Why I Put Most of My Expenses on a Single Credit Card

Most of my credit cards don't get used. Here's why.

Like many people, I've signed up for my fair share of credit cards through the years. Sometimes I get a new card to capitalize on a sign-up bonus. And I have one card that gives me cash back at a retail store I frequent to buy clothes for my whole family. But despite having a collection of credit cards, I do most of my spending on a single card. Here's why.

1. It has a generous rewards program

My go-to credit card gets most of my business because it has a great rewards program that gives me bonus points on purchases I make frequently. These include gas and groceries -- huge spending categories in my household. This card also gives me bonus points on restaurants, entertainment, and other things I don't spend on as often, but spend on nonetheless.

This isn't to say that my other credit cards don't offer rewards. And the store card I mentioned gives me bonus cash at a place I go to a lot, so that's the card I use there. But otherwise, my go-to card's rewards trump all the others, so it makes sense to put the bulk of my expenses on it.

2. It's easier to track my spending

I like to check my credit card balance each week to see how much I'm spending and make sure I'm not going overboard. That's easier to do when most of my expenses go on a single card. I don't need to log on to five or six accounts every week and add up all those numbers.

3. It's easier to safeguard against fraud

The more merchants you shop at, the more opportunities there are for a criminal to get your credit card number and attempt to run up charges. But since I put most of my expenses on one card with a good fraud protection program, I feel less worried about falling victim.

Furthermore, if there is fraudulent activity on my credit card, I can address it quickly with my credit card company, and it will immediately investigate the issue, cancel my card, and issue a new one. Unfortunately, I know all of this because my card has been compromised before. But I was pleased with how the issuer handled things -- another reason I use that card so much.

There's nothing wrong with spreading your expenses across several credit cards, and in some cases, it can pay to do so. If you have a travel rewards card, for example, it's good to use it to book flights and hotels. But it may also make sense to use another credit card for your everyday expenses, like groceries. In my case, using the same card for most of my expenses is financially rewarding and convenient, so I'll stick with that plan until a new card comes around that can beat my current rewards setup.