Well I have no fewer than 4 checking accounts. I have a debit card for all them. I don't use any of the debit cards except at the ATM once in a while so I could probably go without three of them on my person.
Then I have 4 credit cards.*
That's 8 cards right there. Then I do my shopping at 3 different grocery stores, so they all get their cards. 3 because I take advantage of the sales at each and the selection. One doesn't have some of the stuff I want but the others do. This is pretty common, I know if I want a particular product I have to go to a particular store to get it. I go grocery shopping probably 3-4 times a week because I only buy enough stuff for 1-3 meals. This is to reduce waste. Less often shopping leads to food waste for me.
Sure they can look me up, and I used to not carry the grocery store cards, but I find flashing the card about 1000 times more convenient.
We are up to 12 cards.
I have to carry two IDs, driver's license and US GOVT ID. Card count 14.
Then I have a drugstore card that I use to get "points" for filling my prescriptions. These points are really worth it - you cash them in for merchandise and they are very generous with them. While they have ALL MY INFO (after all, they need it to fill the prescription) but about 70% of the time they want my card, I don't know why. It is just a billion times easier to have it on me.
Card count 15.
Library card - card count 16.
The rest are just random rarely used loyalty cards I don't need to carry but at this point why not carry them?
I don't get gift cards.
People ask why I have so many checking accounts, and it is to better manage my money (for example, I get just enough of my paycheck auto deposited to cover automatic withdraws and put that in a separate account so I know that's my "no touch" money) and take maximum advantages of all the rewards and benefits of each card or bank account.
I don't find any of this that daunting. When you already have to carry a few adding a few more isn't that big of a deal. I don't really have a problem with carrying these around and I prefer separate cards to some "smart card" that is some electronic thing to charge and break.
*I want to mention even with 4 CCs I don't have any CC debt.
"Everyone" is a far stretch. More like "people who like to (or don't mind) managing their finances at a finer level and also don't spend above their means."
Which is maybe 35% of the American population.
Some people are just fine not bothering with credit cards because convenience/simplicity/ease is more important to them. It's all about individual preferences and priority.
Then I have 4 credit cards.*
That's 8 cards right there. Then I do my shopping at 3 different grocery stores, so they all get their cards. 3 because I take advantage of the sales at each and the selection. One doesn't have some of the stuff I want but the others do. This is pretty common, I know if I want a particular product I have to go to a particular store to get it. I go grocery shopping probably 3-4 times a week because I only buy enough stuff for 1-3 meals. This is to reduce waste. Less often shopping leads to food waste for me.
Sure they can look me up, and I used to not carry the grocery store cards, but I find flashing the card about 1000 times more convenient.
We are up to 12 cards.
I have to carry two IDs, driver's license and US GOVT ID. Card count 14.
Then I have a drugstore card that I use to get "points" for filling my prescriptions. These points are really worth it - you cash them in for merchandise and they are very generous with them. While they have ALL MY INFO (after all, they need it to fill the prescription) but about 70% of the time they want my card, I don't know why. It is just a billion times easier to have it on me.
Card count 15.
Library card - card count 16.
The rest are just random rarely used loyalty cards I don't need to carry but at this point why not carry them?
I don't get gift cards.
People ask why I have so many checking accounts, and it is to better manage my money (for example, I get just enough of my paycheck auto deposited to cover automatic withdraws and put that in a separate account so I know that's my "no touch" money) and take maximum advantages of all the rewards and benefits of each card or bank account.
I don't find any of this that daunting. When you already have to carry a few adding a few more isn't that big of a deal. I don't really have a problem with carrying these around and I prefer separate cards to some "smart card" that is some electronic thing to charge and break.
*I want to mention even with 4 CCs I don't have any CC debt.