[toast0]

Getting a 2% discount on everything doesn't take a lot of time, or cost me anything directly. I did have to call the issuer once to get it changed from 1.5% to 2%, but there was a pretty good ROI on that ten minute phone call.

I also have a 4% card, which took a good amount of effort, and needs regular attention as the issuer has realized it wasn't a good idea and is changing the deal. Now it has a limit and then falls back to 2%. Probably still worth the effort.

Miles/points seems like a lot of work though. I could see a study showing that's not worth the effort for most people... but I think the thing there is to find a card with points that are valuable for you and then maximize that, so there's not a one size fits all there.

[Izkata]

> Getting a 2% discount on everything

Some years ago I looked what my bank offered and there were a lot of exceptions, it was very far from "everything". I think the math came out to saving like $100 total a year, not really worth it.

[BobaFloutist]

Basic, mindless, catchall 2% cashback cards exist. I keep a Fidelity, since you can set it to automatically points every time you earn 50$, which can immediately go into a brokerage account and be held in a moneymarket fund earning ~4% annual interest. Which is not a huge deal, but it's a very hands off approach.