Graham Stephan love reward credit cards, who doesn’t right? He recently did a video on 5 credit cards he thinks every person needs. So, here is my reaction to Graham Stephan credit card recommendation of the Citi Double Cash, Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Amazon Prime credit card, American Express Gold card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
00:00 – start
00:54 – Discover it secure card
1:23 – Graham only 5 Cards youll ever need
1:39 – Citi Double Cash
2:38 – Chase Amazon Prime Card
3:25 – Chase Freedom Flex
4:23 – Amex Gold
6:20 – Chase Sapphire Reserve
7:50 – Evaluating the Set up
8:34 – My 5 cards you should have
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29 comments
As far as "must have cards", if you could only have 5 ever, forever, i think i would have to say freedom(or cic), csr (or csp/cibp) double cash, citi premier, and then the 5th slot probably a chase hotel or airline card (to fit your most frequent needs, i think the ihg premier is an amazing value right now, as is marriott). I'm also not a big fan of amex, so pretty biased i know, but if any amex card(s), i would say maybe the plat for the 5th slot
you must save a lot of money….. great video as always 💳
Does frontier trigger real time rewards?
I have the US Bank Cash Plus, Discover It Cashback, Amex Gold, Hilton Honors Surpass, Amazon Prime Store Card, and Home Depot Store Card and these hit all my marks.
I don’t really travel much. What do you think about
1. Discover it
2 freedom
3. FU
4. Cash +
5. BCP ( thinking about applying after the 12 months FU grocery bonus
Agree on the Blue Cash Preferred card but I've already downgraded to the Blue Cash Everyday for this year due to Freedom Flex 5% on Groceries. I did the math and I come out better with this arrangement (at least for this year) then I'll get the BCP again. Disagree on Altitude Preferred. The Sapphire Reserve has better coverage and specifically the rental car coverage which is primary.
I got the Gold card before they revamped it. While I think 4x for food is the best out there on the market, I think in the long run it’s not worth the AF. I might cancel the card and just keep my Amex ED for the MR points. And maybe finally apply for a Amex Platinum (despite the fact I have the CSR).
Finally US Bank getting some love. The Cash+ Card is hard to beat, but it’s very hard to get. Having an existing relationship and low, very low hard inquiries will let you qualify.
Amex Gold seems more justifiable if you also have Schwab Platinum and BBP. That trifecta combined with Amex Offers and Referrals is solid. That said, I like your choices for someone that just wants to have a minimum amount of cards to maximize earning. The problem with this mentality of minimalistic amount of cards is that the game changes all the time. There is always a need to evolve and tweak set ups. There is also the question of cash back vs point currencies. One helps you travel faster than the other.
Graham is a smart guy, just ask him. 😂
I have to say, your list fits me better than Graham’s does. I have all the cards on your list…minus the Altitude Reserve. Though personally I think the Chase Amazon Prime card would end up being my choice for even a single card setup…so likely it would make my own 5 card list. I know it doesn’t seem like a top contender on the surface, but earning 2x on dining, fuel, and pharmacies effectively replaces the DoubleCash in those fairly high spend areas. Then the 5x at Amazon can be used for non-perishable groceries from Prime Pantry, and paying the annual Prime membership with the card is effectively 5x on Prime Video and Prime Music. So not every streaming service…but a few. And not all of your groceries…but some. It also travels exceedingly well with no foreign transaction fees, and many protections (e.g. baggage delay, lost luggage, travel accident, and secondary car rental insurances…also roadside assistance and extended warranty protections). For a no annual fee card, I like it a lot. Yes it has a back door fee with needing a Prime membership…but most everyone I know has Prime anyway. Might as well get the card that makes it even better. And for the few that don’t have Prime, even the non-prime version is good. The only thing that changes is the Amazon/Whole Paycheck multiplier going to 3x instead…but all the other benefits remain. With the setup you gave us, I’d think the DoubleCash is even less valuable because of the 3x on mobile payments from the Altitude Reserve. The Cash+ card is an inspired choice. So useful in smoothing out gaps in what other cards cover, just wish it could travel a bit better. No real issues with the Freedom Flex either (cellphone protection and everyday 3x dining for the win)…but again…travels badly. If you made me commit to five cards…I’d have to do a lot of thinking to get a dedicated travel card slotted in there. This was a fun topic. I think you card gurus ought to make this an annual event…maybe even do a collaboration video with Graham and Sebastian.
*All the content creators replying to Graham should pay 10% for giving them something to clap back at *
Amex is dropping there $100.00 travel credit on gold card
Much better. by the way who`s Grahm Stephen?????
I here you can have 2 discover personal cards, & as I currently understand you can have a 5% rotating discover it card, then get the 1.5% discover it miles card that is 3% the 1st year, cancel it after around 14 months, then wait a month or 2, apply again & again get the 3% 1st year bonus. Effectively getting you a 3% on everything card 🤔 anyone churning discover?
That's amazing analysis. Do you track your perks in spreadsheet or software like Quicken? I really appreciate you crunching the numbers. Motivates me to reevaluate my Credit cards 💳
if I go for points, I would rather go full chase – Chase freedom, flex, freedom ultimate, sapphire reserved.. but if i go cashback, i go for PNC (gas), amex blue cash (grocery), propel (dining or travel), us bank cash (streaming and home utils), paypal mastercard (others), freedom (rotating categories)..
Any other recommendations for a groceries credit card? My favorite grocery store doesn't accept AmEx. I do have a Paypal 2% CB.
I only got 3 cards: (2) Boa cash reward cards and Premium Rewards and platinum Honours basically works great for me
Completely agree with you. I'm pretty invested in the Chase Family. The 2 US Bank Cards (Altitude Reserve and Cash+) work well with a Chase setup, picking up places the other doesn't.
US Bank Cash+ is a great card. But I don't angre that you don't need the Amex Gold. I love that card
Awesome breakdown! Not many do this at this level 👍🏽 Thanks for keeping it real. That being said, my current setup:
Amex Green 3% Dining & Travel (Although my replace this w/ Propel)
AMEX Blue Cash Pref 6% Groceries & Streaming
US Bank Cash + 5% rotating (utilities is one of them)
Costco(Shop there too much) 4% Gas
Citi Double Cash 2% everything else
commenting for the algorithm. great video!!
given my travel needs and income, I am targeting CSR, Ink business preferred, Freedom flex, AMEX Gold and Platinum, World of Hyatt…. for other folks, they would be fine with Freedom flex and Citi Double cash alone
because of this video, I get to understand that I don't need the AMEX Gold and that US Bank Altitude Reserve can, BIG thank you sir!
For my lifestyle, the Amex Gold, Amex Platinum, and Chase Sapphire doesn't offer enough benefits to justify their annual fees.
I have a Discover card Had one for years.
.
I have the Chase Freedom####
I use to have AM Gold Card when I was in business. Don't have it anymore.