And do you carry forward a balance?

One card, and I don't carry a balance but it's great for the air miles.

One card. Yes. A very tiny, tiny balance. As in two digits.

I think CCs are poison. Others have good luck with them, make them into a "carry trade" of sorts. Fine for them, I don't play it that way, I'm trying to make myself into a "cash only" monster and by having a miniscule, solitary credit card, I do it out of necessity which forges the habit.

Sorry, probably more than you cared to know. :)

Two.

I "carry trade" all of them; none carry a balance - ever - and both are "cash back" which I immediately apply to the balance as vested.

Genesis, what do you put the proceeds from the cards in to?

The open balance for the front month.

Got it.

Three cards, two are airline FF cards. Never a balance. Once I use up the miles on these two cards I'm ditching them for a cash back card. Flying is a painful process now. The only good thing about it is no smoking.

Two cards. An AMEX that I use for all business expenses, which gets paid off in full every month, and a personal VISA that I mistakenly double paid off last month, leaving me with a credit of $700. I'm not an ideal customer...

Debt Free. = Independence.

2 Cards PIF every month.

Two cards, an AMEX for business expenses and one Visa card for personal - both paid off every month.

I have no use for credit at the moment and hope it'll always stay that way.

3 PIF.
one main visa for personal use, one for business. Both paid in full each month. Wife's card paid in full also.

i also enjoyed the action on COF today....

Lot's of cards and little to no balance on any of them. I am going to pare down to two with the best rewards programs. In the mean time I hope nobody finds my wallet!

three amex, one MC, one discover. cheap/zero-interest balances on the last two being paid off in big swacks, nothing on the amexen.

one of the amex cards I'm thinking of dropping because the fee went up to $45/yr. I get Starwood hotel points on it, but I have plenty now and I don't travel for work anymore so it hardly gets used. but I don't want to cancel it, maybe convert it to a different kind of amex if possible because it's got an insane limit on it, maybe a cash-back AX Blue or something.

having lots of credit cards with big limits is good, credit-scorishly; having balances on them? not so much, unless it's a low percentage of available credit (I think I am using 8-9% of available).

just a debit card actually...I am a college student who doesn't really need credit and don't want to tempt myself.

2cards
ZERO balances

Debit cards used religiously I also do something unique also, I PAY CASH for most everything...you wouldnt believe the hassles that entails sometimes....but I love to do it just to see the reactions

Good point Bear, and it reminds me - cash: use it or lose it. There are already commercials pointing out how "using cash isn't cool" and remember privacy fans, it's not as trackable. So if you folks want to keep the ability to use cash... then please use it.

Two cards - one business, one personal -

one card for the wife.

No balances ever carried forward, always paid in full.

I prefer to pay cash - ever try to book a hotel room without a credit card?

2 - Both paid in full monthly.

2 cards paind in full every month. i pay all bills on them to catch the cash back.

Er... 8 major cards. No real balance on any, but high lines up to $35k. Any reason you all never held more than 2 or 3 accounts?

No need.

Arguably Discover (if you frequent Sams'), a Visa or Master Card (interchangably accepted virtually anywhere) and, if you travel a lot, an Amex.

The Amex, particularly the Platinum Card if you travel frequently, can be useful. Hotels in particular are very circumspect about "walking" customers who made their reservations with an Amex card..... I've had a few "interesting" discussions with hotels in this situation before (if this happens to you and you call Amex on your cell they have been known to immediately call the Hotel and threaten to revoke their ability to take their cards! That tends to get that situation resolved in a big hurry.... )

3 cards, PIF every month. The one I use primarily has cash back. Another one I use sporadically and is linked to my checking. The third I keep meaning to close but keep forgetting. I have no balance, but I have outstanding gift points which I need to spend on something like movie tickets.

I think 6 right now. All are no-annual fee. I typically only use 1 card (my best no fee rewards card). WaMu actually canceled one of my inactive cards this year. First time that has ever happened to me (perhaps the need to cut costs exceeded the hope that I would someday use the card so they could make money off of me).

I never carry a balance.

I should add that I use a cash back card for almost every purchase. Yes, I know that studies show that that may lead to me purchasing more than I would if I only used cash. I'll take my chances.

But I do pay cash at certain local businesses. I figure the local getting an extra 3% is better than me getting 1% cash back.