Hey folks,

I’m pretty new to the credit card game and trying to build a solid setup instead of randomly applying for cards. Would really appreciate some guidance from experienced people here.

Here’s my current situation:

• Age: 22
• CIBIL score: ~750
• Salary: ~65k per month
• Monthly spends: ~20–25k

Current card:

• Flipkart Axis Bank CC (₹500 annual fee)
• Mostly using it for Flipkart groceries, Myntra, and Swiggy (4% cashback there). Worth it so far

Upcoming spend (important)

I’m planning to make a large purchase of ~₹1.5–2L for a 2-wheeler (most likely an Ather).
So I want to maximize cashback/rewards on this, which is why I’m considering getting another card.

My typical spending pattern:

• Fuel: ~₹5k/month (family usage — car + bike)
• Food delivery: Occasional (mostly Swiggy right now)
• Shopping: Flipkart, Myntra, sometimes Amazon
• Offline spends : mostly UPI payments, commute to office
• Groceries & dining: Regular
• Travel: Not frequent currently, but open to it if a card makes sense. Considering a Nepal trip in upcoming months :)

What I’m looking for:

• A good primary card (or combo of cards) to optimize my spends
• Something that can maximize rewards/cashback on the upcoming big purchase
• Cards that are actually worth keeping long-term (not just for welcome benefits)

Questions:

1. Which cards should I apply for given my profile (salary + CIBIL)?
2. What’s the best way to optimize the ₹1.5–2L purchase? (EMI vs full payment vs specific cards?)
3. Any good fuel-focused cards worth adding?
4. Should I go for cashback cards vs reward/travel cards at this stage?
5. What would be an ideal 2–3 card setup for my use case?

Would really appreciate suggestions, especially from people with similar spending patterns.

Thanks in advance 🙏