This Is How I Started - What is Your Credit Card Story?

[Boy 07]

Hey TFCians,

Here we are—a community of more than 50,000 like-minded individuals, discussing credit cards and banking every single day. But today, let’s get a bit personal. Let’s talk about how you started your credit card journey.

This isn't just about which card you got first or what your initial experience was. Let’s go deeper—where did you first hear about credit cards? What were your expectations? What was your background at that point in life?

I’ll start this fun by sharing my own story…

I’m Sumanta Mandal, as many of you know. Born in 1993 (7 years before 2000... Thala for a reason, lol) in a lower-middle-class family.
I started freelancing at the age of 16, back in 2009. I used to work on oDesk (which is now Upwork), as well as platforms like Microworkers and Amazon Mechanical Turk. One of the biggest challenges back then was getting paid. There was PayPal, which allowed withdrawals in India, and AlertPay, which didn't.

At that time, I used my father's SBI bank account for withdrawals. But PayPal would often ask for verification, and back then, it only supported debit cards from HDFC, ICICI, and Axis Bank. So, I convinced my father to open an HDFC Bank account in his name—just to get the right debit card. And that was the spark. That was when my interest in the banking system truly began.

On my 18th birthday in 2011, the first thing I did was apply for a PAN card. The same day, I applied for a Voter ID card (even though it wasn't needed to open a bank account). After getting my PAN, I opened an Axis Bank student account with a ₹2,500 minimum balance. That was my very first bank account. Then came an SBI savings account. And soon after that, I started opening accounts in almost every PSU bank—Allahabad Bank, Bank of India, United Bank—you name it. By 2012, I had most of them.

By that time, I had become one of the top-earning member of Microworkers in India—among the top 3, actually. I was also rated as a “Rising Talent” on oDesk and had clocked over 1,500 hours of work. I mostly did website management and research-related work.

In 2013, I started hiring people to help with one of my client’s projects. I needed a credit card to pay them. Sure, I could use my debit card—but a credit card made more sense. That’s when I started learning more about credit cards. But coming from a lower-middle-class family, none of my family members had ever even thought of having one.
I approached Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and a few others. All rejected me—because I didn’t have a stable income. Freelance income had no value in the eyes of banks back then. I was making around ₹40,000/month, but it didn’t matter.

That same year, I got an offer from an Australian company through oDesk. They hired me to manage their Amazon store, handle shipments, communicate with factories in China, and conduct research. They were paying me around ₹85,000/month—but still, no bank wanted to issue me a credit card.

The company owner, though, was incredibly supportive. She constantly encouraged me to start my own business and begin selling on Amazon.

In 2015, I made the decision to start my own Amazon store. But for that, I desperately needed a credit card. I didn’t care about rewards—I was even ready to pay a 3.5% markup fee. I just needed a card to get started.

As expected, all the banks rejected me again. Income tax returns didn’t help either. Finally, the local ICICI Bank manager offered me a deal: If I bought a ULIP plan with a ₹3 lakh annual premium, they’d issue me a Coral credit card. I immediately agreed. And 15 days later, my first credit card arrived.

In 2016, I launched my Amazon US store.

Fast forward to 2019—I wanted to share something useful about credit cards with others. So I started the TechnoFino YouTube channel.
In late 2020, I attempted to build a community website. It didn’t work—too much spam, no engagement. In 2021, I tried again. Failed. Tried again in the last quarter of the same year. Failed again.
Finally, in 2022, I launched the current version of the TechnoFino Community website—and today, it’s used by over 50,000 members and many guest readers.

And the rest? Well, you guys already know that part.

Right now, I have 63 credit cards—all primary cards, no add-ons counted.

That’s my story. Now, I’d absolutely love to hear yours. Drop your story in the comments—it’ll be fun to see how all of us started and how far we’ve come.

your story always inspires me

 

[Fini7777]

@TechnoFino

Hi folks,
My story is a bit different—and quite lengthy. I was drawn to the world of finance at the young age of 13. Coming from a family with very little financial literacy, we often found ourselves caught in cycles of debt due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. Observing this firsthand, I began to explore and find solutions on my own. That marked the beginning of my journey into banking.

I started learning about finance through the internet, and by 2016, my interest had grown significantly. I began researching and learning about the best possible ways to tackle financial challenges. Gradually, I started educating my family as well. Things slowly improved. After clearing all our debts, I shifted my focus toward enhancing my knowledge about bank accounts, credit cards, and overall financial planning.

In 2019, I discovered a gem in the industry—TechnoFino. Until then, I was mostly focused on finding the best debit cards and savings accounts, and I hadn't really paid much attention to credit cards. But as I started following TechnoFino’s YouTube channel, I found the content incredibly helpful and inspiring. I must say a big thank you—your videos helped shape my journey.

Motivated by what I learned, I decided to take my first FD-backed credit card from Axis Bank—my first account with a private bank. I was excited and soon added two more cards: one from SBI and another OneCard on FD. Although I was using three cards, I didn’t focus on getting an unsecured credit card and ended up wasting almost a year.

Later, I approached HDFC and enrolled in Classic Banking. During 2021–2022, while pursuing my studies, I did some freelance work and earned a bit of money. Based on that, I received a pre-approved offer from HDFC for a MoneyBack+ credit card in 2022, and that turned out to be one of my biggest mistakes. Out of sheer excitement, I accepted the offer. In hindsight, I should have waited for a better card with the LTF offer.

In March 2022, I joined this community and have since learned so much from the people here. Over time, I’ve built a strong credit card portfolio that suits my lifestyle. I’ve optimized it for better returns and benefits, closing 13 cards and currently holding 13 active ones.

I’ve recently completed my studies and am about to begin my professional journey. I’ve always believed that financial awareness is not just important—it’s essential for a stable and secure life. Sadly, India’s financial literacy rate is still estimated to be around 27%, which shows how far we have to go. I’m genuinely grateful to you, @TechnoFino . You haven’t just built a finance community—you’ve become a driving force in promoting financial literacy across the country. Your contribution is making a real difference.

Please keep up the amazing work—and do focus more on YouTube too, brother 😅 !

Lessons from My Journey:​

1. Be patient—wait for the right credit card. Don’t rush into picking up any random or less rewarding one.
2. Build a portfolio that aligns with your lifestyle and spending habits, not just a random mix of cards.
3. Avoid making impulsive decisions—excitement can sometimes lead you into traps that are hard to get out of.
4. Prefer an optimized collection over a large, unmanaged one.
5. Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them.

 

[TechnoFinoTechnoFino is verified member.]

@TechnoFino

Hi folks,
My story is a bit different—and quite lengthy. I was drawn to the world of finance at the young age of 13. Coming from a family with very little financial literacy, we often found ourselves caught in cycles of debt due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. Observing this firsthand, I began to explore and find solutions on my own. That marked the beginning of my journey into banking.

I started learning about finance through the internet, and by 2016, my interest had grown significantly. I began researching and learning about the best possible ways to tackle financial challenges. Gradually, I started educating my family as well. Things slowly improved. After clearing all our debts, I shifted my focus toward enhancing my knowledge about bank accounts, credit cards, and overall financial planning.

In 2019, I discovered a gem in the industry—TechnoFino. Until then, I was mostly focused on finding the best debit cards and savings accounts, and I hadn't really paid much attention to credit cards. But as I started following TechnoFino’s YouTube channel, I found the content incredibly helpful and inspiring. I must say a big thank you—your videos helped shape my journey.

Motivated by what I learned, I decided to take my first FD-backed credit card from Axis Bank—my first account with a private bank. I was excited and soon added two more cards: one from SBI and another OneCard on FD. Although I was using three cards, I didn’t focus on getting an unsecured credit card and ended up wasting almost a year.

Later, I approached HDFC and enrolled in Classic Banking. During 2021–2022, while pursuing my studies, I did some freelance work and earned a bit of money. Based on that, I received a pre-approved offer from HDFC for a MoneyBack+ credit card in 2022, and that turned out to be one of my biggest mistakes. Out of sheer excitement, I accepted the offer. In hindsight, I should have waited for a better card with the LTF offer.

In March 2022, I joined this community and have since learned so much from the people here. Over time, I’ve built a strong credit card portfolio that suits my lifestyle. I’ve optimized it for better returns and benefits, closing 13 cards and currently holding 13 active ones.

I’ve recently completed my studies and am about to begin my professional journey. I’ve always believed that financial awareness is not just important—it’s essential for a stable and secure life. Sadly, India’s financial literacy rate is still estimated to be around 27%, which shows how far we have to go. I’m genuinely grateful to you, @TechnoFino . You haven’t just built a finance community—you’ve become a driving force in promoting financial literacy across the country. Your contribution is making a real difference.

Please keep up the amazing work—and do focus more on YouTube too, brother 😅 !

Lessons from My Journey:​

1. Be patient—wait for the right credit card. Don’t rush into picking up any random or less rewarding one.
2. Build a portfolio that aligns with your lifestyle and spending habits, not just a random mix of cards.
3. Avoid making impulsive decisions—excitement can sometimes lead you into traps that are hard to get out of.
4. Prefer an optimized collection over a large, unmanaged one.
5. Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them.

Amazing! 😻
You said it perfectly—financial literacy is still quite low in our country, especially outside urban areas. There are people in rural regions earning far more than the average urban income, yet due to a lack of financial knowledge, they often end up with zero savings.

But things are changing... I’ve seen many from the younger generation starting to take interest in the banking system, investments, insurance, and more. That gives me hope.

And your last line truly hits the mark:
"Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them."
This is such an important message, and something we all need to understand and spread.

I wish you all the best for you professional career... 🥂

 

[hender]

@TechnoFino

Hi folks,
My story is a bit different—and quite lengthy. I was drawn to the world of finance at the young age of 13. Coming from a family with very little financial literacy, we often found ourselves caught in cycles of debt due to a lack of awareness and knowledge. Observing this firsthand, I began to explore and find solutions on my own. That marked the beginning of my journey into banking.

I started learning about finance through the internet, and by 2016, my interest had grown significantly. I began researching and learning about the best possible ways to tackle financial challenges. Gradually, I started educating my family as well. Things slowly improved. After clearing all our debts, I shifted my focus toward enhancing my knowledge about bank accounts, credit cards, and overall financial planning.

In 2019, I discovered a gem in the industry—TechnoFino. Until then, I was mostly focused on finding the best debit cards and savings accounts, and I hadn't really paid much attention to credit cards. But as I started following TechnoFino’s YouTube channel, I found the content incredibly helpful and inspiring. I must say a big thank you—your videos helped shape my journey.

Motivated by what I learned, I decided to take my first FD-backed credit card from Axis Bank—my first account with a private bank. I was excited and soon added two more cards: one from SBI and another OneCard on FD. Although I was using three cards, I didn’t focus on getting an unsecured credit card and ended up wasting almost a year.

Later, I approached HDFC and enrolled in Classic Banking. During 2021–2022, while pursuing my studies, I did some freelance work and earned a bit of money. Based on that, I received a pre-approved offer from HDFC for a MoneyBack+ credit card in 2022, and that turned out to be one of my biggest mistakes. Out of sheer excitement, I accepted the offer. In hindsight, I should have waited for a better card with the LTF offer.

In March 2022, I joined this community and have since learned so much from the people here. Over time, I’ve built a strong credit card portfolio that suits my lifestyle. I’ve optimized it for better returns and benefits, closing 13 cards and currently holding 13 active ones.

I’ve recently completed my studies and am about to begin my professional journey. I’ve always believed that financial awareness is not just important—it’s essential for a stable and secure life. Sadly, India’s financial literacy rate is still estimated to be around 27%, which shows how far we have to go. I’m genuinely grateful to you, @TechnoFino . You haven’t just built a finance community—you’ve become a driving force in promoting financial literacy across the country. Your contribution is making a real difference.

Please keep up the amazing work—and do focus more on YouTube too, brother 😅 !

Lessons from My Journey:​

1. Be patient—wait for the right credit card. Don’t rush into picking up any random or less rewarding one.
2. Build a portfolio that aligns with your lifestyle and spending habits, not just a random mix of cards.
3. Avoid making impulsive decisions—excitement can sometimes lead you into traps that are hard to get out of.
4. Prefer an optimized collection over a large, unmanaged one.
5. Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them.

Amazing! 😻
You said it perfectly—financial literacy is still quite low in our country, especially outside urban areas. There are people in rural regions earning far more than the average urban income, yet due to a lack of financial knowledge, they often end up with zero savings.

But things are changing... I’ve seen many from the younger generation starting to take interest in the banking system, investments, insurance, and more. That gives me hope.

And your last line truly hits the mark:
"Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them."
This is such an important message, and something we all need to understand and spread.

I wish you all the best for you professional career... 🥂

You both have wonderful skills of ✍️ writing, if you can write ---
Income to spend ratio...every slab...(0 to Max)
In respective category....(Single/Family)
Have not found any such exclusive thread...
It will also help people, to understand few other things considerably, not just to be in the free flow of FOMO.

 

[ashwinikumar900]

Amazing! 😻
You said it perfectly—financial literacy is still quite low in our country, especially outside urban areas. There are people in rural regions earning far more than the average urban income, yet due to a lack of financial knowledge, they often end up with zero savings.

But things are changing... I’ve seen many from the younger generation starting to take interest in the banking system, investments, insurance, and more. That gives me hope.

And your last line truly hits the mark:
"Don’t encourage someone to get a credit card if they’re not financially aware or are credit-hungry—it could ruin their financial future. Credit cards are not meant for those who are truly in need of them."
This is such an important message, and something we all need to understand and spread.

I wish you all the best for you professional career... 🥂

1. LIC
2. ULIPs
3. Regular Mutual Funds
4. Not opting for Health Insurance/Term plan

These are the few biggest mistakes people often make because of this financial illiteracy. It is astonishing to note that not even in rural areas, but also among affluent urban families, there is a huge lack of financial literacy.

 

[hender]

1. LIC
2. ULIPs
3. Regular Mutual Funds
4. Not opting for Health Insurance/Term plan

These are the few biggest mistakes people often make because of this financial illiteracy. It is astonishing to note that not even in rural areas, but also among affluent urban families, there is a huge lack of financial literacy.

Somewhat agree 👍, partial disagree..

Use case: I have 1 LIC MoneyBack, 10+ years old, in Family.

Reason to opt:
1- Before Term Plan getting popular and cheap, it was nice than.
2- Regular Cash Flow every 4th year, which can cover next almost 3 premium.
3- Loan Ratio is good in case of need.
4- Half the Coverage of Life for 10 years post 20 years completion of policy without paying anything.
5-At any point of time, at par /above Saving account interest.
6- That was a life coverage, not the investment.
7- Never was a issue, nor it will be a burden to think 🤔 of premium to be paid.

After careful consideration, opted that time only, Good 👍 at that time, better NOW, in future it will be the BEST, for our needs.

 

[maheshspanicker]

This is a great read.
Kudos to you for fighting for what's right!

Would love to know what 15 cards you hold if you'd like to share.

Platinum and AmazonPay from ICICI
SimplyClick from SBI (flipped the card from save in 2020), Millenia and Neu Infinity from HDFC, Eazydiner and Legend from IndusInd, RBL Monthly Treats, SCB Titanium, Flipkart Axis, Amex MRCC, IDFC Select, PNB Rupay Select, Federal Imperio, AU Zenith.

 

[maheshspanicker]

@maheshspanicker , Buddy, I have to read story thrice just to double / triple check ✅ and confirm you are not My Professor Friend, almost identical story. Not sure, he is into credit card thing or not, but otherwise more than many similarities and situation.

You shared the issue/journey faced for Credit Card Hunch, but story is more about the the complete EcoSystem around it.
How we perceive, expect and react moreover treat people.
It's just Changing name form disability to Physically challenged....or something beyond.....

But My Friend have out of the box solution/ideas for many things.

He is interested in India's first all blind waiter /staff only restaurant, only few with vision.

I will DM you, he is one of the active contributor / member of the organisation who works really well.

+1, @TechnoFino already mentioned everything.

I am writing just not to praise but to share the message that out of disabled/ challenged people only few like/need sympathy, but MOST of the people are more Live and like to do things at Own.

Concluding remarks: Being Blind, He(Friend) has seen many First day First show in Cinema hall 🎥 📽️ more than us, that too paying the ticket price himself.

Would surely like to get to know your friend...

 

[vaibhav111vaibhav111 is verified member.]

A Bit Late to Post – My Journey to Getting My First Credit Card


So my journey to getting my first credit card revolves around an Amazon US cheque that I received directly from Amazon. It all started around 9th standard, back in 2009, when I discovered referral apps. One of the first ones I tried was “Free My Apps” it was only available on iOS back then. The task was simple then install an app, run it for a few seconds or minutes, and earn credits and redeem against GV.


in FYJC i made a group and shared this trick and lot more I used to download around five apps a day and would eventually redeem a $5 Amazon gift card every 2–3 months. and much more, Fast forward a bit, tons of new apps came into the market. I even ended up chatting with someone in Germany about my experience using these apps.


Three years in, I had learned so much I never thought I would. Both “Free My Apps” and its alternatives became available on the Play Store. Then I discovered a rooted app that let me change my device ID — meaning every time I signed up using my referral link, it looked like a new user. On top of that, I figured out that Amazon.com had a lenient refund system, so I started returning items without actually returning them. I had 3–5 accounts running this.


Eventually, Amazon caught on, linked all my accounts, froze them, and sent me a cheque in US dollars via courier. I was 18 at the time. I took the cheque (worth around ₹17K–₹19K) to the Bank of India, but they wouldn’t encash it.


At that time, my sister had a salaried job, and an HDFC branch had recently opened. We both went in — I deposited the cheque, and she signed as a guarantor. She even gave me ₹7K to meet the ₹25K MAB requirement, because (as far as I knew), HDFC didn’t issue savings accounts below that balance.


A few days later, I logged into NetBanking or got an SMS — I honestly don’t remember how — but I came to know about HDFC credit cards. Out of curiosity and to pass time, I applied. I remember going to a lady who worked at the branch just as I was leaving, sat down and asked, “Will my credit card get approved?” She asked for the reference number, which I had with me. But I was scared she might reject it since I wasn’t working, so I told her I’d deleted the SMS.


A few days later — boom — the HDFC MoneyBack credit card was approved. I’m not even sure if it was LTF, but I think it must’ve been, because I definitely couldn’t afford a paid card back then.


Till 2020, I had only 3–4 cards But it was only when I started watching YouTube videos about credit cards in 2020-2022 that I really dove into the space. I started applying for more, joined the TF community, and the rest is history.

 

[kuchbhikuchbhi is verified member.]

A Bit Late to Post – My Journey to Getting My First Credit Card


So my journey to getting my first credit card revolves around an Amazon US cheque that I received directly from Amazon. It all started around 9th standard, back in 2009, when I discovered referral apps. One of the first ones I tried was “Free My Apps” it was only available on iOS back then. The task was simple then install an app, run it for a few seconds or minutes, and earn credits and redeem against GV.


in FYJC i made a group and shared this trick and lot more I used to download around five apps a day and would eventually redeem a $5 Amazon gift card every 2–3 months. and much more, Fast forward a bit, tons of new apps came into the market. I even ended up chatting with someone in Germany about my experience using these apps.


Three years in, I had learned so much I never thought I would. Both “Free My Apps” and its alternatives became available on the Play Store. Then I discovered a rooted app that let me change my device ID — meaning every time I signed up using my referral link, it looked like a new user. On top of that, I figured out that Amazon.com had a lenient refund system, so I started returning items without actually returning them. I had 3–5 accounts running this.


Eventually, Amazon caught on, linked all my accounts, froze them, and sent me a cheque in US dollars via courier. I was 18 at the time. I took the cheque (worth around ₹17K–₹19K) to the Bank of India, but they wouldn’t encash it.


At that time, my sister had a salaried job, and an HDFC branch had recently opened. We both went in — I deposited the cheque, and she signed as a guarantor. She even gave me ₹7K to meet the ₹25K MAB requirement, because (as far as I knew), HDFC didn’t issue savings accounts below that balance.


A few days later, I logged into NetBanking or got an SMS — I honestly don’t remember how — but I came to know about HDFC credit cards. Out of curiosity and to pass time, I applied. I remember going to a lady who worked at the branch just as I was leaving, sat down and asked, “Will my credit card get approved?” She asked for the reference number, which I had with me. But I was scared she might reject it since I wasn’t working, so I told her I’d deleted the SMS.


A few days later — boom — the HDFC MoneyBack credit card was approved. I’m not even sure if it was LTF, but I think it must’ve been, because I definitely couldn’t afford a paid card back then.


Till 2020, I had only 3–4 cards But it was only when I started watching YouTube videos about credit cards in 2020-2022 that I really dove into the space. I started applying for more, joined the TF community, and the rest is history.

very interesting . .

 

[praful47]

A Bit Late to Post – My Journey to Getting My First Credit Card


So my journey to getting my first credit card revolves around an Amazon US cheque that I received directly from Amazon. It all started around 9th standard, back in 2009, when I discovered referral apps. One of the first ones I tried was “Free My Apps” it was only available on iOS back then. The task was simple then install an app, run it for a few seconds or minutes, and earn credits and redeem against GV.


in FYJC i made a group and shared this trick and lot more I used to download around five apps a day and would eventually redeem a $5 Amazon gift card every 2–3 months. and much more, Fast forward a bit, tons of new apps came into the market. I even ended up chatting with someone in Germany about my experience using these apps.


Three years in, I had learned so much I never thought I would. Both “Free My Apps” and its alternatives became available on the Play Store. Then I discovered a rooted app that let me change my device ID — meaning every time I signed up using my referral link, it looked like a new user. On top of that, I figured out that Amazon.com had a lenient refund system, so I started returning items without actually returning them. I had 3–5 accounts running this.


Eventually, Amazon caught on, linked all my accounts, froze them, and sent me a cheque in US dollars via courier. I was 18 at the time. I took the cheque (worth around ₹17K–₹19K) to the Bank of India, but they wouldn’t encash it.


At that time, my sister had a salaried job, and an HDFC branch had recently opened. We both went in — I deposited the cheque, and she signed as a guarantor. She even gave me ₹7K to meet the ₹25K MAB requirement, because (as far as I knew), HDFC didn’t issue savings accounts below that balance.


A few days later, I logged into NetBanking or got an SMS — I honestly don’t remember how — but I came to know about HDFC credit cards. Out of curiosity and to pass time, I applied. I remember going to a lady who worked at the branch just as I was leaving, sat down and asked, “Will my credit card get approved?” She asked for the reference number, which I had with me. But I was scared she might reject it since I wasn’t working, so I told her I’d deleted the SMS.


A few days later — boom — the HDFC MoneyBack credit card was approved. I’m not even sure if it was LTF, but I think it must’ve been, because I definitely couldn’t afford a paid card back then.


Till 2020, I had only 3–4 cards But it was only when I started watching YouTube videos about credit cards in 2020-2022 that I really dove into the space. I started applying for more, joined the TF community, and the rest is history.

So , total how many cards do have currently.

Aur us time se refferal wala game khele ho matlab bahut Khiladi ho aap .
Not sure but tricks tips rotation se monthly 25-30k minimum to nikal hi lete hoge

 

[kuchbhikuchbhi is verified member.]

So , total how many cards do have currently.

Aur us time se refferal wala game khele ho matlab bahut Khiladi ho aap .
Not sure but tricks tips rotation se monthly 25-30k minimum to nikal hi lete hoge

lagta hai aap vaibav naam ke logo ka vaibhav nhi jante abhi

 

[vaibhav111vaibhav111 is verified member.]

Some 28 active cc total would be 35 have close between 5 to 7 till now. I have rotate through cc to bank just once during mobikwik glitch so 20k from Tata Neu to amex cause i had not completed kyc otherwise would have done couple of lakhs just like others. And that it.

So , total how many cards do have currently.

Aur us time se refferal wala game khele ho matlab bahut Khiladi ho aap .
Not sure but tricks tips rotation se monthly 25-30k minimum to nikal hi lete hoge

 

[da3m0n]

My credit card journey started back in 2014, with my first job in Mumbai. Along with the salary account, HDFC handed me a Superia credit card. I didn’t know much about rewards or anything fancy — I just used to redeem points for flight tickets to my hometown. Spending was low, but getting a few thousand bucks off here and there felt pretty good.


Sometime later, a friend noticed my card and mentioned that Visa Signature cards came with lounge access. That’s when I discovered airport lounges — free food, Greek yogurt, unlimited Coke — it felt like a small luxury at that time. I happily stuck with that one card for a few years, till around 2017.


After moving to Gurgaon, I shared a flat with a guy who was big on Amex. He used to swipe his Gold Charge card even for groceries. That got me curious, and soon I applied for the MRCC. After about a year, Amex offered me an upgrade to Platinum Travel while making MRCC lifetime free — I took it without much thought. Back then, redeeming points for statement credit felt like the smart thing to do. Coming from a middle-class background, earning some extra cash felt more important than chasing premium experiences.


Around 2018, I upgraded to HDFC Diners Black and started understanding reward rates better. Diners Black seemed good enough (almost Infinia level), so I stayed with it. For a long time, it was just these two — Amex and Diners — until COVID hit and spending dropped to almost nothing.


Post-COVID, life got busy with work, marriage, and everything else. I wasn’t really paying attention to the credit card space and ended up missing the whole Magnus wave. By the time I caught up, social media was buzzing with all kinds of tips and tricks, and that's when I started exploring more seriously — picked up a few cards like Atlas, Amex Plat Charge, and a couple more.


It’s been a slow, organic journey — from redeeming points without much thought to finally understanding and optimizing rewards a bit better.

 

[MDFinance]

I got selected in a private sector bank after my MBA from campus placement in the year 2019 and at the time of induction, they gave me Salary account opening forms and few other forms including credit card application and demat application forms. The executive who provided me salary account opening form told all selected candidates that it is compulsory to fill application forms for credit card and demat too along with salary account. I was not aware at that time which credit card I will get but still I had to sign all forms as per their instructions.

I got credit limit of just Rs 45,000. Now, I have credit limit of Rs 5 lakhs on the same card. I don't use that card much now but I have kept that card till today as that was my first credit card. I was a new joinee in the bank and offered credit card having fees of Rs 12000+GST to one of my HNI Customer as he was having pre approved offer for it and he happily took it. This incident developed my Interest in credit cards and I started learning more about credit cards since then. Now, I am not working for any bank. Currently, I am Wealth Banking Customer of the bank in which I got selected from campus placement.

I learned many things about credit cards usage and benefits while working for the bank. I follow certain practices for my credit cards which are mentioned below:

- If I have to do a transaction of Rs 20,000 on credit card. I will first transfer Rs 20,000 in my secondary savings account which I have kept for credit cards bill payment to ensure that I don't over spend on my cards. This is my most important rule for credit cards.

- I have kept bill generation date of all my cards around the same date so that I don't forget to pay the bill.

- I generally pay all credit card bills on or before the statement generation date for all cards and I have set reminders for it. I have not given access of my mail to any credit card bill payment apps for reminder.

- I try to keep my credit utilisation below 10%. Sometimes, I pay before bill generation date too. I know 30% credit utilisation is fine but still.

- I prepare tentative budget for my spends and select cards accordingly. I try to get the card which offer best return for my spends and try to avoid FOMO.

- I avoid payment platforms which asks for complete credit card details as I consider it as violation of privacy and it increases financial risk too.

I am learning many things from this community. Thanks to @TechnoFino for building this amazing community.

 

[hender]

I got selected in a private sector bank after my MBA from campus placement in the year 2019 and at the time of induction, they gave me Salary account opening forms and few other forms including credit card application and demat application forms. The executive who provided me salary account opening form told all selected candidates that it is compulsory to fill application forms for credit card and demat too along with salary account. I was not aware at that time which credit card I will get but still I had to sign all forms as per their instructions.

I got credit limit of just Rs 45,000. Now, I have credit limit of Rs 5 lakhs on the same card. I don't use that card much now but I have kept that card till today as that was my first credit card. I was a new joinee in the bank and offered credit card having fees of Rs 12000+GST to one of my HNI Customer as he was having pre approved offer for it and he happily took it. This incident developed my Interest in credit cards and I started learning more about credit cards since then. Now, I am not working for any bank. Currently, I am Wealth Banking Customer of the bank in which I got selected from campus placement.

I learned many things about credit cards usage and benefits while working for the bank. I follow certain practices for my credit cards which are mentioned below:

- If I have to do a transaction of Rs 20,000 on credit card. I will first transfer Rs 20,000 in my secondary savings account which I have kept for credit cards bill payment to ensure that I don't over spend on my cards. This is my most important rule for credit cards.

- I have kept bill generation date of all my cards around the same date so that I don't forget to pay the bill.

- I generally pay all credit card bills on or before the statement generation date for all cards and I have set reminders for it.

- I try to keep my credit utilisation below 10%. Sometimes, I pay before bill generation date too. I know 30% credit utilisation is fine but still.

- I prepare tentative budget for my spends and select cards accordingly. I try to get the card which offer best return for my spends and try to avoid FOMO.

- I avoid payment platforms which asks for complete credit card details as I consider it as violation of privacy and it increases financial risk too.

I am learning many things from this community. Thanks to @TechnoFino for building this amazing community.

Well said, everything , saving, budget, payment...
FOMO is a very important one.
Any specific idea to prepay all bills before statement generation date and utilisation below 10%. !!
Complete card details point ☝️, could you please elaborate more on it.

 

[MDFinance]

Well said, everything , saving, budget, payment...
FOMO is a very important one.
Any specific idea to prepay all bills before statement generation date and utilisation below 10%. !!
Complete card details point ☝️, could you please elaborate more on it.

I am currently using SBI Virtual Debit card on SBI Unipay which gives better cashback as compared to few famous credit card bill payment apps. Moreover, SBI Unipay don't ask for sensitive details like complete card number, expiry and CVV while few famous credit card bill payment apps need complete card number, expiry date and CVV.

I generally pay all my bills on the statement generation date through SBI Unipay. Credit limits are good on most of the cards so I find it easy to maintain low credit utilisation. There is no specific reason to maintain credit utilisation below 10% but I just want to keep liabilities low and credit score high.

When I cross my threshold of 10% credit utilisation, I use platforms which allows payment before statement generation like Axis Mobile, SBI Yono or Payzapp by HDFC to make payment before statement generation.

Those famous credit card bill payment apps might be safe and their intentions might be good (I am not sure) but I don't find any valid reason to share my sensitive data when I am getting better cashback without sharing my sensitive card data.

 

[lester]

My first CC was with Citibank Cashback Rewards when they open the salary ac with the company i worked back in 2010, since the Citi CC comes free, i opted for it, not sure how useful back then. But same year i purchased Dell laptop using emi from Dell physical store showroom and it come with a discount for Citi CC, then after that followed by a Nikon camera with similar discount on emi. I still remember that i used to redeem once a quarter for cashback, each point worth .35 paise. Closed the Citi CC last year after Axis took over Citi card service, fast forward, now i have 17 CC and 14 DC each giving some rewards or some returns.

Note: I have always paid the complete outstanding balance 100% and before the last date, have never missed not even once!

Thank to this community, i have learnt a lot from the TF members

 

[Virtual King]

Let’s talk about how you started your credit card journey.

Here is a poem that I have penned down on this subject - sharing here with all the readers. 🙂

My Credit Card Journey

By​

​

Virtual King​

Meandering along the cascading path of life I was, alone like a lonely bard,

Blissfully unaware of material things with fancy names – ah, all these plethora of fancy credit cards;​

Even though their chatter had tip-toed into my ears in many a conversation,

And yet, I was not at all excited or attracted enough to pay them any attention.​

Almost everyone around me - friends and foes alike - was using these wonderful financial tools,

My interactions with them never made me realise that I was being a mere ignorant fool;​

Priding myself on my incisive thoughts - that using cash, debit cards or UPI were the best options,

I avoided any credit card, despite many nudges by friends, lest I should fall under any financial deprivation.​

The beauty and charm of the numerous perks offered by these wonderful gadgets,

Were therefore totally missed by a blissfully ignorant me – busy in eking out a living within my financial budgets;​

And so many decades of my life passed in solitude, slowly yet steadily, blissfully and ignorantly,

Until one fine day, destiny chanced me to discuss them in detail and then I realised my ingenious folly.​

And so, I immediately picked up my phone and spoke to my bank manager for a credit card,

Unaware of any likes or dislikes, but merely having heard the name "Infinia" with a halo and as the best credit card;​

I requested him to look into the matter at his convenience but on priority and if I could get the same,

Lo and behold, in a 2-3 days’ time, he called me and said yes, thus opening my long-closed sesame.​

So, I voraciously read anything and everything about Infinia on the internet,

Trying to make a sense of whatever the sites and blogs mentioned, by users adept;​

Also compiling for my own reference, all the Infinia benefits, perks and usage tips, in a “How To Use Infinia” guide,

Not realising then, that it would become my first thread on Techno Fino - an internet credit card site.​

The day of reckoning dawned and I received Infinia Metal – the 1st credit card of my life, I was joyous - like an ignorant bride,

And I too was absolutely ready to begin my credit card journey excitedly, with confidence, elan and pride;​

Then I too joined Techno Fino site as a learner, and started rubbing shoulders with subject experts and professionals,

Along the way, reading, imbibing, learning - how to optimise card usage, excitedly like a happy baby angel.​

Soon, I acquired two more credit cards, as per my lifestyle and requirements,

And started using them eagerly at all places for all my mandatory or sundry expenses and accoutrements;​

Asking all shop owners inquisitively if they have their POS machines ready for the swipe of credit cards,

As the cards in my wallet too were as eager to be tapped, dipped or swiped, unless debarred.​

So dear friends, my credit card journey continues, towards pleasant future horizons, unknown as yet,

With my credit cards improving my overall financial health - hopefully, bit by bit, you bet;​

Now, I am also getting aware of so many tips, benefits, rewards – cherries on the cake,

But still I am quite happy and contented, swiping, tapping or dipping them, even if a little less profit I make.​

This, thus far, has been my credit card journey – short, sweet and wonderful,

Enjoying the myriad idyllic scenes and beauty of life while using these contraptions cool;​

Wishing all the readers who read this poem - when busy or at leisure whenever they have time,

Love, health and contentment in their respective life journeys – may they unearth their choice of credit card - their own gold mine.​

​

​

🙂

 

[White_Fox]

@TechnoFino

Born in 2000 (easy for me to calculate my age 😅) in a middle-middle-class family of Kolkata. I was born & brought up by my maternal grandparents. Completed UG in 2021, PG in 2023 & about to complete B.Ed in 2025 in Kolkata.

I have always been frugal, a trait which I gained from my maternal grandfather. This helped me in growing my savings account, which I have in United Bank of India (now PNB). My interest in the banking sector grew around 2020 during the lockdown. However, the interest in credit cards grew from 2015.

2014-15
The first exposure to credit cards was through my maternal uncle during my school life.
He used to work in Ambuja Cements as an engineer, was laid off in the lockdown, and now runs his own interior decoration company.
He had Axis Bank credit cards at that time, probably through his salary account. I used to see him use the credit cards at restaurants, shops and online shopping. It interested me & I used to ask about the cards a lot, but I wasn't able to comprehend anything at that age.

Unfortunately, he had a good salary but was not good with money. Those cards led to a huge pileup of debt and near bankruptcy.


2020
During my UG, the lockdown led to a huge increase in digital transactions. This got me interested in UPI and banking. I started using UPI frequently and opened a lot of bank accounts online like Kotak 811, ICICI Zero Balance, etc., which I still use.


2022 onwards
The actual credit card journey started during my PG.

• Applied for the first credit card (OneCard by SBM) in June 2022 against a fixed deposit, using the money saved since childhood of approx ₹30k.
  
  
• Second was the SBM Paisabazaar CC with ₹5k FD in the same month.
  
  
• I have had an Amazon account since around 2015 and have been using Prime since 2019, sharing with friends for shopping and video streaming. So it had around 50-60 orders per month. The actual breakthrough came in June 2023 when I applied for the ICICI Amazon Pay CC (limit ₹50K). Since I had to enter my office address and employment, I selected salaried and entered the name and address of a small furniture shop that my father runs in Newtown, Kolkata. The card got approved immediately, which shocked me.
  
  
• In a fit of excitement, I immediately applied RBL Duet CC (limit ₹30k) and Federal Bank Imperio CC (limit ₹25k) after seeing ANNA DM's YouTube videos. I already had Jupiter and Fi accounts. I was shocked again that both of them got approved in two days without any verification at all. I used the same thing with the occupational details as before.
  
  
• Then I applied for the Axis Ace CC (limit ₹23k) as soon as I got the notification in Google Pay. Got approved after 3 days without any kind of verification.
  
  
• Eventually, got other credit cards from HDFC, Yes Bank, IndusInd, AU, PNB (FD based). All limits are around ₹30-40k each.
  Home and office verification occurred with these cards. So, I used to apply them when I had consecutive holidays for 3-4 days at my college. Home verification was smooth, and I used to tell my father that the credit card verification agent would be visiting the shop. So it was a smooth experience.

This community has helped me a lot in learning about the banking systems and credit cards.
I now have 15 credit cards (including two FD-backed). I would be increasing the limits on the cards as soon as I start my career.