CREDIT PROFILE
* Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of:
* Discover It, 14k limit, 08/2017
* Chase Freedom Unlimited, 10.7k limit, 08/2018
* Chase Sapphire Preferred, 7k limit, 04/2019
* BoA Customized Cash, $3.2k limit, 08/2019
* AmEx Hilton Honors (no AF), $7.5k limit, 10/2019
* Citi Custom Cash, $5.3k limit, 11/2021
* BoA Travel Rewards, $2.8k limit, 02/2022
* Wells Fargo Bilt (now Autograph), $3.8k limit, 08/2022
* BoA Unlimited Cash Rewards, $2.1k limit, 01/2023
* Apple Card, $3.75k limit, 08/2023
* Ulta Card (I know, long story), $1.5k limit, 09/2023
* Citi Simplicity, $4.2k limit, 06/2024
* AmEx Green (upgraded to Gold), 11/2024
* Bilt Blue (no hard inquiry after upgrade with Bilt), 01/2026
* BoA Atmos Ascent, $7.9k limit, 03/2026
* FICO scores with source: Experian 764, Equifax 776
* Oldest credit card account age: Discover, almost 9 years
* Cards approved in the past 6 months: 1 (BoA Atmos)
* Cards approved in the past 12 months: 1 (the BoA Atmos)
* Cards approved in the past 24 months: 3 (the BoA Atmos, Amex Green, Citi Simplicity)
* Annual income $: $45,000
CATEGORIES
* Ok with category-specific cards?: Yes
* Ok with rotating category cards?: Yes
* Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below.
* Dining $: 250
* Groceries $: $250 +/- Aldi
* Gas $: $125 +/-
* Travel $: Don't really travel much, but certainly open to it in the future with all my points
* Using abroad?: n/a
* Other categories or stores: No real significant spend
* Pay rent by card? Yes, amount and fee: $700 w/ 2.99% property's portal fee, but lately paying through Bilt portal which is, of course, 3%
MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS
* Open to business cards: Maybe
PURPOSE
* Purpose of next card: Travel Rewards
* Travel rewards preferences: Open to travel rewards or cashback, but I know that travel rewards is obviously the better deal
* Cards being considered: C1 Venture X, AAdvantage Platinum
ADDITIONAL INFO
I might need to be looking toward r/churning, but I'm nervous about closing cards too soon. I don't value cards per se, but I do value relationships with banks.
I have a tax bill coming up that is about $2900. I'm thinking rather than paying IRS interest, I can open a card with a relatively big sign up bonus and then balance transfer that and chip away at it for quite awhile. It kind of sounds like C1 VX is the most ideal, but having CSP, AmEx Gold, BoA Atmos and now potentially C1 VX would be somewhat excessive in fees. I wouldn't know which one to close or downgrade!
If it helps, I have a fairly large stash of Chase UR points, AmEx MR, and AA points. I don't really have any plans to use them yet (and I know I need to given devaluations more and more lately, but I don't really know what to use them on — just kinda saving them for that rainy day).
Card Recommendation Request with template
byu/jwsp123 inCreditCards
Posted by jwsp123
1 Comment
Man you got a solid collection already but I see what you mean about the annual fees stacking up. For that tax bill situation the C1 VX makes sense – 75k points after spending 4k is pretty decent value and you’d knock out most of that tax payment hitting the bonus
About which card to drop, maybe look at your actual usage patterns? Like if you’re not maximizing the Amex Gold dining benefits or the CSP transfer partners, one of those could be candidate for downgrade. The BoA Atmos is still pretty new so probably keep that around for the relationship
The AA Platinum might be easier on your wallet with lower fee but depends if you actually fly American much