The credit card that'll replace all your plastic is almost here

[politicat]

15. We have eight because...

I had two before marrying (a discover that gave cash back and frequent flyer points, with a low interest rate, so worth using as my primary purchase card, and a Visa that worked everywhere the Discover wasn't taken. Both offered a layer of protection between my bank account and theft, which mattered a lot when I was a very broke student and very broke first job professional.)

Spouse had three before marrying -- one for work travel, one for daily use, and one for major purchases, on a similar track.

We acquired three together, with the same premise -- one for daily use, one for major purchases for our house, and one for me for travel, because it really is easier to get reimbursed if the bursar doesn't have to wade through my fabric and book habit. We ended up on each other's accounts because it's the way to ensure that the other has survivability on the account if something happens to either of us.

We haven't cancelled the old ones because canceling accounts does credit damage. We use them rarely, just enough that it keeps the credit score happy.

There are reasons it happens.