4. I ideally want to move away from this card since most merchant transactions are done via CC and most merchants don't use CC on UPI.
  3. Amazon ICICI (LTF) -
    1. I use it for offline transactions.
    2. Amazon, obviously.
  4. Scapia (LTF) -
    1. For 0 forex charges only
    2. Want to keep it for international travel and also not paying forex charges for international transactions.

Most expenses are on Amazon ICICI (amazon and offline), Tata Neu Infinity (bigbasket and all international transactions are on Scapia (1K a month)

---
What I want and what is my expectation:
I don't want to manage so many cards and want to simplify my life. Rewards are lovely but my mental peace is far more rewarding to me.

  1. I want to move to just one card for most things. Since most expenses are online, acceptance (like AMEX) isn't in an issue.
    1. Tracking transactions amongst so many cards is difficult, and I want to make life simple.
    2. A backup card, should be LTF, would be great.
  2. A simple reward rate of 2% is good enough for me for offline. Online can be managed with gift cards from Gyftr so sky is the limit.
    1. Tracking so many cards and their transactions and rewards is time consuming.
  3. What have I been redeeming my rewards on till date:
    1. I have been redeeming my points in Regalia for flights and hotels - which has worked well for me, but the value is too low. Only done twice with flights and once with a hotel.
    2. AmazonPay has been extremely rewarding but is, of course, limited to Amazon. But 5% is really great. Not stopping this card.
    3. Tata Neu has helped cut down on grocery bills so that's pretty good as well. I don't use other Tata brands at all.
    4. Scapia is useless for me since I travel rarely and the prices on their app are high. Zero forex for when I travel.
  4. I have no problem with reward points as I'm patient for them to accumulate over time. But it shouldn't devalue quickly.
    1. I'll consume them on a flight or a hotel booking.
    2. I don't stay in Marriot or such. Something mid-range like Ibis or Lemon tree (max).
I want a long-term card - something I should not be thinking about. I want to get out of the card game but stay with one primary card (with one or two more as backup).
 
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cardio_guy said:
"Rewards are lovely but my mental peace is far more rewarding to me." - Very true.

My suggestion - If you use two cards, use both from the same bank, so that it is easy to track.
If you use Amazon Pay ICICI, then get ICICI Emeralde also (or at least Sapphiro). Just use these 2 cards, nothing else.

My case -
I use Amazon Pay ICICI for almost everything, keeping Sapphiro as a backup. (I rarely use Sapphiro for petrol fillings like 10k per quarter)
Amazon pay - Online 5% & 2% and offline 1% is good enough. The average cashback comes to around 2-3% for me.

I don't use any of the other cards that I have. (Just keeping them to show off 😛). I have turned OFF all transactions in all other cards.

Life is much simpler, calm, and sufficient now. I learned recently that the extra Rs 100 - 500 cashback is not going to make any significant change in my life. 🙂 All the best.
Click to expand...
Hello! So nice to finally see someone with the same philosophy.

I don't think Sapphiro fits the bill since the reward rate or redemption isn't there
 
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kaykayporty said:
I'm considering moving to DCB Plastic/Metal - but isn't their acceptance lower than AMEX? Even internationally.

I don't think I'll get a hold of Infinia. It's invite only and requires a robust relationship with the bank. I only have a salary account with HDFC.
Click to expand...
It is one of the biggest myths that DCB has acceptance issues. May be it used to some years ago but not now. I got mine in 2023 and have swiped at standalone (i.e. no MNC chain) restaurants in Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh without a single offline acceptance issue. I did have online acceptance issues at on some small DTH / mobile recharges of a few hundred rupees and La Pino's Pizza and a couple of other websites I don't remember.

My recommendation is to upgrade your Regalia to DCB Plastic or Infinia, even they are paid. DCB plastic has fee waiver on annual spends of 5L which is ideal for your total expenses of "close to 8L". For DCB Metal and Infinia it is 8L. Infinia will at least refund you 10k pts but not the DCBs. I was offered Inifinia Metal but I declined in favour of DCB since it fit my use case better. I think it fits your use case better too. DCB will give you 500+500 vouchers of Ola & BMS on monthly spends of 80k and 2X RPs (6.66% returns if you consider 1 RP = Rs 1) on weekend dining at standalone restaurants. This is a plus for pts 1, 5 and 7 in your list. Infinia won't give you that. However, Infinia will give you 5X (16.67% returns) on BB, Swiggy, Amazon Pay vouchers via SmartBuy + Gyftr unlike DCB which will give you 3X (10% returns).
 
kaykayporty said:
I'm considering moving to DCB Plastic/Metal - but isn't their acceptance lower than AMEX? Even internationally.

I don't think I'll get a hold of Infinia. It's invite only and requires a robust relationship with the bank. I only have a salary account with HDFC.
Click to expand...
Acceptance is not an issue for any card in tier 1 city.
Also it is ideal for 8L lac spends. For below get Atlas
Third option I would suggest is Amex plat travel, up to 4L it is also good card.
 
dexter_greycells said:
It is one of the biggest myths that DCB has acceptance issues. May be it used to some years ago but not now. I got mine in 2023 and have swiped at standalone (i.e. no MNC chain) restaurants in Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh without a single offline acceptance issue. I did have online acceptance issues at on some small DTH / mobile recharges of a few hundred rupees and La Pino's Pizza and a couple of other websites I don't remember.

My recommendation is to upgrade your Regalia to DCB Plastic or Infinia, even they are paid. DCB plastic has fee waiver on annual spends of 5L which is ideal for your total expenses of "close to 8L". For DCB Metal and Infinia it is 8L. Infinia will at least refund you 10k pts but not the DCBs. I was offered Inifinia Metal but I declined in favour of DCB since it fit my use case better. I think it fits your use case better too. DCB will give you 500+500 vouchers of Ola & BMS on monthly spends of 80k and 2X RPs (6.66% returns if you consider 1 RP = Rs 1) on weekend dining at standalone restaurants. This is a plus for pts 1, 5 and 7 in your list. Infinia won't give you that. However, Infinia will give you 5X (16.67% returns) on BB, Swiggy, Amazon Pay vouchers via SmartBuy + Gyftr unlike DCB which will give you 3X (10% returns).
Click to expand...
You're the first person who has said this. I always hear DCB acceptance issues. But this is a good sign.

Nevertheless, Gyftr is a gift that will always give!
 
dexter_greycells said:
It is one of the biggest myths that DCB has acceptance issues. May be it used to some years ago but not now. I got mine in 2023 and have swiped at standalone (i.e. no MNC chain) restaurants in Telangana, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh without a single offline acceptance issue. I did have online acceptance issues at on some small DTH / mobile recharges of a few hundred rupees and La Pino's Pizza and a couple of other websites I don't remember.

My recommendation is to upgrade your Regalia to DCB Plastic or Infinia, even they are paid. DCB plastic has fee waiver on annual spends of 5L which is ideal for your total expenses of "close to 8L". For DCB Metal and Infinia it is 8L. Infinia will at least refund you 10k pts but not the DCBs. I was offered Inifinia Metal but I declined in favour of DCB since it fit my use case better. I think it fits your use case better too. DCB will give you 500+500 vouchers of Ola & BMS on monthly spends of 80k and 2X RPs (6.66% returns if you consider 1 RP = Rs 1) on weekend dining at standalone restaurants. This is a plus for pts 1, 5 and 7 in your list. Infinia won't give you that. However, Infinia will give you 5X (16.67% returns) on BB, Swiggy, Amazon Pay vouchers via SmartBuy + Gyftr unlike DCB which will give you 3X (10% returns).
Click to expand...
Since DinersClub is tied up to Discover -- and more significantly RuPay, I guess it must be pretty widely accepted now.
 
cardio_guy said:
"Rewards are lovely but my mental peace is far more rewarding to me." - Very true.

My suggestion - If you use two cards, use both from the same bank, so that it is easy to track.
If you use Amazon Pay ICICI, then get ICICI Emeralde also (or at least Sapphiro). Just use these 2 cards, nothing else.

My case -
I use Amazon Pay ICICI for almost everything, keeping Sapphiro as a backup. (I rarely use Sapphiro for petrol fillings like 10k per quarter)
Amazon pay - Online 5% & 2% and offline 1% is good enough. The average cashback comes to around 2-3% for me.

I don't use any of the other cards that I have. (Just keeping them to show off 😛). I have turned OFF all transactions in all other cards.

Life is much simpler, calm, and sufficient now. I learned recently that the extra Rs 100 - 500 cashback is not going to make any significant change in my life. 🙂 All the best.
Click to expand...
I have 19 cards as of last count but many times I wish I go back to having just 3-4 cards (I think that is the optimum number personally).

Of the cards I have, I use 3 cards the most: HDFC Tata Neu Infinity + HDFC Infinia + SBI Cashback. I could live with just these 3 cards for most occasions. Before I got into the cards game, my maximum used card was ICICI Amazon Pay too, and still use it sometimes on Amazon even though I could use SBI Cashback too.

Agree with most of the points mentioned by you except one - If one was to have only 2 cards, it would rather be from 2 different banks.

Hope I someday decide to downsize to 3-4 cards, but with devaluations all around, prefer to keep options available for now.
 
niks said:
I have 19 cards as of last count but many times I wish I go back to having just 3-4 cards (I think that is the optimum number personally).

Of the cards I have, I use 3 cards the most: HDFC Tata Neu Infinity + HDFC Infinia + SBI Cashback. I could live with just these 3 cards for most occasions. Before I got into the cards game, my maximum used card was ICICI Amazon Pay too, and still use it sometimes on Amazon even though I could use SBI Cashback too.

Agree with most of the points mentioned by you except one - If one was to have only 2 cards, it would rather be from 2 different banks.

Hope I someday decide to downsize to 3-4 cards, but with devaluations all around, prefer to keep options available for now.
Click to expand...
Fair game. Fair game.
 
kaykayporty said:
Hello! So nice to finally see someone with the same philosophy.

I don't think Sapphiro fits the bill since the reward rate or redemption isn't there
Click to expand...
1. Agree, if you should take from different banks, that is good enough. Go with what works for you.
I was just trying to relate to one example. Yes reward-wise ICICI is the worst.

I haven't gotten yet into the HDFC world. I have seen Axis and HDFC are the best in terms of rewards/value worth.
Devaluation is something we cannot avoid, and that threat will be there always.
Once the primary card is devalued heavily and it no longer makes sense to continue, then think of switching to another premium card.
We don't have to get married to one card for the entire lifetime.
 
cardio_guy said:
1. Agree, if you should take from different banks, that is good enough. Go with what works for you.
I was just trying to relate to one example. Yes reward-wise ICICI is the worst.

I haven't gotten yet into the HDFC world. I have seen Axis and HDFC are the best in terms of rewards/value worth.
Devaluation is something we cannot avoid, and that threat will be there always.
Once the primary card is devalued heavily and it no longer makes sense to continue, then think of switching to another premium card.
We don't have to get married to one card for the entire lifetime.
Click to expand...
Looks like that is something I'll have to deal with.
 
Conclusion:

One of the three as main cards:
  1. Try to upgrade Regalia to DCB (plastic or metal).
    1. Best option as it has SmartBuy ✅
  2. Atlas is also a good option but devaluation is something that might happen soon ✅
  3. Additionally, I'll want to keep an AMEX maybe much later - but offline acceptance is a challenge 🆗🆗
Cards that I'll be ditching:
  1. Tata Neu Infinity
  2. Regalia will go as it will be upgraded to DCB.
Cards that I'll be keeping (mostly as backup):
  1. Amazon Pay ICICI - For local expenses if DCB isn't accepted offline and of course Amazon expenses.
  2. Scapia - Keeping it for now because of 0 forex and because it's on the VISA network.
 
Last edited:
Amz pay CC gives 1%. TN Infinity gives 1.5%. So logically you should use the TN CC for all general txn. The TN points can be redeemed against the 4K Bigbasket spends.
 
panchabhut said:
Amz pay CC gives 1%. TN Infinity gives 1.5%. So logically you should use the TN CC for all general txn. The TN points can be redeemed against the 4K Bigbasket spends.
Click to expand...
I think you should read the original post once.

Rewards wise - sure. But it does not make sense in the portfolio otherwise.
 
kaykayporty said:
Conclusion:

One of the three as main cards:
  1. Try to upgrade Regalia to DCB (plastic or metal).
    1. Best option as it has SmartBuy ✅
  2. Atlas is also a good option but devaluation is something that might happen soon ✅
  3. Additionally, I'll want to keep an AMEX maybe much later - but offline acceptance is a challenge 🆗🆗
Cards that I'll be ditching:
  1. Tata Neu Infinity
  2. Regalia will go as it will be upgraded to DCB.
Cards that I'll be keeping (mostly as backup):
  1. Amazon Pay ICICI - For local expenses if DCB isn't accepted offline and of course Amazon expenses.
  2. Scapia - Keeping it for now because of 0 forex and because it's on the VISA network.
Click to expand...
Why did you not consider AU LIT as your primary?
Its doesn't have exorbitant fee like DCB/ Atlas
Its LTF card with paid riders which wont cost you like DCB/Atlas
You can activate riders based on your foreseen expenses
Since its on Visa, there is no acceptance issue.
 
kaykayporty said:
Conclusion:

One of the three as main cards:
  1. Try to upgrade Regalia to DCB (plastic or metal).
    1. Best option as it has SmartBuy ✅
  2. Atlas is also a good option but devaluation is something that might happen soon ✅
  3. Additionally, I'll want to keep an AMEX maybe much later - but offline acceptance is a challenge 🆗🆗
Cards that I'll be ditching:
  1. Tata Neu Infinity
  2. Regalia will go as it will be upgraded to DCB.
Cards that I'll be keeping (mostly as backup):
  1. Amazon Pay ICICI - For local expenses if DCB isn't accepted offline and of course Amazon expenses.
  2. Scapia - Keeping it for now because of 0 forex and because it's on the VISA network.
Click to expand...
Avoid DCB Metal and go for DCB Plastic if -
a) Your annual spends on DCB are going to exceed 5L but not 8L
b) You most likely won't breach the daily cap of 2500 or monthly cap of 7500 bonus RPs via SmartBuy
c) You are more likely to spend 80k or more in one month than 4L in a quarter which are the respective thresholds for the Monthly Milestone benefits.

I suggest you keep the Tata Neu Infinity because it is the only RuPay card in your arsenal and RuPay still has specific offers that VISA/MC don't. Plus it has RuPay CC on UPI too just in case you come across a merchant who won't let you swipe a CC but has a UPI QR code and hasn't turned off RuPay CC on UPI. I too follow your thinking of keeping the minimum number of CCs and the lack of a RuPay card in the past cost me very often; so I got an FD backed LTF one from a co-op bank (Saraswat) long before all the major banks started offering a complimentary LTF RuPay CC or TataNeu CCs got launched.
 
techt said:
@dexter_greycells @kaykayporty - what is DCB's reward rate on govt services like nps, income tax, property taxes ? School/tution fee ?
Click to expand...
From personal usage, I can confirm that -

1. Gov related transactions get you no points. The T&C also state that clearly and a couple of my e-challan payments got me no RPs -

2. School/tution fees get you the base rewards of 3.33%

Both will still let you qualify for the Monthly (Plastic) / Quarterly (Metal) Milestone benefits

There is a recently launched Diners BizBlack Credit Card which is a DCB clone for Business. That has 5X RPs on Government spends. Most RMs have no clue about it and no one has been apply online for that one as yet.
 
dexter_greycells said:
Avoid DCB Metal and go for DCB Plastic if -
a) Your annual spends on DCB are going to exceed 5L but not 8L
b) You most likely won't breach the daily cap of 2500 or monthly cap of 7500 bonus RPs via SmartBuy
c) You are more likely to spend 80k or more in one month than 4L in a quarter which are the respective thresholds for the Monthly Milestone benefits.

I suggest you keep the Tata Neu Infinity because it is the only RuPay card in your arsenal and RuPay still has specific offers that VISA/MC don't. Plus it has RuPay CC on UPI too just in case you come across a merchant who won't let you swipe a CC but has a UPI QR code and hasn't turned off RuPay CC on UPI. I too follow your thinking of keeping the minimum number of CCs and the lack of a RuPay card in the past cost me very often; so I got an FD backed LTF one from a co-op bank (Saraswat) long before all the major banks started offering a complimentary LTF RuPay CC or TataNeu CCs got launched.
Click to expand...

I'll try to go for Plastic. That's a good point.

I don't think I'll be spending 4L in a quarter. But 80K once a month or maybe twice.

I'll have to see if I can make Tata Neu Infinity lifetime free. Only then it makes sense. Most merchants have turned off Rupay CC on UPI.
 
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