27M here. Thought I’d share my credit card journey since I’ve learnt quite a bit from this sub over the last few months.
Until around 3-4 months ago, I had never really used credit cards. My only credit history was an education loan, and my CIBIL was around 726.
This all started because I have an upcoming US business trip and wanted a card that would be useful abroad. My first choice was Scapia Federal, mainly for zero forex, but the application got rejected due to low score.
That’s when I came across Niyo DCB. Since it was secured and I was completely new to credit cards, it made sense. Got it approved and started learning about credit related terminologies like statement cycles, utilization, MCCs, cashback, lounge access, forex, etc.
After that, I wanted my first unsecured card.
Most of my spending is online, so SBI Cashback was an obvious option. Applied and got approved with a ₹55k limit.
Until then, almost everything was through my debit card. Once I simply redirected my regular online spends to SBI Cashback and started seeing the cashback come in, I started understanding why people use credit cards.
I wasn’t spending extra or chasing rewards. Same expenses, different payment method, but now getting something back.
Since my US trip was confirmed, I also wanted a card with lounge access without a high minimum-spend requirement, preferably LTF. After some research I applied for IndusInd Tiger, but got rejected without any proper reason. I’m still following up with them to understand the rejection and whether they can reconsider.
Meanwhile, I moved my salary account to HDFC. After a couple of salary credits, I was reached out by HDFC RM and they offered me Millennia LTF with a ₹1 lakh limit.
Core HDFC card + LTF, so why not? Applied and received it within 2-3 days.
By this point I had started reading this sub quite a lot, and one card I kept coming across was HSBC Live+.
Looked into the benefits and liked the 10% cashback on eligible categories along with lounge access without having to hit a minimum spend just for lounge eligibility.
By then my CIBIL had also improved from 726 to 772.
Applied through the HSBC portal, completed VKYC on Monday, and the physical card was delivered on Friday with a ₹1.5 lakh limit.
Honestly wasn’t expecting HSBC to be that quick :)
Another thing I learnt from this sub was Visa PoshVine. Coincidentally, I now have:
Niyo DCB - Visa Platinum
HDFC Millennia - Visa Signature
HSBC Live+ - Visa Infinite
Already got ₹750 Amazon vouchers through the Visa offer on Niyo and Millennia. Did the qualifying transaction on HSBC as well, so hopefully another ₹750 there.
My current usage plan is pretty simple:
Company food card: first ₹5k/month for eligible food/grocery spends since it is tax exempt for me
HSBC Live+: remaining groceries, Blinkit/JioMart, dining and eligible utilities
SBI Cashback: Amazon and most miscellaneous online spends
HDFC Millennia: HDFC instant discounts and backup if SBI cashback cap is hit
I’m still checking with IndusInd about Tiger and also seeing if I become eligible for the Axis version of Scapia.
But honestly, if I don’t get either, I’m fine with it. My current cards already cover most of what I wanted.
Still relatively new to this, so would love suggestions.
Anything you’d change in how I’m using these cards? Any obvious benefits I’m missing, or should I just stop applying now and let these cards age for a while?
Also, if anyone is applying for any of the cards I currently have and has questions about the application process, timelines, approval experience, limits, etc., happy to share whatever I know from my experience.
TL;DR: Started with a 726 CIBIL and no credit cards apart from an education-loan history. Scapia got rejected, then got Niyo DCB, followed by SBI Cashback (₹55k), HDFC Millennia LTF (₹1L) and now HSBC Live+ (₹1.5L), which was approved and delivered in 4 days. CIBIL is now 772. Current plan is Company food card for the first ₹5k of food/grocery spends, HSBC for 10% categories, SBI Cashback for most online spends, and Millennia for HDFC offers/backup. Still checking IndusInd Tiger/Scapia, but current setup already covers most of my needs.