How many credit cards do you have?

GingerBob_3

I 've just obtained my 11th card - BoS BT card with no fee. Gives me 20 months of interest free credit. Of the remaining 10, I use Barclaycard Amex/Visa for most household expenditure. It gives 1% cashback. I reserve one card from MBNA wholly for online purchases. I use the Post Office card when abroad, and another MBNA card with 0.5% cashback for work-related expenditure. All are paid back in full each month, apart from the BT card.

twirls

A few years back, I had about seven but kept finding that I was spending lots because, hey I have credits cards. Why not just stick it on there?

I have grown up since then. I currently have one. The Barclaycard Amex and Visa combo. I do travel a lot (only UK based though). If my credit card was declined then I have my debit card as a back up. I think I'm happy with just the one credit card. And of course, it's always paid off in full each month.

zolablue25

I have 3. Amex Everyday for cashback and Halifax Clarity and Nationwide for back up and, primarily, for overseas spends. My wife also has a few, but uses her Amex card wherever she can for the cashback.

All are paid off in full each month by direct debit.

I usually use credit cards in preference to Debit cards unless there is a charge on their use. I have a Barclays offset mortgage current account as my primary account and if I can keep my money in there for a few weeks extra then I will (and do).

gingercordial

- Six credit cards. Amex for the cashback, Halifax Clarity for overseas spending/places that don't take Amex/£5 a month cashback. Three running 0% deals for stoozing. One extra that I got for an opening cashback offer and haven't called to cancel yet.

My credit rating, such as it is, probably isn't brilliant as I've moved twice in the last two years and will be doing so again later this year I think (the perils of London renting) but I doubt the credit cards have had as much of an impact as that.

The Amex and Halifax "working" credit cards get paid off each month; the stoozing ones obviously don't.

cardsguy

I have a few credit cards (sometimes I think too many given I've only been in the UK 1.5 years )

- Aqua (just my first, don't use it anymore)
- BA Amex (10k Avios bonus) - CANCELED recently to be eligible for BAPP bonus in 6 months
- SPG Amex (10k Starpoints/Avios bonus again; got it to mostly replace the BA Amex CC)
- Amex Gold (20k sign up bonus; very good bonus categories like supermarkets and travel; 4 MR points / £ when booking Amex Travel; triggered 7.5k MR bonus on £15k spend)
- Lloyds Avios (decent Avios earning rate; no FX fees; triggered upgrade voucher for 7k spend; £10.5k limit is sometimes handy)
- Barclaycard Hilton (only really got it for the free weekend night in any Hilton; also comes with Hilton Silver, but that doesn't really include much)

Out of these the Amex Gold gets the most use - I like it mostly because you can't keep a balance and Amex customer service is amazing Plus I haven't been in many places recently in London that don't take Amex (be it bars, clubs, restaurants etc)

Coveredinbees!!!!

I've only got 4, 2 with BTs on that expire some time in the future offsetting my mortgage. An M&S card which has been used for spending but I have just got a new 0% spend card for 27 months.

planteria

what is the last one Coveredinbees?
i tend to spend on Cashback cards, rather than build up a 0% Purchase debt.. but it does make good sense:)

Candyapple

planteria wrote: »

what is the last one Coveredinbees?
i tend to spend on Cashback cards, rather than build up a 0% Purchase debt.. but it does make good sense:)

My guess CIB's last card is the Post Office one:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-0-credit-cards#postoffice

Anthorn

w00519772 wrote: »

I am thinking about registering for three credit cards:

1) Tesco Bank - for supermarket purchases
2) Sainsburys - for supermarket purchases
3) American Express Credit Card - for a few big purchases e.g. new PC

I can afford everything outright i.e. the balance on each credit card will be £0 at the end of every month.

Is it a bad idea to have three credit cards? How many credit cards do you have? How is your credit card rating affected? Do you pay everything off at the end of each month?

Depends on your needs.

Overall it is better to get a limit increase on an existing card than to get a new card because on your credit history you will be filling a credit search slot for 6 months and a higher credit limit looks better.

Probably the only reasons for getting another card is because you can't get a limit increase on an existing card, you need the extra potential of for example Mastercard over VISA and vice versa or you need the extra account on your credit history.

w00519772

Scrounger wrote: »

Tesco CC is still useful for double Clubcard points on Tesco fuel. :beer:
Scrounger

I believe you get the same points regardless of whether a credit card or debit card is used at the pump. Both say: "5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel". Therefore I do not understand your comment.