Question for Mr. Credit Card

[Michael]

Hello, Mr. Credit Card. I need your opinion:

I use primarily AMEX Blue for everything, and Chase Freedom Visa for the few places that don't take AMEX. Therefore, I am pretty well covered. However, I feel safer if I carry three credit cards. I have two other cards. One is a Discover "Get More" card with 5% quarterly promotions. I use 1-2 of these annually. The other card is the ExxonMobil Mastercard, which pays 3% on ExxonMobil gas purchases, and 1% everywhere else. The rebate is automatically taken off of your next ExxonMobil gas purchase. I use ExxonMobil frequently, but use AMEX for gas once I hit the $6500 threshold. I charge about $37,000 annually.

Between the ExxonMobil Mastercard and Discovercard, which is a better candidate for a third 'wallet' card? The other would go into the 'sockdrawer.' The third card would get very limited usage. The ExxonMobil card could get used for gas when I am under the AMEX $6500 threshold (for about 2.5 months, September through mid-November).

I know that there are better rebate cards out there, but I want to work with what I have, and not get any new card.

As is the case with most questions regarding credit cards, I am having trouble making a decision.

[Mr Credit Card]

This is really a tough call as to which should be your "3rd" card. My preference is the Discover card because you can potentially earn rebates or points on "more stuff" other than exxon gas stations. But other than that, I suspect that whatever decision you go with will not materially affect the rebates you earn.