Credit cards & credit score
Card picks, devaluations, rewards, lounges and CIBIL. 30 posts, newest first.
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25+ credit cards and a CIBIL score above 800
Recently, in my Carpool, the conversation drifted to one of my favourite topics: CreditCards. While I was suggesting a card to one of the carpoolers, another person sitting behind asked:…
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The “best” syndrome: best for what?
The “Best” Syndrome!!! We are always looking for 'the Best'. The Best CreditCard.
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IDFC FIRST's zero forex markup changes the card game
IDFC FIRST Bank is changing the rules in the CreditCard industry by offering Zero Forex Markup across its credit card portfolio (including lifetime free cards)! And this could have an…
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2026, the year of credit card devaluations: Axis Magnus
As predicted, 2026 is turning out to be the Year of CreditCard Devaluations! The latest card to join the list is AxisBank Magnus for Burgundy. Some of the changes include:
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You can't become rich using a credit card
Whenever someone asks me for a recommendation for a CreditCard, I always start with a caveat: "You cannot become Rich using a Credit Card." Many people don't like hearing this.
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Breaking hearts: what premium card returns really take
Let me break the hearts of the people getting excited seeing the Return numbers - First Hurdle - Getting a Premium Card - HDFC Infinia: you need an ITR of over 50 lakhs, and to maintain the…
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Saving money on medicines online, and why people don't bother
Recently, a friend asked me how he can Save Money while buying medicines online. I started explaining a few simple ways. Halfway through, he stopped me.
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HDFC Diners Black and the IIT alumni perk
Yesterday, my carpool partner was an alum from IITKanpur. How did I find out? Through her HDFC DinersBlack Card (aka DCB). 😄
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Rent on credit cards: from hot category to dead end
Paying Rent via CreditCards was once one of the hottest categories in the fintech world. Then people optimized it a little too well, or I should say misused it 😉 What started as convenience…
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A retiree, ₹50 lakh and a premium credit card
Craze for CreditCards is unbelievable these days, thanks to finfluencers! Recently, a Retiree reached out asking for suggestions on a premium credit card. He was willing to invest 50 lakhs…
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After two years, a new card I actually enjoy: slice UPI credit card
After almost 2 years, I finally got a new CreditCard… And surprisingly, I am genuinely loving the experience 😄 The slice UPI Credit Card!
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₹25–30 lakh of credit card benefits a year? At what spend?
“₹25–30 lakhs worth of Benefits every year from my CreditCards.” WoW!! “How much did you spend to get that?” Let’s break it down as per the Moneycontrol article (link below).
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More 2026 devaluations: the SBI Cashback card
As predicted in my CreditCard analysis, 2026 continues to be the year of devaluations. Almost all major banks have announced some form of devaluation, including HDFC, ICICI, Amex! The…
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HDFC Infinia's ₹18 lakh spend threshold rumour
HDFCInfinia continues to confuse its cardholders. The latest grapevine? A steep increase in the annual spend threshold to retain the CreditCard.
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How many people actually pay for airport lounges?
Have you ever wondered how many flyers actually pay to enter an AirportLounge? During a recent visit to one of the busiest airports in the country, I struck up a conversation with the…
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If Infinia falters, what's the next premium card?
After the recent HDFCInfinia reward churn, many readers asked me: “If Infinia falters, what’s the next best premium CreditCard?” My answer was ICICIEmeralde Private Metal (EPM), but the…
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HDFC rolled back the Infinia devaluation in 24 hours
HDFCBank Rolled Back Infinia Devaluation in 24 Hours! Yes, HDFC Bank reversed the Infinia Gyftr–SmartBuy devaluation within a day after social media backlash. 5x reward points on voucher…
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The first premium card casualty of 2026: HDFC Infinia
First Major Casualty of 2026 in Premium CreditCards Is Here!!! HDFCInfinia has officially Devalued! From now on, Brand Voucher purchases via Gyftr SmartBuy earn only 3x rewards, down from…
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What US rate caps could mean for credit cards
Latest developments in the US could fundamentally change how CreditCards work. The credit card business is largely funded by “revolvers” - customers who pay only the minimum due and incur…
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“I'm late for my flight” actually means “late for the lounge”
When “I’m getting late for the flight” actually means “My lounge entry is getting delayed” Recently, while boarding a flight at Bengaluru Airport, I was standing in the security check-in…
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My annual credit card review for 2025
💳 As 2025 comes to an end, it’s time for my annual CreditCard review! As the Indian CC industry matures, one trend has become impossible to ignore: devaluations everywhere. Almost every…
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IDFC's 2.5% debit card rewards are ending
All Good Things Come to an End, Soon! IDFCBank came up with one of the most lucrative DebitCard reward programs ever, offering up to 2.5% back on spends! That’s something even many paid…
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Paying rent by credit card? Read this
If you are paying Rent via CreditCards, this post is for you! For years, rent payments were one of the easiest ways to circulate money via credit cards. Regulators were aware that this was…
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A credit card with a ₹90 limit: super.money's play
Would you swipe a CreditCard with a limit of just ₹90? And the bigger question is, why would anyone even issue such a card? I’ve admired SuperMoney for what they’ve built in the UPI space…
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Would you take a card just because it's lifetime free?
Would you apply for a new CreditCard just because it’s “LifetimeFree”? A friend recently asked me about a new credit card. Knowing the cards he already held, I told him, “You don’t really…
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You don't need a credit card to build a credit score
Over the past few years, finfluencers have been pushing people to get a CreditCard just to build a CreditScore. The debate even reached Parliament recently, where the FinanceMinistry had to…
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“My credit score dropped 10 points!” So?
Bro, my CreditScore just dropped by 10 points! “Okay... so?” “Are you even listening? It dropped! By 10 points!”
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Porter's five forces, DreamFolks edition
PortersFiveForces at Play – DreamFolks Edition! DreamFolks carved out a niche in India’s airport lounge ecosystem, connecting banks and fragmented lounge service providers to offer a…
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My 2024 credit card portfolio review
2024 Wrap-Up: Reviewing My CreditCard Portfolio! As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time for my annual review of one of my favorite financial tools—my Credit Card Portfolio. Whether you’re a…
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Co-branded credit cards: HDFC leads the charge
The Evolution of Co-Branded CreditCards: HDFC Leading the Charge! 💳💡 There was a time when co-branded CCs were boring—most were linked to airlines, but in an era when few flew regularly,…