If you’re deep into the credit card rewards hobby, you probably know how quickly things can get out of hand. Before long, you’ve got 10, 15, 20 — maybe even 30 or more credit cards to keep track of. You might even be managing a spreadsheet just to remember which cards to use, which to cancel, and which ones are worth keeping.
But you can’t carry all those cards in your wallet (or even in your digital wallet) without things getting messy. That’s why I like to group my cards into four clear categories. It keeps everything organized, easy to manage, and helps me maximize value without losing track of why I got each card in the first place.
Here’s how it works.
1. Wallet Cards
These are your daily drivers — the cards you actually keep in your wallet and use regularly.
Wallet cards typically earn strong multipliers on common spending categories like dining, groceries, gas, or travel. These are cards that you’ll hold onto long term because they consistently deliver value through their earning structure.
For example:
- A card that earns 4x on dining or 5x on gas
- A good general spending card for unbonused purchases
- Any card you use frequently because of its long-term earning potential
Now, if you’re working on a welcome bonus, that card temporarily becomes your “top-of-wallet” card. You’ll want to put all spending toward it until you hit that spend requirement. But once the bonus is earned, it’ll move back into one of these four categories — and probably not stay a wallet card unless its ongoing rewards justify it.
2. Desk Cards
Next are what I call desk cards.
These are cards you keep — not because you use them daily — but because they provide ongoing value through benefits or credits.
For example, you might have a card that offers:
- A streaming or cell phone credit each month
- A free hotel night certificate every year
- An annual travel credit or elite status
These cards don’t live in your wallet. They sit metaphorically on your desk, quietly earning their keep through benefits that outweigh their annual fee.
You might only use them a few times a year — perhaps when booking a specific airline or redeeming a credit — but they’re worth holding on to as long as those benefits make sense for you.
3. Backpack Cards
Then we have backpack cards — the ones you only pull out when you travel.
A perfect example is the American Express Platinum Card. It’s a powerhouse when it comes to travel perks — lounge access, hotel status, Global Entry credit, and more — but it’s not something you’d want to use for everyday purchases. The multipliers aren’t great for daily spending, but the travel benefits make it indispensable when you’re on the road.
Other examples might include:
- Airline co-branded cards that grant lounge access or free bags
- Travel cards with no foreign transaction fees
- Cards that give elite status or upgrades when flying or staying in hotels
These belong in your backpack — ready for your next trip — but not taking up space in your everyday carry.
4. Junk Drawer Cards
Finally, there’s the junk drawer.
These are the cards you get purely for the sign-up bonus. You meet the spend, get the points, and then put the card away until the annual fee comes due.
At that point, you’ll either:
- Cancel it, or
- Downgrade it to a no-fee version if possible.
They’re not keeper cards. They serve one purpose: to get you those initial bonus points.
Interestingly, cards can move between categories over time. A junk drawer card might suddenly become valuable if the issuer improves its rewards. Likewise, a wallet card could lose its spot if something better comes along.
Final Thoughts
This four-part system — Wallet, Desk, Backpack, and Junk Drawer — helps you manage your collection of cards with purpose.
Not every card has to be used daily. Some are there for perks, some for bonuses, and some just to hold your spot with an issuer. By categorizing them this way, you’ll always know which cards deserve your spend, which deserve your drawer, and which deserve the annual fee.
The Rewards Master 