The 16 credit cards i currently have in my wallet and more importantly, why!

Credit cards are the easiest and most efficient way to earn points for free travel. I know that the sign-up bonuses alone from the 16 cards I currently keep have yielded me over $40,000 in free travel over the past eight years!! And that doesn’t even include the points I earn from spending money on these cards (probably another $10,000). So yes, the annual fees do add up, but honestly, it always ends up being a fraction of the money that I have saved over the years on travel. Another theme that you will notice is that the perks of each credit card usually negate the annual fee anyway.

In next week’s post, I will write about all the do’s and don'ts around credit cards, as well as the many myths and FAQs people love to discuss. But for now, here are the 16 cards I currently have in my wallet, and more importantly, the reason I keep each of them! 

PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS (in order of most used to least used)
American Express Gold Card
Annual Fee: $250
Do I actively use this card? YES 
Why do I keep it? It’s one of the best cards out there for earning points on groceries and restaurants (4x points). It also gives me $10 each month to use on GrubHub and another $10 a month on Uber. It’s my most used card! 

Capital One Venture X
Annual Fee: $395
Do I actively use this card? YES 
Why do I keep it? It is my primary card for purchases from Amazon, Costco, Target, Walmart, Retail Stores, and Gas. It also comes with a priority pass membership (airport lounge access), Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit, and $300 plus 10k points each year to use towards travel. 

Chase Freedom (replaced by Freedom Flex)
Annual Fee: $0
Do I actively use this card? Occasionally, when bonus categories are gas, groceries, Amazon, etc.
Why do I keep it? 5x points on rotating categories every three months.  

Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual Fee: $0
Do I actively use this card? Occasionally
Why do I keep it? It’s my backup card for purchases from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Retail Stores, Gas Stations, etc. (If I am trying to earn a lot of Chase points)

Chase Sapphire Preferred 
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? Occasionally, only when AMEX isn’t accepted at restaurants
Why do I keep it? I’m not entirely sure, you do get $50 of hotel credits each year. Maybe it’s time to replace this card, but only because it’s redundant to some of the other cards in my wallet. 

Chase Hyatt 
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Free night each year at a Hyatt hotel worth between $150–$300, discoverist status with Hyatt

Chase Marriott Boundless
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Free night each year at a Marriott hotel worth between $150–$250

American Express Marriott Brilliant 
Annual Fee: $650 (used to be $450)
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? $25 dining credit each month, free night each year worth between $400–$1000, free platinum status with Marriott. However, now with the new annual fee, I won’t be keeping this card for long, especially because I rarely stay at Marriott properties

American Express Marriott (no longer available) 
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Free night each year at a Marriott hotel worth between $150–$250

Chase IHG Premier Card
Annual Fee: $99
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Free night at an IHG hotel each year worth $100–$200, free platinum status, global entry/TSA credit every 5 years, $50 United Airlines credit/yearly, IHG 4th night free when you book with points

Citi ThankYou Preferred 
Annual Fee: $0
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? It’s my oldest credit card, so it helps with my credit history and credit score

BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS (in order of most used to least used)
Chase Ink Preferred Business 
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? YES 
Why do I keep it? Earns 3x points on all travel related purchases: hotels, AirBnB, car rental, bus/train tickets, parking, etc. and also has great travel and car rental insurance. 

American Express Blue Business Plus
Annual Fee: $0
Do I actively use this card? Occasionally
Why do I keep it? It’s my backup card for purchases from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Retail Stores, etc. (especially when I am trying to earn a lot of AMEX points) 

Chase Ink Business Cash
Annual Fee: $0
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? I just got it recently so I can’t close it yet, but I will at some point. 

Barclays American Airlines Aviator Business
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Priority boarding, free checked bag, and inflight savings when I fly American, but I won’t keep this for long

Bank of America Alaska Airlines Business 
Annual Fee: $95
Do I actively use this card? NO
Why do I keep it? Annual companion pass  on Alaska Airlines (buy one ticket, get one for $121)

The next cards potentially on my list to get:
One of the Southwest cards, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited, or the rumored new premium card from Hyatt!