Don’t Obsess Over Credit Card Optimization: A Recovering Churner’s Guide

I used to carry 23 credit cards. I tracked rotating categories in spreadsheets. I calculated the optimal card for every purchase down to the penny. I was maximizing rewards—and miserable.

Here’s what I learned about finding the right balance.

What Actually Matters

The 80/20 of credit cards:

1. Pay in full every month (worth: infinite)
2. Get a good baseline card (2% everything = $480/year on $24K spend)
3. Add 1-2 category cards for your top spending (adds $100-200/year)
4. Stop there

Going from 3 cards to 10 cards might add $200/year. Going from paying interest to not paying interest saves $500-2000/year.

The Right Amount of Optimization

Do:

• Have a 2% baseline card for non-category spending
• Get one card for your biggest category (dining, groceries, travel)
• Set up autopay and forget it
• Check for new cards once a year

Don’t:

• Track rotating categories across 5 cards
• Calculate optimal cards at the register
• Apply for cards just because they exist
• Spend hours weekly on credit card forums

The Bottom Line

Credit card optimization has diminishing returns. A simple, well-chosen setup beats complex optimization for most people.

Get the basics right. Then go live your life.